Canadian Air Passenger Bill of Rights
Nov 3, 2016, 6:27 am
#1
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A passenger bill of rights for Canada
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...for-passengers
Garneau will introduce what he is calling the “Air Travellers Passenger Rights Regime” — a series of rules for both carriers and passengers that will govern situations when, for example, luggage is lost or a passenger cannot board an aircraft.
Nov 3, 2016, 10:53 am
#2
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Nov 3, 2016, 11:26 am
#3
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I'd say now's the time for everyone to start emailing Marc Garneau and their local MP to raise issues, suggestions and concerns. It's obviously a priority for the Transport Ministry.
Nov 3, 2016, 11:36 am
#4
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The most likely negatives I can foresee would be from a bill of rights that only ends up being a half measure, i.e. one that doesn't address or include a lot of issues and scenarios. If the government does this but only does it half assed, we won't necessarily be worse off than before, but we may not be as better off as we'd hoped.
I'd say now's the time for everyone to start emailing Marc Garneau and their local MP to raise issues, suggestions and concerns. It's obviously a priority for the Transport Ministry.
I'd say now's the time for everyone to start emailing Marc Garneau and their local MP to raise issues, suggestions and concerns. It's obviously a priority for the Transport Ministry.
Nov 3, 2016, 11:41 am
#5
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Nov 3, 2016, 12:00 pm
#6
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Pos. Neg Benefits
Weather Delays definition- I have always been compensated for weather
delay by AC(hotels/Meals/Etc). In Europe, I have
not.
24 hour Cancel policy
Cash return policy - Maybe just airline credit only
All booking must be paid at time of booking
Definition of what required compensation. Less grey areas where compensation would be paid out.
Nov 3, 2016, 12:23 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: YUL
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We are no where close to zero. Canadian airlines have been compensating pax for years now(some pax more than others).
Pos. Neg Benefits
Weather Delays definition- I have always been compensated for weather
delay by AC(hotels/Meals/Etc). In Europe, I have
not.
24 hour Cancel policy
Cash return policy - Maybe just airline credit only
All booking must be paid at time of booking
Definition of what required compensation. Less grey areas where compensation would be paid out.
Pos. Neg Benefits
Weather Delays definition- I have always been compensated for weather
delay by AC(hotels/Meals/Etc). In Europe, I have
not.
24 hour Cancel policy
Cash return policy - Maybe just airline credit only
All booking must be paid at time of booking
Definition of what required compensation. Less grey areas where compensation would be paid out.
I wouldn't worry if I were you. As an SE, AC will still find ways to make you feel valued. That will continue to be true even if Joe Q Economy gets some rights. Your rights aren't being taken away just because theirs are being expanded.
(This is every political argument, ever.)
Nov 3, 2016, 12:32 pm
#8
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,789
So basically your argument is that a pax bill of rights might be a bad thing because you wouldn't necessarily get better benefits than everyone else? No-status economy passengers might get access to some of the benefits through clearly delineated processes, versus your current method of DYKWIA?
I wouldn't worry if I were you. As an SE, AC will still find ways to make you feel valued. That will continue to be true even if Joe Q Economy gets some rights. Your rights aren't being taken away just because theirs are being expanded.
(This is every political argument, ever.)
I wouldn't worry if I were you. As an SE, AC will still find ways to make you feel valued. That will continue to be true even if Joe Q Economy gets some rights. Your rights aren't being taken away just because theirs are being expanded.
(This is every political argument, ever.)
For better or worse...
Nov 3, 2016, 12:37 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
We are no where close to zero. Canadian airlines have been compensating pax for years now(some pax more than others).
Pos. Neg Benefits
Weather Delays definition- I have always been compensated for weather
delay by AC(hotels/Meals/Etc). In Europe, I have
not.
24 hour Cancel policy
Cash return policy - Maybe just airline credit only
All booking must be paid at time of booking
Definition of what required compensation. Less grey areas where compensation would be paid out.
Pos. Neg Benefits
Weather Delays definition- I have always been compensated for weather
delay by AC(hotels/Meals/Etc). In Europe, I have
not.
24 hour Cancel policy
Cash return policy - Maybe just airline credit only
All booking must be paid at time of booking
Definition of what required compensation. Less grey areas where compensation would be paid out.
AC policy on weather delays: For circumstances outside Air Canada's control - If your flight has been rescheduled to depart the next day, Air Canada representatives will provide you with hotel contact information where you can obtain valued customer rates.
Presumably you're upset that AC will take away "valued customer rates"? Or do you think they'll take away the SE-specific goodwill gestures that don't apply to the vast majority of pax? (In which case, you might want to find a new FF program).
- 24 hour cancel policy - not sure if that's regulated or not (OTAs don't always allow it) but I can't see regulators banning it. Perhaps they'll allow AC to not have that policy and bring it in line with Expedia et al. Can't see the foreign competition getting rid of it.
- paying at the time of booking? Isn't that the new normal in the age of OTAs. Even my TA has a disclaimer saying the fare isn't guaranteed until it's booked. I can't see this affecting the vast majority of travellers.
- AC doesn't pay compensation in grey areas. It makes it clear that no compensation is due, and that anything provided is a goodwill gesture ($500 for a $5000 non-reclining seat on SYD-YVR). I can't see those types of 'gestures' going away because of a new regime. I'm sure they'll keep handing out 5-10% goodwill discount codes for 'grey areas'.
It'll be interesting to see how they deal with PY->Y downgrades. Definitely starting at zero there.
Nov 3, 2016, 12:41 pm
#10
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Location: YVR
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So basically your argument is that a pax bill of rights might be a bad thing because you wouldn't necessarily get better benefits than everyone else? No-status economy passengers might get access to some of the benefits through clearly delineated processes, versus your current method of DYKWIA?
I wouldn't worry if I were you. As an SE, AC will still find ways to make you feel valued. That will continue to be true even if Joe Q Economy gets some rights. Your rights aren't being taken away just because theirs are being expanded.
(This is every political argument, ever.)
I wouldn't worry if I were you. As an SE, AC will still find ways to make you feel valued. That will continue to be true even if Joe Q Economy gets some rights. Your rights aren't being taken away just because theirs are being expanded.
(This is every political argument, ever.)
Nov 3, 2016, 12:44 pm
#11
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE*2MM. SPG Plat life
Posts: 4,644
I don't follow.
AC policy on weather delays: For circumstances outside Air Canada's control - If your flight has been rescheduled to depart the next day, Air Canada representatives will provide you with hotel contact information where you can obtain valued customer rates.
Presumably you're upset that AC will take away "valued customer rates"? Or do you think they'll take away the SE-specific goodwill gestures that don't apply to the vast majority of pax? (In which case, you might want to find a new FF program).
- 24 hour cancel policy - not sure if that's regulated or not (OTAs don't always allow it) but I can't see regulators banning it. Perhaps they'll allow AC to not have that policy and bring it in line with Expedia et al. Can't see the foreign competition getting rid of it.
- paying at the time of booking? Isn't that the new normal in the age of OTAs. Even my TA has a disclaimer saying the fare isn't guaranteed until it's booked. I can't see this affecting the vast majority of travellers.
- AC doesn't pay compensation in grey areas. It makes it clear that no compensation is due, and that anything provided is a goodwill gesture ($500 for a $5000 non-reclining seat on SYD-YVR). I can't see those types of 'gestures' going away because of a new regime. I'm sure they'll keep handing out 5-10% goodwill discount codes for 'grey areas'.
It'll be interesting to see how they deal with PY->Y downgrades. Definitely starting at zero there.
AC policy on weather delays: For circumstances outside Air Canada's control - If your flight has been rescheduled to depart the next day, Air Canada representatives will provide you with hotel contact information where you can obtain valued customer rates.
Presumably you're upset that AC will take away "valued customer rates"? Or do you think they'll take away the SE-specific goodwill gestures that don't apply to the vast majority of pax? (In which case, you might want to find a new FF program).
- 24 hour cancel policy - not sure if that's regulated or not (OTAs don't always allow it) but I can't see regulators banning it. Perhaps they'll allow AC to not have that policy and bring it in line with Expedia et al. Can't see the foreign competition getting rid of it.
- paying at the time of booking? Isn't that the new normal in the age of OTAs. Even my TA has a disclaimer saying the fare isn't guaranteed until it's booked. I can't see this affecting the vast majority of travellers.
- AC doesn't pay compensation in grey areas. It makes it clear that no compensation is due, and that anything provided is a goodwill gesture ($500 for a $5000 non-reclining seat on SYD-YVR). I can't see those types of 'gestures' going away because of a new regime. I'm sure they'll keep handing out 5-10% goodwill discount codes for 'grey areas'.
It'll be interesting to see how they deal with PY->Y downgrades. Definitely starting at zero there.
Nov 3, 2016, 12:44 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Posts: 955
Nov 3, 2016, 12:50 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
The airline-passenger relationship is currently a one-way street in the airline's favor.
The Bill of Rights is aimed at correcting that. Indeed, the one-way nature of the relationship is the prime motivator behind this new regime.
Nov 3, 2016, 12:51 pm
#14
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Why do we have zero? If a flight is over sold, don't airline's in Canada offer compensation? The $ amount may not be to your liking, but they do compensate pax, so we are not at zero. Last winter, my flight from FRA was delayed 8 hours, AC gave hotel vouchers to all connecting pax. What would you call this?
Nov 3, 2016, 12:54 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
