You can accept that meal voucher when your plane’s delayed… or you can hold out for something better. Flair Airlines, a Canadian budget airline, has introduced an “on-time guarantee” offering passengers a $60 voucher on eligible flights delayed by over an hour or cancelled within 72 hours of departure. It might sound like a good deal, but some consumer advocates are saying it could actually dissuade or distract you from getting the bigger compensation you may be entitled to. For example, if your Flair Airlines flight is delayed (for reasons within the airline’s control) by three hours, you could get compensated $400 through the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). For nine hours or longer, that amount goes to $1,000. Generally, accepting a voucher doesn’t bar you from additional compensation. But if you do take a voucher, the CTA recommends getting in writing from the airline that you're still able to claim compensation through the CTA, as a way to strengthen your case when you claim your payout.
