HK Express Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

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. Under EU 261, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

The EU 261 is the law that covers air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this regulation covers diverse cases, such as delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to handle individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens as a result of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences is entitled to get compensation. Furthermore, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

The EU 261 contains rules concerning the compensation process, including aid for passengers affected by flight problems. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum varies, according to your circumstances.

Compensation for HK Express Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, passengers should be aware that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before your flight date and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261/2004, 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 original flight was supposed to, the passenger may also be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations depending on 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

Compensation for HK Express 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 can expect a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.

Furthermore, this is the case when 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 pertains to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which establishes 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 services and assistance to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Food and beverages appropriate to 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 receives an alternative flight, it is important to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.

In situations, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for instance, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay additional fees for this service.

Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you can receive reimbursement. In this case, 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 apply to 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 cases, when passengers will not receive compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we refer to 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 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 European Union airports. This regulation also extends 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.

Nevertheless, HK Express is not a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged 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 HK Express Compensation

Flight cancellation or delay 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 know exactly how to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will make every effort to secure your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.

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