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Cathay Pacific earned the number 3 position in Cirium’s February 2024 On-time performance rankings for the Asia Pacific region with an OTP rating of 82.03%. Operating many flights to destinations all over the globe, this airline is popular with many travellers, but there’s always a risk of delays and cancellations. Thankfully, you have air passenger rights that can help off-set the inconvenience of flight disruptions if you departed from an EU or UK airport on a Cathay Pacific flight. In this article, we’re going to unpack the rules and regulations so that you’re armed with valuable knowledge the next time you fly.
“Our vision is to be one of the world’s greatest service brands, and that means a brand that our customers, our people and Hong Kong can be truly proud of. There’s a lot of work we need to do to achieve that vision.” - Ronald Lam, CEO, Cathay Pacific in an interview with Aviation Week.
Your Cathay Pacific Passenger Rights
Even though Cathay Pacific is based in Hong Kong, passengers from all countries can still enjoy the protections offered by the European Union, United Kingdom, and Canada as long as you’re travelling to those areas.
EU air passenger rights regulations can be found in EU 261/2004 and apply to all passengers who fly with Cathay Pacific and depart from an EU airport. Similarly, UK air passenger rights in UK 261 Regulations apply to any passenger departing from a UK airport, and Canadian regulations (Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations - APPR) cover Cathay Pacific passengers who arrive or depart from a Canadian airport.
All three sets of regulations protect passengers when their flights have been delayed or cancelled, or they have been denied boarding because a flight is oversold. The following table will help you understand your entitlements for each region.
Cathay Pacific Compensation in EU, UK, Canada | |||
Flight Delays | Flight Cancellations | Denied Boarding | |
EU 261 Regulations | Up to €600 in monetary compensation Depending on delay and travel distance Care & Assistance | Up to €600 in monetary compensation Rebooked flight OR Refund Care & Assistance | Up to €600 in monetary depending on delay and travel distance Option of refund or rebooked flight Care & Assistance |
UK 261 Regulations | Up to £520 in monetary compensation depending on delay length and travel distance Care & Assistance | Up to £520 in monetary compensation Rebooked Flight OR Refund Care & Assistance | Up to £520 in monetary compensation depending on delay and travel distance Option of refund or rebooked flight Care & Assistance |
Cathay Pacific Flight Delays and Compensation
In the EU and UK, if your flight delay lasts 3 hours or longer, you could be eligible for delay compensation up to £520 (€600) provided the delay wasn’t caused by extraordinary circumstances - meaning something outside the carrier’s control like severe weather or an airport strike. Even if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances, airlines are still required to provide you with:
- Written explanation of your passenger rights and
- Free access to communication via phone, FAX, emails and
- Care and assistance in the form of meals, refreshment, accommodation, and
- Transport to and from hotel accommodation
Cathay Pacific has a very high on time performance rating, so it might seem like they rarely have long delays. Passengers tend to see delays of 5 hours or more when they’ve had a cancellation or denied boarding situation and chose to be rebooked on another flight that doesn’t arrive at their final destination until the following day.
Still, if your flight is delayed by 5 hours or more then the airline must offer the compensation mentioned above in addition to a ticket refund including the parts of your journey that you have or haven’t used as a result of the long delay. You will also be offered a trip back to your point of departure if you decide not to carry on with your travel plans.
Find out which Cathay Pacific flights are most likely to be cancelled or delayed.
Cathay Pacific Cancellations - When You Can Get Compensation
If Cathay Pacific cancels your flight less than 14 days before departure from an EU or UK airport, then they must provide you with an alternate booking to your final destination. If you don’t want to continue with your trip, you can request a refund.
In addition to this, you are entitled to the care and assistance as well as financial compensation up to £520 (€600) depending how late you arrive at your final destination and the total distance of your flight. Again, financial compensation will only be owed to you only if the airline is at fault for the cancelled flight.
Bear in mind however, that if the airline offers you a replacement flight that lands at your final destination within 4 hours of your original flight, then the financial compensation you receive will be reduced by half.
For flights in Canada, Cathay Pacific is required to provide you with the same care compensation that the EU and UK regulations stipulate if you are offered a replacement flight and you have to wait in the airport for 3 hours or more. In addition you can expect financial compensation based on the amounts listed above as long as the airline is at fault.
Lastly, be very careful about accepting vouchers or other offers from the airline. It’s common for these to have plenty of restrictions, and accepting one could forfeit your right to cash compensation.
Read more about cancelled flight compensation.
If you’ve had a cancelled flight with Cathay Pacific you can quickly find out how much you could receive. Just enter your flight details below.
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Denied Boarding on a Cathay Pacific Flight
Many airlines, including Cathay Pacific, will oversell flights to safeguard against having to fly planes that are only partially booked. However, when all passengers show up for their flight, someone will have the misfortune of being denied boarding or bumped from the flight.
This kind of denied boarding shouldn’t be confused with times when an airline will not allow an intoxicated or unruly passenger to board. For the purposes of this section, we are only referring to the oversold flights by Cathay Pacific.
If this happens to you on a Cathay Pacific flight, then you are entitled to:
- A full ticket refund or
- An alternate flight and
- Care and assistance and
- Up to £520 (€600) or a flat fee of $400 CAD in Canada
Learn more in our denied boarding compensation guide.
How Much Compensation Can You Get
Your cash compensation will depend on the length of time you were delayed and the distance of your trip. As well, Cathay Pacific will only be liable for cash compensation if they are at fault and if they notified you of a cancellation with less than 14 days notice.
Cathay Pacific Compensation Amounts in EU and UK | |||
Delay Time | Flight Distance | ||
Flights under 1,500km | Flights between 1,500-3,500km | Flights over 3,500km | |
Over 3 hours | €250 (£220) | €400 (£350) | €600 (£520)* |
Under 3 hours | €0 | €0 | €0 |
* Cathay Pacific might try to reduce this amount by as much as 50%, but AirAdvisor always works to get the full amount.
When Cathay Pacific is Not Liable for Cash Compensation
We mentioned extraordinary circumstances as times when the airline is exempt for compensating you financially. These circumstances are defined as any situation outside the airlines’ control and include:
- Severe weather
- Air traffic control restrictions
- A manufacturer’s defect with the plane
- Civil unrest
- Airport Strikes
By contrast, an airline strike is within the airline’s realm of control, so if you have a flight disruption with Cathay Pacific as a result of a strike, then you are eligible for compensation.
How to File a Cathay Pacific Compensation Claim
If you choose to pursue a compensation claim with Cathay Pacific, then make your way to their site and look for their contact information. You will be required to write a letter that you will send to them as an email along with pertinent documents including:
- Boarding pass
- Ticket receipts
- Booking confirmation documents
AirAdvisor is Happy to Help
The claims process can be overwhelming, but that’s why we’re here to help! We can handle the entire process for you from start to finish so you have a better chance of getting the compensation you’re due.
- We have a 98% success rate
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- We don’t get our fee unless you get your compensation. No win, no fee.
If you’ve had a flight delay or cancellation with Cathay Pacific, why leave the money unclaimed? Get started today, and find out how much you could receive. Just enter your flight details below.Check Your Flight
FAQs
How long does it take to get a refund from Cathay Pacific?
It usually takes between 7 and 10 business days for Cathay Pacific to issue refunds.
What happens if Cathay Pacific refuses to pay compensation?
If this happens and you still feel that you are entitled to compensation, you can take the matter further and even escalate it to court. AirAdvisor can help you claim compensation and deal with airlines that are unwilling to pay. Contact our team to find out more.
What happens to your checked baggage if Cathay Pacific cancels your flight?
If you accept an alternate flight, then your baggage will be forwarded to your final destination, but if you decide not to travel, then your luggage will be returned to you in the reclaim area of the airport.