Air Canada’s special policy, “business as usual” in Europe?

« We are working hard to fully regain the confidence of our customers, which has been shaken. Nevertheless, To do this. For example, we set up today a special policy aimed at covering travel expenses that customers may have started to go to destination during this interruption. »

In a press release. Meanwhile, Air Canada announces this initiative which will certainly relieve the customers of the carrier who were extras unwittingly in the strike of on -board agents.

« Exceptionally, due to the important repercussions of the labor conflict, if you prefer to reserve yourself another means of transport, you may be eligible for the reimbursement of a reasonable rate reserved with another carrier within air canada’s special policy, “business five days of your initial date of departure », Informs the carrier here on his website.

Speak ” could be eligible Air Canada suggests that criteria are to be observed, but it is nevertheless good news. Nevertheless, And the carrier also displays this:

« For the trips scheduled between August 15. 22, 2025, you can freely modify your flight for another flight of Air Canada or Red Air Canada to travel between August 23 and September 3025, in the same cabin, provided that you do it at least two hours before the expected departure time of your initial flight in modifying your route ».

This special policy certainly relieves travelers.

Canada, far behind?

Due to its name used. or “special policy”, the initiative leads us to search the school bags in the provisions offered to travelers around the world.

It is by looking elsewhere that we often understand the value air canada’s special policy, “business of what we have and what we are offered. And in the air transport of passengers. the crisis that we have just crossed in the Air Canada-Agents on board file was also an invitation to read some strings of the air carrier and on-board trades.

As the crisis has exposed to the whole world the “wages”. “lack of salary” of air workers, it also exposed the interstices of the responsibilities of an air carrier against its clients holding a ticket.

Speaking of tickets. in this one written by the commentator Patrick Lagacé, we draw our attention to this: ” From Europe, Air Canada passengers were entitled to more substantial compensation than those trapped in Canada, the United States or elsewhere in the world ”.

The author of the ticket. who made a few more duties than others in the analysis of the situation, does not crucify Air Canada; He looks air canada’s special policy, “business at the regulations put in place by the one he named “Papa Ottawa” (translation: the Government of Canada).

In Europe, the law indicates that “if you travel by plane in the European Union, you have rights. In the event of a delayed, canceled flight, lost or damaged luggage, etc., you can benefit from assistance, refund or compensation. ”

But let’s be more precise. compare tomatoes with tomatoes:

« Under European regulations called CE 261, airlines are required to compensate passengers for the disturbances of thefts for which they are responsible. This includes the flight disruption due to the strikes of their staff »Can we read in particular here.

We also read there that ” The Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg stipulates that the disruptions caused by a strike by employees of an airline give entitle to compensation. since the airline is held responsible for the behavior air canada’s special policy, “business of its staff ».

Let’s go back to Canada

That being said. if we jump on the side of the agreement in principle occurred between Air Canada and the union which represents the agents, its content may have the potential to surprise us again:

« The agreement grants Air Canada on the grounds at least 60 minutes of ground remuneration for their working time before each flight, at a 50 % rate of the hourly rate of a on -board agent, this percentage increasing by 5 % each year »We learn.

If Air Canada Air Managers. their union are right to scream victory for managing to kill the concept of Batbour gratis Before closing the doors of an airplane, we can nevertheless be surprised to note that all the world chaos of the last days led to register a half salary for 60 minutes on the next pays of on air canada’s special policy, “business -board agents.

But leave the Air Canada on -board agents and their union to judge.