How to check status and what to do first
Practical steps. For the full breakdown of what you are owed, see our delays and rebooking guide.
Air Canada shows live flight status on aircanada.com and in the Air Canada app, and it will push notifications for a gate change, delay or cancellation if you have added your booking. Check the day before and again before you leave for the airport.
A delay moves your time; a cancellation removes the flight and Air Canada must offer a rebooking. Once a disruption within Air Canada's control passes about 2 hours of waiting past your scheduled departure, you are owed food, water and wifi, and a hotel plus ground transport if it forces an overnight.
The best seats on the next flight go fast. If your flight is cancelled or badly delayed, do not wait in a long airport line only, contact us in parallel so we work the phone and the alternatives while you hold your place.
A delay on the first leg is really a question about the second. If the delay threatens a connection, that is where the risk is, and our connections guide covers Air Canada's own minimum connection times and what happens if you misconnect.
Note the delay length and the reason Air Canada gives, and keep any receipts. Whether you are owed cash depends on the cause, and the reason on record is what a later claim rests on.
Flight status and your entitlements depend on the cause and the length of the disruption, and airlines and regulators change these rules. We confirm what applies and never guarantee an amount, the airline and the regulation set that. You can track any flight yourself at aircanada.com.
The first move beats the perfect move. On a cancellation, the next flight's good seats and the rebooking phone queue both fill within minutes. Check the status yourself, then call us in parallel, we work the phone and the alternate routings while you hold your place at the airport, so you are never relying on just one line.
Frequently asked
How do I check my Air Canada flight status?+
My Air Canada flight is delayed, what am I owed right now?+
My flight was cancelled, what is the first thing to do?+
Does Air Canada compensate for delays like US airlines do?+
Contact options
Reach Air Canada directly, or let us handle it.
Contact Air Canada directly
The airline's own official channels, free.
More Air Canada help
Related guides.