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Hu Dongcheng, 19, a student at Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, had booked a Hainan Airlines flight from Shenzhen to Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia, scheduled to depart at 7:40 a.m. on April 3, Chinese news site Sixth Tone reported.

About a week before departure, the airline informed him that the flight would instead leave at 7:30 a.m. due to operational reasons.

Hu said the earlier departure also brought forward the check-in and boarding deadlines, forcing him to book a hotel near Shenzhen Airport the night before to avoid missing the flight.

The hotel cost him 100 yuan (US$15), he wrote on lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote.

“I asked for a refund, a free ticket change, or reimbursement for my hotel and taxi expenses, but the airline refused,” Hu said in an interview on June 25.

The airline argued that the schedule adjustment did not exceed the airline’s 15-minute threshold.

On March 27, Hu filed a lawsuit with the Bao’an District People’s Court in Shenzhen, seeking reimbursement for his hotel bill and the 50-yuan court filing fee.

Under China’s civil aviation passenger service regulations, airlines are required to provide assistance when flight schedules change, although each carrier sets its own rules for refunds and ticket changes.

Hainan Airlines insisted that moving the flight 10 minutes earlier was a routine schedule adjustment.

Under its policy at the time, passengers were entitled to free changes or refunds only if a flight was brought forward by more than 15 minutes.

Hu argued that the policy was unfair because passengers face penalties if they arrive late, while airlines can unilaterally move departure times without accepting similar responsibility, iFeng reported.

“I believe holding airlines accountable is something I should do as someone who loves flying,” he said.

Hu added that the case was never about the money. Instead, he wanted to challenge a policy that shifts the burden of schedule changes onto passengers, especially those who depend on public transportation or carefully planned itineraries, East Money reported.

The court accepted the case on May 7.

Hainan Airlines agreed on May 22 to reimburse Hu’s hotel expenses.

“I’ve received compensation from Hainan Airlines,” Hu told media last month.

Chinese media reported that the case has prompted broader changes across the industry.

In early June, Tianjin Airlines and Spring Airlines removed their 15-minute exemption for earlier departures, allowing passengers to request free ticket changes or refunds whenever an airline moves a flight to an earlier time.

The lawsuit also drew widespread praise online.

“Arguing with airlines is very difficult,” one commenter wrote.

“Many people give up because the process is so complicated and simply accept being treated unfairly.”

“A progressive society needs courageous people like him,” another wrote.