If you're having trouble determining what compensation you're entitled to, a new tool for Canadians can help you find out what you're owed and how to go about filing a claim.
On February 27, the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), launched a guide to help air travellers navigate the rules when they run into common issues, like flight delays, cancellations and lost luggage.
Air travellers who are wondering if they're entitled to compensation (and how much they are owed) can consult CAA's Air Passenger Help Guide, which provides a plain-language breakdown of what travellers are entitled to under the passenger protections, based on the situation of the traveller.
According to Ian Jack, vice president of public affairs for CAA National, CAA has actually been pushing the federal government to simplify the passenger protection rules to make them easier to use.
What happens when my flight is cancelled?
You can use the CAA guide to determine what compensation, if any, you're entitled to for a flight cancellation. CAA first asks you how your travel has been affected, where you would select "Delay or cancellation."
The CAA Air Passenger Help Guide. CAA
The guide then asks who you're flying with — whether it's large airlines including Air Canada, WestJet and other major international airlines, such as Delta, American, or United, or smaller airlines such as Porter, Canadian North or other regional carriers.
The guide then asks travellers to indicate how much notice they were given for the flight disruption, be it more than 14 days, 12 or more hours and 14 days or less, or less than 12 hours.
Passengers then must select the reason for the flight disruption. Options include staff and flight crew scheduling and availability, aircraft cleaning, scheduled maintenance, and overbooking.
The CAA Air Passenger Help Guide. CAA
Based on your selection, the guide will be able to tell you if, based on the APPR, you are entitled to compensation and should file a claim with the airline, or if the rules say you are not eligible for compensation.
The guide can also tell you when the rules say you wouldn't be eligible for compensation but will have the option of receiving a refund.
So, for example, if your flight with a major carrier was delayed or cancelled and you were given less than 12 hours notice, with the reason being that the flight was overbooked, the guide would tell you that you are eligible for up to $1,000 (depending on how late you arrived at your destination), the airline's responsibilities in this case, and your entitlements for rebookings and refunds.
The CAA Air Passenger Help Guide. CAA
Travellers can also use the guide to get information on what they're owed for other travel issues, including tarmac delays, denied boarding, and lost, delayed, or damaged baggage.
The guide also has helpful information about how to file a claim with the Canadian Transportation Agency.
The CAA notes that the guide is not legal advice and doesn't replace the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) enforced by the Canadian Transportation Agency. However, it can definitely help travellers to better understand the rules.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
The ticket from Gavin's lost luggage.