Has your flight canceled or delayed due to the Air Canada strike? If you have reserved your tickets with a travel agency, you may be eligible for refund or compensation.
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The Consumer Protection Office (OPC) recalls the possible appeals for passengers faced with delays or cancellations of flights.
Customers who bought their tickets from a travel agent with a Quebec license benefit from the protection of the customer compensation fund for travel agents (FICAV), it said, in a press release.
This fund, managed by the OPC, can reimburse private travelers from tourist services paid due to the lack of a supplier or an unforeseen event, such as a strike.
It can also cover additional costs, such as unplanned hotel nights or the cost of a missed cruise following the cancellation of a flight.
On the other hand, if the tickets were purchased directly from the airline or via a company without a travel agent license in Quebec, this protection does not apply.
In this case, the traveler must contact the airline to obtain a replacement flight or a refund of the price of tickets.
The FICAV protects all the tourist services purchased from a Quebec travel agent, whether plane tickets, coach transport, cruises, excursions or accommodation, regardless of the purchase method used.
Consumers can check on the OPC website if the travel agency has a valid permit, in the “Inquire on a merchant” section.
Finally, in certain cases of remote purchases, the consumer protection law provides that the credit card issuer may reimburse the consumer, subject to compliance with the deadlines and conditions provided.
