China Eastern Airlines Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights get delayed or cancelled, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. Under EU 261, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

EU Regulation 261 is the law that deals with air passengers’ rights. In particular, this regulation covers different situations, such as flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to receive compensation. In addition, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

European Union Regulation 261 includes rules concerning the process of compensation, including aid to travelers affected by air travel disruptions. In particular, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, depending on your circumstances.

Compensation for China Eastern Airlines Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline informs you under fourteen days before your scheduled departure and does not offer any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, 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 depending on 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 China Eastern Airlines Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is required to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, the passenger may receive a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.

Furthermore, this is the case when the airline also must 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 European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.

The “Right to Care” under EU 261 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Food and beverages appropriate for the waiting time
• Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary
• Transport between the airport and the hotel
• Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes

Upgrading and Downgrading

In situations where a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is good to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.

In situations, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t be charged additional fees for this service.

Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to receive reimbursement. Here, 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.

Be aware that these rights cover any flights inside 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 situations, when passengers won’t get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Particularly, we talk about 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).

Furthermore, if the airline might have been able to do something to avoid issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation.

Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?

EU 261 covers all flights departing from European Union airports. It also applies to flights arriving in the EU if the airline is based in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

Nevertheless, China Eastern Airlines is not a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged to pay compensation if their flights operate outside of the European Union. This is true even for 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 China Eastern Airlines Compensation

Flight delay or cancellation 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 delay or cancellation should understand the steps to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We understand the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.

Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations