Airline Cash Compensation

Statutory cash compensation when a flight is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, plus the credit-card coverage that stacks on top. Statutory compensation is a fixed inconvenience payment; card coverage reimburses actual expenses. They can be claimed together (never the same expense twice).

New jurisdiction to add? Use Appendix adding a jurisdiction.

Summary

Jurisdiction	Cash for delay/cancel?	Max	Applies to
	Yes	$1,000 CAD	Any airline; lands or takes off in Canada
EU	Yes	€600	Departs EU (any airline), or arrives EU on an EU airline
UK	Yes	£520	Departs UK (any airline), or arrives UK on a UK/EU airline
US	No (refund only)	n/a	To/from/within the US

Credit-card coverage stacks on top of any of these; see Credit card coverage.

Which rulebook applies

Match by departure airport and where the flight lands. More than one can apply to a single flight.

• Newark to Toronto: APPR (lands in Canada) and the US DOT refund rule (departs the US).
• APPR bars double inconvenience compensation for the same event under another jurisdiction, so pick one statutory rulebook; the DOT refund is a separate right.

Canada

APPR

Fixed inconvenience compensation, owed only when the disruption is within the carrier’s control and not required for safety.

Cause	Cash owed?
Within control, not safety (crew scheduling, overbooking, ops)	Yes
Within control, required for safety (mechanical)	No
Outside control (weather, ATC, security)	No

Arrival delay	Delay compensation	Denied boarding
Under 6 hrs	$400 (3 to 6 hrs)	$900
6 to 9 hrs	$700	$1,800
9+ hrs	$1,000	$2,400

Conditions:

Trigger	Min delay	Measured to	Application timing	Claim window
Lands or takes off in Canada	3+ hrs	Ticketed final destination, doors open	Told 14 days or fewer before departure	1 year to file; airline replies in 30 days

• Official source: APPR SOR/2019-150 on the Justice Laws Website (official consolidation), under the Canada Transportation Act s.86.11; amounts and deadlines at s.19 to s.20, stacking at s.3(3).
• Interpreted/enforced by: the Canadian Transportation Agency (scope guide, disruption guide).
• Carrier scope: any airline; route-based, not carrier-based. Large vs small carrier changes the amounts (table shows large).
• Connecting flights: a leg touching Canada is always covered; the through-fare rule only matters for a leg with neither end in Canada. Example: on a YYZ-LHR-CDG through ticket, a delay on the LHR-CDG leg is covered because it shares one through fare with the Canada leg on the same or codeshare airline; bought as a separate LHR-CDG ticket it is not. On one through fare, delay is measured to your ticketed final destination; separate tickets are each their own journey (s.19).
• Stacking: also claimable elsewhere, but not double-paid for the same event (s.3(3)).

Multi-cause: APPR keys on the primary reason you arrived late, so an original crew-scheduling cancellation still pays even if a later mechanical delay follows. Keep every notice to prove the sequence.

Arrival time (what to capture)

The delay tiers are measured from the ticketed final destination’s scheduled arrival to actual arrival, defined as gate-in — the moment the aircraft is parked at the gate with the brake set and doors cleared to open (the “In” of the OOOI block times). Not touchdown, not when you step off. This matters because the taxi-in gap (often 10 to 20 min between landing and gate-in) can sit across a tier boundary, and gate-in is always the later, more favourable number.

• What to record: the actual gate-in time at your final destination, to the minute.
• Why: it fixes which tier you land in ($400/$700 / $1,000). The airline computes this from its own ACARS block-in time and won’t ask you to prove it on a routine claim — but if it asserts a time that drops you a tier, or you escalate to the CTA, you need independent corroboration.
• Where to get it: note it yourself on landing, then next day screenshot the completed flight’s history page on FlightAware (search the flight number; the finished record shows actual gate departure and gate arrival). FlightRadar24 and ADSBExchange archive the same, all derived from the aircraft’s own ADS-B broadcasts, so they track the airline’s block-in within a minute or two.
• Keep it in reserve: file the routine claim without the screenshot (leading with third-party evidence pre-litigates a point that usually isn’t disputed and invites nitpicking); produce it only if the airline contests the time or you go to the CTA.

Only decisive near a boundary. Well inside a tier, minor source discrepancies don’t change the payout.

How to claim

1. Gather evidence (see Claim checklist): airline notices with the stated reason, boarding pass, actual arrival time, receipts.
2. File a claim in writing with the airline within 1 year (Air Canada flight-disruption claim).
3. The airline must pay or explain within 30 days.
4. If denied or ignored, file a complaint with the CTA; a Complaint Resolution Officer issues a binding decision (about 90 days).

Verified 2026-07-03 against Verification points.

European Union

EU261

Regulation EC 261/2004. Compensation by flight distance; exempt only for extraordinary circumstances.

Distance	Amount
Up to 1,500 km	€250
1,500 to 3,500 km	€400
Over 3,500 km	€600 (€300 if 3 to 4 hrs)

Conditions:

Trigger	Min delay	Measured to	Application timing	Claim window
Departs EU (any airline), or arrives EU on an EU airline	3+ hrs (4+ over 3,500 km)	Final destination, doors open	Cancellations: told 14 days or fewer before departure	2 to 6 years by country

• Official source: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 on EUR-Lex; compensation amounts in Article 7.
• Interpreted/enforced by: interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU (Sturgeon, Folkerts); the European Commission guidelines (revised 2024) are non-binding; enforced by each member state’s designated National Enforcement Body.
• Carrier scope: departing the EU, any airline; arriving from outside, only on an EU carrier. Also Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and EU outermost regions.
• Connecting flights: one reservation is a single journey to the final destination (Folkerts, C-11/11), covered even if the missed leg is outside the EU; separate tickets are self-transfer, not covered.
• Exemption: extraordinary circumstances (weather, ATC, security, external strikes); technical faults usually are not.
• Stacking: your choice of regime; separate from any travel-insurance payout.
• 2026 reform provisionally agreed 15 Jun 2026 keeps the 3-hr threshold and €250 to €600 bands, but is not yet law and would not take effect until roughly H2 2027.

How to claim

1. Gather evidence (see Claim checklist): booking reference, boarding pass, delay confirmation, receipts.
2. Claim in writing directly with the airline.
3. If unresolved, escalate to the National Enforcement Body of the departure country (or the airline’s country), or use the EU air passenger rights help and ECC-Net for cross-border cases.

Verified 2026-07-03 against Verification points.

United Kingdom

UK261

Post-Brexit mirror of EU261, retained in UK domestic law.

Distance	Amount
Up to 1,500 km	£220
1,500 to 3,500 km	£350
Over 3,500 km	£520

Conditions:

Trigger	Min delay	Measured to	Application timing	Claim window
Departs UK (any airline), or arrives UK on a UK/EU airline	3+ hrs	Final destination, doors open	Cancellations: told 14 days or fewer before departure	6 years (5 in Scotland)

• Official source: retained Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 on legislation.gov.uk (amounts at Article 7), as amended by the Air Passenger Rights (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/278).
• Interpreted/enforced by: interpreted by the UK courts (Gahan v Emirates); enforced by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
• Carrier scope: departing the UK, any airline; arriving from outside, only on a UK/EU carrier.
• Connecting flights: same single-booking rule as EU261; a UK-origin journey on one booking stays covered even if the connection is missed abroad (Gahan v Emirates); separate tickets not covered.
• Exemption: extraordinary circumstances, same as EU261.
• Stacking: your choice; separate from travel insurance.

How to claim

1. Gather evidence (see Claim checklist).
2. Claim in writing with the airline.
3. If unresolved after 8 weeks or you are dissatisfied, take it to the airline’s ADR scheme (AviationADR or CEDR), or to the CAA’s Passenger Advice and Complaints Team if the airline is not an ADR member (how to complain).

Verified 2026-07-03 against Verification points.

United States

US DOT

No fixed cash for delays or cancellations, only a guaranteed refund.

Situation	Refund owed?
Flight cancelled, you decline rebooking	Yes
Significant change (domestic 3+ hr, intl 6+ hr, airport change), you decline	Yes
You accept the rebooking	No
Involuntary denied boarding	Yes, DOT-mandated cash

Conditions:

Trigger	Min delay	Measured to	Application timing	Refund timing
Any flight to, from, or within the US	n/a (no delay cash)	n/a	n/a	Automatic: 7 business days (card), 20 calendar days (other)

• Official source: 14 CFR Part 260 (refunds, esp. s.260.6) and 14 CFR Part 250 (oversales) on the eCFR, under statutory authority 49 U.S.C. 41712.
• Interpreted/enforced by: the DOT Office of Aviation Consumer Protection; administrative enforcement, generally no private right of action.
• Carrier scope: US and foreign carriers alike for the refund rule; denied-boarding cash applies to flights departing US airports.
• Connecting flights: not a compensation regime, so no final-destination payout; a refund covers the unused portion of the affected itinerary.
• Refund basis: equals the fare paid, owed regardless of cause if you decline rebooking. Denied-boarding cash scales with ticket price and delay length.
• Stacking: a DOT refund is a separate right from any foreign compensation regime, so both can apply to one flight.
• Meals and hotels for controllable disruptions come from airline commitments (flightrights.gov), not a federal cash rule.

How to claim

1. For a refund you do not file; it should arrive automatically to your original payment method.
2. If it does not, contact the airline.
3. If still unresolved, file a complaint with the DOT Office of Aviation Consumer Protection.

Verified 2026-07-03 against Verification points.

Credit card coverage

Coverage applies only to the trip paid for with that card, is secondary to airline/statute, and reimburses actual expenses. Airline-caused cancellation usually does not trigger trip-cancellation cover (that is for you cancelling for a covered personal reason, and the fare is refunded anyway); the relevant benefit is trip delay.

Amex Gold Credit Card (US)

Last verified 2026-07-03, per the Amex Trip Delay Guide to Benefits (300/12hrs, PDF). Full note (all benefit PDFs cited): Amex Gold Credit Card.

Benefit	Covered?	Limit
Trip delay	Yes	$300, delay over 12 hrs, 2x per year
Trip cancellation / interruption	No	n/a
Baggage insurance	Yes	$1,250carry-on/$500 checked
Travel accident	Yes	$100,000

Charge the full fare to the card; file within 180 days. The 12-hr threshold means a few-hour same-day rebooking does not trigger the $300.

Covered reasons (trip delay) are narrow: inclement weather, the carrier’s equipment failure, lost/stolen travel documents, or terrorist action/hijacking. Crew scheduling is not covered, so a crew-caused delay only qualifies if a mechanical/equipment-failure leg (documented by the carrier) is what pushes you past 12 hrs. Claims are handled by AIG (not Amex): notify within 60 days, submit proof within 180. This is the 12-hr/$300mid-tier;the6-hr/$500 tier is Platinum-level cards only.

Chase Aeroplan Credit Card (US)

Last verified 2026-07-03, per the Chase benefits page and Guide to Benefits (doc BGC11079). Full note: Chase Aeroplan Credit Card.

Benefit	Covered?	Limit
Trip cancellation / interruption	Yes	$1,500pertraveler/$6,000 per trip
Trip delay	Yes	$500, delay over 12 hrs or overnight
Baggage delay	Yes	$100/day up to 3 days, delay over 6 hrs
Lost / stolen baggage	No	n/a
Auto rental CDW	Yes	Secondary

Stronger than Amex Gold, so for future Air Canada / Star Alliance fares, paying on this card gives better protection.

How they stack

For a within-control disruption, rebooked, arriving 3 to 6 hrs late:

1. Statutory (APPR): fixed $400 CAD, claimed from the airline, independent of expenses.
2. Airline duty of care: meal voucher, hotel if overnight, provided directly.
3. Card trip delay: reimburses actual expenses only if the delay clears the card’s hour threshold, for the card that paid the fare, minus anything already covered.

Fixed compensation and expense reimbursement do not offset each other; you just cannot claim the same expense twice.

Claim checklist

• All airline notices with stated reasons (cancellation, rebookings, delays)
• Boarding pass and booking reference
• Actual gate-in time at final destination (note on landing; FlightAware history screenshot next day as backup — see Arrival time what to capture)
• Itemized receipts for meals, lodging, transport
• Fare receipt showing which card paid
• Carrier’s written delay/cancellation reason
• File within window (APPR 1 year; EU/UK 2 to 6 years by country; Amex 180 days; Chase about 90 days)

Appendix: adding a jurisdiction

Template

Copy this skeleton as a new ## Jurisdiction with a ### Rulebook beneath (so a jurisdiction can hold more than one rulebook, or a rulebook can be renamed, without disturbing the structure).

## <Jurisdiction>

### <Rulebook name>

<One-line description.>

| Cause / situation | Cash owed? |
|---|---|
| ... | Yes / No |

| <Amount driver> | Amount |
|---|---|
| ... | ... |

Conditions:

| Trigger | Min delay | Measured to | Application timing | Claim window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |

- Official source: <link to the authoritative statute or consolidation. Deep-link each cited provision with a section-scoped URL (e.g. Justice Laws .../section-N.html, eCFR .../section-X, legislation.gov.uk .../article/N) or a text fragment where no scoped URL exists>.
- Interpreted/enforced by: <interpreting court and/or enforcing agency, with a guidance link>.
- Carrier scope:
- Connecting flights: <keep only non-obvious scope rules, with a terse example>.
- Exemption:
- Stacking:

#### How to claim

1. Gather evidence (see [[#claim-checklist|Claim checklist]]).
2. Claim in writing with the airline (<official claim link>).
3. Wait for the airline's response (<deadline>).
4. If unresolved, escalate to <regulator or ADR> (<official complaint link>).

_Verified <date> against [[#verification-points|Verification points]]._

Update the Summary table with a row linking to the new ## Jurisdiction. Drop deductions that follow obviously from the trigger (e.g. “a US-carrier flight into Canada is covered too”); keep only non-obvious rules such as the through-fare test, and give those a terse worked example.

Verification points

Resolve every point before adding the “Verified” line. These are the questions that turned out to be ambiguous in practice, so answer each one explicitly from the regulator, not from a summary blog.

Source hierarchy for data entry: cite primary law first, then work down only as needed. Official consolidation (for Canada, the Justice Laws Website; for the EU, EUR-Lex; for the UK, legislation.gov.uk; for the US, the eCFR) is the gold source for current in-force text; the publication of record (for Canada, Canada Gazette Part II) is the as-enacted source; regulator or court output is interpretation, useful for scope not spelled out in the text; blogs and airline pages are secondary only. Resolve any discrepancy at the highest available level. When citing a specific provision, link it with a section-scoped URL, not just the document root.

1. Official source: what is the authoritative statute or consolidation, and where is it published?
2. Interpreter and enforcer: which court or body interprets the rulebook, and which agency enforces it?
3. Trigger: what links a flight to this rulebook (departure airport, arrival airport, or carrier base)?
4. Carrier scope: any airline, or does carrier nationality matter? Route-based or carrier-based?
5. Connecting flights: single through fare vs separate tickets; is a leg between two outside points pulled in; what counts as the final destination for measuring delay?
6. Measurement: is compensation based on arrival delay at the final destination, doors open?
7. Application timing: is there a notification window (e.g. told 14 days or fewer before departure)?
8. Exemption: what releases the airline (required-for-safety, extraordinary circumstances, or none)?
9. Amount driver: distance, delay length, carrier size, or fare?
10. Claim window: deadline to file, and airline response time.
11. Claim route: the airline-first step and the escalation body, each with an official link.
12. Stacking: can it combine with another regime, and what is the double-compensation rule?