When you experience waiting time at the airport, you have the right to care.
This means that you are entitled to free food and accommodation during your wait.
If your Air Canada flight is suddenly cancelled, overbooked, or delayed, you can get certain services for free. If the wait lasts three hours or more, food and drinks should be given away for free. If you have to stay in a hotel overnight because of a delay, Air Canada is expected to pay for your stay. Air Canada planes leaving from the EU and the UK are the only ones that have to follow these rules.
Right to Care From Air Canada
On certain flights, you are protected by a right to care from Air Canada.
Passengers’ rights are protected by European law, which means that Air Canada has to provide necessary care on some flights. European companies must follow these rules for most trips going into and out of the European Union.
For Air Canada, the regulation only applies to trips departing from Europe.
This is indicated under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
As Air Canada is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Air Canada flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Short Delays (3+ Hours)
You are entitled to: meals and refreshments.
If your delay on Air Canada lasts three hours or more, but is still within the day and relatively short, they are required to provide you with free meals and refreshments. Additionally, you will receive two vouchers for phone calls, emails, or faxes.
Long Delays (Overnight)
You are entitled to: meals, drinks, hotel stay and airport transfer.
If your flight is postponed overnight, Air Canada will provide you with complimentary accommodation, airport transfers, meals, and drinks. If you haven’t received any updates concerning these arrangements, we recommend reaching out to Air Canada as soon as possible.
How to Get Free Food and Free Hotel Accommodation?
During a prolonged wait at the airport, Air Canada should provide facilities such as complimentary meals, free accommodation, and complimentary airport transfers. These should be provided to you during the waiting period without you having to request them.
If these amenities aren’t offered, it’s important to approach the Air Canada customer service counter and inquire about them. According to European law, the airline is obliged to provide these services free of charge for eligible delays.
In the event the airline does not arrange these services for you, you may have to organize them on your own. Make sure to keep all receipts and proof of purchases for meals, drinks, transfers, and hotel stays. With these, you can request a refund from Air Canada by providing a detailed breakdown of your expenses during the delay. Please include all necessary information to expedite the refund process.
As Air Canada is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Air Canada flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Let’s understand the meaning of this term.
What Are Extraordinary Circumstances?
Extraordinary circumstances are situations beyond the airline’s control that can result in flight alterations, delays, or cancellations. These include severe weather conditions, non-airline-related strikes, security risks, political instability, or hidden manufacturing defects affecting flight safety. In such cases, while passengers may face difficulties, the airline is not obliged to provide compensation as per Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
However, the right to care remains the same.
Are Technical Problems Considered Extraordinary Circumstances?
Technical difficulties are typically not categorized as extraordinary circumstances under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. The regulation emphasizes that standard operational technical issues aren’t deemed extraordinary, as they fall within the airline’s scope of control.
This could include routine maintenance or minor restorations. Such matters are part of the airline’s basic duties and thus, cannot be used as an excuse to avoid providing compensation or care to passengers.
However, if a hidden manufacturing defect is found that endangers the flight’s safety, it can be considered extraordinary. This is because such situations are rare, present an immediate risk to the aircraft’s safe operation, and are not part of the airline’s usual technical procedures.
Right to Care in Extraordinary Circumstances
Passengers have a right to care even in extraordinary circumstances.
While Air Canada may not be obligated to provide compensation for delays or cancellations caused by factors beyond their control, they are still responsible for ensuring your well-being during the waiting period. This duty includes offering meals, beverages, and accommodations in case of significant delays and last-minute cancellations.
The same regulation is applicable for providing alternate transport if the flight gets cancelled – you have a right to that.
As Air Canada is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Air Canada flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Right to Care: FAQ
In this section, we aim to clarify common queries about the right to care during flight delays and cancellations when travelling with Air Canada.
As Air Canada is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Air Canada flights departing from the EU and the UK.
What Does “Right to Care” Mean?
Airlines, like Air Canada, have a responsibility to take care of their passengers when there are flight delays, overbooking, or cancellations. According to regulations, airlines must ensure passenger comfort during these incidents. This may include providing complimentary meals, drinks, and accommodation for significant delays.
What Should I Do If My Flight Is Delayed and I’m Entitled to “Right to Care”?
If your Air Canada flight is delayed for 3 hours or more, they must offer you services like free meals, drinks, and necessary accommodation if the delay lasts overnight.
If these services aren’t provided, approach the Air Canada customer service desk at the airport. Alternatively, you can pay for the costs personally and later claim for reimbursement. The sooner you file your claim, the better.
This applies only to Air Canada flights leaving from Europe.
As Air Canada is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Air Canada flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Do I Have the Right to Care If My Flight Is Canceled?
Yes, you have the right to care if your Air Canada trip is cancelled.
This means that Air Canada has to give you food, drinks, and a place to stay (if needed), along with an alternative way to get to your goal or a full refund. You might also be eligible for compensation for the cancellation if it was caused by something the flight could have prevented.
Read more: Last-Minute Flight Cancellation: Your Rights
Are There Exceptions to the Right to Care in Extraordinary Circumstances?
Yes, you have the right to care even in extraordinary circumstances.
If your flight is delayed or cancelled due to severe weather, security risks, or strikes, you are still entitled to free meals, refreshments, and accommodation if necessary.
How Can I Claim Reimbursement If I Had to Arrange My Own Meals and Accommodation?
If Air Canada fails to provide meals, accommodation, or airport transfers due to unforeseen circumstances, you will need to take care of these expenses on your own. Remember to keep all receipts and proof of purchase. You can submit these, along with a detailed report of your expenses during the delay, to Air Canada for reimbursement. Please keep in mind that only necessary expenses are covered by this policy.
Please keep in mind that this only applies to trips from Europe, since Air Canada is not an EU airline.
Is the Right to Care Applicable to All Air Canada Flights?
The right to care applies to Air Canada flights departing from Europe.
Air Canada flights arriving in Europe from other areas are not covered by European legislation. Flights operating in other nations are not as properly covered.
Is this just applicable to European citizens?
No, the entitlement to care applies to all passengers, regardless of country.
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and Regulation UK261, issued by the European Union and the UK government, provide passengers the right to care. These laws oblige any European airline to offer care and compensation to injured passengers when necessary. As a result, regardless of country, all Air Canada passengers have the right to care.
However, since Air Canada is a non-EU airline, this legislation only applies to flights leaving from Europe and not planes arriving in Europe from anywhere else in the globe.
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.