If you are currently facing flight delay/disruption, lost baggage, denied boarding or seating arrangement issues with your child and need some short and quick answers, this is the right place for you. In this guide, we will highlight the most important things that you need to know to ensure a smoother journey ahead.
Content in This Post
- For Whom and When do These Rights Apply?
- Compensation And Other Entitlements During Flight Delay
- Rebooking
- Tarmac Delay
- Communication During Flight Disruptions
- Compensation For Lost/Damaged Luggage
- Denied Boarding Due to Operations Constraint
- Seating Arrangement for Children
For Whom and When do These Rights Apply?
All airlines flying from, to and within Canada.
Compensation And Other Entitlements During Flight Delay/Cancellation
Monetary compensation from the airlines (3 Hours And Above Delay)
– Only applicable when the delay or cancellation is within the airlines’ control.
Large airlines:
| Length of delay at arrival at the final destination (in hours) | 3-6 | 6-9 | Over 9 |
| Amount (in CAD $) | 400 | 700 | 1000 |
Small airlines:
| Length of delay at arrival at the final destination (in hours) | 3-6 | 6-9 | Over 9 |
| Amount (in CAD $) | 125 | 250 | 500 |
You have to file your claim with the airlines within 1 year. Airlines have to release monetary compensation, or in-kind, or an explanation in case of claim rejection within 30 days. Non-monetary compensation has to be something of higher value and can never expire.
Free accommodation and transportation to the accommodation for overnight delay
– Only applicable when the delay is extended overnight and within the airlines’ control.
Other Entitlements to be Given (2 Hours And Above Delay)
When the delay is within the airlines’ control, the airlines shall provide:
- Food and drinks in reasonable quantities, and
- Electronic means of communication (e.g. free wifi)
Rebookings
-Applicable if the delay is three hours or more
Delay/cancellation within the airlines’ control
- Passenger must be rebooked to the same cabin class.
- For large airlines: if their next available flight leaves nine or more hours after the original departure time, the passenger must be rebooked on another (competing) airline.
- Passenger is entitled for a full refund and additional CAD $400 for large airlines and CAD $125 for small airlines if rebooking arrangement does not meet a passenger’s travel needs (e.g. there is no longer any purpose to the travel).
Delay/cancellation outside the airlines’ control
- Large airlines are required to rebook passengers on another (competing) airline, if their next available flight does not depart within 48 hours.
Tarmac Delay
- Standard of treatment: The airlines, at a minimum and if possible, should provide access to working lavatories, proper ventilation and heating/cooling, food and drinks and the ability to communicate with people outside the plane for free.
- Maximum holding time on-board: Airlines has to return to the gate to allow passengers to disembark if tarmac delay is longer than 3 hours at a Canadian airport. The plane can stay an additional 45 minutes on the tarmac, if the flight is likely to take off within this time frame and that the airline is still capable to continue the above-mentioned standard of treatment.
Communication During Flight Disruptions
Airlines must provide flight status updates every 30 minutes until a departure time has been confirmed during flight delays, cancellations and boarding denials via the following communication channels:
- Audible announcement,
- Visible announcement, upon request
- Other electronic communication selected by passengers (e.g Email, SMS and etc)
Compensation For Lost/Damaged Luggage
Airlines held liable shall provide up to ~ CAD $2100 compensation for each passengers travelling on domestic and international flights.
Denied Boarding Due to Operations Constraint
Airlines have to seek volunteers before arbitrarily choosing passengers to get off the flight. For volunteers, the airlines must put in writing the benefits agreed prior to the flight departure. Based on the length of the delay at the point of final destination, the minimum compensation is as follows:
| Length of delay at arrival at the final destination (in hours) | 0 to 6 | 6 to 9 | More than 9 |
| Amount (in CAD $) | 900 | 1800 | 2400 |
Payment has to be released within 48 hours and passenger must be rebooked at free of charge.
Seating Arrangement for Children
At no extra cost and at the earliest time possible, airlines must assign children (under the age of 14) to be seated near their parent/guardian/tutor.
- Aged 5 or less: in a seat adjacent to their parent, guardian or tutor.
- Aged 5 – 11: in the same row and separated by no more than one seat from their parent, guardian or tutor.
- Aged 12 – 13: separated by no more than a row from the parent, guardian or tutor.