Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such situations. Under EU261, 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 legislation that deals with air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this legislation covers different situations, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences has a right to get compensation. Furthermore, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
EU Regulation 261 encompasses rules regarding the process of compensation, including aid to travelers experiencing issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per person. This sum ranges, according to your specific case.
Compensation for China Southern Airlines Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. In case the airline notifies you under fourteen days before your flight date 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 offered an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger might be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations depending 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 China Southern 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 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 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 refers to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes regulations on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.
The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers facing 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
- Emails or faxes and two free phone calls
Upgrading and Downgrading
When a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is important to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In cases, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not have to pay additional fees for this upgrade.
Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to obtain reimbursement. Here, it’s important to note 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 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. Specifically, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are not within 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).
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 can claim compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU 261 covers all flights departing from EU 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.
However, China Southern 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.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing from the EU airports | ✔️ Yes |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ❌ No |
How to Claim China Southern 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 be aware of the process to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will strive to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled without a valid reason? Check our table for the latest flight delays and cancellations. Assess your right to compensation using our claim checker, and let us protect your rights and pursue compensation for you.
Did not find your flight in our table? Try our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
14.07.202516:00 | China Southern Airlines 1831 | Jinjiang (JJN) Macau (MFM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202514:40 | China Southern Airlines 4370 | Jinjiang (JJN) Shanghai (SHA) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
14.07.202514:40 | China Southern Airlines 3085 | Guangzhou (CAN) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202514:20 | China Southern Airlines 1807 | Jinjiang (JJN) Manila (MNL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202514:10 | China Southern Airlines 7800 | Guangzhou (CAN) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202512:00 | China Southern Airlines 4034 | Jinjiang (JJN) Hangzhou (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202511:40 | China Southern Airlines 5188 | Xuzhou (XUZ) Shantou (SWA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202511:25 | China Southern Airlines 4302 | Jinjiang (JJN) Guangzhou (CAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202510:00 | China Southern Airlines 8806 | Shanghai (XIY) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202508:00 | China Southern Airlines 3220 | Shanghai (XIY) Guangzhou (CAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202507:10 | China Southern Airlines 9093 | Shanghai (XIY) (GXH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202506:45 | China Southern Airlines 9081 | Shanghai (XIY) Kashi (KHG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202523:00 | China Southern Airlines 4254 | Xiamen (XMN) Changsha (CSX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202522:30 | China Southern Airlines 3806 | Xiamen (XMN) Guangzhou (CAN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202521:55 | China Southern Airlines 4346 | Xiamen (XMN) Chongqing (CKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202521:00 | China Southern Airlines 4072 | Xiamen (XMN) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202520:15 | China Southern Airlines 4504 | Xiamen (XMN) Liuzhou (LZH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202520:10 | China Southern Airlines 9106 | Wenzhou (WNZ) Harbin (HRB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202519:05 | China Southern Airlines 3754 | Xiamen (XMN) Wuhan (WUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202517:50 | China Southern Airlines 4848 | Zhuhai (ZUH) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202517:30 | China Southern Airlines 696 | Seoul (ICN) Dalian (DLC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202516:20 | China Southern Airlines 7802 | Beijing (PEK) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202515:05 | China Southern Airlines 7056 | Heihe (HEK) (DTU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202514:40 | China Southern Airlines 3085 | Guangzhou (CAN) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202514:30 | China Southern Airlines 1749 | Seattle (SEA) Los Angeles (LAX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202514:10 | China Southern Airlines 7800 | Guangzhou (CAN) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202514:05 | China Southern Airlines 6332 | Shenyang (SHE) Yichun (LDS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202513:20 | China Southern Airlines 4779 | Yinchuan (INC) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202513:10 | China Southern Airlines 4752 | Yinchuan (INC) Shanghai (PVG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202512:50 | China Southern Airlines 6487 | Guangzhou (CAN) Wenshan (WNH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202512:50 | China Southern Airlines 4787 | Yinchuan (INC) Urumqi (URC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202512:10 | China Southern Airlines 4819 | Shenzhen (SZX) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202511:10 | China Southern Airlines 7937 | Yining (YIN) (FYN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202510:30 | China Southern Airlines 9355 | Chongqing (TFU) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202510:00 | China Southern Airlines 8893 | Yining (YIN) Korla (KRL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202510:00 | China Southern Airlines 7938 | Bole (BPL) Korla (KRL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202509:25 | China Southern Airlines 4773 | Harbin (HRB) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202509:05 | China Southern Airlines 385 | Guangzhou (CAN) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202508:30 | China Southern Airlines 7781 | Hamburg (HAM) Amsterdam (AMS) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
13.07.202508:15 | China Southern Airlines 3257 | Guangzhou (CAN) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202508:00 | China Southern Airlines 9425 | Chongqing (CKG) Korla (KRL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202507:40 | China Southern Airlines 9353 | Chongqing (TFU) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202506:40 | China Southern Airlines 9117 | Harbin (HRB) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202519:40 | China Southern Airlines 9717 | Yining (YIN) Altay (AAT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202519:10 | China Southern Airlines 4212 | Fuzhou (FOC) Zhengzhou (CGO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202518:55 | China Southern Airlines 9781 | Fuzhou (FOC) Nantong (NTG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202518:50 | China Southern Airlines 9357 | Chongqing (TFU) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202518:30 | China Southern Airlines 4476 | Fuzhou (FOC) Shanghai (SHA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202517:30 | China Southern Airlines 6799 | Dalian (DLC) Hangzhou (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202517:30 | China Southern Airlines 6918 | Fuzhou (FOC) Zhengzhou (CGO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202517:00 | China Southern Airlines 6721 | Haikou (HAK) Kunming (KMG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:50 | China Southern Airlines 9784 | Shijiazhuang (SJW) (UCB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:35 | China Southern Airlines 7119 | Haikou (HAK) Hangzhou (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:30 | China Southern Airlines 7084 | Jiamusi (JMU) (FYJ) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:00 | China Southern Airlines 3239 | Guangzhou (CAN) Tunxi (TXN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202516:00 | China Southern Airlines 4086 | Fuzhou (FOC) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202515:50 | China Southern Airlines 4442 | Fuzhou (FOC) Shanghai (SHA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202514:55 | China Southern Airlines 4764 | Jinjiang (JJN) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202514:40 | China Southern Airlines 3085 | Guangzhou (CAN) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202514:35 | China Southern Airlines 4156 | Fuzhou (FOC) Lanzhou (LHW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202514:10 | China Southern Airlines 7800 | Guangzhou (CAN) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202513:55 | China Southern Airlines 4308 | Fuzhou (FOC) Guilin (KWL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202513:35 | China Southern Airlines 9722 | Aksu (AKU) Altay (AAT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202513:30 | China Southern Airlines 1818 | Seoul (ICN) Xiamen (XMN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202512:55 | China Southern Airlines 9771 | Caledonia (CDE) Shijiazhuang (SJW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202511:00 | China Southern Airlines 9770 | Shijiazhuang (SJW) Caledonia (CDE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202508:40 | China Southern Airlines 5187 | Shantou (SWA) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202507:40 | China Southern Airlines 9353 | Chongqing (TFU) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202522:45 | China Southern Airlines 3676 | Wenzhou (WNZ) Guangzhou (CAN) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
11.07.202518:45 | China Southern Airlines 8552 | Kunming (KMG) Wuhan (WUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202518:40 | China Southern Airlines 6156 | Shanghai (PVG) Changchun (CGQ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202517:25 | China Southern Airlines 1364 | Athens (ATH) Amsterdam (AMS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202517:05 | China Southern Airlines 8894 | (PKX) Korla (KRL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202516:15 | China Southern Airlines 1466 | Aksu (AKU) Xinyuan (NLT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202515:45 | China Southern Airlines 648 | Tokyo (HND) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202515:20 | China Southern Airlines 6926 | Chongqing (TFU) Korla (KRL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202515:05 | China Southern Airlines 7056 | Heihe (HEK) (DTU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202515:00 | China Southern Airlines 5366 | Kunming (KMG) Shenyang (SHE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202514:40 | China Southern Airlines 3085 | Guangzhou (CAN) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202514:40 | China Southern Airlines 9217 | Chongqing (TFU) Korla (KRL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202514:15 | China Southern Airlines 4826 | Lijiang City (LJG) Zhi Jiang (HJJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202513:50 | China Southern Airlines 9187 | Chongqing (TFU) (GXH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202513:15 | China Southern Airlines 9765 | Haikou (HAK) Shijiazhuang (SJW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202513:15 | China Southern Airlines 3494 | Kunming (KMG) Guangzhou (CAN) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
11.07.202512:50 | China Southern Airlines 4757 | Xining (XNN) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202512:10 | China Southern Airlines 4819 | Shenzhen (SZX) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202511:10 | China Southern Airlines 4279 | Haikou (HAK) Xiamen (XMN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202510:30 | China Southern Airlines 9355 | Chongqing (TFU) Xuzhou (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202508:25 | China Southern Airlines 7804 | Beijing (PEK) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202506:35 | China Southern Airlines 8596 | Hefei (Luogang Airport) (HFE) Shenzhen (SZX) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
10.07.202523:20 | China Southern Airlines 3218 | Shanghai (XIY) Guangzhou (CAN) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
10.07.202522:45 | China Southern Airlines 8530 | Shanghai (XIY) Wuhan (WUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202522:40 | China Southern Airlines 5133 | Changsha (CSX) Chongqing (TFU) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
10.07.202522:35 | China Southern Airlines 5416 | Hefei (Luogang Airport) (HFE) Shenzhen (SZX) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
10.07.202522:25 | China Southern Airlines 4171 | Shanghai (XIY) Changsha (CSX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202521:35 | China Southern Airlines 123 | Shanghai (XIY) Shanghai (SHA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202521:25 | China Southern Airlines 4219 | Changsha (CSX) Qingdao (TAO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202520:35 | China Southern Airlines 7134 | Jinan (TNA) Chongqing (TFU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202520:05 | China Southern Airlines 9568 | Changsha (CSX) Chengdu (CTU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202520:00 | China Southern Airlines 8221 | Changsha (CSX) Chongqing (CKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
