This thread is to discuss delays, diversions, and flight cancellations within 48 hours of departure, such as:

• Why was this flight delayed/cancelled/etc?
• What are my options for re-booking?

There are a number of other dedicated threads on the forum with information on related topics, such as:

• Compensation for delayed/cancelled flights
• Re-booking options for schedule changes in advance (>48 hours from departure)
• Discussion of systemic OTP issues
• Tracing and locating lost baggage
• Expenses and compensation for delayed baggage

First flight of 2026 YLW-YYC a Q400 and just received the message it's delayed due to a mechanical issue from an earlier flight. It's always something from an earlier flight, even when it's the first flight of the day

...the aircraft operating that flight just touched down from Vancouver, where it left 45 minutes late. Mechanical issue doesn't seem out of the question?

Yup we boarded and then waited because of YYC weather and then left for the runway and then stopped on the Apron and waited another half hour. This is not my first rodeo, so I used the new conceige chat....not a great experienced. Could not do much as I was still booked on my YYC flight. We went back to the gate to off board, flight cancelled, still nada from chat except there are no Y seats to YEG from YVR just J seats. Kind staff at YLW who know I fly just about every week out me on AC273 to YVR and now I wait for YVR conceige to find me a seat to YEG.

Emailed the conceige at YVR for my YEG flight, they came through, they usually do. Sure it's in Y surrounded by crying babies, way in the back, but I am getting there. Had to fill out my delayed baggage claim as my bags remain in YLW as well the automated system is still sending me updates that they are working hard to get me on my way, lol.

You really need the experience to navigate through the system in place.

I hope to GOD this is not what 2026 will look like.

My first flight of the year AC156 YYC-YYZ was cancelled last night. They announced it in the lounger as our inbound was landing? No other notifications, app still showed it on time and was still showing it on time when I got to the concierge office. Unfortunately, due to holiday travel, no other options than to get to my destination 11 hours late. At least I will still make the funeral I am headed to. When they announced the cancellation they also announced we were all on a replacement flight this morning. It is being operated with the same fin, just about 12 hours later. They claim mechanical, but 8 hav3 long since stopped believing them. I saw one yesterday that had almost a 12 hour delay due to a previous flight issue. When I tracked i5 back, The original delay was due to late check-ins. I’ve never had a flight held more than a few minutes for me!

I concur with not trusting the AC flight status whether on the airport display/app/on-line, at least not without double-checking the inbound. As to the reason for this one? It could be mechanical origin but what I could imagine happening on a busy holiday travel period is the crew timing-out due to the estimated repair time and no substitute crew available (and same for other knock-on delays).

Had a very positive outcome to a MX cancelation yesterday.

AC flight from Panta Canada cancelled right at boarding time. These things happen.

Passengers instructed to get on a tarmac bus to immigration and we would then be sent to hotel and that we would all fly out 25 hours later ( that flight also got delayed).

Instead I went to the AC station manager and pointed out that AC's website was selling flights via IAD or EWR ( for $ 7000 in business!)and that AC was legally required to rebook me on the next flight out on any airline they have a commercial agreement with.

Got a flight via IAD with a 6:00 departure out of DCA. Rebooked in Business Class as per my ticket. Got the last seat!

Was really surprised that an email came with a link to book a free hotel room. Breezed through US CBP, to Metro to Crystal City Marriott and was even able to change to a later flight so I could get a good night's sleep.

IROPS happen but I find AC employees are willing to work with you and get you on your way through any reasonable reroutes.

This never would have happened on any other Canadian airline.

Somewhat new at this even though I've been SE forever.

My cuz and his wife flying YHZ-YYZ-YVR-BKK .

YYZ-YVR went bad, and it looks like it will kill YVR-BKK.

They paid Premium Economy.

Some AC person told they can get them on the flight tomorrow night but PE is full (it is); they would be waitlisted (LOL!)

So what are their rights Does AC have to do PE even if via NRT, HKG or elsewhere? There is positive space on Monday as well.

Can we suggest other airlines, assuming they get to YVR? If so, what codes am I searching for on Expertflyer to find availability?

Update: For example I see this? Should they ask to be routed?

They're entitled to PY but will have a hard time getting it on a non-AC over the water flight. If AC offers the connection onto another airline for $$, they should be able to book it to recover from irops.

January 4
YVR-YYC-YVR AC206/213
changed this afternoon from 737 to 789.

Did the flight go MX? AC would be a lot more flexible if you did not want to overnight. AC airport agents are very aware of the passenger regulations
that AC is subject to.

EVA would have been a good option via TPE or CX via HKG or even via the US or Europe.

I went through an AC irops last Thursday ( I talk about it on this thread a couple of posts ago).

One reason to stick to all AC metal though is if PE is full and there are empty seats in J ( not likely but still possible) they MIGHT upgrade you. Not official policy but I've heard it from a couple of agents.

Safe travels!

Plane swap, AC33. He couldn't get through and. ended up taking the YVR flight, today to NRT (PE) and then Thai to BKK (not PE)

First flight of the year shows delayed by 1 hour 25 minutes. "Because of an earlier delay with the scheduled aircraf."

Initially it did not show a delay but previous flight did, "because of mechanical..." However going to one flight before, showed a gate availability issue at YVR as the reason for the delay of that previous flight.

Do they randomly pick excuses, or what?

(Incidentally, our YVR connection is long enough so we'll get home as planned. Assuming te following flight is OK, of course.)

Flew AMS-YYZ AC809 Scheduled Dep 1155 Scheduled Arr 1425 connecting to YYZ-PIT AC8923 Scheduled Dep 1600 Scheduled Arrival 1514 yesterday.

Boarded AC809 on time. At the departure time the pilot said "we are delayed" and did not provide any further information. AC website still shows that they are "looking into the issue." Overheard from crew that it was a mechanical issue. We pushed back over an hour late at 1303 with a scheduled ETA around 1530. Soon after take off we were removed from the YYZ-PIT flight and rebooked on the same flight 2 (!) days later.



Unsurprisingly YYZ-PIT was also delayed. We asked to get back on the flight which we were thankfully able to do. The agent said she doesn't know what is going to happen to our bags. The gate agent said they were found and being loaded onto the flight as scheduled. I was sitting in 2F on an E75 and looked out the window. I saw my bags sitting there at the ramp to the plane and then I saw them being loaded onto a cart and being driven away to God knows where. At this point the gate agent was on the plane. I informed her and she said "I will go check on that," and then walked off the plane and the door was closed. I am guessing this was related to us being offloaded from this flight in the first place? Who knows. Has anyone had anything similar happen?

I am glad I made it on the YYZ-PIT flight, with the snow in AMS, tight connection and AC's reliability (this almost two hour delay was the closest I have had to an on time arrival in my last six trips with AC), I was anticipating having to drive from YYZ to PIT so overall am pleasantly surprised.

I'm frustrated. I was supposed to fly YXU - YYZ - ORD - ATL. Unnecessarily complex routing that would make sense just a week ago. But the problem is that AC8256 won't catch AC8849 at YYZ. So I'd have to use AC8252 at 05:10. I wasn't willing to do that on Sunday. So, just I was departing to the airport, I received a text saying AC505 to ORD was canceled. Then I received a text with a new routing via YOW and YUL, arriving to ATL around midnight today. Unacceptable. After spending the whole cab ride to YXU on hold, I asked the folks at YXU what could be done. Yesterday, nothing. However, 8252 for today was Y9 and 8949 was Y1. So I got rebooked to today. I got up at an ungodly hour to be of 8252...just to be waiting at the gate for 8949 that is already late and we still don't have a crew. So our expected departure at 10:30 won't happen. And my calendary for the afternoon is full...