Cathay Pacific delay compensation: how to claim it yourself
If your Cathay Pacific flight arrived 3 or more hours late, was cancelled at short notice or you were bumped, you may be owed up to £520 or €600 per passenger. Check for free, then claim directly and keep all of it.
Check my Cathay Pacific flightWhich Cathay Pacific flights are covered?
Cathay Pacific is licensed in HK, so it counts as a non-UK, non-EU airline.
- Cathay Pacific flights departing the UK are covered by UK261, and flights departing the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland by EU261.
- Flights into the UK or EU on Cathay Pacific are not covered, because it is not a UK or EU airline. Your departure country's law may help.
How much you can claim
| Flight distance | UK261 | EU261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km (and intra-EU over 1,500 km) | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km, 3–4 hours late | £260 | €300 |
| Over 3,500 km, 4+ hours late | £520 | €600 |
Per passenger, for arrival delays of 3 hours or more, cancellations with less than 14 days' notice, and involuntary denied boarding. Not payable if Cathay Pacific proves extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control restrictions. Technical faults and the airline's own staff strikes usually don't count.
How to claim from Cathay Pacific
- Check your flight with our free checker to confirm which law applies and how much you're owed.
- Send a claim to Cathay Pacific through its claim or complaint form at cathaypacific.com, quoting the Regulation and the amount. Our letter pack writes it for you.
- Follow up if you haven't been paid after about 4 weeks.
- Escalate after 8 weeks: for UK261 claims to CEDR Aviation Adjudication Scheme, the ADR scheme Cathay Pacific belongs to. For EU261 claims, go to the national enforcement body.
Questions
How much compensation can I get from Cathay Pacific?
Under UK261, £220 (up to 1,500 km), £350 (1,500–3,500 km) or £520 (over 3,500 km; £260 if 3–4 hours late). Under EU261, €250, €400 or €600 (€300 if a long-haul flight is 3–4 hours late). Amounts are per passenger.
Which Cathay Pacific flights are covered?
Cathay Pacific flights departing the UK are covered by UK261, and flights departing the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland by EU261. Flights into the UK or EU on Cathay Pacific are not covered, because it is not a UK or EU airline. Your departure country's law may help.
What if Cathay Pacific rejects my claim?
For UK261 claims, escalate to CEDR Aviation Adjudication Scheme after 8 weeks or after a final rejection. For EU261 claims, complain to the national enforcement body in the country where the disruption happened. You can also go to the small claims court.
Do I need a claims company to claim from Cathay Pacific?
No. You can claim directly from Cathay Pacific for free and keep all the compensation. Claims companies typically keep 35% or more.
Important: DelayOwed is a self-help guidance tool, not a law firm or claims company, and is not affiliated with any airline. Airline names are used only to describe which flights this guide covers.