Mr. Vandal and his wife flew on August 10 with a group of around thirty people – family and friends – in order to celebrate their daughter’s marriage to Punta Cana.
It was at the end of the evening on Saturday – the day before their departure – that the group received an air Canada email advising them that their return flight was canceled due to the strike of on -board agents. Mr. Vandal and other members of his group then started steps to reach Air Canada and try to find a solution to return to the country within a reasonable time.
“It’s a dead letter, so we lie down our stay day by day, it’s still about $ 400 more per day,” said Serge Vandal to Noovo Info.
In addition to the additional costs, Serge Vandal and his wife are worried about their health since they need daily drugs. Diabetic, his wife must in particular inject insulin.
“We didn’t take two or three days [de médicaments] extra, but there the two or three days may be a week. Pharmacies here do not have what we have in the country. It’s always the problem, what are we doing? Should we go to the hospital? ”, Walls concerns Mr. Vandal.
“Air Canada does not answer our calls. Are they waiting to have deaths on conscience? ”
– Serge Vandal, client d’Air Canada
Several calls, no help
Serge Vandal is unhappy with Air Canada’s silence in this case.
“We try [de leur parler] In any case, it is a dead letter everywhere. Even when we try to booker A return ticket elsewhere is three to four times the price. $ 3000 at $ 4,000 is made a single one. Air Canada will not reimburse this amount, ”says Vandal.
“I understand the on-board agents, I agree with them, but there may be a limit. I agree with their claims, but take people hostage, that does not help, ”says Serge Vandal.
The latter also ensures that in the future he will always check when collective agreements end up before traveling …
“It’s unacceptable”
Serge Vandal is not the only travelers deplored the attitude of Air Canada compared to travelers injured by the strike of his on -board agents.
Patrick Bornier left Montreal with his two children on August 14 for Barcelona, Spain. Well aware of the conflict at Air Canada, he was hopeful that the situation will come back to normal before his return on Thursday.
A few days before departure, he deplores, however, to be left in uncertainty.
“I have no news, no procedure to follow, no notification of the carrier or detail, namely whether we will be able to take our plane or not on Thursday,” he shared in Noovo Info. “People are left for against, it’s unacceptable.”
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Mr. Bornier, who says he is in solidarity with the union members of Air Canada, is also of the opinion that the company propagates false information to travelers.
“Air Canada is not honest with travelers and does not comply with its obligations. Accept a travel credit while European regulations require cash payment, to be said that you have to cancel your ticket or any other pads so that the carrier does not assume its obligations … It is lacking in honesty and transparency, “he said.
“Illegal” strike
The Canadian Council for Industrial Relations (CCRI) illegal on the 10,000 Air Canada on Monday strikes and ordered the union management to ask its members to return to work.
“The members of the union’s negotiation unit are required to immediately resume their duties and refrain from any illegal strike activity,” wrote CCRI vice-president Jennifer Webster in her decision.
For his part, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was disappointed on Monday that Air Canada and the union representing his on -board agents failed to conclude an agreement after eight months of negotiations.
Flight canceled, here is what to do
In the event of a strike, which is considered an event independent of the will of the airlines, the major companies such as Air Canada are always required to book a new ticket “on the next available flight operated by any carrier”, in accordance with Settlement of the protection of Canada air transportation passengers.
Gabor Lukacs, president of Air Passenger Rights – who defends consumer rights – specifies that the airline must also place the next flight available to your final destination, whatever the cost.
Mr. Lukacs also explains that if your flight has been canceled and that Canada is trying to reserve you a flight Canada jazz next Friday, but there is a more expensive Westjet flight that allows you to return home two days earlier, the airline is required to reserve the Westjet flight. “In case of refusal, you can buy a ticket from a competing company and send the invoice to Air Canada”.
Another thing: do not accept refund. “A refund can be a way for an airline to discharge its obligation to reset you on another flight,” shared Gabor Lukacs.
According to the Regulation on the protection of air passengerspassengers who have experienced a problem with their flight must first contact their airline to solve it, “and allow them to resolve it within 30 days”.
“If this approach does not give the desired results, passengers can then send their complaint to the Canada Transport Office (OTC), which deals with complaints and rules disputes between passengers and airlines,” an email of the OTC said in Noovo Info.
With information from the Canadian press and CTV News.