Sichuan Airlines Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such situations. According to EU261, if your flight is cancelled or delayed, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

European Union Regulation 261 is the law that deals with the rights of air passengers. More precisely, this legislation covers different situations, such as rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and obligates airlines to handle individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens as a result of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to obtain compensation. In addition, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

European Union Regulation 261 contains regulations regarding the process of compensation, including assistance to people affected by issues with flights. In particular, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, according to your circumstances.

Compensation for Sichuan Airlines Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261, is obligated to compensate you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.

At the same time, if a passenger is offered an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger could be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to the length of the delay:

Under 2 hours	2-3 hours	3-4 hours	Over 4 hours	Never arrived	Distance
€125	€250	€250	€250	€250	All flights 1,500 km or less
€200	€200	€400	€400	€400	Internal EU flights over 1,500 km
€200	€200	€400	€400	€400	Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km
€300	€300	€300	€600	€600	Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km

Compensation for Sichuan Airlines Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is obligated to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger may receive a ticket refund or an alternative flight to the final destination.

Furthermore, in such situations, the airline is also required to provide a passenger with refreshments, meals, and accommodation. See essential details on compensation in the table below:

Less than 3 hours	Between 3-4 hours	Over 4 hours	Distance
€0	€250	€250	All flights up to 1500 km
€0	€400	€400	All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km
€0	€400	€400	All intra-EU flights over 3500 km
€0	€300	€600	All non-EU flights over 3500 km

Right to Care

Right to Care relates to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out regulations on assistance and compensation for travelers in the event of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.

The “Right to Care” under EU261 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Snacks and beverages appropriate for the waiting time
• Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary
• Transport between the airport and the place of accommodation
• Emails or faxes and two free phone calls

Upgrading and Downgrading

When a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is good to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.

In cases, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for example, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay extra for this service.

Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to get reimbursement. In this case, you should be aware that the amount of compensation is entirely based on the distance of a flight:

• 30% of the flight tickets cost for a 1,500 km distance or less;
• 50% of the flight tickets cost (specifically, for intra-EU flights that are over 1,500 km and all other flights with a 1,500 km and 3,500 km distance;
• 75% of the ticket price for flights with a 3,500+ km distance.

Consider that these rights cover all flights within the European Union, as well as flights departing from or arriving in the European Union operated by airlines based in the EU.

When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?

Unfortunately, there are cases, when passengers won’t get compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are outside of the airline’s control. Some of the examples are as follows:

• Bad weather conditions and natural disasters;
• Political circumstances (related security risks, terrorist attacks);
• A collision of the aircraft and foreign objects (birds, for instance);
• Unruly or very ill passengers;
• Strikes (that are not caused by the airline’s crew).

Moreover, if the airline potentially could have done something to avoid problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to compensation.

Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?

European Union Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from airports in the EU. This regulation also extends to flights arriving in the EU if the airline originates in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

However, Sichuan Airlines isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged to pay compensation if their flights operate outside of the European Union. This applies even to their flights to the European Union if they start outside the EU.

Itinerary	Covered by EU 261
Flights departing from the EU airports	✔️ Yes
Flights arriving at the EU airports	❌ No

How to Claim Sichuan Airlines Compensation

Flight cancellation or delay can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Those who are unlucky enough to face a flight cancellation or delay should understand the steps to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We know the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.

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