Malaysia Airlines Compensation for Flight Delays and Cancellations

Written By Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated: October 22, 2024

Your Passenger Rights with Malaysia Airlines

If you have booked a flight with the airline that departs from the UK, then you can rest in the fact your rights are protected by UK Regulation 261. The European Union has a nearly identical set of airline regulations known as EU261 that would apply to you if you depart from any EU airport.

These sets of air passenger rights regulations guarantee compensation from the carrier for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. This means that you are entitled to care and assistance, refunds, financial compensation, and rebooked flights depending on your particular situation, the number of hours you’re delayed, and whether or not the airline is to blame for your flight disruption. 

If you travel to one of Malaysia Airlines’ other destinations, you won’t be covered by UK or EU Regulations, but the airline should provide you with care and assistance, refunds, and rebooked flights as stated in their contract of carriage. But in this article, we’re going to focus on your UK and EU entitlements.

Malaysia Airlines Flight Delay Compensation

Flight delays seem to be occurring with greater frequency, but if you happen to be departing from an EU or UK airport and your delay is at least 3 hours long, then you can expect to get delay compensation from Malaysia Airlines if they are at fault for the delay. In other words, if the delay was caused by something like a scheduling mishap, then you are eligible for compensation. However,  if the delay was caused by events outside the carrier’s control or by extraordinary circumstances, then you will not be eligible for compensation, but more on this later.  

Of interest:

At the moment, Malaysia Airlines only offers flights to the UK, but they have been adding new routes which may eventually lead to reopened destinations in the EU as well. The Director of Malaysia Aviation Group said, 

“Malaysia Airlines has undergone a chequered journey over the last decade, however through it all, our resilience has remained steadfast. As we move forward, our focus remains unwavering on delivering excellence and fostering continued growth, ensuring that every aspect of our service exceeds expectations and leaves a lasting impression for our valued passengers”. (Source: AviationSourceNews.com)

Malaysia Airlines Cancelled Flight Compensation 

You will be eligible for flight cancellation compensation if Malaysian Airlines cancels your flight with fewer than 2 weeks advance notice and if the cause of the cancellations was within the airline’s control. 

Nonetheless, Malaysia is still required to help you by offering the choice of:

• A rebooked flight or
• A full ticket refund that includes any unused part of your booking 

You can get financial compensation in addition to a refund or a rebooking. Plus, if you opted for a rebooking, you’re also entitled to care and assistance that includes:

• Meals
• Refreshments
• Hotel accommodation
• Transport to and from the hotel

Have you had a cancelled or delayed Malaysian flight in the last 6 years? It’s not too late to claim the compensation you deserve! Check your flight details below to see if your flight qualifies.Check Your Flight

Malaysia Airlines Refunds 

Airline refunds are provided to you when your flight is cancelled, and you decide not to continue your journey. EU and UK law also require Malaysia Airlines to issue a refund if you experience a delay that lasts 5 or more hours. Once again, you can still file a claim for compensation in addition to any refund you receive.

Denied Boarding & Missed Connections

Denied boarding happens when a flight is oversold. It’s a little bit like a gamble the airline takes to make sure its flights are full. But when all passengers check in and arrive in good time, then there are not enough seats for everyone, so someone will be denied boarding as a result. If this happens to you, then you should be offered a refund or a rebooked flight as well as financial compensation for the inconvenience. 

If you missed a connection, you should be offered an alternative flight, but if you missed the connecting flight because an earlier leg of your journey was delayed or cancelled, then you could also claim for financial compensation.

Malaysia Airlines Compensation: How Much Can You Get

Compensation amounts in the EU and UK are calculated by the distance of your flight and the number of hours you were delayed.

* Malaysia might try to reduce this amount by as much as 50%, but AirAdvisor always works to get the full amount.

What are Extraordinary Circumstances?

In earlier sections we mention that Malaysia Airlines is exempt from paying you financial compensation if the flight disruption resulted from extraordinary circumstances. By this, we’re referring to situations that the airline is unable to control despite their best efforts. Some examples of this include strikes at the airport or with air traffic control, air traffic control restrictions, weather that is too safe to fly in, protests or civil unrest, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks, to name a few.  So, if you have a delay or cancellation caused by one of these situations, you will not be eligible for cash compensation. 

PRO TIP: Always ask the airline what caused the flight disruption. You can also try to find out from airport staff or even check with other airlines in the same airport to see if they are also affected. If they aren’t then your disruption might be the airline’s fault.

Why You Can Trust AirAdvisor

Understandably, all this information can be overwhelming - leaving you to wonder what steps you should take next. If this is you, then breathe deep and know that our team of super-experienced legal professionals are here to help you through the entire process.

• We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis.
• Over 370,000 passengers have trusted us with their claims
• We have 98% win rate, and 7 years of experience in the field

So, don’t leave money on the table. Get started on your path to compensation today by entering your flight details below.Check Your Flight

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