Air Canada Compensation: Flight Delay and Cancellation
Air Canada operates over a thousand flights daily and disruptions are quite common. Based on Cirium’s OTP Annual Review, only 71.36% of the airline’s flights arrived on time in 2024. If you happened to be on one of the flights that landed with a delay, you may be entitled to compensation under European and Canadian air passenger laws. Find out when you can claim Air Canada compensation from our guide below.
When can you claim Air Canada Compensation?
Laws like Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) protect travelers on flights operated by Air Canada, while EC 261/2004 applies to flights departing from the European Union. Let’s analyse all possible scenarios.
Air Canada Flight Delay Compensation
You may be eligible for compensation under the APPR (also known as Canada’s Passenger Bill of Rights) on flights operated by Air Canada within, to, or from Canada if the delay is within the airline’s control and leads to an arrival delay of three hours or more.
The APPR divides the flight delay compensation tiers into large and small airlines. As Canada's largest carrier, you can claim the following amounts depending on the arrival delay:
- CAD $400 for delays between 3 to 6 hours
- CAD $700 for delays between 6 to 9 hours
- CAD $1,000 for delays that go beyond 9 hours
Alternatively, you can claim Air Canada flight delay compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 if your flight departs from a European airport and arrives at its final destination with a delay of three hours or more. Here’s how much you can claim:
|
Flight Distance |
Delay Duration |
Air Canada Compensation Amount |
|
Up to 1,500 km |
3+ hours |
€250 |
|
1,500 – 3,500 km |
3+ hours |
€400 |
|
Over 3,500 km |
3-4 hours |
€300 |
|
Over 3,500 km |
4+ hours |
€600 |
Additionally, delays over 2 hours give you a right to care, meaning the airline is obliged to provide food and refreshments, and accommodation for overnight delays.
Air Canada Flight Cancellation
You are entitled to Air Canada compensation if your flight gets canceled within 14 days of departure and the airline fails to offer an appropriate alternative flight.
Any flight that departs from the European Union makes you eligible for up to €600 in compensation unless the reason was due to extraordinary circumstances. The Air Canada flight cancellation compensation amounts mirror those for delays.
Additionally, the airline is obliged to pay CAD 400 for all other flights if you opt for a refund instead of a rebooking in cases of cancellations.
Air Canada Denied Boarding
Denied boarding can occur when Air Canada overbooks a flight and more passengers check in than available seats. In such cases, the airline must first ask for volunteers willing to give up their seats in exchange for compensation or alternative travel arrangements. If there are not enough volunteers, you may be involuntarily denied boarding.
In such cases, flights departing from the EU entitle you to Air Canada compensation between €250 and €600, identical to the amounts for delays and cancellations.
All other flights fall under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations and include significantly different Air Canada denied boarding compensation amounts. How much you can get depends on the delay of your arrival after the disruption:
|
Delay at final destination |
Air Canada Flight Delay Compensation (CAD) |
|
0-6 hours |
$900 |
|
6-9 hours |
$1,800 |
|
9+ hours |
$2,400 |
Air Canada Refund Policy
Air Canada allows a 24-hour grace period during which you can cancel bookings for a full refund without additional charges. After this period, your refund eligibility depends on the fare type, as some are strictly non-refundable. Others include an administrative fee for refund requests.
Nevertheless, certain scenarios allow partial or full refunds regardless of your ticket type. Here’s the complete list:
- Flight Cancellations: If Air Canada cancels your flight and you no longer wish to travel.
- Denied Boarding: If you are denied boarding, you can choose not to accept an alternative flight and claim a refund.
- Downgraded Seating: If you are moved to a lower class than the one you booked, you are entitled to a refund of the fare difference, or you can opt for a full refund. This rule applies only to flights to and from the United States.
- Schedule changes: Air Canada accepts refund requests from passengers whose itinerary was rescheduled by three hours or more.
- Airport changes: You can request a refund if the airline changes the airport you depart from or arrive at.
- Additional stopovers: You can also request a refund if the airline changes your itinerary by adding additional stopovers.
Common Air Canada Compensation and Refund Process Issues (and Expert Tips)
Below is a list of issues people often face when dealing with Air Canada compensation and refund claims.
Fare Rules & Refundable Tickets
While Air Canada does offer refundable ticket options, some Air Canada fares are non-refundable or feature strict change policies and fees. Passengers often mistakenly believe they are eligible for a refund or free rebooking when their fare conditions do not allow it.
Expert Tip: Consider booking Comfort or Latitude tickets if flexibility is important, as the Basic and Standard fares are strictly non-refundable.
Delayed Processing Times
Regulation EC 261/2004 mandates that Air Canada refunds should be processed within seven days, and Canadian regulations include a 30-day deadline. Nevertheless, delays still occur regularly, especially during peak travel season.
Expert Tip: Keep all email correspondences and reference numbers. If necessary, escalate the issue to the relevant regulatory body, such as the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) or a national enforcement body within the EU.
Downgrading
People are often unaware of their right to partial fare reimbursement when downgraded to a lower ticket class than the one they booked. Under APPR, the airline must refund the fare difference. Under EC 261, the Air Canada compensation amount depends on the flight distance:
|
Flight Distance |
Reimbursement (Percentage ot Ticket Price) |
|
Up to 1,500 km |
30% refund |
|
1,500 – 3,500 km |
50% refund |
|
Over 3,500 km |
75% refund |
Expert Tip: If you are downgraded, do not accept any offer from the airline before understanding your rights. If you believe your compensation amount is incorrect, refer to EC 261 or APPR guidelines and submit your claim accordingly.
Proving Eligibility for Compensation
Airlines may argue that a flight disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances, thus denying compensation claims.
Expert Tip: Keep all relevant documents and airline communications regarding disruption. If you believe the airline rejected your claim unfairly, seek assistance from a legal service specialising in air passenger rights like SkyRefund.
Why SkyRefund?
Airlines can dispute eligibility and leave inexperienced passengers at a dead end. SkyRefund can take over your case and handle the full process on your behalf. Our legal experts will manage every step, including any legal proceedings, and you will never have to hear from Air Canada again. If you believe you are eligible for Air Canada compensation, submit your claim today, as there are strict deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to receive an Air Canada refund?
Refunds should be processed within seven days under EC 261/2004, while Canadian regulations require airlines to process refunds within 30 days.
Does Air Canada provide compensation for flights delayed due to weather?
No, Air Canada does not compensate passengers for delays caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as bad weather.
What if Air Canada rebooks me on a much later flight?
You may be eligible for compensation if your new flight departs 3+ hours later than the original.
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