Have you experienced a last-minute flight cancellation?
A flight cancellation can be a major inconvenience, especially if you have connecting flights or other travel commitments. However, EU/UK legislation and Air Canada’s flight cancellation policy offer protection for passengers on certain flights. These guidelines have been in place for over a decade, meaning that if Air Canada cancels your flight, they are obligated to assist you and find a suitable solution.
This legislation applies to Air Canada flights from Europe.
1. Air Canada Flight Cancellation: Last-Minute Flight Cancellation
Are you experiencing a last-minute flight cancellation?
With Air Canada, you have certain rights in case of a sudden flight cancellation.
Air Canada is not an EU airline. And EU laws do not cover all of its flights. Yet, there is a silver lining! If your flight departs from a European airport (including UK airports), you are protected under the EU legislation, specifically Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Your rights are upheld in these circumstances.
- If the flight cancellation results in a lengthy delay at the airport, you are entitled to a right to care. For instance, if the delay lasts for 3 hours, you should receive a food voucher. If you need to stay overnight, you should receive free hotel accommodation and transfers.
- If you decide not to take the alternative flight provided, you can request a full refund from Air Canada. This refund can be transferred to your bank account or provided as an Air Canada voucher.
- In this case, it’s a last-minute flight cancellation (i.e., flight cancelled within 2 weeks of the original departure date), and if the fault lies with Air Canada, you can seek flight cancellation compensation from Air Canada.
If you miss a connecting flight as a result of a cancellation on your Air Canada flight, you might qualify for compensation. Please refer to our Air Canada missed connection compensation guide for further information.
In essence, these regulations are akin to those for flight delays. You need to determine how late you reached your destination compared to your original arrival time.
These compensation rules apply to Air Canada flights from Europe.
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
2. What to Do if Your Flight Is Cancelled Last-Minute?
Depending on where you are at the time of the cancellation, you should take certain steps in the event of a last-minute flight cancellation. If you are at the airport already, your answer will be very different from if you are still at home.
2.1 If You Are Still at Home or Hotel
If you’re still at your home or hotel when you receive the cancellation news, it’s best to stay there until further instructions. Get in touch with Air Canada’s customer service to find out about the subsequent steps.
Air Canada will help you and talk you through your choices, which could include going later that day or the next, depending on the flight availability. Keep in mind that you can ask for a different airline’s flight or a full refund if you decide you no longer want to fly.
You may be eligible for flight cancellation compensation from the airline if your flight is cancelled as a result of the airline’s mistake.
2.2 If You Are Already at the Airport
If the cancellation happens while you’re already at the airport, refrain from going through airport security. A replacement flight will need to be arranged, which means going through the check-in procedure again, receiving a new boarding pass, and if you have luggage, checking it in again, along with going through passport control.
If you’ve already made it past security, make an effort to return to the public area of the airport.
It’s important to get in touch with the Air Canada representatives present at the airport to find out about the subsequent steps. They are there to assist you.
You may be eligible for flight cancellation compensation from the airline if your flight is cancelled as a result of the carrier’s negligence.

3. Air Canada Flight Cancellation Compensation
Can you seek compensation for a last-minute flight cancellation?
The UK/EU has established specific rules related to flight compensation. If your flight gets cancelled with less than 2 weeks’ notice, it qualifies as a last-minute flight cancellation, and you might be entitled to compensation.
Your flight is cancelled 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- If you accept a new flight proposed by Air Canada, one that leaves no more than 2 hours before the original time and gets you to your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time, then no compensation is due.
- For all other scenarios, you can be eligible for compensation.
Your flight is cancelled less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- If you choose a replacement flight from Air Canada, one that departs no more than one hour before the original flight’s time and reaches the destination within two hours of the original arrival time, you will not be eligible for compensation.
- In all other scenarios, you can be eligible for compensation.
Conditions to claim compensation:
- The flight was cancelled due to Air Canada’s fault;
- The flight originates from Europe;
- The flight was cancelled at the last minute (less than 14 days before departure).
Read more: Air Canada Flight Cancellation Compensation
As Air Canada is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Air Canada flights departing from the EU and the UK.
4. Air Canada Flight Cancellation Refund
When Air Canada cancels your flight, you have the right to select between a replacement flight or a full refund. If you opt for a refund, the amount can be returned to your bank account or you can request for it to be issued as an Air Canada voucher.
Your choice is a matter of what aligns best with your individual travel needs.
Refunds from Air Canada are generally processed within a 7-day timeframe.
It’s important to note that the right to a refund and the right to compensation are two separate rights under UK/EU air passenger rights law. Even after claiming a refund, you might still be entitled to compensation, depending on the specifics of your flight cancellation, as described above.
Read more: Your Air Canada Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?
As Air Canada is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Air Canada flights departing from the EU and the UK.
4.1 What Happens If You Cancel a Flight?
In situations where you, as the passenger, choose to cancel your flight, the terms for a refund differ.
Primarily, Air Canada’s refund criteria depend on the type of ticket purchased.
Typically, fully flexible tickets can be refunded, while low-cost tickets with lesser flexibility may not qualify for refunds. It’s always recommended to check the specific terms of your ticket or to reach out to Air Canada’s customer service for more information.
If you have a travel insurance policy that covers flight cancellations, you might be able to claim a refund through this avenue.

5. How to Claim Air Canada Flight Cancellation Compensation? Cancellation Refund?
If you desire to claim a refund for your ticket, you can do so by visiting the “Manage Booking” section. The refund will be processed via the same payment method you used while booking your ticket.
Then what about compensation for flight cancellation?
If your flight gets cancelled, you may be eligible for compensation from Air Canada. The key step is to file a claim. Failure to claim means no compensation. Contact Air Canada’s customer service to initiate your claim.
As Air Canada is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Air Canada flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Remember, claiming compensation is a right, not a privilege. You are not required to accept travel vouchers instead of this compensation. By EC Regulation 261, compensation for flight disruptions in the EU should be paid directly into your bank account. The compensation amount you may be entitled to is fixed and ranges from 250 to 600 euros.
There’s also the option of obtaining legal assistance.
Choosing this route means that your claim will be managed by a flight compensation company. They will submit the claim on your behalf and supervise the process until its conclusion.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Read more: How to Claim Air Canada Compensation?
Have you experienced a last-minute flight cancellation? Do you still have questions about Air Canada compensation policies? Ask in the comments.