Flight disrupted in Canada? Get up to C",000 in compensation.
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C",000 is the delay/cancellation tier; denied boarding has different amounts.
Coverage
Air Passenger Protection Regulations
Eligibility depends on the facts of the journey you submit.
Quick answer
Could your flight qualify?
You may be entitled to compensation if your delay, cancellation, involuntary denied boarding or disrupted connection falls within the APPR rules. For delays and cancellations, compensation generally depends on the disruption being within the airline's control and not required for safety, together with the resulting arrival delay and other applicable conditions.
On this page
Passenger rights
Which flights can be covered?
The APPR has broad geographic scope. It can apply even when the airline itself is not Canadian.
Flights travelling within Canada can fall under the APPR.
Flights departing from Canada can fall under the APPR.
Flights arriving in Canada can fall under the APPR.
Connecting flights are included within the scope of the regulations.
Flight disruptions
What types of disruption may qualify?
Delayed flight
An eligible delay can qualify for compensation when the disruption is within the airline's control, is not required for safety, and causes you to reach your final destination at least three hours late.
Cancelled flight
An eligible cancellation can lead to compensation where the applicable APPR conditions are met. The amount can depend on the resulting delay at your final destination and the size of the airline.
Denied boarding
If you are denied boarding against your will for a reason within the airline's control and not required for safety, APPR compensation can apply based on the resulting arrival delay.
Missed connection
A missed connection can be relevant when a delay or cancellation on a connected itinerary causes you to reach the final destination on your original ticket late. The underlying APPR conditions still apply.
Compensation
How much compensation could you receive?
Canada uses fixed minimum compensation amounts for eligible disruptions. Delay and cancellation compensation differs between large and small airlines, while denied boarding has its own compensation scale.
Delay or cancellation compensation
For eligible delays and cancellations, the minimum compensation depends on how late you arrive at the final destination shown on your original ticket and whether the operating airline is classified as large or small under the APPR.
- Arrival delay
- 3 hours to less than 6 hours
- Large airline
- CAD 400
- Small airline
- CAD 125
- Arrival delay
- 6 hours to less than 9 hours
- Large airline
- CAD 700
- Small airline
- CAD 250
- Arrival delay
- 9 hours or more
- Large airline
- CAD 1,000
- Small airline
- CAD 500
| Arrival delay | Large airline | Small airline |
|---|---|---|
| 3 hours to less than 6 hours | CAD 400 | CAD 125 |
| 6 hours to less than 9 hours | CAD 700 | CAD 250 |
| 9 hours or more | CAD 1,000 | CAD 500 |
These minimum amounts apply where the APPR compensation conditions for the delay or cancellation are met.
Denied boarding compensation
For eligible involuntary denied boarding, compensation is based on how late you arrive at your final destination.
- Arrival delay
- Less than 6 hours
- Minimum compensation
- CAD 900
- Arrival delay
- 6 hours to less than 9 hours
- Minimum compensation
- CAD 1,800
- Arrival delay
- 9 hours or more
- Minimum compensation
- CAD 2,400
| Arrival delay | Minimum compensation |
|---|---|
| Less than 6 hours | CAD 900 |
| 6 hours to less than 9 hours | CAD 1,800 |
| 9 hours or more | CAD 2,400 |
Denied boarding compensation applies when the passenger is denied boarding against their will in circumstances covered by the APPR.
In some eligible delay or cancellation cases where the passenger receives a refund instead of continuing the journey, the APPR also provides minimum compensation of CAD 400 for a large carrier or CAD 125 for a small carrier.
Eligibility
What determines whether compensation applies?
Not every delayed or cancelled flight produces a compensation entitlement. The APPR looks at the circumstances of the disruption as well as the impact on the passenger.
The cause of the disruption matters
For delay and cancellation compensation, the disruption must generally be within the airline's control and not required for safety. Events outside the airline's control are treated differently.
Final arrival time matters
For passengers who continue travelling after an eligible delay or cancellation, the compensation tier is based on how late they arrive at the destination shown on the original ticket.
Airline size can change the amount
The APPR distinguishes between large and small carriers for delay and cancellation compensation. The airline's tariff identifies its APPR classification.
The operating airline is important
The carrier operating the affected flight is generally responsible for the APPR obligations associated with that disruption.
There is a claim deadline
A request for minimum compensation for an eligible delay or cancellation must be made to the carrier within one year of the disruption.
The airline must respond
After receiving a compensation request, the airline has 30 days to pay the amount owed or explain in writing why it believes compensation is not payable.
Important conditions
When compensation may not apply
A disruption can still be frustrating even when APPR compensation is not payable. Compensation depends on the legal category of the disruption and the applicable conditions.
A delay or cancellation caused by circumstances outside the airline's control will generally not qualify for compensation for inconvenience.
A disruption within the airline's control but required for safety is treated differently from one that is within the airline's control and not required for safety.
For passengers who continue travelling after a delay or cancellation, an arrival delay of less than three hours falls below the standard APPR delay-compensation tiers.
Voluntarily giving up your seat is different from being denied boarding against your will and does not create the same denied-boarding compensation entitlement.
Connecting journeys
Connecting flights are covered too
The APPR applies to connecting flights as well as direct journeys. If a disruption on one part of your itinerary causes you to reach the final destination shown on your original ticket late, that final arrival delay can be relevant to the compensation assessment. The exact outcome still depends on the operating carrier, cause of the disruption and other APPR conditions.
Before you claim
What should you keep?
Keeping clear travel records can make it easier to assess what happened and support a claim.
Your booking confirmation and full itinerary.
Boarding passes, e-tickets or other proof of travel.
Airline emails, text messages or app notifications about the disruption.
Any explanation the airline provided for the delay, cancellation or denied boarding.
Records showing your replacement flight and actual arrival time.
Receipts for reasonable out-of-pocket disruption expenses where relevant.
Claim with Travaro
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