Delta, American, Air France Waive Fees in Face of French Strikes

Strikes at oil refineries and depots continue ahead of the country’s general strike tomorrow. Anticipating the impact on their travelers, some carriers have waived their change fees.

In the face of ongoing strikes and labor action across France, a number of carriers operating within the country have decided to waive their change fees.

In a repeat of events seen across the country on Tuesday, oil workers continued to block refineries on Wednesday, with train drivers also striking. USA Today reports that additional labor action is also due to take place on Thursday as local transport employees across Paris take up what has been referred to as a general strike.

All of this, of course, has or is expected to have an impact on the plans of air travelers. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Air France have issued statements, all advising passengers of their fee waivers in the face of this strike action.

The waiver issued by American includes the 10 French airports served by the carrier itself or its codeshare partners. This will allow those ticketed to fly through any of these airports on Thursday to make a single fee-free change, with some restrictions.

Delta’s waiver policy covers Paris Orly Airport (ORY) and stipulates that passengers flying through ORY today or Thursday can make one fee-free change. Like American, this policy comes with some restrictions, so passengers are advised to read the fine print closely.

Air France, the country’s flagship carrier, made reference to Thursday’s planned national strike action in a statement on its website. While it explained that it would be operating a full flight schedule out of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) as well as 85 percent of its flights from ORY, it has advised that those passing through the latter airport on Thursday can make one fee-free change.

The situation is of course fluid, but with the threat of an air traffic control strike set for early June, further disruption is a possibility.

[Photo: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters. French police take up positions after striking workers blockaded roads near the oil refinery at Fos-sur-Mer.]