Air Passenger Rights

Air Passenger Rights in Canada (APPR) 

This page applies to Air India flights to, from and within Canada under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, SOR/2019-150 (“APPR”). If our tariff gives you a better entitlement than the APPR, the tariff applies. The full text of the APPR is at https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2019-150/.

This page is in English and French; the French version follows the English version. Cette page est offerte en français et en anglais; la version française suit la version anglaise.

 

If you are denied boarding, your flight is cancelled or delayed for at least two hours, or your baggage is lost or damaged, you may be entitled to certain standards of treatment and compensation under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations. For more information about your passenger rights please contact your air carrier or visit the Canadian Transportation Agency’s website.

This notice applies to flights operated by Air India in cases of flight delays and cancellations.

INFORMATION

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, we’ll inform you of the reason. See below for information on the compensation and standards of treatment to which you may be entitled, as well as the recourse you have available. During a delay, we will update you every 30 minutes until a new departure time is set or alternate travel arrangements are made, and we will share any new information as soon as feasible. We give this information by audible announcement (and, on request, a visible announcement) and also by the communication method you have told us you prefer, including methods compatible with adaptive technologies.

REBOOKING

1) Situations within our control or safety requirement:

If, due to a situation that is within our control or required for safety, your flight is delayed three hours or more, or cancelled, we’ll rebook you on the next available Air India flight or one of our partner airlines within 9 hours of your original departure time. If that is not possible, we’ll rebook you on any carrier that departs within 48 hours of your original departure time. If that is also not possible, we will provide transportation to another airport within a reasonable distance and a confirmed reservation on any carrier from there. Rebooking is free of charge, with services comparable to your original ticket where possible, and we will not ask for extra payment if you are rebooked in a higher class of service.

2) Situations outside our control:

If, due to a situation that is outside our control, your flight is delayed three hours or more, or cancelled, we’ll rebook you on the next available Air India flight or one of our partner airlines within 48 hours of your original departure time. If that is not possible, at your choice, we will refund the unused portion of your ticket, or we’ll rebook you on the next available flight that is operated by any carrier to your destination (from the same airport or another airport within a reasonable distance, with transportation to that airport). You may choose the refund at any time before we give you a confirmed reservation.

It is important that you contact us if you are not satisfied with your alternate travel arrangements, so that we may look for an alternate solution. You may also modify your reservation if you receive the self-serve rebooking link sent to you via email.

REFUND

If the alternate travel arrangements we offer do not accommodate your travel needs, we will refund the unused portion of your ticket. If you are no longer at your point of origin and your travel no longer serves a purpose as a result of the delay or cancellation, we will refund the ticket and give you, free of charge, a confirmed reservation to your point of origin that accommodates your travel needs. We also refund additional services you paid for but did not receive or paid for twice, and the price difference if you are rebooked in a lower class of service. Refunds are paid to the person who bought the ticket, by the original method of payment, within 30 days after we become obliged to refund. We may use another form of refund only if that person is told in writing its value and their right to the original method, the other form does not expire, and they confirm in writing that they chose it.

STANDARDS OF TREATMENT

If, due to a situation within Air India’s control or required for safety purposes, (i) you have been informed of the delay or cancellation less than 12 hours before the departure time indicated on your ticket, and (ii) you have waited two hours after the departure time indicated on your ticket, we’ll provide you with the following:

  • Food and drink in reasonable quantities, considering the length of the wait, the time of day and location;
  • Access to a means of communication; and
  • Hotel or comparable accommodation that is reasonable in relation to your location, if we expect you to wait overnight, along with transportation to the hotel or other accommodation, and back to the airport.

We may limit or refuse any of this if providing it would further delay you.

COMPENSATION

If, due to a situation within Air India’s control, your flight arrived at your destination three hours or more late, or was cancelled, you’ll be entitled to receive compensation, unless:

  • You are informed of the delay or cancellation more than 14 days before the departure time indicated on your original ticket;
  • Your flight was delayed or cancelled due to a situation outside of our control or required for safety purposes;
  • You have already been paid denied boarding compensation;
  • You failed to submit your claim within one year of the flight delay or cancellation.

Compensation for delays and cancellations is calculated based on your arrival time at final destination and is:

  • 400 CAD for delays at arrival of 3 hours or more but less than 6 hours;
  • 700 CAD for delays at arrival of 6 hours or more but less than 9 hours; and
  • 1,000 CAD for delays at arrival of 9 hours or more.

If your ticket is refunded because of the delay or cancellation, the compensation is 400 CAD. We will pay the compensation, or explain why it is not payable, within 30 days after we receive your request. We pay compensation in money unless we offer another form worth more than the minimum amount, tell you its monetary value in writing, it does not expire, and you confirm in writing that you were told of your right to money and chose the other form.

If you have already received compensation for the same disruption under another passenger-rights regime, that amount may be deducted from the compensation owed.

To claim or complain, see section 6 (Recourse).

VOLUNTEERS

During a denied boarding situation, Air India will first ask all passengers for volunteers willing to give up their seat in exchange for compensation. If you accept, we will give you written confirmation of the benefit before the flight departs.

BOARDING PRIORITIES

If there aren’t enough volunteers, we may deny boarding to passengers holding a confirmed reservation in accordance with our policy on denied boarding priority. We will not deny boarding to a passenger who is already on board the aircraft unless it is required for safety.

In particular, we’ll give boarding priority, in the following order, to:

  •  unaccompanied minors;
  • passengers with a disability and their support person, or service animal, if any;
  • passengers travelling with family members; and
  • passengers who were previously denied boarding on the same ticket, provided the carrier is informed.

To help reduce your chances of being denied boarding on future travel, we recommend that you check-in early or that you pre-select your seat when booking.

INFORMATION

If you’re denied boarding, we’ll tell you why you were denied boarding. Information on the compensation and standards of treatment to which you may be entitled, as well as the recourse you have available, is contained herein.

REBOOKING

Situations within our control or required for safety:

If you are denied boarding due to a situation that is within our control or required for safety, we’ll rebook you on the next available Air India flight or one of our partner airlines within 9 hours of your original departure time. If that is not possible, we’ll rebook you on any carrier that departs within 48 hours of your original departure time. If that is also not possible, we will provide transportation to another airport within a reasonable distance and a confirmed reservation on any carrier from there.

Situations outside our control:

If you’re denied boarding due to a situation that is outside our control, we’ll rebook you on the next available Air India flight or one of our partner airlines within 48 hours of your original departure time. If that is not possible, we’ll rebook you on the next available flight that is operated by any carrier to your destination (from the same airport or another airport within a reasonable distance, with transportation to that airport).

REFUND

If the situation is within our control or required for safety and the alternate travel arrangements we offer do not accommodate your travel needs, we will refund the unused portion of your ticket. If you are no longer at your point of origin and your travel no longer serves a purpose as a result of the denial of boarding, we will refund the ticket and give you, free of charge, a confirmed reservation to your point of origin that accommodates your travel needs. We also refund additional services you did not receive or paid for twice, and the price difference for a lower class of service. Refunds are paid to the person who bought the ticket, by the original method of payment, within 30 days.

STANDARDS OF TREATMENT

If, due to a situation within Air India’s control or required for safety purposes, you’re denied boarding, we’ll provide you with the following before you board your next flight booked as part of your alternate travel arrangements, unless this would further delay you:

  • Food and drink in reasonable quantities, considering the length of the wait, the time of day and location;
  • Access to a means of communication; and
  • Hotel or comparable accommodation that is reasonable in relation to your location, with transportation to and from the airport, if we expect you to wait overnight for your alternate flight.

COMPENSATION

If you’re a passenger who is denied boarding because of a situation within our control, you’ll be entitled to receive denied boarding compensation, unless:

  • You haven’t fully complied with ticketing and check-in requirements, or you do not satisfy the conditions for transportation under Air India’s tariff and general conditions of carriage.
  • You’re offered transportation on another seat on the same flight as the one specified on your ticket, at no extra charge.

Denied boarding compensation is calculated based on your arrival time at destination and is 900 CAD (if delayed by less than 6 hours), 1,800 CAD (if delayed by 6 hours or more but less than 9 hours), and 2,400 CAD (if delayed by 9 hours or more). We pay the compensation as soon as operationally feasible, and no later than 48 hours after the denial of boarding. If it cannot be paid before your alternate flight boards, we will give you written confirmation of the amount owed, and we will adjust the amount if your arrival time changes.

Please note that you are not entitled to receive delay or cancellation compensation if you have already been paid denied boarding compensation.

To claim or complain, see section 6 (Recourse).

REDEEMING TRAVEL VOUCHERS

You may accept payment of denied boarding compensation in the form of travel vouchers instead of money only if: the vouchers are worth more than the minimum cash compensation; we tell you their monetary value in writing; they do not expire; and you confirm in writing that you were told of your right to receive money and chose the vouchers. Travel vouchers can only be used towards payment of the base fare when you purchase an Air India ticket for travel on Air India. Travel vouchers do not expire. If you have any difficulty redeeming your voucher at any time, please contact Air India. Travel vouchers are fully transferable to the customer of your choice.

Track your baggage

Check the status of your baggage on WorldTracer baggage tracking system.

Canada baggage service centre

  • Our ground handling staff provide a customer support team to assist you with baggage services and issues at Vancouver and Toronto airports.
  • You can contact us at the local Air India office for all lost baggage claims.
  • A lost luggage claim will be filed after verification.
  • The reference number of the claim can be used to liaise with our customer support that is available 24x7.
  • You can contact our customer support on our toll-free number at 1800 452 308 or email us at baggageservices@dnata.com

Lost baggage

Luggage will be categorised as lost if we are unable to trace it for 21 days from the date of filing the Property Irregularity Report, or earlier if we admit the loss. All claims shall be substantiated with an itemised list of contents, description, age, and proof of purchase or ownership of all items.

Damaged baggage

Luggage is designed to protect its contents. With use, the baggage can have minor cuts, scratches, scuffs, stains, dents, soil, or other normal wear and tear that does not affect the functionality and usage of the baggage. Air India will not be responsible for this type of damage.

Additionally, we will not be responsible for:

  • Damage to overpacked or oversized baggage
  • Damage to luggage with fragile or perishable items
  • Baggage with manufacturing defects

For baggage which is damaged/pilfered, please report the same to the Air India personnel at the arrival hall.

International baggage regulations and limitations of liability

The liability must be in accordance with the provisions of Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) SOR/2019-150 and the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Act 2009.

As per the Montreal Convention 1999, in case of loss, delay or damage to baggage, the liability is limited to 1,288 SDR per passenger.

Time limit for submitting a claim

  • Damaged baggage: customers need to submit a claim in writing to Air India within 7 days of receiving their damaged baggage.
  • Temporary loss: if the baggage was returned within 21 days of your arrival, the claim can be submitted up to 21 days after receiving your baggage.
  • Lost baggage: if the baggage was not returned within 21 days of your arrival, the claim needs to be submitted in writing to the airline as soon as possible.

Applicable reimbursements

If your baggage has been lost, temporarily lost or damaged, you will be refunded for the amount spent on baggage-related services. This includes:

  • Standard baggage fees
  • Fees for extra baggage
  • Fees for oversized and/or overweight baggage

Please keep copies of your baggage information, baggage tags, and receipts for any expenses to temporarily or permanently replace items that were in your baggage.

If you are not satisfied with the response to your claim or you haven’t received a response within 30 days, you can make a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency.

Mishandled baggage desk

Vancouver

  • Location: Vancouver International Airport, Arrival level
  • Timings: 0700 to 1400 hrs and 1500 to 2100 hrs
  • Contact number: +1 604 379 9309
  • Email ID: Baggage.YVR@swissport.com

Toronto

  •   Location: Toronto Pearson Airport, Terminal 1, Arrival Level
  • Timings: 1000 to 1800 hrs
  • Contact number: +1 437 240 7736
  • Email ID: ai.mhb@menziesaviation.com or Apm.yyz@airindia.com

Note

Avoid carrying valuables such as jewellery, encashable articles, legal documents, and currency in the checked baggage. Air India will not be liable for loss, damage, or delayed delivery of fragile, perishable articles, or items of value and importance such as money, jewellery, silverware, cameras, electronics, computers, photographic equipment, legal documents, securities, heirlooms, antiques, artefacts, work of art, irreplaceable books or publications, manuscripts, business documents, precious metals, or other similar valuables of commercial effects. We recommend that you get adequate insurance coverage prior to travelling.

For more information on baggage, please refer to our baggage guidelines. You can refer to our excess baggage charges.

Air India will help seat every child under 14 years of age close to a parent, guardian or tutor at no additional charge. How close depends on the child’s age:

  • 4 years of age or younger: a seat adjacent to the seat of the parent, guardian or tutor;
  • 5 to 11 years of age: a seat in the same row, separated from the parent, guardian or tutor by no more than one seat;
  • 12 or 13 years of age: a seat in a row separated by no more than one row from the row of the parent, guardian or tutor.

If your child is on a different booking from you, tell us as early as you can (when booking or at check-in) so that we can seat you close together.

If we do not assign seats before check-in, we will tell you before check-in that we will help, assign seats at check-in if possible and, if not, ask other passengers to volunteer to change seats at boarding and again before take-off. You can also ask at the airport check-in counter.

Please contact Air India Customer Relations to file a claim, or for any concerns and complaints, through our Customer Support Portal. If you feel that we have not resolved your issue to your satisfaction, you may also contact the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). You can visit the website of the CTA to learn more about your rights at otc-cta.gc.ca/eng or call the CTA for advice at 1-888-222-2592.

Our terms and conditions of carriage: https://www.airindia.com/content/dam/air-india/pdfs/air-india-coc.pdf

This page is available in large print, Braille or a digital format on request. See our Accessibility Plan for how to reach us.

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