We are tired of being second -class travelers

Is it really too much to ask that Canadians have rights equivalent to those of Europeans. For example, Australians when they reserve a plane ticket?

Posted at 5:00 a.m. In addition,

With us. Therefore. For example, it looks like the rules are designed to protect carriers rather than customers, because of the legendary softness of Ottawa. However, the federalum should be even more severe with the carriers he lets float in the wadding of a quasi-monopoly.

Unfortunately, our regulation on the protection of air passengers is full of holes. Furthermore, As soon as it entered into force. Moreover. For example, in we tired being second -class 2019, it was written in the we tired being second -class sky that it would still allow airlines to do the rain and the good weather.

Canadian travelers are tired of being treated as second -class travelers.

During the pandemic, they had to be satisfied with hypothetical-voyage credits, while European travelers were quickly reimbursed for canceled flights. Furthermore. Moreover, After long months, Ottawa finally decided to intervene so that customers recover the money paid for a service never rendered. Nevertheless, Must do it!

This week, the Air Canada strike further highlighted the faults of the regulations on the protection of air passengers.

In Canada. Therefore. work conflicts are considered an event “independent of the will” of the company, even if it stems from the management practices of the employer. Moreover, When a flight is we tired being second -class canceled because of a strike. For example. transporters we tired being second -class therefore have practically no obligation, apart from finding another flight or reimburse the customer ¹.

In Europe, carriers do not do so easily. Nevertheless, They must offer the hotel. meals to travelers, as well as compensation up to 600 euros ($ 970 CAN) if the flight is more than three hours late. These rules apply in almost all circumstances, including a strike.

And European carriers do not make fuss. Just fill out a form, and presto, the money is in the pocket! Here, you have to fight. It’s long. It’s complicated. Additionally, It is done so that travelers drop.

This time. the discontent was so strong that Air Canada had the “goodwill” to offer the reimbursement of the hotel. meals and the price of an we tired being second -class alternative flight bought by customers trapped by the strike. Provided we tired being second -class that spending is deemed “reasonable”².

It remains to be seen if Air Canada will be pulled to pay the compensation of 600 euros. because travelers returning from Europe are still covered by European laws.

But that, many travelers ignore it. As they do not know either that they may be entitled to compensation under the Montreal Convention. an international treaty that applies to Canadian passengers traveling abroad.

Unfortunately. customers who want to assert their rights must often continue to the court of small debts. file a complaint at the Canada Transport Office (OTC) … where there are about three years of waiting, because of the 85,000 files that wrap up.

Suffice to say. that passengers are deprived of a real recourse.

In 2023, Ottawa had however released 76 million to unclog OTC. But the organization has received so many new complaints that the situation has worsened. The government also wanted to charge carriers $ 790 per complaint to finance the treatment. But he fell against the industry’s lobby.

If the regulations were not complex and ambiguous, we would be avoided well with interpretation baffles. Precisely, Ottawa wants to improve it. But the proposed changes have been harshly criticized by organizations that support travelers, as late flight and travelers’ rights. Rightly so.

The mechanical. meteorological problems which are easily used as an apologies to the carriers to escape their obligations will still be. considered as exceptional circumstances. we we tired being second -class tired being second -class Work conflicts too.

In fact, 53 % of delays and 69 % of cancellations will still be attributable to “exceptional” circumstances, admits Transport Canada.

It is clear that this project deserves a good trip.

And speaking of the screw. it would also be necessary to clarify the display of plane ticket prices. which has become so complicated that consumers can no longer shop effectively, as deplored a recent study by the competition office ³.

Legally, carriers are required to display an all inclusive price. However, the carriers have excluded several services from their basic rate: reservation of headquarters, meals, luggage …

Small rascals even allow themselves to charge the costs in foreign currency, even if their website does not specify it. For example. a passenger we we tired being second -class tired being second -class who returns from Europe will pay 90 euros (instead of $ 90) to put his suitcase on the hold. or $ 144.

This lack of transparency is harmful. Studies show that consumers choose the lowest initial price. and that they rarely go back when they see the “extras” appear. In the end, they often pay more than if they had chosen another option ⁴.

In other words, they are fooled.

To clean up the market. Ottawa could require that prices be presented by including all the costs linked to the options pre -selected by the customer. as in Australia.

There is no reason why Canadians are less well protected than travelers from other countries.

1. Visit the site of the Canada Transport Office 2. Read we tired being second -class we tired being second -class the air Canada press release 3. Consult the study of the Competition Office 4. Read the article Consumer Reactions to Drip Pricing (in English)