Italy travel alert as UK tourists could get £520 compensation

There have been issues across Bologna, Milan, Rome and Venice
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


British tourists are being warned of strikes taking place in Italy. The popular European country has seen a number of bus, train, tram and airport strikes over the last month.

Even more disruption is expected in October as workers demand better wages and safety conditions. Ryanair has delayed and cancelled flights due to industrial action across Bologna, Milan, Rome and Venice.

It means that the plans of countless travellers have been unexpectedly put on hold. But according to one travel expert, disrupted passengers are entitled to a fair bit more than they probably know.

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A spokesperson for Claims.co.uk urged people to be aware of the strikes. They said: "In these specific circumstances, delays and cancellations caused by air traffic control restrictions are considered an 'extraordinary circumstance' and therefore do not qualify for compensation.

"In cases of flight delays and flight cancellations due to an 'extraordinary circumstance', the airline must provide you with additional services, depending on the length of your delay and waiting time." This can include free meals and refreshments if your flight is delayed by at least two hours, free accommodation or free transfers to and from the airport if your flight is delayed overnight.

Travel operators tend to contact their passengers as soon as possible to make sure they can find alternative arrangements if needed. But if your flight is cancelled when you are already at the airport there is something you can do.

The spokesperson added: "It is advised that you contact your travel company straight away to talk through your options. If the delay lasts more than five hours, but is not actually cancelled, you should also be able to choose not to travel and get a full refund on your ticket."

If you booked a package holiday and your flight is moved to the point where everything else has to be rearranged to, the expert said: "The travel company must offer an alternative holiday if possible, or a refund of the full package price, not just the flight part."

Passengers are also due compensation. They added: "If you received less than 14 days’ notice of the cancellation, you can claim compensation.

"This can be awarded in pounds or euros depending on where your flight was due to depart from." The amount of compensation depends on how far you were travelling, with flights of 1,500km or less offering £220/€250, flights between 1,500 and 3,500km offering £350/€400 and those over this distance providing £520/€600, according to the experts.