Cathay Pacific Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in these 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

EU Regulation 261 is the regulation that covers the rights of air passengers. In particular, this law covers different situations, including flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs due to the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to get compensation. In addition, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

EU Regulation 261 includes rules concerning the process of compensation, including assistance for passengers who suffered from issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, based on your circumstances.

Compensation for Cathay Pacific Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. If 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 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 may also be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based on 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 Cathay Pacific 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 can expect 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 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 assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays.

The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Food 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

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

In situations, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for example, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not have to pay extra for this service.

Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to receive reimbursement. Here, it’s important to note that the amount of compensation is determined by 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 apply to any flights inside the European Union, as well as flights departing from or arriving in the European Union by airlines based in the EU.

When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?

Unfortunately, there are situations, when passengers aren’t eligible for compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are not within the airline’s control. A few 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).

In addition, if the airline could hypothetically have done something to avoid problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation.

Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?

European Union Regulation 261 applies to 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, Cathay Pacific 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 Cathay Pacific Compensation

Flight cancellation or delay is an unpleasant situation that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight cancellation or delay should be aware of the process to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details including 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 comprehensively and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.

Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations