FlyRight Canada exists for one reason: to make sure you know exactly what you're owed when an airline ruins your plans — and exactly how to get it back.
"The quality of a civilization may be measured by how it treats those trapped in a middle seat for nine hours with no explanation."
— FlyRight Canada, probably
Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations are some of the strongest passenger rights laws in the world. Airlines know this. They also know that most passengers don't.
That information gap costs Canadians millions of dollars every year in compensation they're legally owed but never claim — because the process is opaque, the language is bureaucratic, and the airlines are counting on your frustration outlasting your resolve.
We think that's wrong. So we built this: plain-English guides for every major Canadian carrier, real claim letters, real deadlines, and zero fluff.
Not a law firm. Not affiliated with any airline. Just a website that thinks you deserve better than a $50 travel voucher.
APPR sets fixed compensation amounts based on delay length and airline size. No negotiation — these are legal minimums. We've laid them all out clearly for each carrier.
Every guide includes a ready-to-use letter template. Copy it, fill in your details, send it. The airline has 30 days to respond by law. Clock starts ticking.
No response in 30 days, or a denial you disagree with? File a free complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency. Takes 15 minutes and airlines take it seriously.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere — including in row 34E, somewhere over Winnipeg."Martin Luther King Jr. (paraphrased, liberally, with apologies)
Every major Canadian carrier, broken down: what they owe you, how to file, and what to do when they pretend they don't.
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward your $700 compensation cheque."Theodore Parker / MLK Jr. / FlyRight Canada (it's complicated)
WestJet is a large airline under the APPR. These amounts are fixed by law — they cannot pay less in cash.
| Situation | Compensation | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Delay — arrived 3–6 hours late | $400 CAD | Within WJ control |
| Delay — arrived 6–9 hours late | $700 CAD | Within WJ control |
| Delay — arrived 9+ hours late | $1,000 CAD | Within WJ control |
| Cancellation (≤14 days notice) | up to $1,000 CAD | Within WJ control |
| Denied boarding (overbooking) | up to $2,400 CAD | Showed up on time |
| Lost or damaged baggage | up to ~$2,800 CAD | Claim within 7–21 days |
WestJet has separate forms for compensation claims and expense reimbursements — use the right one.
Booking confirmation, flight number, actual arrival time, and receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses. Note: WestJet asks that you wait 72 hours after the disruption before submitting an expenses claim.
Go to westjet.com/en-ca/interruptions/compensation-claims. Complete the form with your flight details. WestJet confirms a 30-day response window and pays electronically to your email.
Online formMeals, hotel, transport paid out of pocket go through a different form: westjet.com/en-ca/interruptions/submit-expenses. Keep all itemized receipts — WestJet will only reimburse reasonable qualifying expenses.
Separate formWestJet must respond within 30 days. If denied or no response, escalate to the CTA at otc-cta.gc.ca.
Use this if you prefer written correspondence or want a paper trail alongside the online form.
WestJet's direct online compensation form.
westjet.com/interruptions/compensation →Separate form for meals, hotel, and transport costs.
westjet.com/interruptions/expenses →Lost, delayed, or damaged baggage reimbursement portal.
westjet.com/interruptions/baggage →Questions about your Canadian passenger rights (not for filing claims).
APPR contact form →Escalate here if WestJet rejects or ignores your claim.
File a CTA complaint →Use the direct links above — WestJet's process is one of the more straightforward of the major carriers.
Air Canada is a large airline under the APPR. For flights departing from Europe, EU261 may entitle you to higher amounts — you can choose whichever regime is more favourable.
| Situation | APPR (Canada) | EU261 (departing Europe only) |
|---|---|---|
| Delay 3–6 hours | $400 CAD | €250 |
| Delay 6–9 hours | $700 CAD | €400 |
| Delay 9+ hours | $1,000 CAD | €600 |
| Cancellation (≤14 days) | up to $1,000 CAD | €250–€600 |
| Denied boarding | up to $2,400 CAD | €250–€600 |
| Lost or damaged baggage | up to ~$2,800 CAD | up to ~$2,800 CAD |
The key rule: EU261 applies to any flight departing from a European airport, regardless of which airline. Air Canada is a Canadian carrier — so only its flights departing from Europe are covered, not Canada-to-Europe flights.
Booking confirmation, boarding pass, flight number, actual arrival time, and any receipts for expenses. For EU261 claims, you'll also need proof of departure from a European airport.
Go to aircanada.com/contact-us and select the compensation/disruption claim category. Specify whether you are claiming under APPR or EU261 — or request consideration under both if you are unsure which is more favourable.
[EDIT: Verify current claim URL at aircanada.com]Air Canada frequently offers future travel credits. You are always entitled to cash compensation under the APPR. State explicitly in your claim that you are requesting monetary payment.
For APPR claims, escalate to otc-cta.gc.ca. For EU261 claims from European airports, contact the relevant National Enforcement Body of the departure country.
Submit compensation and disruption claims online.
aircanada.com/contact-us → [EDIT: verify claim URL]Lost, delayed, or damaged baggage must be reported promptly.
aircanada.com/baggage → [EDIT]1-877-872-6728 (Canada/US) — for urgent disruption assistance at the airport.
Escalate here after 30 days with no satisfactory response.
File a CTA complaint →Flying back from Europe? Check whether EU261 gives you a higher amount than APPR before filing.
| Situation | Compensation | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Delay — arrived 3–6 hours late | $400 CAD | Within Porter control |
| Delay — arrived 6–9 hours late | $700 CAD | Within Porter control |
| Delay — arrived 9+ hours late | $1,000 CAD | Within Porter control |
| Cancellation (≤14 days notice) | up to $1,000 CAD | Within Porter control |
| Denied boarding (overbooking) | up to $2,400 CAD | Showed up on time |
| Lost or damaged baggage | up to ~$2,800 CAD | Claim within 7–21 days |
Booking confirmation, flight number, actual arrival time, boarding pass, and receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses. Porter flies primarily short routes so delays tend to cascade quickly — document the full chain.
Go to flyporter.com/en-ca/customer-service/help-contact and submit a written compensation claim. Specify that you are claiming under the APPR and state the delay length and compensation amount you are entitled to.
[EDIT: Verify direct APPR claim link at flyporter.com]Porter has a codeshare with American Airlines (effective September 2025). If you booked through one carrier but flew the other's aircraft, file your APPR claim with the operating carrier — the airline whose name was on the plane.
Important for codeshare flightsFile at otc-cta.gc.ca. Free, takes 15 minutes.
Submit written APPR compensation claims.
flyporter.com/customer-service → [EDIT: verify claim link]1-888-619-8622 — for urgent assistance at the airport.
Escalate here if Porter ignores or denies your claim.
File a CTA complaint →Remember: Porter is a large airline — you're entitled to the higher APPR compensation amounts.
Despite being budget, Flair is a large airline — the same compensation amounts apply as with Air Canada or WestJet.
| Situation | Compensation | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Delay — arrived 3–6 hours late | $400 CAD | Within Flair control |
| Delay — arrived 6–9 hours late | $700 CAD | Within Flair control |
| Delay — arrived 9+ hours late | $1,000 CAD | Within Flair control |
| Cancellation (≤14 days notice) | up to $1,000 CAD | Within Flair control |
| Denied boarding (overbooking) | up to $2,400 CAD | Showed up on time |
| Lost or damaged baggage | up to ~$2,800 CAD | Claim within 7–21 days |
Booking confirmation, flight number, actual arrival time, and receipts. For Flair specifically, screenshot any communications — they sometimes dispute what was said verbally at the gate.
Go to flyflair.com/contact-us and submit your APPR compensation claim in writing. State your flight details, delay length, and the specific APPR compensation amount you are entitled to. Request cash.
[EDIT: Verify current claim URL at flyflair.com]Flair has a historically high CTA complaint rate. If they deny your valid claim or don't respond in 30 days, go directly to the CTA — Flair pays attention to formal CTA complaints.
Escalation often necessary with FlairFile at otc-cta.gc.ca. Free, 15 minutes. Bring your written claim and their response (or silence).
Submit written APPR compensation claims here.
flyflair.com/contact-us → [EDIT: verify claim link]Flair has a high CTA complaint rate — don't hesitate to escalate.
File a CTA complaint →Flair is a large airline — don't let them quote small airline amounts or offer credits instead of cash.
Sunwing Airlines was classified as a large airline under the APPR. The higher compensation amounts apply to flights before May 29, 2025.
| Situation | Compensation | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Delay — arrived 3–6 hours late | $400 CAD | Within Sunwing control |
| Delay — arrived 6–9 hours late | $700 CAD | Within Sunwing control |
| Delay — arrived 9+ hours late | $1,000 CAD | Within Sunwing control |
| Cancellation (≤14 days notice) | up to $1,000 CAD | Within Sunwing control |
| Denied boarding (overbooking) | up to $2,400 CAD | Showed up on time |
| Lost or damaged baggage | up to ~$2,800 CAD | Claim within 7–21 days |
Check your boarding pass and itinerary. If it shows a Sunwing flight number (WG prefix), Sunwing operated it. If it shows WestJet (WS prefix), file with WestJet regardless of what the package said.
Go to sunwing.ca/customer-service/contact-us and submit an APPR compensation claim in writing. Include flight number (WG prefix), actual arrival time, and specify the compensation amount under APPR.
[EDIT: Verify current Sunwing claim URL — may redirect to WestJet]File at otc-cta.gc.ca. For post-May 2025 flights, file against WestJet.
For flights operated by Sunwing before the transition.
sunwing.ca/customer-service → [EDIT]For Sunwing Vacations flights after May 29, 2025.
westjet.com/interruptions/compensation →Escalate here — file against the correct operating carrier.
File a CTA complaint →Check your boarding pass flight number — WG prefix means Sunwing, WS means WestJet.
Everything you wanted to know about APPR but were too frustrated to ask.