Planning to travel by strike to Hawaii Canada collapsed? You can have more rights than you feel
The Air Canada flight attendant strike has disrupted the journey for hundreds of thousands of passengers.
As passengers scramble to re -organize their plans, many are seeking answers to their rights. They may be surprised to know that the passengers set to depart from most European countries have more protection than those booked on domestic flights.
Here you need to know about your rights whether the plan for your Air Canada Yatra has suddenly become uncontrolled.
You have the right to book a re -book
Under Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulation (Appr), if your flight is canceled due to labor disintegration, the airlines should provide you with a choice between cash corresponding or re -booked flights.
“For better or worse, you don’t have to take refunds,” says Ian Jack, spokesman for a non-profit travel agency Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).
InattentivelyIf a large airline, such as Air Canada, cannot re -book a fellow airline within 48 hours after your original departure time, you should try to re -book the carrier on any airline – even a major competitor.
If nothing is available, the airline should search for alternative flights at other nearby airports, and provide transport at that airport.
Airlines that do not face heavy fines. Earlier this year, Canadian Transport Agency (CTA) Westjet killed with a fine of $ 204,000 Those passengers whose flights were canceled to fail to re -book During a vestjet mechanics Strike in 2024.
Any passenger who believes that Air Canada did not respect its rebirth rights file a complaint With CTA. However, they can wait for a long time for the resolution; In JuneThe federal regulator reported a backlog of more than 87,000 air passenger complaints.
In addition, some passengers may find themselves stranded despite Air Canada’s best efforts. This is because the carrier is the largest airline in the country, and its flight attendants have gone from job during the Summer Travel season.
Jack said, “Westjet, air transit, etc. are not enough for everyone.” “Unfortunately, some people can be left without a lot of options, in addition to taking refunds.”
Air Canada echoed that idea In an online details Where it “pledges to provide optional travel options to customers.”
Consumer advocate Geoff White argues that the lack of alternative flights for disrupted passengers throws light on another problem: a lack of competition in Canada’s airline industry.
“Why so many people are trapped, we do not have (enough) competition,” said White, Executive Director of Public Interest Advockey Center.
“This is to be a wake-up call.”
In JuneThe Canadian Competition Bureau said the country’s airline industry is highly concentrated with two major carriers – Air Canada and Westjet. It asked for increased competition, and recommended comfort rules that limit the foreign ownership of Canadian airlines.
Travelers flying from European Union countries have more rights
CurrentlyAirlines have no compulsion to compensate passengers for their hotels and events, if they are delayed on their destination A strike.
“Air Canada, for goodwill purposes, can choose to help with it, but there is no legal obligation.”
Passengers cannot even claim compensation to delay and cancel the flight; Consider approval Work -work Beyond the control of an airline.
However, the affected Air Canadian passengers can claim compensation for both their additional travel expenses and disruption of flight, if their canceled flight departed United kingdom Or European UnionThis is because travelers departing from those countries are covered European Union Hawaii Passenger Rights Which provide extensive protection compared to Appr.
Another day of uncertainty waited for the passengers of Air Canada on Monday, when the flight attendants postponed a federal back-to-work order and delayed the airline’s launching of plans. ‘We have not slept, we are calling, we are tired,’ a disappointed traveler said that he is trying to fly to Portugal for his honeymoon.
Similar to Canadian rules, European Union rules can deny compensation of State Airlines flight disruption Due to strikeHowever, the European Union rules specify that this discount only applies to disputes that do not include the airline.
The strike by its employees of an airline “does not issue airline from its obligation to pay compensation,” European Union states online,
Passengers who delay the flight and tolerate cancellation can register compensation claims under the Appr or European Union Rules. As a result, the affected Air Canadian travelers who qualify under the rules of the European Union Can search Compensation up to € 600 ($ 965 CAD) for additional expenses. Passengers Departure from UK Can claim till £ 520 ($ 970 CAD).
“In Europe, this scene is very consumer -friendly by saying the scene,” no, no, the airline can definitely control how it interacts with its unions and should be on the Onas Airline, “said White.
“We have to go a long way to go here in Canada.”
Jack agrees.
When it comes to air travel, “If something goes wrong in Europe, you are going to treat you better in Canada,” he said.
Where are the new rules?
More than two years agoThe federal government proposed changes for the app, if they were implemented so far, maybe many air can help passengers from Canada.
The proposed change, designed to strengthen the appr, A requirement involves For airlines to cover the cost and events of the hotel during any type of flight disruption – including Due to labor disruption.
Jack says it is unfortunate that the proposed rules remain in Limbo as passengers struggle with Air Canada strike.
“Sadly, it is not going to help people in this present situation,” he said. “People will be in a better situation today that the government proceeded with these (rules).”
Canadian Transport Agency reports CBC news counseling Proposed rule Wrapped in March, and that there is no timeline yet when they will be effective. The agency did not directly answer the questions as to why it took so much time to implement the new rules.
