Passengers of Korean Air who have faced a flight cancellation or delay are legally entitled to compensation. According to EU 261, airlines must compensate passengers when there is a significant disruption. Here, we will look at your rights and the steps you need to take to get the compensation you have a right to from the airline.
Korean Air Flight Delay or Cancellation Compensation
Before claiming the Korean Air compensation, you should be aware of the conditions and the amount of compensation you may expect to get in the event of delay or flight cancellation.
Korean Air Compensation for Flight Delay
According to UK and EU regulations, passengers are eligible for up to €600 in compensation per person if their flight arrives late. It’s crucial to note that this flight delay compensation is based on the flight’s landing time, not the departure time, so the key to your claim relies on the actual time you land at your final destination.
Here’s an overview of how much compensation you can get if your flight is delayed. The amount of compensation depends on various criteria, such as the duration of the delay and the route length of your flight:
| 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 |
Be aware you may not be compensated for every flight delay. Korean Air isn’t required to compensate passengers when extraordinary circumstances they cannot control occur. This covers severe weather conditions, problems at the airport, or air traffic controller strikes. In these instances, you will usually not be compensated as it is not the airline’s fault.
Korean Air Compensation for Flight Cancellation
European Union Regulation 261/2004 states that airlines have to inform passengers of flight cancellations at least 14 days before the scheduled flight. If the airline fails to notify you in time, you could qualify for flight cancellation compensation ranging from €250 to €600 per passenger, based on the flight distance. Nevertheless, if the airline provides you with an alternate flight, it may avoid compensation for the cancelled flight if the following conditions are met:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
When accepting an alternative flight, passengers retain their claim for compensation if they still experience significant delays at their final destination. The amount of compensation is calculated according to two criteria: the flight distance and the duration of the delay, in line with the table provided below:
| 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 |
Korean Air is not obliged to compensate you if they provide an alternative flight that departs and arrives around the same time as your original flight. Additionally, you usually won’t receive compensation if the flight is cancelled due to circumstances beyond the airline’s control, such as adverse weather conditions or when airline staff goes on strike.
Are Korean Air Flights Covered By EU 261/2004?
EU Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. 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.
However, Korean Air is not a European airline. Therefore, they don’t have to pay you compensation if their flights operate outside of Europe. This applies even to their flights to Europe if they start outside the EU.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing from EU airports | ✔️ Yes |
| Flights arriving at EU airports | ❌ No |
How to Claim Compensation from Korean Air
If your travel plans have been affected by a flight delay or cancellation with Korean Air, it’s crucial to understand that you might be entitled to compensation under EU laws. For this reason, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the process of claiming compensation. Here’s what you need to do:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We understand the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to secure your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.
These steps will help you file your claim quickly and increase your chances of receiving the compensation you’re owed. There may be plenty of time after your flight to submit a claim, but it’s best to complete it as soon as you can while you still remember all the details.
What You Can Get Besides EU Flight Compensation
Korean Air goes the additional mile to support passengers during travel disruptions by providing services that complement flight compensation.
Right to Care
When flight disruptions occur, Korean Air is committed to ensuring passenger comfort through the Right to Care provision. This right, established under EU 261, kicks in when flight delays exceed two hours. The services provided include:
- Food and Drinks: Passengers are provided with food and drinks appropriate to the length of delay. This may include vouchers for airport restaurants or direct distribution of snacks and drinks.
- Communication: Korean Air offers two free phone calls, emails, or fax messages to keep passengers connected with family or business contacts.
- Accommodation: If the delay extends for the night or requires an additional stay, Korean Air arranges hotel room accommodation. This covers transportation to and from the airport and the hotel.
- Special Assistance: Extra care is given to passengers with reduced mobility or special needs.
To access these services, you can simply approach airline staff at the airport for instant assistance.
Rebooking and Refunds
When Korean Air cancels a flight, passengers can choose to receive a full refund or rebook on a different flight. This flexibility is crucial for minimizing travel interruptions and assisting passengers to manage unforeseen circumstances successfully.
- Full Refund: if you request a refund, you can receive full reimbursement for the parts of your trip that you didn’t use, including any tickets you only partly used. Also, if the cancellation means your trip no longer serves its original purpose, you may get a flight back to where you first started at the earliest chance.
- Rebooking: if you choose to continue your trip, Korean Air shall provide rebooking on the next available flight to your destination. You also have the option to choose an alternative route if there are seats available. If the next available flight is scheduled for the following day or later, Korean Air will arrange accommodation and transfers as needed. Additionally, you have the right to be rebooked, even in a higher class, at no additional cost to you if that’s the only available option.
It’s crucial to keep in mind some additional considerations. If you’re rebooked on a lower class than originally booked, you’re eligible for a partial refund of the cost difference. Furthermore, if your booking involves connecting flights, Korean Air shall help in rebooking your entire journey, not just the cancelled segment.
Whether opting for a refund or arranging a new flight, the procedures are designed to ensure this process as smooth as possible, understanding the stress and inconvenience caused by cancellations.
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 | Airline (Flight number) | Route | Status | Your compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
09.05.202516:35 | Korean Air 5841 | Seoul (ICN) Qingdao (TAO) | delayed | Refunds |
09.05.202516:10 | Korean Air 2103 | Seoul (GMP) Tokyo (HND) | delayed | Refunds |
09.05.202514:30 | Korean Air 870 | Dalian (DLC) Seoul (ICN) | delayed | Refunds |
09.05.202514:20 | Korean Air 5867 | Seoul (ICN) (UBN) | delayed | Refunds |
09.05.202513:20 | Korean Air 6414 | Barcelona (BCN) Amsterdam (AMS) | delayed | Refunds |
09.05.202513:10 | Korean Air 5843 | Seoul (ICN) Qingdao (TAO) | delayed | Refunds |
09.05.202513:05 | Korean Air 843 | Seoul (ICN) Qingdao (TAO) | delayed | Refunds |
09.05.202508:10 | Korean Air 6405 | Amsterdam (AMS) Barcelona (BCN) | delayed | Refunds |
09.05.202507:30 | Korean Air 6651 | Madrid (MAD) Barcelona (BCN) | delayed | Refunds |
09.05.202500:40 | Korean Air 591 | Seoul (ICN) Vienna (VIE) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202523:55 | Korean Air 5951 | Seoul (ICN) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202523:30 | Korean Air 361 | Seoul (ICN) Hanoi (HAN) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202523:15 | Korean Air 315 | Seoul (ICN) Shanghai (PVG) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202523:15 | Korean Air 3817 | Seattle (SEA) New York (MCO) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202523:10 | Korean Air 9575 | Seoul (ICN) Hanoi (HAN) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202522:20 | Korean Air 7843 | Honolulu (HNL) Las Vegas (LAS) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202521:45 | Korean Air 5753 | Seoul (ICN) Macau (MFM) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202520:53 | Korean Air 6905 | Atlanta (ATL) Chicago (GTR) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202520:35 | Korean Air 5693 | Seoul (ICN) Taipei (TPE) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202520:25 | Korean Air 6158 | Seattle (SEA) Juneau (JNU) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202520:25 | Korean Air 5769 | Seoul (ICN) Da Nang (DAD) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202518:19 | Korean Air 6149 | Calgary (YYC) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202517:50 | Korean Air 6035 | Seattle (SEA) Pasco (PSC) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202516:49 | Korean Air 6096 | San Francisco (SFO) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202515:40 | Korean Air 6045 | Seattle (SEA) Medford (MFR) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202515:40 | Korean Air 5710 | Tokyo (HND) Seoul (GMP) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202515:35 | Korean Air 6027 | Seattle (SEA) Eugene (EUG) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202515:35 | Korean Air 6262 | Seattle (SEA) Salt Lake City (SLC) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202515:35 | Korean Air 6229 | Seattle (SEA) Ketchikan (KTN) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202515:25 | Korean Air 3921 | Seattle (SEA) Vancouver (YVR) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202515:20 | Korean Air 5244 | Jeju (CJU) WonJu (WJU) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202514:25 | Korean Air 3095 | Seattle (SEA) Medford (MFR) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202514:21 | Korean Air 6171 | Seattle (SEA) Victoria (YYJ) | cancelled | Refunds |
08.05.202514:05 | Korean Air 5247 | Pohang (KPO) Jeju (CJU) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202513:45 | Korean Air 6125 | Seattle (SEA) San Diego (SAN) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202512:25 | Korean Air 5246 | Jeju (CJU) Pohang (KPO) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202511:44 | Korean Air 6170 | Edmonton (YEG) Seattle (SEA) | cancelled | Refunds |
08.05.202510:45 | Korean Air 5245 | Pohang (KPO) Jeju (CJU) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202510:30 | Korean Air 6162 | Vancouver (YVR) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202510:09 | Korean Air 6022 | Boise (BOI) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202509:38 | Korean Air 6018 | Spokane (GEG) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202509:10 | Korean Air 3102 | Portland (PDX) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202509:10 | Korean Air 6116 | San Francisco (SFO) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202508:55 | Korean Air 3093 | Seattle (SEA) Tucson (TUS) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202508:45 | Korean Air 3023 | Seattle (SEA) Honolulu (HNL) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202508:37 | Korean Air 6159 | Seattle (SEA) Vancouver (YVR) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202506:15 | Korean Air 3069 | Lewiston (LWS) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202523:55 | Korean Air 5951 | Seoul (ICN) Dubai (DXB) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202523:30 | Korean Air 361 | Seoul (ICN) Hanoi (HAN) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202523:13 | Korean Air 6245 | Honolulu (HNL) Anchorage (ANC) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202522:49 | Korean Air 3770 | Atlanta (ATL) Mobile (MOB) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202522:45 | Korean Air 6507 | Honolulu (HNL) Vancouver (YVR) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202522:20 | Korean Air 7843 | Honolulu (HNL) Las Vegas (LAS) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202521:25 | Korean Air 5763 | Seoul (ICN) (CRK) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202521:25 | Korean Air 5069 | Seoul (ICN) Hong Kong (HKG) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202520:25 | Korean Air 6158 | Seattle (SEA) Juneau (JNU) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202518:10 | Korean Air 6011 | Seattle (SEA) Portland (PDX) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202517:59 | Korean Air 6217 | Seattle (SEA) Fairbanks (FAI) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202517:55 | Korean Air 6231 | Seattle (SEA) Reno (RNO) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202517:25 | Korean Air 5255 | Gunsan (KUV) Jeju (CJU) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202516:49 | Korean Air 6116 | San Francisco (SFO) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202515:58 | Korean Air 6049 | Seattle (SEA) Redmond (RDM) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202515:51 | Korean Air 6006 | Seattle (SEA) Portland (PDX) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202515:50 | Korean Air 5256 | Jeju (CJU) Gunsan (KUV) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202515:25 | Korean Air 3075 | Seattle (SEA) Pasco (PSC) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202515:20 | Korean Air 5244 | Jeju (CJU) WonJu (WJU) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202514:25 | Korean Air 6007 | Seattle (SEA) Portland (PDX) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202513:06 | Korean Air 6041 | Seattle (SEA) Yakima (YKM) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:40 | Korean Air 7404 | Salt Lake City (SLC) Jackson (JAC) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:38 | Korean Air 6018 | Spokane (GEG) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:35 | Korean Air 6010 | Portland (PDX) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202508:37 | Korean Air 6159 | Seattle (SEA) Vancouver (YVR) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202508:30 | Korean Air 3016 | Detroit (DTW) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202507:40 | Korean Air 6012 | Portland (PDX) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202507:20 | Korean Air 6052 | Juneau (JNU) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202507:10 | Korean Air 3042 | Raleigh (RDU) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202507:00 | Korean Air 6271 | Newark (EWR) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202506:55 | Korean Air 3054 | Minneapolis (MSP) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202506:00 | Korean Air 6004 | Anchorage (ANC) Seattle (SEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202501:00 | Korean Air 7913 | Bangkok (BKK) Nairobi (NBO) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202521:35 | Korean Air 3612 | Seattle (SEA) Eugene (EUG) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202520:45 | Korean Air 6559 | Kelowna (YLW) Vancouver (YVR) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202520:45 | Korean Air 3975 | Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Atlanta (ATL) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202520:25 | Korean Air 6158 | Seattle (SEA) Juneau (JNU) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202520:25 | Korean Air 5769 | Seoul (ICN) Da Nang (DAD) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:45 | Korean Air 477 | Seoul (ICN) Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:10 | Korean Air 401 | Seoul (ICN) Sydney (SYD) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:05 | Korean Air 6531 | Vancouver (YVR) Kelowna (YLW) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202519:05 | Korean Air 6585 | Vancouver (YVR) Kelowna (YLW) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:45 | Korean Air 475 | Seoul (ICN) Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:40 | Korean Air 645 | Seoul (ICN) Singapore (SIN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:25 | Korean Air 1407 | Seoul (ICN) Busan (PUS) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:25 | Korean Air 667 | Seoul (ICN) Chiang Mai (CNX) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:05 | Korean Air 651 | Seoul (ICN) Bangkok (BKK) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202517:55 | Korean Air 5675 | Seoul (ICN) Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202517:50 | Korean Air 663 | Seoul (ICN) Phuket (HKT) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202517:20 | Korean Air 5243 | WonJu (WJU) Jeju (CJU) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202517:10 | Korean Air 1405 | Seoul (ICN) Busan (PUS) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202517:00 | Korean Air 6593 | Vancouver (YVR) Kelowna (YLW) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202516:54 | Korean Air 9281 | Seoul (ICN) Toronto (YYZ) | delayed | Refunds |
