Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 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 deals with the rights of air passengers. Specifically, this law covers diverse cases, including delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens due to the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled to obtain 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 process of compensation, including assistance for passengers who suffered from air travel disruptions. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum varies, based on your circumstances.
Compensation for Malaysia Airlines Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before your scheduled departure and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261, is obligated to compensate you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.
At the same time, if a passenger is provided with an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger might be eligible for 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 |
Compensation for Malaysia 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 can expect 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 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 |
Right to Care
Right to Care pertains to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which establishes regulations on compensation and assistance 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 experiencing 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
- Emails or faxes and two free phone calls
Upgrading and Downgrading
In situations where a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is important to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In cases, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for example, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay extra for this service.
Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to 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.
Keep in mind 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 situations, when passengers will not receive compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Particularly, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are outside of the airline’s control. Some of the 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 avoid 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. It also applies 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, Malaysia Airlines isn’t a European airline. Therefore, they aren’t required 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 Malaysia Airlines Compensation
Flight delay or cancellation is an unpleasant situation 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 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 what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We know the EU laws comprehensively and will strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
17.07.202520:55 | Malaysia Airlines 9169 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (KIX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202518:10 | Malaysia Airlines 9797 | Tokyo (NRT) Taipei (TPE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202517:45 | Malaysia Airlines 9164 | Tokyo (NRT) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202517:35 | Malaysia Airlines 3019 | Lahad Datu (LDU) Kota-Kinabalu (BKI) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
17.07.202517:25 | Malaysia Airlines 3519 | Lawas (LWY) Miri (MYY) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
17.07.202517:20 | Malaysia Airlines 9912 | London (LHR) Berlin (BER) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202516:30 | Malaysia Airlines 9326 | Seattle (SEA) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202516:20 | Malaysia Airlines 3518 | Miri (MYY) Lawas (LWY) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
17.07.202516:15 | Malaysia Airlines 3018 | Kota-Kinabalu (BKI) Lahad Datu (LDU) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
17.07.202515:50 | Malaysia Airlines 4339 | Istanbul (IST) Berlin (BER) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202515:40 | Malaysia Airlines 4331 | Istanbul (IST) Hanover (HAJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202515:10 | Malaysia Airlines 5598 | Penang (PEN) Taipei (TPE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202510:55 | Malaysia Airlines 9138 | Tokyo (HND) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202509:15 | Malaysia Airlines 366 | Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Taipei (TPE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
17.07.202507:10 | Malaysia Airlines 4591 | Tagbilaran (TAG) Manila (MNL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202523:40 | Malaysia Airlines 318 | Kuala Lumpur (KUL) (PKX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202522:30 | Malaysia Airlines 4208 | Berlin (BER) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202521:00 | Malaysia Airlines 9168 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202519:45 | Malaysia Airlines 9914 | London (LHR) Berlin (BER) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202519:20 | Malaysia Airlines 5264 | Bangalore (BLR) Tiruchirapally (TRZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202518:30 | Malaysia Airlines 9104 | Tokyo (HND) New York (JFK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202518:05 | Malaysia Airlines 5607 | Tiruchirapally (TRZ) Chennai (MAA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202517:45 | Malaysia Airlines 9164 | Tokyo (NRT) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202515:30 | Malaysia Airlines 4137 | Riyadh (RUH) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202514:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9166 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202513:40 | Malaysia Airlines 9145 | New York (JFK) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202512:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9165 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (KIX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202511:05 | Malaysia Airlines 5235 | Dubai (DXB) Muscat (MCT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202511:00 | Malaysia Airlines 2661 | Tawau (TWU) Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202510:55 | Malaysia Airlines 9138 | Tokyo (HND) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
16.07.202506:05 | Malaysia Airlines 5233 | Dubai (DXB) Muscat (MCT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202517:45 | Malaysia Airlines 9164 | Tokyo (NRT) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202517:15 | Malaysia Airlines 9912 | London (LHR) Berlin (BER) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202514:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9166 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202514:15 | Malaysia Airlines 9171 | Los Angeles (LAX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202509:25 | Malaysia Airlines 1268 | Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Kuantan (KUA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
15.07.202501:40 | Malaysia Airlines 9103 | New York (JFK) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202520:55 | Malaysia Airlines 9169 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (KIX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202519:35 | Malaysia Airlines 4680 | Tawau (TWU) Kota-Kinabalu (BKI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202517:45 | Malaysia Airlines 9164 | Tokyo (NRT) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202514:55 | Malaysia Airlines 3633 | Mulu (MZV) Miri (MYY) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
14.07.202514:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9166 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202513:40 | Malaysia Airlines 9145 | New York (JFK) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202512:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9165 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (KIX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202512:45 | Malaysia Airlines 9779 | Honolulu (HNL) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202512:25 | Malaysia Airlines 9101 | San Francisco (SFO) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202512:05 | Malaysia Airlines 9149 | Dallas (DFW) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
14.07.202511:00 | Malaysia Airlines 2661 | Tawau (TWU) Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202521:05 | Malaysia Airlines 9536 | Chicago (ORD) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202521:00 | Malaysia Airlines 9168 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202517:45 | Malaysia Airlines 9164 | Tokyo (NRT) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202515:13 | Malaysia Airlines 9381 | Seattle (SEA) Chicago (ORD) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
13.07.202514:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9166 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202514:15 | Malaysia Airlines 9171 | Los Angeles (LAX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202513:40 | Malaysia Airlines 9145 | New York (JFK) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202511:30 | Malaysia Airlines 9323 | Doha (DOH) Baku (GYD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202511:30 | Malaysia Airlines 9110 | Tokyo (HND) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202507:30 | Malaysia Airlines 9823 | Edinburgh (EDI) London (LHR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
13.07.202507:15 | Malaysia Airlines 9863 | Hamburg (HAM) London (LHR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202521:00 | Malaysia Airlines 9168 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202518:15 | Malaysia Airlines 2665 | Tawau (TWU) Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202517:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9468 | Chicago (ORD) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202517:45 | Malaysia Airlines 9164 | Tokyo (NRT) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202514:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9166 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202514:35 | Malaysia Airlines 2664 | Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Tawau (TWU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202513:40 | Malaysia Airlines 9145 | New York (JFK) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202512:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9165 | Tokyo (HND) Tokyo (KIX) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
12.07.202510:55 | Malaysia Airlines 9138 | Tokyo (HND) Dallas (DFW) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202517:49 | Malaysia Airlines 9468 | Chicago (ORD) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202514:15 | Malaysia Airlines 9171 | Los Angeles (LAX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202513:55 | Malaysia Airlines 9280 | Athens (ATH) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
11.07.202510:46 | Malaysia Airlines 9431 | Seattle (SEA) Chicago (ORD) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
10.07.202521:05 | Malaysia Airlines 9536 | Chicago (ORD) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202521:00 | Malaysia Airlines 9168 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202518:25 | Malaysia Airlines 1276 | Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Kuantan (KUA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202517:49 | Malaysia Airlines 9468 | Chicago (ORD) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202517:45 | Malaysia Airlines 9164 | Tokyo (NRT) Seattle (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202517:25 | Malaysia Airlines 5231 | Khasab (KHS) Muscat (MCT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202514:50 | Malaysia Airlines 9166 | Tokyo (KIX) Tokyo (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202518:30 | Malaysia Airlines 9104 | Tokyo (HND) New York (JFK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202512:55 | Malaysia Airlines 5440 | Banda Aceh (BTJ) Penang (PEN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202511:45 | Malaysia Airlines 5441 | Penang (PEN) Banda Aceh (BTJ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202511:30 | Malaysia Airlines 9110 | Tokyo (HND) Chicago (ORD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202508:55 | Malaysia Airlines 5683 | Amsterdam (AMS) Brussels (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202506:05 | Malaysia Airlines 5561 | Manila (MNL) Davao (DVO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202502:30 | Malaysia Airlines 4085 | Doha (DOH) Budapest (BUD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202522:35 | Malaysia Airlines 5568 | Tiruchirapally (TRZ) Chennai (MAA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202522:35 | Malaysia Airlines 5562 | Tiruchirapally (TRZ) Chennai (MAA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202521:05 | Malaysia Airlines 5566 | Chennai (MAA) Tiruchirapally (TRZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:55 | Malaysia Airlines 5574 | Tiruchirapally (TRZ) Bangalore (BLR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:55 | Malaysia Airlines 5605 | Okinawa (OKA) Taipei (TPE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:55 | Malaysia Airlines 5583 | Tiruchirapally (TRZ) Bangalore (BLR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:00 | Malaysia Airlines 9866 | London (LHR) Hamburg (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:00 | Malaysia Airlines 5611 | Tiruchirapally (TRZ) Chennai (MAA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:45 | Malaysia Airlines 4929 | Bangkok (BKK) Phuket (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:20 | Malaysia Airlines 5264 | Bangalore (BLR) Tiruchirapally (TRZ) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:10 | Malaysia Airlines 4868 | Phuket (HKT) Bangkok (BKK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202518:25 | Malaysia Airlines 5674 | Helsinki (HEL) Amsterdam (AMS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:20 | Malaysia Airlines 5693 | Amsterdam (AMS) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:10 | Malaysia Airlines 4841 | Helsinki (HEL) Doha (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
