Vietnam Airlines Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights get cancelled or delayed, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in such situations. Under EU 261/2004, 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 law covers different situations, such as rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences has a right to obtain compensation. In addition, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

The EU 261 encompasses regulations regarding the process of compensation, including assistance to people who suffered from issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum varies, based on your specific case.

Compensation for Vietnam Airlines Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline informs you under fourteen days before your flight date and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, must pay you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.

At the same time, if a passenger is offered an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger might be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to the duration 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 Vietnam Airlines Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated to pay 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, in such situations, the airline must also provide a passenger with beverages, some food, and accommodation. See key information about 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 pertains to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes regulations on compensation and assistance for travelers in cases of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays.

The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Snacks and drinks appropriate to the waiting time
• Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary
• Transport between the airport and the place of accommodation
• Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes

Upgrading and Downgrading

When a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is important to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.

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

Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to obtain 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.

Keep in mind that these rights cover every flight 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 will not receive compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are beyond 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 might have been able to do something to prevent problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to 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 originates in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

However, Vietnam Airlines isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they don’t have 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 Vietnam Airlines Compensation

Flight delay or cancellation can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight delay or cancellation should understand the steps to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We know the EU laws well and will strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.

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