Premium flights, passenger rights: Your Air Canada experience
Even established, full-service airlines like Air Canada (founded in 1937, headquartered in Montreal, Canadá) experience operational issues. When you book a flight with a premium carrier, you expect reliability.
If your Air Canada flight has been disrupted, you are covered by the European EC 261 Regulation. You could be owed up to €600 per passenger. We help you enforce your rights against major airlines without the stress of dealing with their complex legal departments.
If your Air Canada flight has been disrupted, you are covered by the European EC 261 Regulation. You could be owed up to €600 per passenger. We help you enforce your rights against major airlines without the stress of dealing with their complex legal departments.
Air Canada Operational Performance
Based on our latest data, out of 8500 recent departures:
- 78% of Air Canada flights departed on time.
- 4.2% were cancelled.
- 17.8% suffered significant delays.
Your passenger rights with Air Canada
Under EU and UK law (EC 261), Air Canada's passengers are entitled to financial compensation in specific scenarios:
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Delayed Flights
If you arrived at your final destination over 3 hours late, you could claim from Air Canada.
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Cancelled Flights
Air Canada must compensate you if they cancelled your flight less than 14 days before departure.
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Denied Boarding
If Air Canada overbooked the flight and denied you boarding against your will, you have full rights to compensation.
How much Air Canada compensation can you get?
As a legacy carrier, Air Canada operates many long-haul flights where the maximum €600 compensation applies. The payment tiers are:
- euro_symbol€250: For short flights up to 1,500km.
- euro_symbol€400: For EU flights over 1,500km, and non-EU flights between 1,500km and 3,500km.
- euro_symbol€600: For long-haul Air Canada flights over 3,500km.
Lost baggage with Air Canada
If Air Canada loses or damages your luggage, you must fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) before leaving the airport. You could be entitled to compensation under the Montreal Convention.
How to handle a Air Canada disruption
Follow these steps if your Air Canada flight is interrupted:
- 1 Keep your documents: Save your Air Canada booking reference and boarding pass.
- 2 Ask for the reason: Ask Air Canada staff at the gate exactly why the flight is delayed or cancelled.
- 3 Request care: Ask Air Canada for food and drink vouchers during long waits.
- 4 Don't sign waivers: Be careful not to sign away your rights in exchange for Air Canada air miles or vouchers.
- 5 Keep expense receipts: Keep receipts for any extra expenses incurred.
When Air Canada cancels your flight
If Air Canada cancels your flight abruptly, you have the right to either a full refund or an alternative flight to your destination. In addition, if you were informed less than 14 days prior, you can claim up to €600 in cash compensation.
Severe delays with Air Canada
For flights delayed by more than 3 hours at arrival, Air Canada is required by European law to pay compensation. The amount depends strictly on the flight distance, not the ticket price.
Bumpped from a Air Canada flight?
Overbooking is a known practice. If Air Canada denies you boarding due to overcapacity, you are entitled to the same high levels of compensation as if the flight had been cancelled.
When Air Canada doesn't have to pay
Compensation is not applicable in 'extraordinary circumstances' – events outside of Air Canada's control. Examples include severe adverse weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, or medical emergencies. Air Canada must prove these circumstances to deny your claim.
Can you claim for Air Canada staff strikes?
Yes. If the strike involves Air Canada's own employees, such as their pilots or cabin crew, it is considered within their control, and you are eligible for compensation.
Time limits for claiming against Air Canada
Depending on the jurisdiction, you usually have between 3 to 6 years to submit your claim against Air Canada for a past flight disruption.
Let us deal with Air Canada
Don't get bogged down in Air Canada's customer service queues. We operate on a 'No Win, No Fee' basis, meaning we take all the financial risk.