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Latest border and travel measures

This news release may not reflect the current border and travel measures. Check COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders for the latest requirements to enter Canada.

Important notice

Note that information and resources on the coronavirus (COVID-19) are available on Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

Adjustments to Canada’s border and travel measures

From: Public Health Agency of Canada

Backgrounder

The Government of Canada will adjust some of Canada’s border measures beginning on Nov. 30 to include additional COVID-19 vaccines accepted for entry to Canada and changes to certain exemptions, testing and ArriveCAN requirements.

November 19, 2021

Today, the Government of Canada announced upcoming adjustments to Canada’s border measures. This backgrounder provides additional context to support travellers in understanding COVID-19 testing and vaccine requirements, as well as other border measures, which are an important part of Canada’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and serve to protect the health and safety of all Canadians.

Eliminating COVID-19 testing for air and land crossings of less than 72 hours

Effective November 30, 2021, fully vaccinated individuals with right of entry to Canada, who depart and re-enter the country within 72 hours of leaving Canada are exempt from providing a pre-entry COVID-19 molecular test result . This exemption is only for trips originating in Canada taken by fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents or individuals registered under the Indian Act , who depart and re-enter by land or by air and can demonstrate they have been away from Canada for less than 72 hours.

The exemption will also apply to:

  • people with medical contraindications as defined in the Orders in Council (OIC); and
  • unvaccinated children under 12 who are accompanying their parent, step-parent, guardian or tutor. The accompanying adult must be fully vaccinated (or have a contraindication) and have right of entry into Canada.

For fully vaccinated travellers with right of entry into Canada who are travelling by air, the 72-hour period runs from the initially scheduled departure time for their flight leaving Canada to the scheduled departure time for their return flight to Canada. Travellers will be responsible for maintaining proof of the 72-hour period to show airline/rail companies and border officials as required (e.g., boarding pass, travel itinerary).

Expanded list of accepted vaccines for the purpose of travel

Effective November 30, 2021, the Government of Canada will expand its list of accepted vaccines for the purposes of entry into Canada and exemption from some testing and quarantine requirements. The list will include Sinopharm, Sinovac and COVAXIN, matching the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL).

The EUL is an internationally recognized process to assess vaccines within an existing regulatory structure. The WHO uses the EUL to accelerate the availability of medical products needed in public health emergency situations. The process is based on an expert review of available data on the quality, safety, and efficacy/immunogenicity/performance of each individual product. The COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) also leverages the WHO EUL for its COVID-19 vaccine portfolio.

To be considered fully vaccinated, a traveller must have received the full series of a vaccine—or combination of vaccines— accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days prior to entering Canada. Travellers can receive their vaccine in any country, and must upload their proof of vaccination in English or French into ArriveCAN when travelling to Canada. If the proof of vaccination is not in English or French, travellers must provide a certified translation in English or French. Travellers must bring proof with them when they travel that includes text with the vaccinations and dates received. Travellers must also comply with all other measures under the OICs, including pre-entry testing (unless exempt) and a suitable quarantine plan. Where available, Canadians are strongly encouraged to use the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination .

The expanded list of COVID-19 vaccines and the definition of what is considered fully vaccinated will also be applied to the national vaccination requirements for the federally regulated transportation sectors.

Entry Requirements: Adjustments for certain travellers entering Canada

As of January 15, 2022, certain groups of travellers, who are currently exempt from entry requirements, will only be allowed to enter the country if they are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved for entry into Canada. These groups include:

  • Individuals travelling to reunite with family (unless they are under 18 years of age if travelling to reunite with an immediate or extended family member who is either fully vaccinated or a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act. )
  • Fully vaccinated students will be allowed to attend any provincially or territorially designated learning institution in Canada.
  • Unvaccinated students under the age of 18 must attend a designated learning institution with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by the province or territory where the school is located.
  • Professional athletes and their support staff, and amateur athletes.
  • Individuals with a valid work permit, including temporary foreign workers, outside of agricultural and food processing.
  • Most essential service providers (including truck drivers, emergency service providers and marine researchers).

As of November 30, 2021, travellers need to be fully vaccinated to travel within Canada with very few exceptions. There is a limited period, until January 14, 2022, during which individuals in specified exempt groups can continue to enter the country if unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, as well as take a connecting flight to their final destination that is scheduled to depart within 24 hours of the departure time of their flight to enter Canada. However, if they remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, they will not be allowed to take a plane or train beyond their original connection, except to depart Canada before February 28, 2022. As such, all travellers are strongly advised to make plans to get vaccinated as soon as they can, in order to travel freely in and outside the country.

On January 15, 2022, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers will only be allowed to enter Canada if they meet one of the limited exceptions, including:

  • agricultural and food processing workers;
  • foreign marine crew members;
  • those entering on compassionate grounds;
  • new permanent residents;
  • newly resettled refugees;
  • children under the age of 18 who are currently exempt from the travel restrictions, including international students who are studying at a designated learning institution that has a COVID-19 readiness plan; those travelling with a parent, step-parent, tutor or guardian who is either fully vaccinated, or a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or person registered under the Indian Act ; and those travelling to reunite with immediate or extended Canadian family members in Canada; and
  • national interest exemptions.

Unvaccinated children under the age of 12 who are travelling with fully vaccinated adults do not need to quarantine BUT must follow public measures:

  • Attend school, camp or day care.
  • Attend a setting where they may have contact with vulnerable people (e.g., long term care facility), including people who are immunocompromised, regardless of that person’s vaccination status or public health measures.
  • Travel on crowded public transportation that does not ensure physical distancing and masking.
  • Attend large crowded settings, indoors or outdoors, such as an amusement park or sporting event.
  • In addition, the child must take COVID-19 molecular tests as instructed, unless their parent, step-parent, tutor or guardian has evidence that the child had a positive COVID-19 test taken 10 to 180 days prior to arrival in Canada or the child is under 5 years of age.

Unless exempt, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers eligible to enter Canada will be required to:

  • have proof of a negative molecular pre-entry test taken no more than 72 hours before their flight’s initial scheduled departure time or arrival at the land border, or a previous positive COVID-19 molecular test taken within 10 and 180 days before arrival;
  • complete arrival (day 1) and post-arrival (day 8) testing;
  • quarantine for 14 days in a suitable place; and
  • submit all of the information above in ArriveCAN via the free mobile app or website.

ArriveCAN: New requirements for essential travellers

As of November 30, 2021, all exempt essential service providers will be required to identify their vaccination status in ArriveCAN , regardless of whether or not they are allowed to enter as unvaccinated. ArriveCAN will prompt them to provide details on their vaccine(s), including manufacturer, country received and date received, and to upload their proof of vaccination.

Exempt essential travellers include those travelling as/for:

  • most essential service providers (including most temporary foreign workers, emergency service providers and marine researchers);
  • cross-border work (e.g., you regularly cross the border to work);
  • medical and health care support (e.g., health care practitioner, to receive medical care, or to transport medical equipment or supplies);
  • trade and transport (e.g., truck driver or crew member on any aircraft, shipping vessel, or train); and
  • people who live in integrated trans-border communities.

If an exempt essential traveller previously created a reusable ArriveCAN receipt, they will be required to either download the latest version of the free ArriveCAN mobile app or sign in to the web version after November 30, 2021, and re-submit all of their information, including the newly required information on proof of vaccinations, to get a new exempt reusable ArriveCAN receipt. Once an exempt traveller creates a new reusable receipt, the receipt can be used for subsequent trips.

Until January 15, 2022, if an exempt essential traveller is not vaccinated, they will still be able to get an ArriveCAN receipt. After January 15, 2022, they must be fully vaccinated to get an ArriveCAN receipt. As of this date, most travellers who are currently exempt from quarantine will need to be fully vaccinated to enter Canada. They will also be required to upload their proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN.

Mandatory vaccination for federally regulated transportation sectors

As announced on August 13, 2021 , travellers in the federally regulated air and rail sectors will need to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine accepted by the Government of Canada for the purpose of travel. After extensive consultations, Transport Canada issued orders and guidance to airlines and railways to implement the vaccination requirements for travellers, which came into effect at 3 AM (EDT) October 30, 2021.

The vaccination requirements apply to all travellers, 12 years of age plus four months, who are:

  • Air passengers flying on domestic, trans-border or international flights departing from most airports in Canada; and
  • Rail passengers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains.

As of November 30, 2021, a valid COVID-19 test will no longer be accepted as an alternative to vaccination for travel within Canada. To take a flight or a train, travellers must be fully vaccinated with one of the expanded list of vaccinations unless they qualify for a limited exemption to this requirement. These include:

  • Medical inability to be vaccinated;
  • Essential or urgent medical services and treatment;
  • Sincere religious beliefs;
  • Emergency travel; and
  • Other travel in the national interest.

For domestic and outbound travel, airlines and railways will administer the process for considering a traveller’s medical inability to be vaccinated, essential medical services and treatment, sincere religious beliefs, and emergency/urgent travel (including for urgent medical reasons). Travellers who think they may be eligible for one of these exemptions should contact their airline or railway company to obtain the necessary form and submit it in accordance with their carrier’s approval process (forms available starting November 30, 2021).

Transport Canada will administer exemptions for other domestic and outbound travel in the national interest. Travellers granted an exemption will need to have a valid COVID-19 molecular test, taken no more than 72 hours before boarding a regulated flight or train. Travellers will be able to submit applications under the domestic National Interest Exemption Program starting November 30.

Airlines and railways will continue to be responsible for confirming the vaccination status of travellers. In the aviation mode, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will also support operators by confirming vaccination status.

This vaccination requirement continues to include specific accommodation to recognize the unique needs of travellers from small, remote communities (some of which are not accessible by road) to ensure they will be able to travel to obtain essential services in support of their medical, health, or social well-being, and return safely to their homes. The specific requirements for these communities will continue to evolve based on engagement with Indigenous organizations and provinces and territories in the coming weeks.

Transport Canada continues to work with the cruise ship industry, and other domestic and international partners, to permit the safe re-opening of Canada to cruise ship travel in spring 2022, including the specific vaccination requirements for cruise ship passengers, and other health protocols. Additional information will be available in the coming weeks.

The Government of Canada will continue to engage with key stakeholders, employers, airlines and railways, bargaining agents, Indigenous Peoples, local authorities, and provinces and territories to support the implementation of the vaccination requirement.

For travellers entering Canada: While Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered under the Indian Act will still be able to enter Canada if they are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, they will not be permitted to travel beyond their point of entry within Canada on a connecting flight or by rail. These travellers should plan their return accordingly by selecting a Canadian airport that is closest to their final destination, and expect to be subject to testing and quarantine.

After January 15, 2022, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated agricultural and agri-food workers, new permanent residents, and some children under the age of 18 will still be allowed to travel onward domestically to get established in Canada, but will also continue to be subject to testing and quarantine. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated resettled refugees will continue to be allowed to enter Canada and stringent health and safety protocols remain in place.

Foreign nationals who reside in Canada temporarily, and who entered Canada as unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, will be allowed to leave the country without being fully vaccinated up until February 28, 2022. After that time, foreign nationals will need to be fully vaccinated to board a flight or train in Canada.

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air travel in canada rules

Here are Canada's rules for fully vaccinated travellers as of April 1

As the federal government loosens testing requirements for international travel, more Canadians are looking to hop on a plane and take a trip abroad.

While many Canadians remain anxious about travelling, some are ready to jet off after more than two years in a pandemic with stringent public health measures.

While the federal government has removed pre-entry testing requirements for fully vaccinated Canadians, some pandemic-related travel rules remain in effect. CTVNews.ca breaks down what travellers need to know for April 1.

  • Newsletter sign-up: Get The COVID-19 Brief sent to your inbox

PRE-ENTRY TEST NO LONGER REQUIRED

As of April 1, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. ET, fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to provide a negative pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter Canada by air, land or water.

Passengers may still be subjected to mandatory, random PCR testing at the airport -- in part to monitor for new, emerging COVID-19 variants -- though they will not be required to isolate while awaiting their results.

Eliminating the testing requirement , which was announced by the federal government in March , is something that travel and tourism organizations as well as the mayors of border towns have been calling for, arguing that the requirement is not justified by science and presented an unnecessary logistical and financial burden on travellers.

However, federal officials say they will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Canada and abroad, and changes may be made to travel requirements as the epidemiological situation evolves.

PROOF OF VACCINATION STILL NEEDED

Despite pre-entry test requirements lifting, the requirement to be fully vaccinated with a government-approved COVID-19 vaccine in order to board federally-regulated air, rail, and marine transportation remains in effect, with the government indicating no intention to lift the policy for travel at this time.

In addition, travellers still have to use the ArriveCAN app to enter their proof of vaccination and other required information, including a potential quarantine plan , before arriving in Canada. Travellers taking a cruise or a plane must submit their information in ArriveCAN within 72 hours before boarding.

Travellers who arrive without completing their ArriveCAN submission may have to test on arrival and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.

TRAVELLERS WHO ARE NOT FULLY VACCINATED

Pre-entry testing requirements are not changing for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers who are currently allowed to travel to Canada.

Unless otherwise exempt, all travellers age five or older who do not qualify as fully vaccinated – having received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine accepted for travel or a mix of two vaccines -- must continue to provide proof of a negative pre-entry COVID-19 test result.

Accepted pre-entry tests include a health professional-administered negative rapid antigen test taken no more than one day before arriving at a port of entry, or a negative molecular test taken no more than 72 hours before a scheduled flight or crossing at a land border.

Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers may also provide a positive molecular test taken at least 10 days and no more than 180 days before their scheduled flight departure time or their arrival at the land border to enter Canada. Positive antigen test results are not accepted.

The government recommends completing a COVID-19 vaccine series, along with any additional recommended doses in Canada, at least 14 days before travelling internationally. Fore those who must travel, the government suggests delaying one's plans until they are fully vaccinated.

"Anyone who has not completed a COVID-19 vaccine series should continue to avoid non-essential travel to all destinations," the government says .

BEFORE YOU GO

Prior to travelling, the government recommends checking the COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements, as well as other entry requirements, at one's destination as they may be different from Canada's rules.

For example, all air passengers two years or older with a flight departing to the U.S. from a foreign country -- regardless of their vaccination status -- are still required to show a negative COVID-19 antigen test result taken no more than one day before departure, or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.

Travellers are also advised by the Canadian government to monitor the COVID-19 situation at their destination in the days before travelling should the status of COVID-19 infections and public health requirements there change.

CRUISE SHIPS

Cruise passengers will still be required to take an antigen test in order to board a ship no more than one day before their scheduled departure, but will no longer need to be tested before getting off the ship.

All other requirements for cruises, including providing proof of vaccination before boarding, remain in place.

The government continues to warn travellers that the virus can spread easily between people in close quarters, such as on cruise ships. The government says the chance of being infected with COVID-19 on cruise ships is still "very high," even for those who are fully vaccinated.

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Intentional Travelers

Canada travel requirements 2024: What travelers need to know

We aim to keep this post updated about Canada travel in 2024 with official Canada travel restrictions, requirements, and health and safety guidance. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions so you can travel confidently, safely, and responsibly in this new post-pandemic world of ours.

As restrictions vary based on the traveler’s citizenship, we will focus primarily on rules affecting U.S. citizens.

Last update: January 28, 2024. Originally published: September 2021.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of our links, we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Photo credit: Kelly January 2024: “Canada is an extremely diverse and safe Country to visit at all times of the year. Travel and daily life is back to normal, however, many employees continue to work remotely and employers continue to have a difficult time finding staff If travellers fall ill while visiting Canada, there are plenty of walk-in clinics and emergency rooms in every Canadian city, making healthcare easily accessible. However, it is still wise for travellers to purchase health insurance prior to visiting.” – Kelly of Just One Passport , resident of Canada

At the end of the post, we share more on-the-ground perspectives from local residents and travelers to Canada so you can get a true sense of what to expect.

Table of Contents

Is Canada open for travel? Can I travel to Canada right now?

As of October 2022, Canada travel restrictions for all travelers entering Canada by air, land or sea include:

  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is not required
  • COVID-19 pre-entry and arrival tests are not required
  • Quarantine is not required
  • ArriveCAN is not required
  • Pre-boarding tests for cruise passengers are not required
  • Health checks to board planes and trains are not required
  • Wearing masks on planes and trains is not required but strongly recommended

air travel in canada rules

Quarantine rules in Canada: What happens if I get Covid?

Foreign tourists who  test positive for Covid while in Canada should self-isolate immediately. Travelers may be required to cover costs of quarantine accommodations.

Those with severe symptoms are advised to call 911 or the local emergency number in Canada.

Canada Proof of Vaccination Requirements for Dining, Travel, and other services

You might be wondering: Do I need a vaccine certificate or Covid test to enter restaurants, public transit, and other services in Canada?

As of June 2022, proof of vaccination is no longer required to board a plane, train or cruise ship when traveling within Canada. Generally it is not required to enter businesses or restaurants.

Each province or territory has the authority to require a proof of vaccination each situation.

Can I travel to Canada in March 2024? Can I travel to Canada this Spring?

Travel to Canada in March is possible for foreign travelers. Read on for details and check back for updates.

What is it like to fly to Canada right now? YYZ Toronto Pearson International Airport? YVR Vancouver International Airport? Masks are no longer required but still strongly recommended. The airports are using enhanced cleaning procedures and hand sanitizer is available throughout the terminals.

As of October 2022 , all persons arriving in Canada will no longer be subject to randomized testing at airports . 

Using ArriveCAN is now optional for travelers flying into international airports to submit an Advance CBSA Declaration to save time upon arrival in airports like Toronto, Vancouver or Montréal.

What is it like to drive into Canada right now? Travelers can enter Canada during open hours at land borders . Required documents must be shown at the border.

Check Canada-US border wait times here.

Do I have to quarantine when traveling to Canada? No. Quarantine upon arrival is no longer required in Canada. Persons who test positive for Covid in Canada are asked to quarantine. See above for details.

Does Canada check COVID-19 symptoms of incoming travelers? No. Health screening procedures are no longer required to enter Canada.

Does Canada require a negative Covid 19 test for travelers? No. Covid pre-entry tests and arrival tests are no longer required.

Does Canada require a proof of Coronavirus vaccine for travelers? No . Proof of vaccination is no longer required in Canada.

Do I still need to provide a negative Covid test or quarantine if I have been vaccinated? No. Travelers are no longer required to provide a negative Covid test or quarantine to enter Canada.

Is a booster shot required for travel to Canada? At this time, booster shots are not required in Canada. There is currently no expiration period set for the validity of vaccinations.

What Covid testing options are available for travelers in Canada? U.S. citizens can obtain a COVID-19 test from provincial health authorities or private facilities in Canada.

The cost for private testing varies depending on the location and can exceed $300. Rapid tests for $60 with results in 30 minutes are available by appointment near Toronto Airport .

What healthcare options are available to travelers in Canada who get the virus? Canada hospitals and clinics are open. Canada’s universal healthcare does not pay for visitors.

Testing centers are also available for foreign visitors in some provinces and territories in Canada.

For travel insurance that covers Covid, check out Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing >

What service businesses and restaurants are open in Canada? Essential services, restaurants, bars, and retail shops are open in Canada. Some limitations, such as proof of vaccination requirement, may still be implemented in some provinces. 

Check here for restrictions in each province.

Are face masks required in Canada? Wearing of face masks is no longer required in Canada but still recommended.

Are buses running in Canada? Public transportation is available throughout Canada. 

Will Canada impose new Covid restrictions? What’s next is difficult to predict. Historically, most countries impose COVID-19 restrictions when strains on the health care system might become unsustainable. Canada has been relatively proactive and “strict” on preventive Covid measures.

How has the Coronavirus impacted Canada?

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a recession and increased unemployment in Canada. Tourism was hit especially hard.

Canada experienced a surge in cases with the Omicron variant. Many provinces reintroduced restrictions. As the situation came under control, Canada started easing travel restrictions.

As of October 2022, Canada ended all travel, testing, and border requirements and restrictions related to COVID-19.

Canada initially started reopening for tourism in summer 2021. As of September 2021, fully vaccinated foreign travelers have been allowed to visit the country without undergoing quarantine.

Canada began COVID-19 vaccination in December 2020. Currently, more than 3/4 of the total population has been fully vaccinated.

For the current situation in Canada, including: total COVID-19 positive cases; total cases in Canada; and COVID-19 testing in Canada, please see the Government of Canada website .

What should you pack for safely traveling in Canada?

😷 Face Masks – Face coverings are recommended in crowded public places. Find N95 masks at Bona Fide > or designer options at Vida >

💊 Medicine – Bring enough prescription and over-the-counter medication for your entire trip to avoid trips to the clinic.

💳 Vaccine Card Holder – Protect that paper CDC card when traveling abroad (if your country doesn’t offer a digital version). Get a simple plastic protector > or Vegan leather clippable > or Leather passport + card combo holder >

👃 Covid self-test – The most studied rapid antigen self-test with FDA emergency authorization.  NOT valid to enter countries. Use for your own peace of mind. Order from CVS > or Walmart >

💧 Sealed water bottle – Make sure your reusable water bottle has a lid that’s not exposed to the air. We use one of each of the following: Shop insulated water bottles with protective lid > Shop water bottles with purification filter and protective lid >

✈️ Travel insurance that covers Covid – We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.

What do Canada locals and recent travelers say about visiting Canada now?

What is it like to visit Canada right now? It’s our goal to provide regular updates here from real people on the ground, to help potential visitors know what to expect.

The following are subjective opinions only. Official travel guidance can be found above.

September 2023 – Ryan of WaylessTravelers , Canadian: “The current state of tourism is back to normal, like during pre-Covid times. The multiple summer and fall festivals have returned to Montreal, including F1 weekend, Just for Laughs, Jazz festival etc… Restaurants are also very lively and full. 

All the local attractions, restaurants, concerts, malls are back to normal operations. No restrictions (masks/gloves/testing) are imposed.

We do recommend to reserve activities and restaurants ahead of time as we have noticed that they do book up usually a few days in advance. We believe this is because a lot of Canadians are preferring to travel more locally due to still some hesitancy of traveling abroad.”

Montreal city street

May 2023 – Nick Rosen of The World Overload , American visitor:  “I flew to Quebec City and Montreal for a one week vacation in May 2023. There are currently no travel restrictions but some locals and visitors continue to follow Covid guidelines including masks and safe distances. There is easy access to healthcare and testing.

All attractions and food services continue to operate for tourism. Hours may vary depending on day/weekend. Please check ahead when scheduling. Be aware that summer is the time when most construction and repairs are done by the cities you will be visiting.”

air travel in canada rules

January 2023 – Melissa from My Beautiful Passport , Canadian: “Tourism in Ontario is picking up overall, with most events & festivals resuming in 2023, if they didn’t already resume in 2022. 

Canada appears ready to welcome tourists back into the country. Niagara Falls and other popular Canadian destinations are lively, restaurants and attractions are open, and people are ready to explore again, wearing masks indoors as encouraged. Hospitals are not currently overwhelmed.”

September 2022 – Michelle, Intentional Travelers, US citizen: “We flew from the US to Canada for a conference in Montreal, Quebec. I submitted our ArriveCAN information a couple days before the flight using the website. It was pretty simple to input our passport number, vaccine dates, and upload a photo of our CDC vaccine cards. Then there was a form for trip details. There was a quick Covid self-assessment form asking about fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. Confirmation included a six-digit code and QR code that we printed and brought to the airport.

After all that, we had more online processes to complete for both airlines on our itinerary (United and Air Canada), including uploading our CDC vaccine cards again. Air Canada’s site did not accept our vaccine card image, but it wasn’t a problem, I guess because we had ArriveCAN done.

To board the flight from US to Canada, we only had to show our passport and ticket. On arrival in Montreal, we only ‘flashed’ our ArriveCAN confirmation to an agent on our way to the machines where we scanned our passports and completed immigration questionnaires, which included just one question about having any Covid symptoms, and took a picture. Arriving around midnight, the process took less than 15 minutes.

We were fortunate all our bags arrived. The baggage claim looked like a luggage graveyard with hundreds of unclaimed suitcases everywhere!”

May 2022 – Mayuri of Canada Crossroads , Canadian resident: “In my province (Alberta, home to the Canadian Rockies) domestic tourism has been flourishing. All the sightseeing spots are open, but some have restricted hours. 

Since February (in Alberta, and from April nationwide) things are open, no restrictions in terms of social distancing, masking, access to medical care, restaurants, stores and hotels. In fact many airports are busier than usual (including the country’s busiest Toronto airport – just flew last week). I feel we need to be a little more prepared for summer tourism as many international visitors are wanting to explore Canada.”

March 9, 2022 – Samantha of Continuous Roamer , Canadian resident: “Domestic travel in Canada is straightforward since there are no extra requirements once you have entered the country. However, mask wearing is necessary and some provinces still require a vaccine passport.

The vaccine passport has been removed in Ontario in March. Capacity in Ontario restaurants is now at 100% so it is easier to get a table. Although, free antigen covid tests are extremely difficult to access at pharmacies in Ontario. British Columbia still requires the vaccine passport, therefore lines are longer to enter some establishments while your pass and ID are checked.”

January 20, 2022 – Haley Blackall Travel , Digital Nomad:  “My partner and I visited family and worked online in Kelowna BC for 2.5 months from mid-November 2022 to end of January 2022. Tourism in this region of Canada is low, due to winter conditions especially for international visitors. Make sure you have all the required documentation upon arrival, because airline personnel are doing proper checks. If you arrive in Canada from an international destination and are unvaccinated, there is a smooth running process for a mandatory Covid-19 test at the airport upon arrival, and the ArriveCAN app is easy to navigate in which the government keeps a close eye on contact tracing and quarantine requirements. Canadians have quick access to healthcare, including testing for antigen and PCR. After restaurants offering takeout and delivery services only at the beginning of the pandemic, dining in is becoming more popular. Besides the use of masks, life is getting back to normal in Canada.”

January 2022 – Mary from Brbymary, French traveler: “I flew to Vancouver for a week [from Ireland] to visit my partner’s family. Everything was well organised through ArriveCan app. Testing at the airport was easy although a bit behind and people respected rules in general. Plan some additional time to do tests at the airport and to do tests on arrival even if you have an appointment.”

December 2021 – Federica of Globetrottoise , Canadian nomad:  “I would say Canada is a pretty safe destination at the moment, especially outside the big cities. I’ve been road tripping around the Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta in the past few months and always felt safe and able to enjoy most attractions, from museums to national parks.  Canada is open to vaccinated travellers only and health regulations are in place in most public places. Masks are mandatory inside almost everywhere and in some provinces the access to cafes restaurants, movie theaters, libraries, etc is possible only with a valid proof of vaccination. Attractions are mostly open everywhere and access to covid testing is pretty easy (but quite pricey).”

November 12, 2021 – Nicole of Traveling BC , Canadian citizen: “While businesses are still operating under restrictions, in general, many rules have lifted and now it’s ‘full steam ahead’ in the tourism industry. Some touristy areas (the coasts and the Rockies) even became quite busy over the summer, since everyone wanted to go on a much-needed vacation. If you visit, you’ll have to show a negative COVID test and be required to wear a mask, socially distance, and show your vaccination passport!

Most people and businesses follow the restrictions and around 75% of people are fully vaccinated, although compliance with restrictions and vaccinations varies between provinces and cities. Accessing COVID testing is easy and quick, although you’ll have to pay for the test if you’re traveling. A lot of healthcare has moved to online appointments, and some hospitals are still overwhelmed in areas with lots of COVID cases. Businesses are open to tourists, but many operate under reduced hours, lower capacities and may have halted certain services/activities due to COVID. You will often have to book activities online or by phone, and make sure to wear a mask and bring proof of vaccination, or businesses will deny you entry.”

November 2021 – Chris, American digital nomad: “I flew to Newfoundland for one month in October and November of 2021. Everything seems to be open again, though every place where you would take off a mask (such as a restaurant) requires you to show proof of vaccination. People seem very respectful and friendly, happy to show you around. There is voluntary contact tracing check-ins at a lot of locations. There don’t seem to be long lines anywhere. Testing is free and readily available.”

October 9, 2021 – Nicole, Go Far Grow Close , Vancouver BC, Canadian resident:  “Visitors are very much welcome. There are strict regulations for visitors to enter Canada (fully vaccinated) so we know that they are as safe or safer than the locals. So long as they follow the rules – wear masks indoors – no one cares. I feel that we are very travel ready in Canada. If you feel ill, there are free drive through covid testing sites. Hospitals are available. Local attractions, food services, and all amenities are open so long as you wear masks indoors (or when you get up in a restaurant), social distance and follow whatever other rules might be in place. Restaurants are still not at full capacity but getting there. Movie theatres are open. We eat out regularly, go to movies, and do not feel restricted.”

September 2021 – Kathy, American traveler: “We planned to spend two months in British Columbia, Canada. We had to show proof of vaccination and have a negative COVID test within 72 hours of crossing. We managed to get a test at a local CVS pharmacy (for free) and got our results in about 36 hours. Whew! There is another place to get a test in Seattle with guaranteed results but they cost $165 each. We also had to go to the website ArrivCan.com and answer questions and download our vaccine cards. Finally, in the early morning hours of August 9th we arrived at the Canadian Border just south of Vancouver, BC at around 4:30 a.m. There were approximately 20 cars/trucks in two lines. Unfortunately, the line we picked took forever so when it finally turned 6:00 a.m. another agent opened a new gate and we were there and across the border in about 10 minutes. We have now been in BC Canada for over a month. There are very few U.S. citizens here but lots of traveling Canadians. In fact, their COVID numbers have spiked so it is now a requirement to wear masks in stores/grocery stores and entering and leaving restaurants. No problem. We feel safe doing that and know that even though there is some resistance, most Canadians are fully vaccinated. In fact, as of August 13th restaurants and bars and other certain businesses now require that people show proof of vaccination to enter. I am in complete support. We feel grateful we were able to spend some of our summer in this beautiful country.”

Planning a trip to Canada?

Check out our other Canada travel resources: – The Scenic Route: Kelowna to Banff – The Best of Banff on a Budget – Kelowna: British Columbia’s Hidden Gem – Montreal, Quebec Summer Trip Guide

– 5 Awesome Things to Do in Vancouver, BC in Summer

If you have questions or updates about travel to Canada during the Coronavirus crisis or post-pandemic, please let us know in the comments below.

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Disclaimer: Please note, travel restrictions change frequently. Readers must take responsibility for verifying information through official sources like the State Department and CDC, in respect to their specific situations. No responsibility can be accepted by Intentional Travelers for action or inaction as a result of information provided through IntentionalTravelers.com. Any information provided here is issued as general information only.

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Canada is still requiring a negative covid test 72 hours before embarkation when on a cruise ship entering any Canadian ports. This has not been changed. The change is for land ,and air and sea other than a cruise ship

Thank you for this clarification. We have updated our post to better reflect requirements for cruise ships.

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New rules lay out rights of Canadian airline passengers. Here's the list

First set of rules are in place today, with even more coming in mid-december.

air travel in canada rules

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The federal government has unveiled new protections for airline passengers , rules designed to make sure both airlines and the people who fly on them are up to date on what they are entitled to when things go wrong.

Some of the new rules will be in place as of July 2019, while the rest won't be in force until Dec. 15. Exactly what's changing is outlined below.

Communication issues

The first rule deals with proper communication guidelines. As of today, airlines must inform passengers of their rights in a timely, clear and accessible way. That means passengers must be provided with clear and concise language explaining the rules for what happens in the event of a flight delay or cancellation, what happens if they are denied boarding for some reason, what the policy is for lost or damaged luggage, and what the rules are for the seating of children under 14 years of age. There are special rules to deal with accessibility rules, too. 

  • Why airlines overbook flights and what bumped passengers can do about it

Airlines have to communicate with any disabled passengers using adaptive technologies when necessary. "If information is provided in paper format, the airline will have to be able to provide it in large print, Braille or a digital format, upon request," the rules say.

Delays prior to boarding

Beyond communication issues, airlines must inform their customers of any disruption to the flight, prior to boarding. That would include any flight and tarmac delays, flight cancellations, or denials of boarding due to causes like overbooking.

Airlines must now inform their customers of any such issues in up to three ways:

  • An audible announcement.
  • A visible announcement, upon request.
  • The available communication method the passenger has selected (e.g., email, SMS).

air travel in canada rules

If there are any such delays, airlines have to provide flight status updates every 30 minutes until a new departure time has been confirmed. The airline must offer any new status information to passengers as soon as is feasible, which may be sooner than 30 minutes after the last update.

Overbooking/bumping

Overbooked flights often lead to denial of boarding for some passengers, and the new rules dictate what should happen in those scenarios. Airlines are obligated to request volunteers to get off a flight before kicking anyone off. If someone does volunteer, the airline has to put in writing the benefits that they have agreed to in exchange for giving up their seat.

  • MARKETPLACE 'It's just not fair': Canadian passenger won't be compensated, when in Europe she'd get $900

Anyone who's denied a seat for reasons in the airline's control (and not required for safety) is entitled to compensation based on how late they will arrive at their final destination, compared to their original plan

A delay of zero to six hours means $900 in compensation. Six to nine hours means $1,800, and any delay of more than nine hours is worth $2,400 in compensation.

Stuck on the plane

Tarmac delays once flights are boarded and have left the gate also get new clarity. Any passenger on a plane that has left the gate is entitled to access to working lavatories, proper ventilation and heating or cooling, food and drink, and the ability to communicate with people outside the plane free of charge, if feasible.

air travel in canada rules

If passengers are stuck on the tarmac for three hours, airlines must allow the plane to go back to the gate so passengers can get off. There is an exception, however, that the airline can extend that to three hours and 45 minutes if they deem it is likely they will be able to take off in that extra period — and only if all the other conditions are met. 

But under no circumstances is the airline allowed to keep passengers on the tarmac for more than three hours and 45 minutes.

Lost luggage

Under existing rules, anyone who has a lost bag is entitled to up to $2,100 in compensation if their bag is lost on an international flight.

  • When sorry isn't enough — pressure grows on companies to apologize quickly in the age of viral content

The new rules mandate that compensation level be in effect now for domestic flights, too.

Rules for transporting musical instruments

Airlines can't just vaguely say they accept instruments. They have to make clear in their ticketing process what the weight, size and carry-on restrictions are for instruments.

  • Canadian airlines fight passenger rights bill in court

They must also note the options for storing instruments in cabin, and what happens in the event the plane is downgraded to a smaller plane. They must also be clear about any fees involved.

What's going to change in December?

The rules above are in force now. On Dec. 15, a second round of rules come into play, on top of the existing ones. As of then, airlines will have to provide passengers with information on the applicable standards of treatment and compensation.

They will also have to tell passengers about their recourse options, including the ability to make a complaint to the Canadian Transportation Agency.

Compensation for cancelled or delayed flights

The compensation rules related to flight delays and cancellations for reasons within the control of the airline will kick in as of Dec. 15. Passengers on large airlines will get $400 for a delay of between three and six hours, $700 of a delay of six to nine hours, and $1,000 for a delay of nine hours or more. Small airlines must pay $125, $250 and $500, respectively, for those same delays.

(These compensation rules will be on top of the compensation rules for bumping passengers, which are now in effect and are outlined above.)

air travel in canada rules

The compensation can be cash or in vouchers or flight rebates, but those options are up to the passenger to choose. If what is offered is not cash, the compensation must have a value higher than the mandated minimum.

Flight delays

After a delay at departure of two hours, the airline operating the disrupted flight will have to provide:

  • Food and drink in reasonable quantities.
  • Electronic means of communication (e.g., free Wi-Fi).

If a delay runs overnight, airlines will have to offer hotel or other comparable accommodation free of charge, as well as free transportation to the accommodation.

Once a delay extends past three hours, airlines must rebook passengers on the next available flights. The new flight must be of the same class ticket as the original one, and if the next flight on that airline is more than nine hours away the airline must rebook the passenger on another airline if possible.

If the delay is so long that it makes the passenger no longer want to take the flight, the passenger will be entitled to a refund of their ticket, as well as compensation for inconvenience: $400 for large airlines and $125 for small airlines.

Seats for children

As of December, airlines must do whatever they can to allow a child under the age of 14 sit next to their parent or guardian, at no extra cost. Kids under five will be in the seat next to their parent. Kids between five and 11 will be in the same row and no more than one seat away. Kids 12 and 13 years old can be no more than one row away from their parents.

Enforcement

Airlines are on the hook for a penalty of up to $25,000 for each incident in which they are found non-compliant with the new rules.

  • 'So frustrating': How to complain about your airline and why the rules may change

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What can I bring?

Use the search box or view the complete list (alphabetical) to determine if an item can be packed in your carry-on or if it has to be placed in your checked baggage.

For items not listed here, simply send a picture or a question to CATSA on  Facebook  or  Twitter  (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time Monday-Friday).

Please note

The final decision rests with the screening officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.

This list includes permitted, non-permitted and prohibited items for flights originating in Canada. For flights originating outside of Canada, you should check with your airline or travel agent for restrictions.

About Non-Permitted and Prohibited Items:

Non-permitted items are items that are not allowed past the security checkpoint. This includes items such as knives and sports bats, as well as items that may seem harmless but can pose a threat to security – such as liquids. If a non-permitted item is found in your carry-on at the security checkpoint, a number of options may be available to you:

  • If you have time before your flight, you can consult with your airline and put the item in your checked baggage.
  • You can consult with an airport representative as some airports offer a service which lets passengers mail the item to their home or office.
  • You can place the item in your vehicle or give it to a family member or friend.
  • You can choose to abandon the item (please note that it will not be returned to you).
  • Finally, you can turn back from the screening checkpoint and not board your flight.
  • Please note that if you leave the screening checkpoint area, you will still need to be screened when you return.

Prohibited items include specific weapons that are illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada . You are not allowed to have these items in your possession, regardless of whether you are going through a security checkpoint or not.

If an item that is illegal in Canada is found at a screening checkpoint, CATSA is required to notify the police. Transport Canada offers a detailed list of prohibited Items for passengers on all flights .

More Information

  • Our toll-free number: 1-888-294-2202
  • The Transport Canada website
  • The U.S. Transportation Security Administration's website (for information on restrictions when travelling within the U.S.).
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Flight Delays and Cancellations: A Guide

Table of contents.

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Air Passenger Protection

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  • Know your rights
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1. Introduction

This is a guide explaining passenger rights and airline obligations if there is a flight delay or cancellation. These apply to flights to, from and within Canada, including connecting flights. The airline operating the affected flight is responsible for meeting obligations to the passenger. This guide describes the different types of flight delays and cancellations and how an airline's obligations are different, depending on their level of control over the situation.

An airline's tariff (the contract of transport between the passenger and the airline), which sets out its terms and conditions, cannot offer passengers less than these obligations require. If an airline chooses, its tariff may offer passengers terms that go beyond these minimum requirements.

This guide also provides tips for managing common flight delay or cancellation situations. These are meant to help both airlines and passengers understand what factors the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) would consider if a passenger complained to the CTA about a disrupted flight.

This is not a legal document. The explanations and definitions it provides are for general guidance purposes only. Airline obligations related to flight delays and cancellations can be found in the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) and Annex A of this guide. In case of differences between this guide and legislation or regulations, the legislation and regulations prevail.

2. Types of flight delays and cancellations

When a flight is delayed or cancelled (including before the day of travel), an airline has minimum obligations to passengers that could include certain kinds of assistance (standards of treatment), rebooking or refunds, and up to $1,000 in compensation for inconvenience. Their obligations depend on whether the disruption is within the control of the airline, within the airline's control but required for safety, or outside the airline's control. These situations are described briefly below. More detail, including how to treat the impacts of a flight disruption on other flights, is included in Types and Categories of Flight Disruption: A Guide .

Within the airline's control

Situations within an airline's control usually happen because of commercial decisions an airline makes in its day-to-day operations. These could include staffing issues and decisions to consolidate flights because of low demand. 

Disruptions due to scheduled maintenance (including any work to address issues found during that maintenance) are also considered within the airline's control.

Within the airline's control, but required for safety

In this category, "required for safety" means "required by law to reduce risk to passengers." Generally, these are situations in which an airline must delay or cancel a flight to follow rules put in place to make sure the flight and people on board are safe. These rules include the Canadian Aviation Regulations and its standards. For example, flight disruptions due to safety issues identified during pre- or post-flight checks which are performed for every flight to locate last-minute, unforeseeable issues,  would fall into this category.

Outside the airline's control

This category covers flight delays and cancellations over which the airline does not have control. These could include security incidents, medical emergencies, bad weather, or orders from applicable authorities.

Additional information:

In the event of a delay on the tarmac, airlines have all the obligations outlined in this guide, depending on their level of control over the situation, as well as other, specific obligations. For more detail, see Tarmac Delay Assistance and Disembarkation: A Guide .

3. Obligations: Situations within the airline's control

An airline operating a flight that is delayed or cancelled for reasons within its control must communicate key information and, when applicable, do the following for the affected passengers:

  • Provide assistance;
  • Offer alternate travel arrangements or a refund; and
  • Pay compensation for inconvenience.

Communicating with Passengers During a Disruption

Airlines have specific communication obligations when they delay or cancel a flight. The airline operating the disrupted flight must give passengers key information, including the reason for the delay or cancellation. The information should be in plain language without technical jargon and provide enough detail, so passengers can understand the reason given and how this reason caused the delay or cancellation. Airlines must also tell passengers about the compensation and assistance they may be entitled to, and their rights and options for making a complaint – including to the CTA.

During flight delays, airlines must provide regular flight status updates at least every 30 minutes until a new departure time or flight arrangement has been confirmed. The airline must provide any new information to passengers as soon as is feasible, including new information on the departure time, boarding gate, and reason for the delay.

All communication must be available in a format that is accessible to persons with disabilities.

Communication Guide:

Airlines' communications obligations in the event of a flight delay or cancellation are described in greater detail in Communicating Key Information to Passengers: A Guide . This guide includes expectations regarding when and how to communicate this information.

When there is a flight disruption, the operating airline must provide the assistance described below to passengers at the airport, if the passengers:

  • were informed of the disruption less than 12 hours before the original departure time; and
  • have waited two hours or more since the original departure time.

Reasonable amount of food and drink

Airlines must provide reasonable amounts of food and drink, free of charge. They should take into account the following factors when determining the quantity and timing:

  • Length of delay/time of day: Airlines should consider the length of the disruption and the time of day it occurred in deciding how much food to provide and when. For example, serving water and a snack (like a granola bar) could meet the food and drink obligation for a short delay in the middle of the afternoon, but it would be reasonable to expect more food at typical meal times or after a lengthy wait.
  • Location of airport: Where the disruption takes place may affect the type and range of food and drink options. For example, options may be more limited in Canada's North and remote areas.

Access to means of communication

Airlines must give passengers access to a means of communication, free of charge. How they do this depends on the circumstances. For example, they could provide access to Wi-Fi, have phones available at the gate for passengers to use, or provide a pre-paid calling card.

Overnight accommodation

When a passenger will have to wait overnight for their flight (and where this would not have been necessary for the original flight), the airline must offer them hotel or other comparable accommodation. This must:

  • be free of charge to the passenger;
  • be reasonable, considering the passenger's location; and
  • include transportation to, and from, the accommodation.

A passenger's 2:00 pm flight has been cancelled at their point of departure in a remote location. The airline has made new travel arrangements for the passenger on a flight early the following morning.

When arranging the overnight stay for this passenger, the airline should first discuss with the passenger whether accommodations are needed. For example, if the passenger lives near the airport, it may be more convenient for them to stay at their home, in which case, the airline must simply cover their transportation home and back to the airport the next day.

If the passenger does need accommodation, the arrangements the airline makes will depend on the availability of accommodations. The airline is expected to make every reasonable effort to book hotel accommodations for the passenger. In certain circumstances (for example, in a remote community), it may not be possible to book accommodations within a reasonable distance of the airport (to ensure the passenger can make it back to the airport the next morning).

Refusing or limiting assistance

An airline may only limit or refuse to provide the required assistance if doing so would further delay the passenger. For example, if a flight has been delayed for two hours, but boarding is expected to start within 30 minutes, offering passengers airport food vouchers may prevent timely boarding. In this case, offering water and a simple snack may be reasonable.

Alternate travel arrangements and refunds

Airlines must always ensure that a passenger whose flight has been disrupted completes their journey – either on the original flight or through alternate travel arrangements. The aim must be to get the passenger to the destination indicated on their original ticket as soon as possible.

The requirement to provide alternate travel arrangements, free of charge, applies when a flight is cancelled and for flight delays of three hours or more. This could be achieved in the following ways:

  • The operating airline makes alternate travel arrangements for all affected passengers, with the option for the passenger to refuse the new arrangements; or
  • The operating airline offers alternate travel arrangements to each affected passenger and makes those new arrangements for any passenger who accepts.

In either case, the passenger may choose to accept the alternate travel arrangements offered by the airline, or opt not to travel and  receive a refund.

Large and small airlines have different obligations for making alternate travel arrangements.

About large and small airlines

An airline's tariff (the contract of transport between the passenger and the airline) must say whether it is a large or small airline.

An airline is a large airline if it transported at least two million passengers during each of the past two calendar years. This includes all passengers carried throughout the airline's entire network. Otherwise, the airline is a small airline .

A small airline transporting passengers on behalf of a large airline under a commercial agreement (like a code share or a block space agreement) will have to follow the large airline obligations for those passengers.

Tip for passengers: If there is a commercial arrangement in place, the passenger's ticket or itinerary will show which two airlines are involved. The first two letters of the flight number are the unique two-letter code of the airline that sold the ticket to the passenger (for example, AC142 is an Air Canada flight, while WS450 is a WestJet flight). The ticket or itinerary should also say which airline is operating the flight on behalf of the first.

Large airlines

Large airlines must book the passenger on the next available flight that is operated by them, or an airline with which they have a commercial agreement. The new flight:

  • must take any reasonable route out of the same airport to the passenger’s destination indicated on their original ticket; and
  • must depart within nine hours of the departure time indicated on the passenger's original ticket.

If the airline cannot provide a reservation on a flight which departs within nine hours, they must book the passenger, as soon as possible, on a flight operated by any airline. The new flight:

  • must take any reasonable route out of the same airport to the passenger's destination indicated on their original ticket. This may mean buying a ticket for the passenger on a competing airline; and,
  • must depart within 48 hours of the departure time indicated on the passenger's original ticket.

If the airline cannot provide a reservation on a flight which departs within 48 hours of the original departure time, the airline must book the passenger as soon as possible, on a flight operated by any airline, from a nearby airport. They will also have to transport the passenger to that airport, free of charge. The new flight:

  • must take any reasonable route out of the nearby airport to the passenger's destination indicated on their original ticket.

Reasonable Route: Example

A large airline is making alternate travel arrangements for passengers whose direct flight from Punta Cana to Vancouver was cancelled. In determining options, the airline must consider whether the available flights take reasonable routes.

The first available option involves two connections – in Toronto and Edmonton – and would have the passengers reaching their destination 28 hours later than indicated on their original ticket. This may not be considered a reasonable option, because the length of time and multiple connections would further inconvenience the passengers (especially given they had originally booked a direct flight).

In this case, a direct flight leaving a little later than the first option would likely be considered the more reasonable option.

Small airlines

Small airlines must book the passenger on the next available flight operated by them or an airline with which they have a commercial agreement. The flight must take any reasonable route from the same airport to the passenger's destination indicated on their original ticket. Small airlines do not have to book the passenger with an airline with which they do not have a commercial agreement.

Comparable conditions and services

To the extent possible, airlines must provide alternate travel arrangements comparable to the ones the passenger originally purchased in terms of:

  • the class of service; and
  • added services the passenger purchased.

If the arrangements mean the passenger will be travelling in a higher class of service than originally purchased, the airline must not ask for an additional payment. If the passenger will be travelling in a lower class of service, the airline must refund the difference in cost for the applicable portion of the original ticket.

The airline must also provide a refund for any added services the passenger purchased but did not receive on the alternate flight or added services they had to pay for a second time.

For example, if the passenger prepaid for a meal and a meal was not available on the alternate flight, or the passenger had to buy the meal again, the airline is obligated to refund the cost of that prepaid meal.

If a flight is diverted to a different airport than the one on the passenger's original ticket, the airline (large or small) must transport the passenger to the airport on the ticket unless the passenger chooses not to accept that transportation. For example, if the diversion is to another airport in the same city, the airline may have to provide shuttles or taxis to the original destination airport on the ticket.

If an airline (large or small) offers alternate travel arrangements but these do not meet a passenger’s needs, the passenger is entitled to a refund. If the passenger's trip no longer serves its purpose because of the disruption, and the passenger is no longer at their point of origin (for example, if they are at a connecting point in their multi-leg ticket), then the airline must book the passenger on a flight back to their point of origin that accommodates the passenger's travel needs, free of charge, and refund the entire ticket (as if no part of the trip had been made).

In any other case, when the alternate travel arrangements do not meet a passenger's travel needs, the operating airline must provide a refund for the unused portion of the ticket.

Form of refund

Airlines must make refunds to the person who purchased the ticket in the same form of payment the ticket or additional service was purchased.

Airlines may offer another form of refund (for example, travel vouchers), but only if:

  • it does not expire;
  • the airline informs the person in writing of the value of the ticket and their right to receive a refund in that amount by the original payment method; and
  • the person confirms in writing that they have been informed of their right to a refund by the original method of payment and instead have chosen the other form of refund.

The airline will be required to provide the refund within 30 days, regardless of the refund format (for example, cash, credit, alternate forms). 

Compensation

Airlines should give passengers as much notice as possible that their flight will be delayed or cancelled. If an airline informs the passengers 14 days or less before their original departure time, they will have to compensate the passengers for the inconvenience of the disruption. The amount of compensation depends on how late the passenger arrives at their  destination, compared to the arrival time indicated on their original ticket.

Large airlines must pay:

  • $400 if the passenger arrives three or more hours late, but less than six hours;
  • $700 if the passenger arrives six or more hours late, but less than nine hours; and
  • $1,000 if the passenger arrives nine or more hours late.

Small airlines must pay:

  • $125 if the passenger arrives three or more hours late, but less than six hours;
  • $250 if the passenger arrives six or more hours late, but less than nine hours; and
  • $500 if the passenger arrives nine or more hours late.

Passengers who choose to take a ticket refund instead of alternate travel arrangements must still be compensated for inconvenience if the disruption was within the airline’s control. Large airlines must pay them $400 and small airlines, $125.

A passenger can only receive compensation for inconvenience under the APPR if they have not already received compensation for the same delay or cancellation under other air passenger protection rules in another jurisdiction. Passengers have the right to seek compensation under the regime of their choice – airlines cannot refuse to compensate a passenger simply because that passenger would also be eligible under another jurisdiction's rules. Airlines are encouraged to track claims submitted to them under other rules to make sure the passenger receives compensation for inconvenience once.

Claims for compensation

A passenger has one year from the date the flight delay or cancellation happened to make a compensation claim with the airline. The airline has 30 days to respond by either making the payment or saying why it believes compensation is not owed.

Making a claim using representation

If a passenger would like to have a third party represent them in making a claim with an airline, the passenger should check the airline's policies and procedures in this area. Some airlines may, for example, ask for proof that the passenger has given the other party permission to represent them.

Making the compensation payment

If compensation is owed, the airline must offer it in a monetary form. This can include cash, cheque, bank drafts, and electronic bank transfers.

An airline may also offer another form of compensation, such as vouchers, but only if:

  • it tells the passenger the monetary amount they are entitled to;
  • it tells the passenger in writing the value of the other form of compensation it is offering;
  • the other form is greater in value than the monetary amount the passenger is entitled to;
  • the other form of compensation has no expiry date; and
  • the passenger confirms in writing they know that monetary compensation is available, but they choose the other form of compensation.

The amount of the compensation airlines provide must be equal or greater than the required amount of compensation in Canadian dollars. If a passenger requests compensation in a particular currency, airlines are encouraged to accommodate them, if possible. It is recognized that it may not be feasible to offer all currencies.

The compensation must be paid to the passenger who experienced the disruption, regardless of who paid for their ticket.

Rejecting a claim for compensation

Flight disruptions can be complex – the situation can change over time, there can be more than one reason for the flight disruption, and a passenger can experience more than one disrupted flight on the way to their destination. In some cases, the airline may only be sure of the primary reason for a flight disruption once it has had time to investigate, after the travel has been completed. This means the primary reason for the disruption may be different from the one originally provided by the airline at the time of the flight disruption.

That is why it is important for the airline to provide a full and clear explanation to the passenger when rejecting a claim for compensation. The explanation must give the passenger enough information to decide whether they would like to file a complaint to challenge the rejection. The airline's explanation must include the reason for the disruption and why it means that no compensation is owed. The 30-day response window gives the airline enough time to look into the claim and collect the necessary information.

Not providing the passenger with a full and clear explanation of why the airline is rejecting the claim for compensation may leave the passenger confused or suspicious. This is especially true if the explanation does not match the reason for disruption originally provided by the airline. In these cases, the airline should explain that the situation evolved, or that new information came to light.

Multiple reasons and multiple flight disruptions

If there were multiple reasons for a flight disruption or multiple disrupted flights on a passenger's itinerary, the airline must decide whether compensation is owed based on the three-step process described in Types and Categories of Flight Disruption: A Guide .

If the airline follows this process and decides that compensation is not owed, their explanation to the passenger must indicate:

  • what the different reasons were, the length of delay that each one caused, and which flight was affected (if there was more than one disrupted flight);
  • what was the primary reason the passenger arrived at their destination late; and
  • what APPR category that reason falls into – outside the airline's control or within the airline's control but required for safety purposes.

Tip for passengers

In addition to the minimum compensation for inconvenience described in this guide, a passenger who is delayed while travelling internationally may also be entitled to make a claim under the Montreal or Warsaw Convention for certain damages – for example, expenses – that happened because of the delay. It is recommended that passengers first make these claims with the airline in writing. There is a 2-year time limit for any court action to claim damages.

4. Obligations: Situations within the airline's control, but required for safety

If an airline delays or cancels a flight for reasons within its control, but required for safety, it does not have to compensate passengers. However, the airline must meet the other obligations described in "Situations within the airline's control", above.

5. Obligations: Situations outside the airline's control

If an airline delays or cancels a flight for reasons outside its control, it does not have to compensate affected passengers, and the requirement to provide minimum assistance (food, drink, access to communications, and overnight accommodations) does not apply. However, the airline must follow the communication requirements described in Situations within the airline's control , above. It must also make alternate travel arrangements for passengers, or, in certain circumstances, provide a refund.

In situations outside its control, the airline operating the flight must ensure that the passengers complete their journey. If a flight is cancelled or once a flight delay has reached three hours, the airline must provide the passenger with a confirmed reservation on the next available flight that is operated by the original airline, or an airline with which the original airline has a commercial agreement. The flight must depart within 48 hours after the departure time indicated on the passenger’s original ticket. If the airline cannot provide a reservation on a flight that departs within 48 hours of the original departure time indicated on the passenger's ticket , the airline must, at the passenger’s choice;

  • Provide a refund; or
  • Make alternate travel arrangements for passengers, free of charge. The details of the new flight depend on the size of the airline, as follows.

If the passenger chooses alternate travel arrangements and is travelling with a large airline

Large airlines must book the passenger on a flight operated by any airline. The new flight must take any reasonable route from the same airport or from a nearby airport to the passenger's destination indicated on their original ticket. In that case, they will also have to transport the passenger to that airport, free of charge.

If the passenger chooses alternate travel arrangements and is travelling with a small airline

Small airlines must book the passenger on the next available flight operated by them or an airline with which they have a commercial agreement. The flight must take any reasonable route from the same airport to the passenger's destination indicated on their original ticket. Small airlines are not required to book the passenger with an airline with which they do not have a commercial agreement.

If the passenger chooses a refund and is no longer at their point of origin

If a passenger who chooses to be refunded is no longer at the point of origin that is indicated on the original ticket (for example, if the passenger is at a connecting point) and the travel no longer serves a purpose because of the delay or cancellation, then the airline (large or small) must rebook the passenger on a flight back to that point of origin that accommodates the passenger's travel needs, free of charge, and refund the entire ticket (as if no part of the trip had been made).

Airlines must provide the refund to the person who originally purchased the ticket, using that person’s original payment method (for example, a return on the person’s credit card). The airline may offer the refund in another form (for example, travel vouchers), but only if:

The airline must provide the refund within 30 days, regardless of the refund format (for example, cash, credit, travel voucher, etc).

6. Complaints to the CTA

If a person's travel has been disrupted and they believe that the airline did not meet the obligations in its tariff (the contract of transport between the passenger and the airline) or the APPR, they should contact the airline in writing. If the airline does not respond after 30 days or if they are not satisfied with the airline’s response, they can make a complaint to the CTA.  

The CTA can help resolve complaints about air travel to, from and within Canada. The CTA's role is to make sure that airlines apply their terms and conditions of carriage set out in their tariffs, follow the Air Passenger Protection Regulations , and that both passengers and airlines have met their respective responsibilities.

The passenger may choose to have a lawyer or another party act for them in the CTA dispute resolution process. If the passenger chooses a representative that is not a lawyer, the CTA will ask the passenger for certain information and a signed statement giving the third party permission to act for them .

Recommended practice – information to provide the CTA in the event of a complaint

In the context of air travel complaints filed with the CTA, the CTA expects passengers and airlines to provide detail of what happened when the flight was disrupted.

If a passenger brings forward a complaint to the CTA regarding a flight disruption, the CTA will expect certain information from the passenger and the airline.

If a passenger disagrees with how an airline categorized a flight disruption, the CTA will expect them to justify why they disagree. In turn, the airline will be expected to provide evidence demonstrating which category the disruption falls into. Such evidence is the basis upon which the CTA will decide if the passenger received what they are entitled to under the APPR and the airline's tariff. For example:

If the airline had decided a flight disruption was caused by bad weather and was therefore outside its control, they would be expected to provide the CTA with a weather report or similar evidence describing that weather situation.

If the complaint is that the airline did not meet its obligations during a flight disruption, the CTA will also expect airlines to provide documentation showing the assistance and compensation they provided affected passengers, if any, and how they communicated with them.

More information on the evidence that airlines may have to provide to the CTA if there is a complaint related to a crew shortage can be found in the Supplementary Guidance: evidentiary requirement for airlines for complaints relating to crew shortages .

Annex A: Legislative and Regulatory References

Canada transportation act.

86.11 (1) The Agency shall, after consulting with the Minister, make regulations in relation to flights to, from and within Canada, including connecting flights,

(a) respecting the carrier’s obligation to make terms and conditions of carriage and information regarding any recourse available against the carrier, as specified in the regulations, readily available to passengers in language that is simple, clear and concise;

(b) respecting the carrier’s obligations in the case of flight delay, flight cancellation or denial of boarding, including

(i) the minimum standards of treatment of passengers that the carrier is required to meet and the minimum compensation the carrier is required to pay for inconvenience when the delay, cancellation or denial of boarding is within the carrier’s control,

(ii) the minimum standards of treatment of passengers that the carrier is required to meet when the delay, cancellation or denial of boarding is within the carrier’s control, but is required for safety purposes, including in situations of mechanical malfunctions,

(iii) the carrier’s obligation to ensure that passengers complete their itinerary when the delay, cancellation or denial of boarding is due to situations outside the carrier’s control, such as natural phenomena and security events

Air Passenger Protection Regulations

Delay, cancellation and denial of boarding, obligations — situations outside carrier’s control.

10 (1) This section applies to a carrier when there is delay, cancellation or denial of boarding due to situations outside the carrier’s control, including but not limited to the following:

(a) war or political instability;

(b) illegal acts or sabotage;

(c) meteorological conditions or natural disasters that make the safe operation of the aircraft impossible;

(d) instructions from air traffic control;

(e) a NOTAM , as defined in subsection 101.01(1) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations ;

(f) a security threat;

(g) airport operation issues;

(h) a medical emergency;

(i) a collision with wildlife;

(j) a labour disruption within the carrier or within an essential service provider such as an airport or an air navigation service provider;

(k) a manufacturing defect in an aircraft that reduces the safety of passengers and that was identified by the manufacturer of the aircraft concerned, or by a competent authority; and

(l) an order or instruction from an official of a state or a law enforcement agency or from a person responsible for airport security.

Earlier flight disruption

(2) A delay, cancellation or denial of boarding that is directly attributable to an earlier delay or cancellation that is due to situations outside the carrier's control, is considered to also be due to situations outside that carrier's control if that carrier took all reasonable measures to mitigate the impact of the earlier flight delay or cancellation.

Obligations

(3) When there is delay, cancellation or denial of boarding due to situations outside the carrier's control, it must

(a) provide passengers with the information set out in section 13;

(b) in the case of a delay of three hours or more, provide alternate travel arrangements or a refund, in the manner set out in section 18, to a passenger who desires such arrangements;

(c) in the case of a cancellation, provide alternate travel arrangements or a refund, in the manner set out in section 18; and

(d) in the case of a denial of boarding, provide alternate travel arrangements in the manner set out in section 18.

Obligations when required for safety purposes

11 (1) Subject to subsection 10(2), this section applies to a carrier when there is delay, cancellation or denial of boarding that is within the carrier's control but is required for safety purposes.

(2) A delay, cancellation or denial of boarding that is directly attributable to an earlier delay or cancellation that is within that carrier's control but is required for safety purposes, is considered to also be within that carrier's control but required for safety purposes if that carrier took all reasonable measures to mitigate the impact of the earlier flight delay or cancellation.

(3) In the case of a delay, the carrier must

(b) if a passenger is informed of the delay less than 12 hours before the departure time that is indicated on their original ticket, provide the standard of treatment set out in section 14; and

(c) if the delay is a delay of three hours or more, provide alternate travel arrangements or a refund, in the manner set out in section 17, to a passenger who desires such arrangements.

Cancellation

(4) In the case of a cancellation, the carrier must

(b) if a passenger is informed of the cancellation less than 12 hours before the departure time that is indicated on their original ticket, provide the standard of treatment set out in section 14; and

(c) provide alternate travel arrangements or a refund, in the manner set out in section 17.

Obligations when within carrier's control

12 (1) Subject to subsection 10(2), this section applies to a carrier when there is delay, cancellation or denial of boarding that is within the carrier's control but is not referred to in subsections 11(1) or (2).

(2) In the case of a delay, the carrier must

(b) if a passenger is informed of the delay less than 12 hours before the departure time that is indicated on their original ticket, provide them with the standard of treatment set out in section 14;

(c) if the delay is a delay of three hours or more, provide alternate travel arrangements or a refund, in the manner set out in section 17, to a passenger who desires such arrangements; and

(d) if a passenger is informed 14 days or less before the departure time on their original ticket that the arrival of their flight at the destination that is indicated on that original ticket will be delayed, provide the minimum compensation for inconvenience in the manner set out in section 19.

(3) In the case of a cancellation, the carrier must

(b) if a passenger is informed of the cancellation less than 12 hours before the departure time that is indicated on their original ticket, provide the standard of treatment set out in section 14;

(c) provide alternate travel arrangements or a refund, in the manner set out in section 17; and

(d) if a passenger is informed of the cancellation 14 days or less before the departure time that is indicated on their original ticket, provide the minimum compensation for inconvenience in the manner set out in section 19

Information — cancellation, delay, denial of boarding

13 (1) A carrier must provide the following information to the passengers who are affected by a cancellation, delay or a denial of boarding:

(a) the reason for the delay, cancellation or denial of boarding;

(b) the compensation to which the passenger may be entitled for the inconvenience;

(c) the standard of treatment for passengers, if any; and

(d) the recourse available against the carrier, including their recourse to the Agency.

Communication every 30 minutes

(2) In the case of a delay, the carrier must communicate status updates to passengers every 30 minutes until a new departure time for the flight is set or alternate travel arrangements have been made for the affected passenger.

New information

(3) The carrier must communicate to passengers any new information as soon as feasible.

Audible and visible announcement

(4) The information referred to in subsection (1) must be provided by means of audible announcements and, upon request, by means of visible announcements.

Method of communication

(5) The information referred to in subsection (1) must also be provided to the passenger using the available communication method that they have indicated that they prefer, including a method that is compatible with adaptive technologies intended to assist persons with disabilities.

Standards of treatment

14 (1) If paragraph 11(3)(b) or (4)(b) or 12(2)(b) or (3)(b) applies to a carrier, and a passenger has waited two hours after the departure time that is indicated on their original ticket, the carrier must provide the passenger with the following treatment free of charge:

(a) food and drink in reasonable quantities, taking into account the length of the wait, the time of day and the location of the passenger; and

(b) access to a means of communication.

Accommodations

(2) If paragraph 11(3)(b) or (4)(b) or 12(2)(b) or (3)(b) applies to a carrier and the carrier expects that the passenger will be required to wait overnight for their original flight or for a flight reserved as part of alternate travel arrangements, the air carrier must offer, free of charge, hotel or other comparable accommodation that is reasonable in relation to the location of the passenger, as well as transportation to the hotel or other accommodation and back to the airport.

Refusing or limiting treatment

(3) The carrier may limit or refuse to provide a standard of treatment referred to in subsection (1) or (2) if providing that treatment would further delay the passenger.

Alternate arrangements — within carrier's control

17 (1) If paragraph 11(3)(c), (4)(c) or (5)(c) or 12(2)(c), (3)(c) or (4)(c) applies to a carrier, it must provide to the passenger, free of charge, the following alternate travel arrangements to ensure that the passenger completes their itinerary as soon as feasible:

(a) in the case of a large carrier,

(i) a confirmed reservation for the next available flight that is operated by the original carrier, or a carrier with which the original carrier has a commercial agreement, is travelling on any reasonable air route from the airport at which the passenger is located to the destination that is indicated on the passenger's original ticket and departs within nine hours of the departure time that is indicated on that original ticket,

(ii) a confirmed reservation for a flight that is operated by any carrier and is travelling on any reasonable air route from the airport at which the passenger is located to the destination that is indicated on the passenger's original ticket and departs within 48 hours of the departure time that is indicated on that original ticket if the carrier cannot provide a confirmed reservation that complies with subparagraph (i), or

(iii) transportation to another airport that is within a reasonable distance of the airport at which the passenger is located and a confirmed reservation for a flight that is operated by any carrier and is travelling on any reasonable air route from that other airport to the destination that is indicated on the passenger's original ticket, if the carrier cannot provide a confirmed reservation that complies with subparagraphs (i) or (ii); and

(b) in the case of a small carrier, a confirmed reservation for the next available flight that is operated by the original carrier, or a carrier with which the original carrier has a commercial agreement, and is travelling on any reasonable air route from the airport at which the passenger is located to the destination that is indicated on the passenger's original ticket.

(2) If the alternate travel arrangements offered in accordance with subsection (1) do not accommodate the passenger's travel needs, the carrier must

(a) if the passenger is no longer at the point of origin that is indicated on the original ticket and the travel no longer serves a purpose because of the delay, cancellation or denial of boarding, refund the ticket and provide to the passenger, free of charge, a confirmed reservation for a flight to that point of origin that accommodates the passenger’s travel needs; and

(b) in any other case, refund the unused portion of the ticket.

Comparable services

(3) To the extent possible, the alternate travel arrangements must provide services that are comparable to those of the original ticket.

Higher class of service

(5) If the alternate travel arrangements provide for a higher class of service than the original ticket, the carrier must not request supplementary payment.

Alternate arrangements — outside carrier's control

18 (1) If paragraph 10(3)(b) or (c) applies to a carrier, it must provide to the passenger, free of charge, a confirmed reservation for the next available flight that is operated by the original carrier, or a carrier with which the original carrier has a commercial agreement, is travelling on any reasonable air route from the airport at which the passenger is located to the destination that is indicated on the passenger’s original ticket and departs within 48 hours of the departure time that is indicated on that ticket.

Passenger’s choice

(1.1) If a carrier cannot provide a confirmed reservation in accordance with subsection (1), it must, at the passenger’s choice, refund any unused portion of the ticket or provide the following alternate travel arrangements, free of charge:

(a) in the case of a large carrier, a confirmed reservation for the next available flight that is operated by any carrier and is travelling on any reasonable air route from the airport at which the passenger is located, or another airport that is within a reasonable distance of that airport, to the destination that is indicated on the passenger’s original ticket and, if the new departure is from an airport other than the one at which the passenger is located, transportation to that other airport; or,

(b) in the case of a small carrier, a confirmed reservation for the next available flight that is operated by the original carrier, or a carrier with which the original carrier has a commercial agreement, and is travelling on any reasonable air route from the airport at which the passenger is located to the destination that is indicated on the passenger’s original ticket

Return to point of origin

(1.2) However, if a passenger who chooses to be refunded is no longer at the point of origin that is indicated on the original ticket and the travel no longer serves a purpose because of the delay or cancellation, the carrier must refund the ticket and provide to the passenger, free of charge, a confirmed reservation for a flight to that point of origin that accommodates the passenger’s travel needs.

(1.3) A passenger who is eligible to be refunded under subsection (1.1) may choose a refund at any time prior to being provided with a confirmed reservation.

Denial of boarding — outside carrier’s control

(1.4) If paragraph 10(3)(d) applies to a carrier, it must provide to the passenger, free of charge, the following alternate travel arrangements to ensure that the passenger completes their itinerary as soon as feasible:

(a) in the case of a large carrier, the arrangements specified in subsection (1) or, if it cannot provide such arrangements, a confirmed reservation in accordance with paragraph (1.1)(a); or,

(b) in the case of a small carrier, a confirmed reservation in accordance with paragraph (1.1)(b).

(2) To the extent possible, the alternate travel arrangements must provide services that are comparable to those of the original ticket.

(3) If the alternate travel arrangements provide for a higher class of service than the original ticket, the carrier must not request supplementary payment.

Refund of additional services

18.1 (1) A carrier must refund the cost of any additional services purchased in connection with a passenger’s original ticket if the passenger has been provided with alternate travel arrangements under section 17 or 18 and

(a)  the passenger did not receive those services; or

(b)  those services were paid for a second time.

Refund for lower class of service

(2)  If the alternate travel arrangements provide for a lower class of service than the original ticket, the carrier must refund the difference in the cost of the applicable portion of the ticket.

Method used for refund

18.2 (1) All refunds provided under these Regulations must be paid to the person who purchased the ticket or additional service and must be paid using the method used for the original payment, unless

(a)  the person has been informed in writing of the monetary value of the original ticket or additional service and the availability of a refund by the method used for the original payment;

(b)  the refund is offered in another form that does not expire; and

(c)  the person confirms, in writing, that they have been informed of their right to receive the refund by the method used for the original payment and have chosen to receive the refund in another form.

Refund deadline

(2)  Refunds must be provided by a carrier within 30 days after the day on which the carrier becomes obligated to provide the refund.

Compensation for delay or cancellation

19 (1) If paragraph 12(2)(d) or (3)(d) applies to a carrier, it must provide the following minimum compensation:

(i) $400, if the arrival of the passenger's flight at the destination that is indicated on the original ticket is delayed by three hours or more, but less than six hours,

(ii) $700, if the arrival of the passenger's flight at the destination that is indicated on the original ticket is delayed by six hours or more, but less than nine hours, or

(iii) $1,000, if the arrival of the passenger's flight at the destination that is indicated on the original ticket is delayed by nine hours or more; and

(b) in the case of a small carrier,

(i) $125, if the arrival of the passenger's flight at the destination that is indicated on the original ticket is delayed by three hours or more, but less than six hours,

(ii) $250, if the arrival of the passenger's flight at the destination that is indicated on the original ticket is delayed by six hours or more, but less than nine hours, or

(iii) $500, if the arrival of the passenger's flight at the destination that is indicated on the original ticket is delayed by nine hours or more.

Compensation in case of refund

(2) If paragraph 12(2)(d) or (3)(d) applies to a carrier and the passenger's ticket is refunded in accordance with subsection 17(2), the carrier must provide a minimum compensation of

(a) $400, in the case of a large carrier; and

(b) $125, in the case of a small carrier.

Deadline to file request

(3) To receive the minimum compensation referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), a passenger must file a request for compensation with the carrier before the first anniversary of the day on which the flight delay or flight cancellation occurred.

Deadline to respond

(4) The carrier must, within 30 days after the day on which it receives the request, provide the compensation or an explanation as to why compensation is not payable.

Publication information

ISBN 978-0-660-44255-6

birth flight toronto

Passenger gives birth on Air Canada flight to Toronto

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An Air Canada flight bound for Toronto had to be diverted last week after a passenger gave birth onboard.

According to flight information on FlightAware , on Wednesday, March 6, flight AC Rouge 1879 took off from Hewanorra International Airport in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, at 4:28 pm local time and was headed to Toronto Pearson International.

However, in the middle of the flight, which normally lasts five to six hours, a passenger started "experiencing a medical issue."

"Our flight attendants responded to support the customer, including soliciting assistance among passengers for any medical personnel onboard," an Air Canada representative told Daily Hive in an email. "Two doctors generously volunteered to assist the customer, who was prematurely in labour."

The passenger then delivered a baby "attended by the doctors and our crew."

The aircraft was diverted about three hours into the flight and landed at L.F. Wade International Airport in Hamilton, Bermuda. Local medics met the aircraft, and the passenger and the baby, who were both in stable condition, were transferred to a local hospital.

"We understand the mother and child are in healthy condition," stated the representative. "We thank the doctors who assisted, and we are proud of the professionalism of our crew."

Air Canada's website states that it's safe for passengers to travel up to 36 weeks with a normal pregnancy with no previous history of premature labour.

Angel DiBilio

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Help! Air Canada Ruined Our Trip to Ireland but Won’t Take the Blame.

A Minnesota couple’s vacation fell apart after a jet bridge accident and a code-share snafu led to two nights of failed connections.

A photo illustration shows the body of an airplane but instead of an airplane tail, a human hand abruptly juts out at the end of the airplane in a warning “stop” gesture.

By Seth Kugel

Dear Tripped Up,

Last September, my husband and I left our kids with their grandparents and set off to Ireland. Our $2,132 itinerary took us from Minneapolis to Toronto to Dublin on tickets booked on United Airlines through Expedia but ultimately operated by Air Canada, a United partner. We had boarded our connecting flight in Toronto (and I was already dozing in my seat) when the captain announced an operator had crashed the jet bridge into the starboard engine. We were given hotel vouchers and told we would be rebooked for the next day. Checkout time came and went without a word, so we went to the airport and were told to call Air Canada customer service. An agent booked us a flight for that evening, and we printed out boarding passes at an airport kiosk. But when we tried to board, we were told the boarding passes were invalid. Eventually, we were offered two options for the next day: Fly to Dublin via Newark, or return to Minneapolis. We cut our losses and went home after staying the night in Toronto at a hotel. But United refunded us only $1,087, barely half of what we paid. Air Canada did reimburse us for the second hotel and other expenses, but we believe the airlines owe us not only a full refund, but also 400 Canadian each ($295 apiece) under Canadian law for denied boarding. Both refused. Can you help? Michelle, Edina, Minn.

Dear Michelle,

I found the 58-page dossier you sent along with your story to be quite convincing. (It also convinced me that either you or your husband is a lawyer, which turns out to be true.)

I skipped over Expedia, since your trip had already started, and reached out to United and Air Canada — as you flew on an airline’s partner, it’s a code share arrangement. A spokeswoman for United, Erin Jankowski, quickly sent me a statement noting that the refund you received from United was as per Air Canada’s instructions and referred all other questions to it.

Air Canada, on the other hand, took almost two weeks to get back to me, and its response was underwhelming.

“Our records indicate these customers were not denied boarding in Toronto,” wrote Peter Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for the airline. “Instead, it appears that following the cancellation of their original flight to Ireland they opted to return to Minneapolis from Toronto rather than go to Dublin following the delay. Once that was identified, we did rebook the customers on a flight back to Minneapolis.”

No compensation, no word on the $1,045 still missing from your refund and no explanation as to how you were turned away at the gate for your second flight and yet “not denied boarding.”

Air Canada did offer you and your husband a credit worth 1,200 Canadian dollars toward a future flight, Mr. Fitzpatrick wrote to me, “to account for the impact on their travel plans and experience.”

There was no response to my direct question asking why your boarding passes did not work the second night. In fact, it isn’t even clear from Mr. Fitzpatrick’s initial statement that Air Canada believed you even tried to board, despite the boarding passes you included in the dossier sent to me and the two airlines.

I wrote back with more pointed questions, thanks to what I learned after reading up on the Canadian Transportation Agency’s air passenger protection regulations and speaking with Tom Oommen, the director general of the C.T.A.’s Analysis and Outreach Branch.

“We have what I would call a very complete holistic system of consumer protection for airlines,” he said. For example, when flight disruptions occur for reasons within an airline’s control and the airline cannot get passengers onto another of its own flights within nine hours, it must book the passenger on any airline, including competitors it does not have agreements with, a requirement that the United States does not impose.

Mr. Oommen also noted that if a passenger is stuck midway through a trip and is not happy with the options to continue on, the airline must offer to rebook that passenger “on a flight back to their point of origin free of charge and refund their entire ticket.”

He wouldn’t specifically comment on your case, but that is exactly what happened to you. (The only exception to these rules is when the disruption is not within the airline’s control, Mr. Oommen said, but when a mechanical problem is caused by an airline employee or contractor, “it’s hard to make that argument.”)

There are also many circumstances in which Canada requires airlines to compensate passengers — between 400 and 2,400 dollars — for flight delays, cancellations and denied boarding within the airline’s control. There is an exception for when such issues have safety implications, which could apply to the first night’s engine damage, but not, it seems to me, for the second night’s nonfunctioning boarding passes. That sounds a lot like denied boarding.

This time, you heard back before I did, and forwarded me several emails from Air Canada, including one that said the carrier had approved a cash payment of 400 dollars per traveler. Then Mr. Fitzpatrick emailed me to say you would receive a full refund.

So you got what you asked for, but of course you would rather have gone to Ireland. And what happened, exactly, when Air Canada refused to board you in Toronto? Mr. Fitzpatrick told me United had canceled your ticket before you even got to the gate.

I found that confusing — the boarding pass bears an Air Canada ticket number, and you had not even spoken to United that day. So I got back in touch with United’s Ms. Jankowski, who looked into the situation further and found that “United canceled the tickets after sending messages to the operating carrier, Air Canada, informing them that the tickets had not been properly reissued to the rescheduled flight.”

Apparently, somewhere in the interfacing bowels of the two carriers’ systems, your Air Canada boarding pass was invalidated by United, and neither airline contacted you. And that’s too bad, because Mr. Fitzpatrick later confirmed that second flight left with empty seats.

When you decided to just go home, the Air Canada representative at the airport said you had to call United. The process to untangle the mess and get you booked on a flight back to Minneapolis required hours and six different United customer service representatives and supervisors.

Your experience is a good reason for all of us to avoid code shares unless they are necessary — such as when an itinerary includes flights operated by different airlines.

All this because you originally booked Air Canada flights as United code shares — a choice you found on Expedia. When I recently ran a Minneapolis-to-Dublin search on Expedia for a week in April, the first two choices that appeared were the same route via Toronto with no price difference, one booked directly on Air Canada and the other as a code share on United. Assuming you saw the same thing last year, I bet that if you had booked the Air Canada choice, you would have made it to Ireland, albeit a day late. All the more reason to book directly, with one airline.

There is one final mystery: Why wouldn’t Air Canada admit this was a case of denied boarding, and follow the required C.T.A. regulations? Yes, your case doesn’t precisely fit the agency’s official definition , which is written to describe overbooking or changes in aircraft, but if an airline erroneously cancels a passenger’s ticket after it has already printed a boarding pass, and you are stopped at the gate, what is that?

I presented this as a theoretical situation to the Mr. Oommen of the C.T.A.

“Classic denied boarding is what you’re describing,” he said.

That means you could file for an additional 400 dollars each for this second incident, and put that toward a new flight to Ireland — say, on Aer Lingus, direct or through Chicago.

If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to [email protected] .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Seth Kugel is the columnist for “ Tripped Up ,” an advice column that helps readers navigate the often confusing world of travel. More about Seth Kugel

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

Italy :  Spend 36 hours in Florence , seeking out its lesser-known pockets.

Southern California :  Skip the freeways to explore the back roads between Los Angeles and Los Olivos , a 100-mile route that meanders through mountains, canyons and star-studded enclaves.

Mongolia : Some young people, searching for less curated travel experiences, are flocking to the open spaces of this East Asian nation .

Romania :  Timisoara  may be the most noteworthy city you’ve probably never heard of , offering just enough for visitors to fill two or three days.

India: A writer fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills , taking in the tea gardens and riding a train through the hills.

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Deion Sanders' unique recruiting style at Colorado: Zero home visits since hiring in 2022

Colorado coach has been landing some top recruits but hasn't visited them off-campus or used the private air travel service budgeted for him in his contract.

air travel in canada rules

In his first 14 months on the job as head football coach at Colorado, Deion Sanders has reeled in some of the top recruiting prospects in the nation, including offensive lineman Jordan Seaton and cornerback Cormani McClain .

Records obtained by USA TODAY Sports also show he never even had to leave campus to seal the deal with them or any others.

The university confirmed that "Coach Prime" has made no off-campus contacts with recruiting prospects since he was hired there in early December 2022.

"Coach Prime did not conduct any off-campus recruiting visits," the school said in an email Feb. 28.

That means no visits to the homes or schools of recruiting prospects – which normally has been a traditional staple of the recruiting process in college sports.

By contrast, former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh had 145 off-campus contacts with recruits or their family members from Dec. 1, 2022 until he left for an NFL job earlier this year, according to data obtained by USA TODAY Sports in public-records requests submitted to several universities.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian had 128 of these off-campus recruiting contacts since Dec. 1, 2022.

Former UCLA coach Chip Kelly had 55 of his own during that time, including seven home visits.

More coverage: Grandpa Prime? Sanders set to become grandfather

The data since Dec. 1, 2022 covers the last two winter contact periods on the NCAA recruiting calendar, which generally restricts head coaches from making off-campus recruiting contacts beyond the months of December and January.

In Sanders’ case, his employment contract with Colorado also gives him an annual budget of $200,000 to use a private air travel service for recruiting called Wheels Up.

He didn’t use it.

"The football staff have not used this service for recruiting since Coach Prime started his term as coach," the school said in response to a records request this month.

But what does this all mean exactly?

It depends on the viewpoint.

How has this been working for Deion Sanders?

Colorado didn’t return messages seeking comment from Sanders, who is on a national book tour this week before starting his second spring practice season in Boulder on Monday.

He does things differently, as he showed when he overhauled Colorado’s roster to an unprecedented degree in 2023, when the Buffaloes finished 4-8.

Sanders, 56, arguably didn’t need to go on the road to recruit and has had physical mobility issues since 2021 because of blood clots in his legs and pain in his foot. He also didn’t recruit very many high school players and instead mostly has recruited transfer players – older players who already have moved out of their family homes and might not need to be wooed by a home visit from another prospective new coach.

The university didn't say why Sanders hasn't used the private air travel service stipulated in his contract. Asked who was using it in athletics if not football, the school said the men's basketball program has used it for recruiting, as did the previous head football coach.

What are his recruiting results so far?

According to several metrics, it’s a style that’s worked for him. He upgraded the talent on the roster from 2022, when the Buffaloes finished 1-11. Sanders’ class of transfer recruits last year ranked No. 1 in the nation.  His overall recruiting class for 2024 also ranks No. 22, including 24 transfer players and only seven high school players, according to 247Sports.

Virtually all of them were lured by his fame and football history as a Pro Football Hall of Famer. They came to him, visiting him on recruiting trips to Boulder.

"I ain’t hard 2 find" is even one of his recruiting mottos, currently for sale on Colorado T-shirts.

In the meantime, Sanders’ assistant coaches have put in legwork for him on the road and had more than 90 off-campus, face-to-face conversations with recruits or their family members during this time period, according to records from CU.

But this approach still is completely different than the traditional model of head coaches traveling to meet with recruits and their families to convince them to sign with their teams.

What is the risk of this approach?

Straying from this traditional approach can become a focus point for critics if the team’s fortunes turn for the worse. In the case of Kelly at UCLA, his record there (35-34) and perceived dislike of recruiting led to grumbling among the fan base before he left to take an assistant coach’s job at Ohio State .

Records provided by UCLA show he didn’t log as much road contact as Harbaugh or Sarkisian, whose data from Texas shows him making multiple off-campus contacts per day during the NCAA contact periods in December and January. For example, on Dec. 6, 2022, Sarkisian made 20 off-campus recruiting contacts, according to the data.

Kelly still was on the road making contacts for a total of 19 days during his contact periods since Dec. 1, 2022. He made 46 contacts at recruits’ schools, seven at their homes and two where contact was made at a meal.

Why else do off-campus visits matter?

It’s generally important to make in-home visits with recruits for two reasons, former coach Jackie Sherrill told USA TODAY Sports. One is to learn more about the player. The other is potentially to gain an edge over competitors.

"I would never offer a player (a scholarship) unless I went into the home and saw the recruit in the presence of his mother," said Jackie Sherrill, the former head coach at Washington State, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Mississippi State. "If he was not respectful to his mother, then I would not recruit him. I signed a lot of players because the mother would say you are the first head coach to come to my house or that you are the only head coach that has come to my house. I could tell more about the recruit's character in front of his mother in five minutes than talking to all the coaches and teachers."

Those who don’t show for off-campus visits risk losing recruits to those who do.

One time, Sherill said he had a player at Mississippi State who asked him, “Do you know why I came here? Because you’re the only coach who didn’t flinch when cockroaches crawled across your feet” during his home visit.

What are the rules for off-campus visits?

A head football coach is generally limited to only one off-campus contact day with a recruit or their family members per year starting during a prospect's junior year of high school and including transfer recruits, according to the NCAA.

The assistant coaching staff has more leeway and often does the grunt work of mining for talent on the road. Assistant coaches also can accompany head coaches on their off-campus visits. For example, Ohio State coach Ryan Day and his assistants made a home visit with Alabama safety Caleb Downs before he transferred to play with the Buckeyes.

By contrast, the rules are different for recruits who want to visit the campus of the college they’re considering. They generally can make unlimited unofficial, unpaid visits to campus and one paid official visit per school.

These limits are why schools log their coaches’ number of off-campus contacts, which USA TODAY Sports requested from various public schools.  The ones who responded so far show a range and didn’t include Georgia, whose head coach, Kirby Smart, has become known for his extensive helicopter travel on recruiting trips.

In January 2023, Smart traveled by helicopter on recruiting trips in eight states on eight days and helped ring up expenses of more than $145,000 on the “Kirby Copter,” including other trips, according to the Athens Banner-Herald .

Do recruits even care about home visits?

It varies, but other factors are a bigger part of the equation for recruits now, including earning potential from their names, images and likenesses (NIL). In one case, a wide receiver recruit out of Calabasas, Calif., committed to play for Sanders at Colorado before reneging on his commitment and signing with Texas.

That recruit, Aaron Butler, told USA TODAY Sport that neither Sanders nor Sarkisian visited with him at his home in person.

"I’m not really too much into that," Butler said. "My receivers coach is the one who is going to develop me."

At Texas, that was Chris Jackson, a former NFL player who did visit Butler in California. Before he changed his mind about Colorado, Butler said Sanders called and asked to talk to his parents, including his father Robb-Davon, who crossed paths with Sanders years ago with the Baltimore Ravens.  The call went well, but Butler later said a communication breakdown led him to change his mind about Colorado.

Another factor with home visits

Sometimes the home visit is for the parents. Former Colorado coach Bill McCartney knew this and used home visits to land several top recruits out of Southern California and Texas, eventually building the team into a national contender before his retirement 30 years ago. Sometimes he’d get into personal discussions about his religious faith with a parent.

"In a single-parent household, the mom is the decision-maker," former Buffs linebacker Alfred Williams said on a documentary about McCartney that aired on ESPN in 2015. "So he recruited my mom."

McCartney explained it like this in the same film:

"What that mom wanted to hear is what every mom wants to hear − is that she knows she can trust her son to you."

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer . Email: [email protected]

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  26. Colorado's Deion Sanders has unusual recruiting style: No home visits

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