On my flight back to YYZ from VIE, I was on the same flight with a group of students coming home from a study trip. The flight made a stop at LHR before proceeding to YYZ. I was sitting close to the entrance of the gate and overheard what was happening. Apparently, one student had misplaced his paper ticket which was put in the back pocket of the boarding pass. Although he still had his boarding pass, he was not allowed to board unless he purchased another one way ticket from LHR to YYZ that cost about 400 pounds!! (I had paid less for my return ticket!!)

I was shocked that this happened. The explanation that was given was that because it was a code share flight (i.e. Austrian ticket on AC metal), AC would not be paid without the paper portion of the ticket; even in spite of the fact that a boarding pass had already been issued. I find this explanation somewhat shady (although I'm not an expert), but even if this was the case, wouldn't it be reasonable for AC to charge him for only the AC revenue portion of the code share ticket - afterall, why should AC get a windfall from the boy's misfortune?

Does anyone know of any recourse this boy may have? I went up to him and got is email and said I would ask some friends of mine (i.e. FT) for him.