Flight Delay Compensation Canada

If a Canadian flight is delayed, passengers have certain rights established by the Montreal Convention. However, if you were travelling to or from the European Union, EU air passengers' rights may apply and make you eligible for flight delay compensation in Canada. If you have faced a flight delay while on board a Canadian flight, read on to find out about the compensation you may be owed.

There are also several scenarios where a passenger may apply their rights for a delayed Canadian flight under the European Union regulation EC 261/2004. Flights that can be considered under the EC 261/2004 must either arrive in the EU from outside the EU but be operated by an EU airline, or take off from the EU. Also, the passenger may not have claimed benefits or compensation from a non-EU country for the same flight.

If your flight fits the EC 261/2004 regulations, you should also be able to confirm the following. You must have checked in on time for the departure, the flight must have been operated no more than three years ago, and you must have arrived at the destination with more than three hours of delay. If your Canadian flight fits all these criteria, then you can claim up to 650 US Dollars in financial compensation.

AirHelp is the world's largest air passenger rights organization, here to help air travelers secure compensation for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights.

We make claiming compensation easy and stress-free. Whether you are unsure of your rights, lack the time, or simply want an expert to handle your entire claim for you, AirHelp can help you get what you are rightfully owed.

We operate on a no win, no fee basis, so you can check your compensation risk-free.

How do you know when you should claim compensation for a delayed or canceled flight? Though the law can be complicated, we're here to break it down for you:

Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late.
Canceled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was canceled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.
Overbookings: you are owed compensation any time you are denied boarding through no fault of your own — so long as you didn't voluntarily give up your seat.

We should note that if extraordinary circumstances were involved, arirlines are under no obligation to pay compensation. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include bad weather, travel restrictions, and air traffic control strikes. Though these situations cause delays and cancellations, the airline isn't at fault, so can't be expected to offer compensation.

Remember these are European flight regulations and so only apply to flights departing from an EU airport, or flights landing in the EU with a European airline. The table below makes it clear which flights are covered:

Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261

In some circumstances the compensation amount may differ from the standard amounts shown above. The easiest way to find out what you’re owed is to use our Compensation Calculator.

If you experience a flight delay or cancellation, here's what you should do:

• Hold onto your boarding pass and other travel documents.

• Ask why the flight was delayed or canceled.

• Request food, drinks, and if necessary, free transport and hotel accommodation.

• If you had a canceled flight, ask for an alternative flight or a refund.

• Keep all receipts of any extra expenses you may have had, including necessary food, clothing, etc.

• Be careful not to sign any waivers or accept vouchers that will require you to waive your right to compensation.