The winter weather isn’t very good right now in Ontario and Québec, so that’s obviously causing flight disruptions. Delays and cancellations are extremely common (and not just because of winter weather, and not just because of weather period), so it’s vital to be a savvy traveler!!! Knowing what to do is even one of the most important travel tips!
Hundreds of flights were affected yesterday alone. By the way, Air Canada issued a waiver, so I’ve added a bonus section on that at the end, too.
So I want to share the basics with you right away. We actually have lots of updated content on disrupted flights coming in early January, with more than 3 tips and more information.
Here’s the short reminder of the 3 most important things.
What are the 3 most important tips about canceled and delayed flights?
It’s quite simple once you know it:
- Always pay for your flights with a good credit card with flight delay insurance (to get free hotels and meals during delays)
- Always leave in advance if you have an event you absolutely cannot miss (to avoid being stuck on the day of)
- Know your rights and the airlines’ legal obligations (to be rebooked for free or refunded in cash; amongst many others)
As you can see, the 2 most important things are to be done BEFORE your trip.
It’s the perfect microcosm of the BASICS of being a good traveler: good planning and preparation are key!
Let’s briefly look at each of the 3 things while you await a more detailed post on each.
Always pay for your flights with a good credit card with flight delay insurance (to get free hotels and meals during delays)
The wonderful world of credit cards is amazing for easily getting free travel.
As explained in our comparison on Sunday, there are simple points that give you $875 for absolutely any trip or lucrative points that give you a Canada–Europe one-way flight in luxurious business class worth $2000+!
| Best credit card deal by type (December 2025) |
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 Valuation (BONUS)(11.7% back on $7.5k)
Rewards: $875
Card fee: $0 $120
Spend required:$7.5k in 12 mos. (or $2k)
Best for: Simple pts. Fixed value. Any travel expense.
 SIMPLE
12k
ends January 1st
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Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 6.0% back on $12k)
Rewards: ≈ $716
Annual fee: $0 $139
Spend required:$12k in 12 mos.
Best for: Lucrative pts. Unlimited value. Only certain flights.
 LUCRATIVE
60k/100k
limited time
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
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Best credit card deal by type (December 2025) |
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SIMPLE 12k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: $875
Card fee: $0 $120 (11.7% back on $7.5k)
Spend required:
$7.5k in 12 mos. (or $2k)
Best for: Simple pts. Fixed value. Any travel expense.
|
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LUCRATIVE60k/100k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $716
Annual fee: $0 $139 (≈ 6.0% back on $12k)
Spend required:
$12k in 12 mos.
Best for: Lucrative pts. Unlimited value. Only certain flights.
|
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
But there are plenty of other benefits, like all the free insurance. The most useful is certainly flight delay insurance (I’ve used it 10+ times compared to 5 times for all other types of coverage).
I’ve made 10+ claims with this insurance in the last 10 years. I’ve always gotten hotels and meals completely free during my flight delays and cancellations.
It’s a tip that’s SO simple as a tip, and SO amazing… and again, it’s a great microcosm of the travel world, because SO many people don’t even know it exists!!!
It’s simple: you pay for the flight with a good credit card (or with the points from the credit card’s rewards program), and you’re covered.
They reimburse you very easily, too. It was painless each of the 10+ times I’ve had to use this insurance (and all the times with other types of insurance coverage too).
No complexity, no effort required. Credit card insurance is generally the best, contrary to the common myth (insurance companies don’t want to lose their profitable bank contract for thousands of cards).
Almost all good credit cards have flight delay insurance, but obviously, check.
If yours doesn’t, it’s one more reason to downgrade it to a no-fee version and finally get a good card that gives you a huge welcome bonus (if you’ve read our infographic that summarizes the travel rewards basics, you know that welcome bonuses are the most important thing). And this very important insurance (and all the other insurance).
Flight delay insurance is obviously offered by the 2 amazing cards mentioned above, which are the best offers right now for each of the 2 types of rewards that exist (simple points and lucrative points).
You can read our detailed comparison to be a savvy traveler who doesn’t miss out on free travel (and free insurance).
Always leave in advance if you have an event you absolutely cannot miss (to avoid being stuck on the day of)
If you absolutely cannot miss any event, I’m going to tell the hard truth again, but it’s not savvy to leave on the day of.
It just isn’t; that’s the reality. Maybe you simply haven’t thought about it, and that’s normal. That’s why we want to help you become a travel pro.
Flights are often delayed or canceled. It can happen! Always.
Leave the day before if you want to be sure you’ll be there.
Often, people stay longer at the destination after their event (wedding, festival, sports game, appointment, conference, etc.), so it’s just a matter of moving those extra days to before the event, and it doesn’t cost more for accommodation.
If you weren’t going to stay longer after, it will indeed cost you one more night of accommodation. But it comes down to asking yourself the simple question: do you absolutely have to be there on time? If yes, the only way is to leave in advance.
Know your rights and the airlines’ legal obligations (to be rebooked for free or refunded in cash; amongst many others)
This is the most complex and most misunderstood topic. Lots of people were once again taken advantage of by the airline during the recent Air Transat strike, for example.
The most basix thing is at least knowing that for any flight touching Canada (to or from), the airline is legally required to offer you the choice between these 2 options if it cancels your flight:
- Free rebooking on another airline (no matter the price)
- Complete refund in cash (only if you don’t want to complete your trip)
Obviously, they don’t advertise it. Another microcosm of the travel world (or everything in life, in fact): if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself! You need to take responsibility and know your rights!
Air Transat had even made a long detailed page for its strike, and obviously they didn’t even write that the option of getting a free flight on another airline existed (it was their legal obligation to rebook you, even when it’s a strike).
So lots of poorly informed travelers didn’t even know and got taken advantage of by changing their flight for nothing, or getting a refund instead of continuing their trip. So sad.
Those who at least scan the headlines in our free newsletter never miss an important tip like that one we sent to all 150,000+ savvy Canadian travelers who get all our content!
In the case of weather-related delays specifically, sometimes rebookings on another airline can be faster because their own hubs are less affected. But sometimes it’s not faster, obviously.
There’s much more to know about your rights, and I firmly believe that if you’re a traveler, it’s worth investing a bit of time to learn. Don’t miss the upcoming guide.
Bonus: Airline waivers
For the current storm, Air Canada has issued a waiver.
A waiver is the name the aviation industry gives to a special temporary policy implemented by airlines during flight disruptions. It’s extremely common. But little-known, as so many things are.
It means the airline waives the flight change fee or flight cancellation fee. Often, the airline also waives the price difference for the flight on another date.
Why? It’s simple: to encourage travelers to change dates and create more seats on planes to rebook all passengers affected by disruptions.
Waivers are 1 of the 2 main reasons why, for almost 9 years now, we keep telling you that the least savvy thing possible is to cancel your flight in advance (even when you’re 100% certain you want to cancel it).
There are surely lots of people who paid cancellation or change fees for flights on December 30-31 who could have gotten their cancellation or change for free if they knew the pro tip of waiting until the last minute!
Indeed, Air Canada issued a waiver for those who have flights on December 30 and 31: they can change their flight without a fee. Check that out if you have affected flights and don’t miss our more detailed guide on waivers.
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Summary
Flight cancellations and delays can happen at any time. Savvy travelers always pay for all their flights with a good credit card to at least get free hotels and meals, leave in advance and not on the day of if they have an important event, and know their rights!
What would you like to know about the 3 most important things related to canceled and delayed flights? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards
Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration
Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
Featured image: Air Canada plane (photo credit: Anirudh Koul/Flickr)
