Canada flight compensation (APPR), in plain words
Canada's rules cover every flight to, from or within Canada. They pay less than Europe's and the airline has more ways out, but the money is real.
Which flights it covers
Every flight to, from or within Canada, on any airline, including connecting flights on the same ticket.
What you get
It depends on how late you reached your final destination and whether the airline is "large" (2 million or more passengers a year) or "small".
| How late | Large airline | Small airline |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 6 hours | CA$400 | CA$125 |
| 6 to 9 hours | CA$700 | CA$250 |
| 9 hours or more | CA$1,000 | CA$500 |
Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Flair, Air Transat and Sunwing are large. So are the big US, European and Asian airlines. Regional carriers like PAL, Air North and Pacific Coastal are small.
The catch: it must be the airline's fault
Canada sorts every disruption into three bins:
- Within the airline's control (crew scheduling, overbooking, routine maintenance): compensation owed.
- Within its control but required for safety (an unexpected mechanical fault): no compensation, but the airline must rebook you and look after you.
- Outside its control (weather, air traffic control, security, a medical emergency): no compensation. The airline must rebook you, and refund you if it can't get you out within 48 hours.
Airlines lean hard on the middle bin. If you're told "safety" or "operational reasons", ask in writing exactly what happened. The Canadian Transportation Agency has ruled against airlines that used vague reasons.
Bumped off an overbooked flight
| How late you arrived | Owed |
|---|---|
| Under 6 hours | CA$900 |
| 6 to 9 hours | CA$1,800 |
| 9 hours or more | CA$2,400 |
Also owed
After a 2-hour delay the airline must give you food and drink and a way to communicate. If you're stuck overnight, a hotel and transport. These apply when the cause was within the airline's control, safety-related or not.
How to claim
- Ask the airline in writing within 1 year of the flight. Every airline has a compensation form on its website. Quote "Air Passenger Protection Regulations, section 19".
- The airline has 30 days to pay or tell you why it won't.
- If it refuses or goes quiet, file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency. It's free, though the queue is long. Small claims court is a faster option in some provinces.