Bumped From an Overbooked Flight in Canada? You May Be Owed Up to $2,400
Bumped from an oversold flight in Canada? APPR requires $900–$2,400 compensation paid within 48 hours — from any airline. Here's the table and what to do if they didn't pay.
## Denied boarding pays the most — by far
If you had a confirmed reservation, showed up on time, and were denied boarding because the flight was oversold, the APPR entitles you to the **highest compensation amounts in Canadian air travel**:
| Arrival delay at destination | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Under 6 hours | **$900** |
| 6 to 9 hours | **$1,800** |
| 9+ hours | **$2,400** |
These amounts apply to **all** carriers — there is no small-carrier discount for denied boarding.
## Crucial: payment is due within 48 hours
Unlike delay compensation (where you file a claim afterwards), denied boarding compensation must be **paid before you leave the airport, or within 48 hours** if the amount isn't yet known. If the delay grows after they pay you (say they paid $900 and you arrive 7 hours late), they owe you the difference.
## Airlines must ask for volunteers first
Before bumping anyone involuntarily, the airline must ask for volunteers — and a voucher offered to volunteers can waive your rights, so read before you accept. If you're bumped involuntarily, you keep full APPR rights: compensation, rebooking or refund, and standards of treatment.
## If they didn't pay
Many passengers are bumped, rebooked, and never told about the 48-hour payment rule. If that's you and it happened within the last year:
1. Write to the airline citing the denied-boarding provisions of the APPR with your booking reference and the delay length.
2. Give them 30 days.
3. Escalate to the CTA with your documentation if they refuse.
AirDelays generates the demand letter and complaint pack for you — check your eligibility free.
*General information, not legal advice.*