Article content continued

The federal government in Canada keeps no such records, but if you’re a frequent business traveller, you’ll know getting turfed from flights is common. So what exactly are your rights in the event you are bumped?

The rules In the case of overbooked flights, both the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) and the U.S. DOT require airlines to ask for volunteers before denying anyone a seat. If there aren’t enough volunteers, some of the remaining passengers can be bumped, according to the airline’s boarding priorities. I was told I was being bumped because I’d paid the lowest fare, which was oddly reassuring, because I like a good deal. In other cases, it may be the last person to check in who finds himself without a seat.

However, if you’re involuntarily bumped for reasons within the airline’s control, you’re entitled to compensation. The U.S. DOT clearly outlines what you can expect. If you’re flying from a U.S. destination (even on a Canadian airline) on a plane with more than 30 passengers, you should receive 200 per cent of the one-way fare including taxes (to a maximum of $650) for a shorter delay and 400 per cent (to a maximum of $1,300) for a longer delay. For U.S. domestic flights, a short delay is defined as within one to two hours of your scheduled arrival time, while a long delay is two to four hours. For international flights, a short delay is one to four hours and a long delay is more than four hours.