Whenever flights get cancelled or delayed, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in these situations. According to EU261, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, 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 air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this regulation covers diverse cases, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and obligates airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs due to the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences has a right to get compensation. Moreover, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation The EU 261 encompasses regulations concerning the compensation process, including assistance for passengers affected by flight problems. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, depending on your specific case. Compensation for China Eastern Airlines Flight Cancellation First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. In case the airline informs you under fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not offer any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261/2004, is obligated to compensate you compensation of 250 – 600 euros. At the same time, if a passenger is provided with an alternative flight but reaches 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 hours2-3 hours3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursNever arrivedDistance€125€250€250€250€250All flights 1,500 km or less€200€200€400€400€400Internal EU flights over 1,500 km€200€200€400€400€400Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km€300€300€300€600€600Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km Compensation for China Eastern Airlines Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is obligated 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, this is the case when the airline also must provide a passenger with beverages, some food, and accommodation. See key information about compensation in the table below: Less than 3 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursDistance€0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km€0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km€0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km€0€300€600All non-EU flights over 3500 km Right to Care Right to Care refers to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules 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 affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include: Meals and beverages 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 gets an alternative flight, it is important to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In situations, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not be charged additional fees for this service. Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to obtain reimbursement. In this case, you should be aware that the amount of compensation fully depends 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 cancelled or delayed flights. Specifically, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are beyond 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 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 Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. It also covers 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. Therefore, they aren’t required 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. ItineraryCovered by EU 261Flights departing from the EU airports✔️ YesFlights arriving at the EU airports❌ No How to Claim China Eastern Airlines 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: Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We understand the EU laws well and will strive to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.