Hong Kong Airlines Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such situations. According to 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

European Union Regulation 261 is the regulation that covers air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this legislation covers different situations, such as delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens due to the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to get compensation. Moreover, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

EU Regulation 261 includes regulations regarding the compensation process, including assistance to people affected by flight problems. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum varies, according to your circumstances.

Compensation for Hong Kong Airlines Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline is required to notify them about the cancellation of their flight. In case the airline notifies you under fourteen days before your scheduled departure and does not offer 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 offered an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger may also be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based 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 Hong Kong Airlines Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or an alternative flight to the final destination.

Furthermore, in such situations, the airline is also required to provide a passenger with beverages, some food, and accommodation. See key information 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

Right to Care

Right to Care refers to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules on compensation and assistance for travelers in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays.

The “Right to Care” under EU 261 obliges airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers facing 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

In situations where a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is important to be aware of 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 have to pay extra for this upgrade.

Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to receive 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.

Consider that these rights apply to all flights 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 delayed or cancelled 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).

Furthermore, if the airline potentially could have done something to avoid issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation.

Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?

European Union Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from airports in the EU. It also covers 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, Hong Kong Airlines isn’t a European airline. Consequently, 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.

Itinerary	Covered by EU 261
Flights departing from the EU airports	✔️ Yes
Flights arriving at the EU airports	❌ No

How to Claim Hong Kong Airlines Compensation

Flight cancellation or delay 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 cancellation or delay should be aware of the process to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We are well-versed in the EU laws well and will strive to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.

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