China Southern · EU261 · UK261 · APPR
China Southern delay & cancellation compensation
You could be owed
€600
per passenger, set by law
China Southern compensation calculator
China Southern compensation calculator
At a glance
Which rules cover China Southern
- ●China Southern is based in People's Republic of China, so EU261 covers its flights departing the EU (8 EU/EEA/Swiss airports in its network), not its flights into the EU.
- ●UK261 covers its flights departing the UK (4 UK airports in its network).
- ●Canada’s APPR covers its flights to, from and within Canada (2 Canadian airports).
- Based in
- People's Republic of China
- EU/EEA/Swiss airports
- 8
- UK airports
- 4
- Canadian airports
- 2
Set by law
China Southern compensation amounts
EU261
EU Regulation 261/2004
- Up to 1,500 km€250
- Intra-EU over 1,500 km, or 1,500–3,500 km€400
- Over 3,500 km€600
Covers flights departing the EU (any airline), and flights into the EU on an EU airline. Source: Your Europe (European Union): air passenger rights.
UK261
UK Regulation 261/2004 (UK261)
- Up to 1,500 km£220
- 1,500–3,500 km£350
- Over 3,500 km£520
Covers flights departing the UK (any airline), and flights into the UK on a UK or EU airline. Source: UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 7 (legislation.gov.uk).
APPR
Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations
- Large airline, 3–6 h lateC$400
- Large airline, 6–9 h lateC$700
- Large airline, 9 h+ lateC$1,000
Covers flights to, from and within Canada, on any airline. Source: Canadian Transportation Agency: Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
Hour by hour
What China Southern owes you, and when
- 2 h late
1. Care starts
Meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are delayed overnight (from 2 hours on short flights, 3–4 hours on longer ones).
- 3 h late
2. Cash compensation
Arrive 3 hours or more late for a reason within the airline’s control and you can claim a fixed amount per passenger.
- 5 h late
3. Refund option
Delayed 5 hours or more and no longer want to travel? You can ask for a refund and, if needed, a flight back to where you started.
Who pays
When China Southern has to pay, and when it doesn’t
China Southern usually has to pay for
- ✓Most technical problems with the aircraft
- ✓Strikes by the airline’s own staff
- ✓Overbooking (denied boarding)
Extraordinary circumstances (no cash)
- Bad weather that makes flying unsafe
- Air traffic control restrictions and decisions
- Security risks and political instability
- Strikes by staff outside the airline (for example, air traffic controllers)
Even then, the airline still owes you care (food, drinks, a hotel if needed) and a refund or rerouting for cancellations.
Two ways
How to claim from China Southern
Free, do it yourself
Claim directly with China Southern
- 1. Keep your boarding pass, booking reference and any receipts.
- 2. Ask staff in writing what caused the delay or cancellation.
- 3. Use China Southern’s complaint or claim form on its website.
- 4. No answer in 2 months, or a refusal you disagree with? Complain to the national enforcement body, or use dispute resolution or small claims.
No win, no fee
Let a claims company handle it
- They check eligibility for free and chase China Southern for you, including in court.
- They keep a share of the payout only if they win: check their fee before you start.
Good to know
China Southern compensation: questions
How much compensation can I get from China Southern?+
EU261: €250, €400, €600; UK261: £220, £350, £520; APPR: C$400, C$700, C$1,000, per passenger, depending on distance (or, under APPR, how late you arrive).
Does EU261 apply to China Southern?+
Only on flights departing an EU/EEA/Swiss airport. China Southern is based in People's Republic of China, so its flights into the EU are not covered by EU261.
Can I claim if my China Southern flight was cancelled?+
Usually, if you were told less than 14 days before departure and the cause was within the airline’s control, unless you were rerouted close to your original times. You can also choose a refund or rerouting.
How do I claim compensation from China Southern?+
Claim free through China Southern’s complaint or claim form on its website, keeping your boarding pass and booking reference. If it refuses or doesn’t answer within 2 months, go to the national enforcement body, or use a no-win, no-fee service such as AirHelp.
What if China Southern says it was extraordinary circumstances?+
Bad weather, air traffic control decisions and security risks are genuine exceptions. Most technical faults and strikes by the airline’s own staff are not, so ask for the reason in writing and challenge a refusal you think is wrong.
Other airlines based in People's Republic of China
Rules and amounts from the official sources: Your Europe (European Union): air passenger rights; UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 7 (legislation.gov.uk); Canadian Transportation Agency: Air Passenger Protection Regulations. China Southern’s airports from Wikipedia’s destination list; home country from Wikidata. Distances are straight-line. General information, not legal advice. AirConnect may earn a commission if you claim through our links, at no extra cost to you.