Refusal to transport

As a passenger, you must:

• Comply with domestic and foreign travel requirements, and have appropriate and valid travel documents to travel within Canada, to enter a foreign country or to return to Canada, including proof that you meet any requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There may also be additional passenger health screening required upon arrival in Canada. For more information, please consult Transport Canada’s website and Travel.gc.ca or the Canada Border Services Agency's website.
• Not behave in a way that interferes with the flight or puts the safety of passengers and crew at risk; and,
• Not miss the airline's deadlines to:
  • Check in;
  • Complete the travel document verification process;
  • Register your baggage;
  • Pass through the security screening checkpoints; and,
  • Arrive at the boarding gate.

Failure to comply may result in the airline not allowing you to travel, even if you hold a valid ticket.

Airlines must clearly state their policies about when they may refuse to transport passengers on a flight. They do so in a document known as the tariff. This is the contract between you and your airline – it contains terms and conditions of carriage, which will vary from airline to airline. Consult your airline's tariff to learn more about their policies on refusal to transport.

There are no requirements in the Air Passenger Protection Regulations that apply when an airline refuses to transport you on a flight. The airline's obligations towards you, should you be refused transportation, are set out in its tariff.

To prevent being refused transportation you should:

• Check your airline’s tariff for its check-in, baggage drop-off and boarding gate reporting deadlines:
• Get to the airport well in advance, especially during peak travel periods. Certain events may result in airport congestion or longer passenger processing times, notably due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Have all appropriate documentation required to travel within Canada, to enter a foreign country or to return to Canada, including proof that you meet any requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Be prepared to submit to additional passenger health screening requirements which may be in place before departure or upon arrival at your destination.

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