Cancellation of Air Canada flights: How to receive refunds and other compensation

Air Canadafueled another chaotic long weekend at a Canadian airport and attracted many customers. I got stuck and irritated.

Canadian airlines and airports likewise, taking the top spot in the world with flight delays over the long weekends of Canada Day.

Announced late last week, Air Canada announced that it would cut 15% of its summer schedule, or about 9,500 flights, but Saturday and Sunday delays would delay two-thirds of its flights and take off. Because of that, I was ranked first. According to the tracking service FlightAware. WestJetand its low-budget carrier Swoop were also among the top five delays worldwide.

Read more: Canadian airlines and airports suffered the worst delays in the world over long weekends

Gabor Lukacs, a Facebook group that helps passengers resolve disputes with Canadian travel industry airlines and regulators, says he and his team have been flooded with complaints lately.

"We are overwhelmed by the demands for help and unfortunately we can't get everything," he said. Spoke to Global News on Monday. "The onslaught of problems that airlines are causing for the general public is just tremendous."

The shortage of staff at Canadian airports is a long lineup and delays of several months. In part, Lukacs blames the airline itself for the recent turmoil.

He says that what is happening throughout Air Canada's network is similar to, for example, an airline overbooking one flight and selling 110 tickets on a 100-seat plane. Said that.

"We see something like that, but it's much larger," he said.

He is too ambitious for carriers It is frustrating customers at the gate, to sell, claiming to have deliberately booked beyond capacity, and now.

How can I be properly compensated for flight delays or cancellations? Here is the answer.

What do I have to pay if Air Canada cancels my flight?

Air Canada will need to refund passengers if a flight is canceled, but may incur even more debt depending on when the carrier notified of the turmoil. ..

The Air Passenger Protection Regulation (APPR), which came into effect in 2019, is $ 400 to 1,000, unlike refunds, for cancellations or significant delays that are "within the control of the carrier". Requesting dollar compensation. Travelers choose to decline the rebooking and, in some cases, reject it when accepting it.

In an email to affected customers last week, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau called the rescheduling for the lack of a "global aviation system" "unprecedented and unexpected."

Read more: Air Canada travels Cancel some summer flights in the turmoil. Who is responsible?

However, these discussions do not water Lukak.

"Passengers should always keep in mind that this is 100% under the control of the carrier. No doubt," he said.

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Global News to see if passengers feel they are eligible for such compensation I contacted Air Canada. The airlines confirmed that they would "comply with APPR's obligations" without saying whether they felt the turmoil was under their control.

How long was the delay? When did you say

Under federal regulations, passengers may make alternative travel arrangements or refunds (travelers') if notified more than two weeks in advance that a flight has been canceled or delayed by more than three hours for any reason. You are obliged to pay the choice). It is under the control of the carrier.

If the trip is canceled within 14 days, passengers will be charged $ 1,000 for cancellations or delays of 9 hours or more. I will bear the debt of. $ 400 and $ 700 for a 3-9 hour delay.

Regardless of the duration of the notification, passengers who choose to decline the rebooking will be required to receive a $ 400 compensation in addition to the refund.

Airlines Take Off Within 9 Days The time of the original departure time should be aimed at rebooking passengers on flights on the network. If this is not possible, according to the Passenger Rights Charter, you should propose to book for free on another airline's network "as soon as possible".

For overseas travel, Lukacs states that you can also get a refund for out-of-pocket expenses and other losses such as wages lost due to the turmoil. This coverage falls under the Montreal Treaty, a set of globally agreed rules for airline compensation.

The new Air Passenger Protection, due out on September 8, will soon be available to frustrated summer travelers. Will not be realized.

Due to these restrictions, the airline must provide a rebooking or refund within 30 days if it is unable to offer a new booking within 48 hours of a flight cancellation or "significant delay". ..

Read more:Canada is tightening rules for flight refunds. Do they go enough?

What if the airline doesn't pay?

If you can't contact the airline to request a refund or compensation, there are several other ways you can take to recover your costs.

Lukacs states that if the airline does not refund or confirm payment within 30 days, it will proceed "quickly" to the Small Claims Court to expedite the process.

Credit card chargeback is a convenient "last resort" if the airline refuses to refund He adds. This will allow the credit card backer to refund you directly for the wrong bill.

Lukacs says the pressure to fix delays at airports and airlines is not with the airlines themselves, but with the Federal and National Aviation Industry Oversight Agency (CTA). It says it should.

He argues that he does not comply with the provisions of the law because he knows that airlines can escape with inadequate customer service and with substandard behavior.

Transport Minister Omar Argabra directs the CTA to take strict enforcement energy, or when the government intervenes more directly to solve airport problems and the plan fails. You can force the airline to pay the full amount.

"I don't think the government will do anything, and there's a problem," says Lukacs.

Global News solicited comments from both Alghabra and the CTA on Monday, but did not receive a response before publishing. Alghabra's office said in a statement to Global News last week that it is working with the industry to find a solution.

"Airways are responsible for their operational decisions and will continue to work with airlines and airports to find important solutions to keep Canadian travelers moving," he said. Said the office.

— Global News Saba Aziz, The Canadian Press