The short answer
If an Air Canada flight got you to your destination 3 hours or more late for a reason within its control, like a crew shortage, Air Canada owes each passenger $400 (3 to 6 hours), $700 (6 to 9 hours) or $1,000 (9 hours or more).
Which flights
- Flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express (Jazz) are all large-airline flights.
- A regional partner flying on Air Canada’s behalf owes the same large-airline amounts.
- On a codeshare, check who operated the flight (it’s on your boarding pass). If a partner such as a foreign airline operated it, you claim from that airline, under its size.
How much Air Canada owes
Air Canada is a large airline under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), so these are the amounts per passenger:
| Arrived late by | Large airline |
|---|---|
| 3 to under 6 hours | $400 |
| 6 to under 9 hours | $700 |
| 9 hours or more | $1,000 |
If your flight was cancelled and you took a refund because the new flight didn’t meet your travel needs, the amount is $400 per passenger. Amounts are in Canadian dollars and go to each passenger who was delayed, whoever paid for the tickets.
When it’s owed
- You reached the final destination on your original ticket 3 hours or more late (or your flight was cancelled and you were refunded).
- The cause was within Air Canada’s control and not required for safety: for example a crew shortage or scheduled maintenance. Not weather that made flying unsafe, air traffic control or a strike. See why the reason matters.
- You were told 14 days or less before departure.
On top of compensation, if the cause was within Air Canada’s control and you were told less than 12 hours ahead, it must provide meals after 2 hours and a hotel overnight: see meals and hotel.
How to claim
- Send a written claim to Air Canada within one year of the flight, for each passenger. Keep a copy or a screenshot of what you sent.
- Air Canada has 30 days to pay or explain why not.
- Compensation must be paid in money. A voucher is only allowed if it’s worth more, never expires and you agree in writing: see voucher or cash.
- If Air Canada refuses, offers less or doesn’t answer within 30 days, you can complain to the Canadian Transportation Agency for free.
Air Canada’s own eligibility check
Air Canada has its own online check and claim form. Its check applies Air Canada’s view of the cause, which is exactly what passengers and airlines disagree about. Air Canada says you can still submit a claim even if its check says you’re not eligible. Our free check gives you an independent view.
An example
A Toronto to Vancouver flight arrives 4 hours 10 minutes late because of a crew shortage: $400 per passenger. Two travelling together are owed $400 each. If the delay had stretched to 6 hours 30 minutes, it would be $700 each.
FlightPayback is independent and not affiliated with Air Canada.