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 EU 261/2004, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. This article will focus on China Southern Airlines flight compensation, explaining when you may be entitled to it and how to claim it.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
European Union Regulation 261 is the regulation that covers the rights of air passengers. In particular, this regulation covers diverse cases, such as rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with fairness and care. If the situation occurs due to the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled to obtain compensation. Moreover, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
EU Regulation 261 contains rules concerning the process of compensation, including aid to travelers who suffered from flight problems. In particular, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, depending on your circumstances.
China Southern Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation
First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline informs 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, must pay 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 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 |
China Southern Airlines Flight Delay Compensation
The amount of compensation you may receive depends on the delay time, with longer delays generally resulting in higher compensation amounts. When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.
Furthermore, in such situations, the airline must also provide a passenger with food, drinks, and accommodation. See essential details 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 |
When submitting a compensation claim for a delayed flight, providing accurate flight details is essential to support your case.
Right to Care
Right to Care pertains to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out common rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in cases of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays.
The “Right to Care” under EU 261 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include:
- Snacks and drinks 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
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 had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t be charged extra for this upgrade.
Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to obtain reimbursement. Here, it’s important to note 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 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 won’t get compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Specifically, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are outside of 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 avoid issues regarding 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 applies to 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. Consequently, they don’t have 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. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight cancellation or delay should know exactly how to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details including 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 are well-versed in the EU laws well and will strive to get you your compensation. You are only charged 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
07.01.202620:35 | China Southern Airlines 4095 | (PKX) (JJN) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202620:30 | China Southern Airlines 4050 | (TNA) (HRB) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:00 | China Southern Airlines 1942 | (PKX) (KHN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:45 | China Southern Airlines 9456 | (NGB) (ACX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:00 | China Southern Airlines 152 | (PVG) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:45 | China Southern Airlines 3725 | (YIW) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:40 | China Southern Airlines 7232 | (BHD) (LHR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:30 | China Southern Airlines 3191 | (SZX) (PKX) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:00 | China Southern Airlines 3188 | (PKX) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:50 | China Southern Airlines 6051 | (PKX) (DYU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:50 | China Southern Airlines 1902 | (JGN) (LHW) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:35 | China Southern Airlines 1524 | (TFU) (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:30 | China Southern Airlines 4094 | (JJN) (PKX) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:50 | China Southern Airlines 7154 | (HRB) (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:50 | China Southern Airlines 4182 | (WUH) (LHW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:50 | China Southern Airlines 9270 | (HAK) (YNZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:45 | China Southern Airlines 7896 | (JED) (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:15 | China Southern Airlines 4797 | (TFU) (KRL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:05 | China Southern Airlines 4769 | (TFU) (GXH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:00 | China Southern Airlines 6715 | (SYX) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:30 | China Southern Airlines 1903 | (LHW) (JGN) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:15 | China Southern Airlines 7236 | (EDI) (LHR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:10 | China Southern Airlines 9025 | (CKG) (KHN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:05 | China Southern Airlines 263 | (HGH) (LFQ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:00 | China Southern Airlines 9027 | (CKG) (HFE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:00 | China Southern Airlines 6227 | (SYX) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202613:40 | China Southern Airlines 6193 | (CGQ) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202613:35 | China Southern Airlines 8978 | (PKX) (YIW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202613:25 | China Southern Airlines 9137 | (CKG) (CAN) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202613:20 | China Southern Airlines 6074 | (ICN) (YNJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202613:15 | China Southern Airlines 9157 | (CKG) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202613:00 | China Southern Airlines 4525 | (LHW) (XMN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202613:00 | China Southern Airlines 3152 | (PKX) (SZX) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202611:50 | China Southern Airlines 4732 | (LXA) (GXH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202611:30 | China Southern Airlines 4284 | (PKX) (CSX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202611:10 | China Southern Airlines 3118 | (PKX) (WUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202611:05 | China Southern Airlines 4054 | (HGH) (SHE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202611:00 | China Southern Airlines 3177 | (CAN) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:55 | China Southern Airlines 4036 | (NTG) (CGQ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:55 | China Southern Airlines 4180 | (XMN) (CSX) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:50 | China Southern Airlines 5862 | (CTU) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:45 | China Southern Airlines 1924 | (XMN) (HFE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:45 | China Southern Airlines 8777 | (CAN) (YNT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:40 | China Southern Airlines 5031 | (SZX) (KUL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:30 | China Southern Airlines 5124 | (YNZ) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:10 | China Southern Airlines 4186 | (HGH) (LYA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:10 | China Southern Airlines 6850 | (HGH) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:05 | China Southern Airlines 8596 | (HFE) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:05 | China Southern Airlines 6973 | (URC) (LHW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202610:00 | China Southern Airlines 3333 | (CAN) (MXZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202609:55 | China Southern Airlines 5854 | (SYX) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202609:15 | China Southern Airlines 7147 | (HGH) (CSX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202609:10 | China Southern Airlines 6949 | (URC) (LHW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202609:00 | China Southern Airlines 4883 | (TFU) (ZUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202609:00 | China Southern Airlines 9315 | (SHE) (HFE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202609:00 | China Southern Airlines 6911 | (URC) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:50 | China Southern Airlines 8513 | (URC) (HFE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:45 | China Southern Airlines 7584 | (MEL) (DRW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:30 | China Southern Airlines 7964 | (PKX) (SGN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:15 | China Southern Airlines 6720 | (PKX) (HAK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:10 | China Southern Airlines 4000 | (CSX) (HRB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:10 | China Southern Airlines 6237 | (SZX) (XIY) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:10 | China Southern Airlines 5037 | (SZX) (SIN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:10 | China Southern Airlines 4524 | (XMN) (LHW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:10 | China Southern Airlines 5539 | (SZX) (WNZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:05 | China Southern Airlines 4482 | (XMN) (CSX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:05 | China Southern Airlines 6239 | (CGQ) (CSX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:05 | China Southern Airlines 9120 | (SZX) (CTU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:01 | China Southern Airlines 1575 | (HET) (SJW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:01 | China Southern Airlines 4877 | (TFU) (BAR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202608:01 | China Southern Airlines 9271 | (CSX) (TNA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202607:55 | China Southern Airlines 4390 | (HGH) (TFU) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202607:45 | China Southern Airlines 4568 | (XMN) (ZUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202607:35 | China Southern Airlines 5117 | (XIY) (ZUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202607:25 | China Southern Airlines 9485 | (TAO) (WNZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202607:20 | China Southern Airlines 3352 | (CZX) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202607:10 | China Southern Airlines 3257 | (CAN) (XUZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202606:55 | China Southern Airlines 9035 | (KMG) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202606:45 | China Southern Airlines 9294 | (SHE) (BAV) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202606:40 | China Southern Airlines 4731 | (XIY) (GXH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202606:30 | China Southern Airlines 9961 | (HGH) (KWE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202600:45 | China Southern Airlines 7963 | (SGN) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202623:30 | China Southern Airlines 7509 | (YYZ) (YOW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202622:20 | China Southern Airlines 4575 | (LZH) (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202622:10 | China Southern Airlines 7168 | (KMG) (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202622:05 | China Southern Airlines 4401 | (TAO) (HGH) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
06.01.202622:00 | China Southern Airlines 4165 | (TSN) (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202621:50 | China Southern Airlines 5360 | (YIW) (SZX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202621:35 | China Southern Airlines 4177 | (TNA) (JJN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202621:30 | China Southern Airlines 4211 | (XNN) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202621:30 | China Southern Airlines 4135 | (HET) (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202621:30 | China Southern Airlines 7042 | (XIY) (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202621:25 | China Southern Airlines 4013 | (TNA) (FOC) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
06.01.202621:15 | China Southern Airlines 1810 | (MNL) (XMN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202621:15 | China Southern Airlines 9960 | (CGQ) (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202620:40 | China Southern Airlines 6438 | (HGH) (SYX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202620:20 | China Southern Airlines 4379 | (CKG) (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202620:15 | China Southern Airlines 299 | (BAR) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202620:10 | China Southern Airlines 4237 | (SYX) (HGH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
06.01.202620:00 | China Southern Airlines 4613 | (HGH) (HRB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
