Missed your connecting flight? When you're owed compensation in Canada

Updated September 27, 2026 · Checked against the regulations as current to September 3, 2026 · By LandedLate

You're owed compensation for a missed connection when a delay or cancellation within the airline's control makes you reach the final destination on your ticket 3 or more hours late. A large airline then owes $400, $700 or $1,000 per passenger, depending on how late you arrive; a small airline $125, $250 or $500. Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations cover connecting flights, and the airline that operated the disrupted flight is responsible. Rules as of September 27, 2026.

The rules that decide a missed-connection claim

Lateness is measured at your final destination. The arrival time on your original ticket against when you actually got there, including the replacement flight (section 19(1)).
The cause has to be within the airline's control. A late first flight caused by crew, scheduling or an avoidable maintenance problem counts. Weather or air traffic control doesn't, unless the airline failed to take reasonable steps to limit the knock-on effect (section 10(2)).
Claim from the airline that operated the disrupted flight. Not necessarily the one you booked with (section 2(1)).
If there were two causes, the primary one decides. The agency's guide asks airlines to identify the reason that contributed most to your late arrival.

Common situations

Likely owed

One booking; the first flight was late for a reason within the airline's control; you reached your final destination 3+ hours late.

Worth checking

The airline blames weather on the first leg, or gives different reasons for each flight. Ask which reason it treats as primary, and why.

Likely not owed

Separate tickets, where the first ticket ended on time or less than 3 hours late; or a genuine cause outside the airline's control.

Getting to your destination

Within the airline's control: a large airline must rebook you on its own or a partner's flight leaving within 9 hours, and otherwise on any airline's flight within 48 hours; if that doesn't suit you, a refund of the unused part (section 17).
Outside its control: a flight on the airline or a partner within 48 hours. If it can't do that, your choice of a refund or (on a large airline) any airline's next flight (section 18).
Trip no longer worth it: if you're stuck at the connection point and the trip has lost its purpose, a full refund and a free flight back to where you started. If the cause was within the airline's control, you're also owed at least $400 from a large airline or $125 from a small one, even though you took the refund (section 19(2)).
Meals and a hotel at the connecting airport when the cause was within the airline's control, including safety, and you were told less than 12 hours ahead (section 14).

Write my claim

Free. LandedLate takes no share of what the airline pays you. See also 2-hour delays.

Questions

Which airline do I claim from if I missed a connection?

The airline that operated the delayed or cancelled flight that caused it (section 2(1)). The Canadian Transportation Agency's guide says the airline operating the affected flight is responsible for its obligations to you. Check "operated by" on your boarding pass.

The first flight was only 1 hour late. Can I still claim?

Yes, if missing the connection got you to your final destination 3 or more hours late and the cause was within the airline's control. What matters is your arrival at the destination on your ticket, not how late the first flight was (section 19(1)).

Two things went wrong on my trip. Which reason counts?

The agency's guide asks airlines to identify the primary reason: the one that contributed most to the disruption or to you arriving late at your final destination. That reason's category decides whether compensation is owed.

What if my flights were on separate tickets?

The delay is measured to the destination on the ticket (section 19(1)), so with separate bookings each ticket stands alone: the first airline's lateness is measured to the end of its own ticket, not your final destination. Neither the regulations nor the agency's guide say otherwise.

My trip is pointless now. Can I go home?

Yes. If you're no longer at your point of origin and the trip no longer serves its purpose because of the disruption, the airline must refund the ticket and fly you back to where you started, free of charge (sections 17(2) and 18(1.2)). If the cause was within the airline's control and you were told 14 days or less before departure, you're still owed at least $400 from a large airline or $125 from a small one (section 19(2)).

Sources

General information, not legal advice.