European Passenger Rights Are Valid in Canada: Claim a Compensation for a Disrupted Flight
Hockey, mountains and being polite – that’s what Canada is all about. The North American country is beloved by tourists because of its vibrant cities, mesmerizing nature and friendly people. But even Canada can’t always guarantee a flawless flight, and flight disruptions happen. Skycop explains when the Regulation (EC) 261/2004 entitles passengers to compensation for the delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight when flying to and from Canada.
by Skycop team
- 2019-07-04
- 5:59 AM GMT
In 2004, the European Commission introduced a regulation that protected air passenger rights. Since then, passengers who experienced flight delays, cancellations and overbooking at airline’s fault were entitled to care and a monetary flight compensation up to 600 euros. 15 years have passed, but many people are still not familiar with their rights – and airlines aren’t exactly keen on informing their passengers. Even more, questions arise when talking about a flight to and from countries that do not belong to the European Union. So when should a passenger seek compensation?
Flying from the EU to Canada
This one is pretty simple. If the disrupted flight originated from an EU airport, the regulation is valid and passengers are entitled to a compensation of up to 600 euros. According to the EU Regulation:
- Compensation for a delayed flight is paid when a flight is late to arrive at the destination airport by more than 3 hours. The delay has to be airline’s fault – the regulation states that extraordinary circumstances (bad weather conditions, airport strikes, force majeure) exempt airlines from paying compensation.
- Compensation for a cancelled flight is paid when a flight is cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled date. The cancellation has to be airline’s fault – regulation states that extraordinary circumstances (bad weather conditions, airport strikes, force majeure) exempt airlines from paying compensation.
- Compensation for an overbooked flight is paid when a passenger is denied boarding due to airline selling more tickets than there are seats on the plane. The passenger should not volunteer to give up their place on the overbooked flight – the airlines usually look for people who would volunteer to fly on a different flight and sometimes offer vouchers or discounts.
Flying from Canada to the EU
This one is slightly more complex. If the disrupted flight originated in a Canadian airport – the EU regulation is valid only when the flight is operated by an EU-Registered airline. According to the EU Regulation:
- Compensation for a delayed flight is paid when a flight is late to arrive at the destination airport by more than 3 hours. The delay has to be airline’s fault – Regulation states that extraordinary circumstances (bad weather conditions, airport strikes, force majeure) exempt airlines from paying compensation.
- Compensation for a cancelled flight is paid when a flight is cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled date of departure. The cancellation has to be airline’s fault – regulation states that extraordinary circumstances (bad weather conditions, airport strikes, force majeure) exempt airlines from paying compensation.
- Compensation for an overbooked flight is paid when a passenger is denied boarding due to the airline selling more tickets than there are seats on the plane. The passenger should not volunteer to give up their place on the overbooked flight – the airlines usually look for people who would volunteer to fly on a different flight, sometimes offering vouchers or discounts.
At this point, there are 13 EU-registered airlines that fly directly to and from Canada:
- Aer Lingus
- Air France
- Alitalia
- Austrian Airlines
- British Airways
- Brussels Airlines
- Corsair International
- KLM
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Norwegian Air International
- TAP Portugal
- TAROM
Flying from Canada to the EU
The EU Regulation states that in case of disruptions, the airlines have to take care of their passengers. Passengers have to be provided with two free phone calls, the chance to use email or fax, free meals, and drinks if the flight is late, cancelled or overbooked. If the delay lasts overnight, the airline has to provide accommodation and transportation to and from the airport.
For long-haul flights like EU-Canadas and Canada-EU, the care has to be provided if the delay lasts more than 4 hours.
Unfortunately, even though airlines are required by law to provide passengers with vouchers for food and drinks, they can sometimes be negligent with their responsibilities.
If passengers are not offered vouchers, airlines are not off the hook. Passengers can purchase their food and drinks themselves and later require the airline to reimburse them for the expenses. The important thing to remember in this situation is that passengers have to provide receipts!
If your dream is to visit beautiful Canada – go for it, there’s no better time than now. But if you happen to experience a flight disruption, don’t fear: remember this article and you’ll know how to turn a problem into compensation. Even though it can be difficult to manage the process, Skycop can help you get your rightful compensation of up to 600 euros in a quick and easy manner.
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