A flight delayed by a few hours can cause you to miss a connection or an important event. As soon as a delay exceeds 3 hours upon arrival, you may be entitled to compensation in Canada, from $400 to $1,000 depending on the length of the delay and the size of the carrier.
The airline must also offer you, after two hours of waiting, a pick-up that includes snacks, means of communication (calls, emails) and accommodation if an overnight wait is required. These rights to assistance are essential and must be automatically offered by the company as soon as the conditions are met.
If the reasons for the delay are within the company’s control (operational or commercial issues), you can also get compensation. On the other hand, exceptional circumstances (weather conditions, medical emergencies, etc.) may exempt the carrier from this obligation.
Most airlines often seek to minimize their responsibilities by offering travel credits or invoking exceptional circumstances to avoid paying compensation.
To ensure that you get the compensation you are legally entitled to, without wasting time, money or energy, trust Volannule.com.
A delayed flight is never trivial: it can miss a connection, a business meeting or a vacation that has been prepared for months. But Canadian law protects travellers in these cases and requires airlines.
If the delay in arrival is more than 3 hours, you may be entitled to compensation. The amount depends on the type of carrier and the length of the delay:
Small carriers (regional or low-cost) offer slightly lower sums, but the principle is the same: the longer the delay, the higher the compensation. These amounts are intended to compensate for the loss of time, inconvenience and unforeseen costs caused by the delay.
As soon as the wait exceeds 2 hours, the airline must provide you with minimum assistance:
These rights to assistance are not linked to the amount of compensation: they must be automatically offered as soon as the waiting threshold is exceeded, without the passenger having to claim them.
Compensation is due if the delay is due to an airline issue, such as:
In these situations, the company must compensate the passengers, but also reorganize the trip as soon as possible, either by transferring them to the next flight, or by offering them an alternative itinerary or a full refund.
Certain situations exempt the company from any compensation, especially when they are beyond its control. It’s:
Even in these situations, the company is still obliged to assist you (food, communication, accommodation) and to get you to your destination as soon as possible.
To be compensated, keep proof of your delay:
If the company does not meet its obligations, you can file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), which is the regulator and can require the carrier to compensate passengers.