As flight delays and lost luggage wreak havoc on summer travel plans, Air Canada is advising passengers on how much time they should allow between connecting flights.
After Air Canada cut its summer schedule by more than 15 percent last week, they also increased their minimum recommended duration between connecting flights.
“We have changed the flights to give customers more time to catch their flights. We’ve also put policies in place so that customers can change flights or wait early for free if it will give them more time to connect,” Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick told CTV News Toronto.
For those traveling internationally and connecting through Toronto, the airline has increased the departure time between connecting flights in most scenarios by 30 minutes.
Here is the minimum duration that Air Canada recommends for new bookings for passengers connecting through Toronto Pearson International Airport.
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For passengers boarding in Toronto for travel within Canada, Air Canada now recommends at least 40 minutes to catch your second flight.
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Air Canada offers at least 1 hour and 10 minutes for passengers coming from another Canadian city to Toronto before heading to the US
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In the reverse scenario, when traveling from the US to Canada with a layover in Toronto, a minimum of 1 hour and 40 minutes is recommended.
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For passengers coming from another Canadian airport with a connection in Toronto before heading to another overseas destination, the airline offers a 60-minute connection.
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Sixty minutes is also recommended for passengers flying through Toronto from the US to an international destination.
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The minimum connection time for an international traveler arriving in Toronto before heading to another Canadian destination is a bit more technical. Air Canada normally offers 1 hour and 15 minutes, but has a two hour recommendation until September 6, 2022 for anyone arriving in Toronto flying to Montreal from the following cities: Bogota, Doha, Dubai, Grand Cayman, Mexico City, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, San Jose, Santa Clara, Santiago, Seoul, Shanghai and Port of Spain.
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International travelers traveling to the US via Toronto are advised to allow 1 hour and 25 minutes between flights.
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For a passenger coming from abroad and heading to an international destination, 60 minutes is recommended for a Pearson connection.
What if I miss my flight?
When a flight is delayed for more than three hours or cancelled, Air Canada will rebook a passenger on the next available flight on a “reasonable route” from the same airport. The rebooked flight will be within 48 hours of the end of the event that caused the delay or cancellation, the rules state.
In scenarios where multiple flights on a route are delayed, causing a domino effect resulting in missed flights, eligibility for compensation is based on the disruption with the most significant contributing factor.
Ultimately, the airline will determine whether the delay was within Air Canada’s control. For example, if additional time is required for a catering or crew error, this will be under Air Canada’s control. But if there was a maintenance issue or weather-related disruption, the passenger will not be eligible for compensation.
Compensation for delays and cancellations is calculated based on the time of arrival at the final destination. For delays between 3 and 6 hours, the passenger will be entitled to $400. When delays reach between 6 and 9 hours, this amount increases to $700. Delays lasting 9 hours or more amount to $1,000.
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