Meals and hotel during a flight delay: what Canadian airlines must provide

When the airline must look after you

• The cause is within the airline’s control, including safety reasons.
• You were told of the delay or cancellation less than 12 hours before the departure time on your original ticket.

For causes outside the airline’s control, like weather or air traffic control, the regulation sets no meal or hotel obligations, though the airline’s own terms may offer some.

What it must provide

• After 2 hours past your original departure time: food and drink in reasonable quantities (taking into account the wait, the time of day and where you are), and a way to communicate, such as Wi-Fi or a phone.
• If you have to wait overnight: a hotel or similar, reasonable for the location, plus transport there and back to the airport.
• All free of charge. The airline may limit this only if providing it would delay you further.

Paid for it yourself?

• If the airline didn’t provide what it owed and you paid reasonable costs, you can claim them back in writing. Keep every receipt.
• “Reasonable” matters: a modest meal and a standard hotel, not a bar tab or a luxury suite.
• This is separate from cash compensation for the delay. You can be owed both.
• If your travel or credit card insurance already paid an expense, don’t claim the same receipt from the airline too.
• On international trips, the Montreal Convention can also cover losses caused by the delay.

Stuck on the plane (tarmac delays)

• While you’re held on the aircraft, the airline must provide working toilets, ventilation and heating or cooling, food and drink, and a way to communicate if feasible.
• At an airport in Canada, it must let you get off after 3 hours, unless take-off is likely within 3 hours 45 minutes and it keeps looking after you, or leaving isn’t possible for safety, security, air traffic or customs reasons.