Lack of compensation for cancelled flights adding to travellers' frustration
The travel chaos at airports is more than just flight delays and cancellations. Now passengers are getting rejected by Air Canada for compensation.
What happened to Stephanie Schinkel recently is now common for air travellers, as her flight was cancelled just four hours before departure.
“Woke up at 6 a.m. on the 27th to catch my flight, only to find out that it had been cancelled,” says Schinkel.
Air Canada refunded the return fare, but it has been more than 30 days since Schinkel submitted a compensation request. Still no response from the airline.
“It was cancelled for staff shortages,” says Schinkel. “So they just didn’t have staff. And that's why the first flight was delayed, as well… lack of staff.”
Her flight from London, Ont. to Ottawa didn’t have enough crew to fly. She spent $340 on a train ticket to get home.
“The next flight they could offer me was 48 hours later,” says Schinkel. “So obviously I didn’t take it because I needed to get home.”
Under Canada's passenger rights charter, airlines must pay in cases of cancellation or major delays stemming from reasons within their control.
In a statement from Air Canada, they say safety is their top priority.
“This properly recognizes that the top priority for any carrier (and customers) is to operate safely and that there should be no penalties for making decisions based on safety.”
Former Chief Operating Officer of Air Canada, Duncan Dee, says airlines cannot force crew to work overtime due to safety reasons.
“You can’t force a crew member, beyond their duty day limit, to work a flight to keep it on time,” says Dee. “You can delay that flight, or you can cancel that flight. You really don’t have a choice. So, it becomes a safety issue. You can't just tell crew members, who are at the end of their duty day, to continue working to keep a flight going.”
Allen Zourani is also frustrated with Air Canada changing his flight to Germany 12 times in just 24 hours.
“It’s chaos. I think they don’t have enough staff,” says Zourani. “The delays and all these changes, 12 times they changed it is too much. One time is okay, two times is okay, but 12 times and then finally cancelled.”
Zourani still waiting for compensation.
“They were supposed to reimburse us at least a portion of the fare,” says Zourani.
As for Schinkel, she won’t be flying again anytime soon.
“We’re not booking any air travel at any point in 2022,” says Schinkel. “And possibly early 2023 until things start to get sorted out.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.