Air Canada blames COVID, refuses to refund; BC couple sue and win
Air Canada blames COVID, refuses to refund; BC couple sue and win
Passengers are eligible for $700 compensation each if a flight is delayed more than six hours and the delay is within the airline's control.
We pay good money for a service then the airlines chose when, how, and even if they are going to provide that service and if they don't provide the service as described they decide when, how, and even if they are going to compensate us.
We should turn this system on its head. No more paying in advance. We book our ticket and the airline provides the service. If it is exactly as and when described we pay them full price. If not, we decide when, how, and even if we are going to pay them.
Air Canada isn't an airline. It's primary business is milking the Canadian tax payer for incentives. They pretend to be an airline as an excuse to do that. That's why they treat their customers as an inconvenience. We distract them from their main business.
I'm writing this from a hotel room paid for by Air Canada - but wow did I have to fight for it!
First flight of two leg journey was delayed and the original announcement was that it was delayed due to a mechanical issue. I knew I had a tight connection so checked with Air Canada staff - they assured me that if I missed my connection they would put me in a hotel until the next available flight. After about an hour delay they announced that they had discovered bird strike damage and we would be delayed further.
When I arrived at the connection airport I was told there would be no hotel as the delay was due to a bird strike and therefore out of their control. I was tired and cranky and went full "Karen mode" asked to speak to managers, explained what I was told at the original airport and finally got a hotel voucher.
I wonder if there is publicly available data on the incidence of aircraft bird strikes? I wonder if they are increasing? I'm not cynical..
Air Canada is my airline of last resort in Canada. It seems that all the airlines in that alliance are bad. It includes United.
They act like flying taxis then they should be treated as such.
They should be legally required to provide the contacted service as and when described. They should not be allowed to make providing the service you paid for at their convenience. I fly to go to meetings. I book my flights to avoid extra nights in hotel. If I miss a flight I miss a meeting and that could cost my company millions.
The Tribunal highlighted that Air Canada chose not to submit any evidence about "crew constraints" causing the couple's flight to be delayed.
"I draw an adverse inference against Air Canada for not submitting such evidence," the Tribunal said.
So yeah...
Ya. I read that as COVID may be a legitimate excuse, but that was not actually the reason for the cancellation (or at least there was no evidence provided to that effect).
Had the same issue with WestJet, and they fucked my vacation to Iceland that had been planned BEFORE the pandemic, and was rescheduled three times. Had to take the Via train to Toronto to get my flight, ended up arriving three days late, fucking up ALL my reservations, and missed about 1/3rd of the outings I'd planned.
I hate the airlines with the intensity of a thousand suns.