Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. Under EU261, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004 The EU 261 is the legislation that covers air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this regulation covers diverse cases, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the situation occurs as a result of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled to receive compensation. Furthermore, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation EU Regulation 261 encompasses rules regarding the compensation process, including aid for passengers who suffered from flight problems. In particular, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, based on your specific case. Compensation for HK Express Flight Cancellation First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline is required to notify 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, 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 could be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based on the duration 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 HK Express 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 five or more hours, the passenger may receive 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 essential details 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 relates to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes standard rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in the event 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 facing significant delays or cancellations. These include: Food and beverages appropriate for 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 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 (if you had a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you can get reimbursement. Here, 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. 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 situations, when passengers won’t get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Particularly, 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 could hypothetically have done 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 261 applies to all flights departing from airports in the EU. This regulation also extends 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, HK Express is not a European airline. Therefore, they don’t have 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. ItineraryCovered by EU 261Flights departing from the EU airports✔️ YesFlights arriving at the EU airports❌ No How to Claim HK Express Compensation Flight delay or cancellation 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 understand the steps to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the problem you faced. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We know the EU laws thoroughly and will strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.