NOTE: Please send this thread elsewhere, or merge into a main compensation thread (that I couldn't find a decent match for) as appropriate.

Dec 7 2021
AC 107 YYZ-YVR dep 10:00 arr 12:12
connecting to
AC 3 YVR-NRT dep 13:30 arr 16:30

We board 107, and just sit there, and sit there, minutes tick by. Captain finally comes on and notes in an upbeat voice "Hey everyone, seems we have a lot of skis and snowboards today, so loading is taking longer than expected, hope to be underway soon". So we sit, and we wait, and wait. Next message from the Captain notes "Hey, well, seems we have so many skis and snowboards today that they'll need their own cage, so this will take a bit longer, hope to be underway soon.". In the end the flight was recorded as:

Gate depart: 10:48
Takeoff: 11:01
Landing 12:50 (then, to top things off we got shoved into the "corral" in order to wait for a gate...., losing at least another 10 minutes)
Gate in: 13:02

Note: One hour before landing a very long list of connecting flights was read off over the PA, and they noted AC3, and I was relived (naively) to indicate this suggested some sort of coordination on AC metal connecting flights. I was about to be proven wrong.

We land at gate C46, and I basically just move as fast as possible to the AC3 gate D54 , which feels like forever; I think I'm going to have a heart attack as I have three bags (2 + one medical). I get there at 13:20 (as per the official sign board behind the desk), five minutes after final call, and 10 minutes before scheduled departure. I think, thats ok, I bought AC for my trip for exactly this kind of event, they will be aware I am a connecting passenger coming off of AC107 (there were about 10 of us), and we are good! WRONG. The agents at the gate only knew we were late, and it was all own fault, they didn't know about the incoming AC107 passengers, and were not aware of the delay, they only note we missed our flight. I almost lost my mind at that point, a few in our group were very close at that point as well. Long story short, we were not going to be boarded. The agent then asked for my BP, wait, a ray of hope! Instead, without consultation the agent booked me (and the others the same group) onto other flights. I ended up on JL17, departing the next day. My PCR test 72 hour window would be exceeded.... I couldn't process what was going on, others in the group were the same, some in the group didn't even speak english at all, I felt terrible for them. In the end, the CSM that had been by the gate when we first arrived was sought out by one of the gate agents, and took our group over into the arrivals side of the hall, then to immigration, and we had to enter back into Canada. The agents guiding arrivals had a few strange looks for our group when we said, we haven't gone anywhere, we just need to get back out. The CBSA agent also had an interesting few questions for me. Of course we had to use the automated machines....

Now, I'm in the international luggage claim area, but someone has told me my bags will be offloaded, and available for me to claim in domestic (coming off of AC107) luggage claim area, at the luggage handling desk. Once again, I don't know about the others in my group, but I literally am still in shock, and have no idea where I have to go (I don't use YVR on a regular basis). Before I figure out what to do with my luggage (I eventually get it by waking into the "do not enter" domestic baggage claim area, and speak to an agent) I see a few of my group on AC customer service telephone in the departures area. The CSM that was with us earlier (who took of partway through to deal with another incident at another gate) noted his colleagues could help me, so I find what looks like a customer service type desk, just behind the check-in counters. The helpful agent there confirms:

1. I am indeed booked on JL for the next day. Note: Others in the same group, who thought they were on flights the next day as well are shocked to find out they are leaving same day, but instead of YVR-NRT-CGK, they are now YVR-IST (with 10 hour est. layouver) - CGK. They lose their minds.
2. AC will not pay for anything, no meals, no hotel, as the reason for the delay or "interruption" was (as per the three automated emails I received regarding AC107 adjustments):3. They hand me an "Interrupted Trip Information" pamphlet, and suggest I try using the advantageous AC "special rate" to book a hotel on my own via Roomstorm. I need to be careful, since my COVID 72 hour window will be exceeded. Due to very strict entry requirement from Japan for COVID testing I discover I need to stay in the airport (cannot leave) for a special 72 hour to 96 hour exemption to be exercised. The only hotel that meets the qualification is the Fairmont from what I can understand. The "special rate" via Roomstorm was $100 more than using a regular booking engine, or by calling the hotel front desk. I ended up paying $467.47 (taxes included).
My story doesn't end there, but maybe I'll make that a longer trip report someday.... for now my question is, do I have any basis to make a claim to Customer Relations (this is where I was informed I should direct a claim)? I won't bother if being out of pocket on the hotel is a sunk cost.

Some other things that this "interruption" trigged/incurred:

Meal costs.
I needed to take another day of annual leave from the office.
Since I was re-booked onto JAL, I don't think I will be accruing my points (2k+ was on NH for the outbound of my return ticket).

Grateful for any insight, thoughts.

thanks!
RDP