I had a very frustrating experience with AC earlier this month.

I used my City Pass to go from LGA to YYZ (I upgraded to J class the day before). I got to LGA earlier as I needed to be in Toronto earlier that day and asked at the gate to be put on the standby for the earlier flight. My standby cleared and I received the boarding pass for a J class seat on the earlier flight. I was among the first few people that cleared the standby list (I suppose, due to my LH Senator/Star Alliance Gold status - I am also AC Elite). I was among the first few people to board the plane.

As the flight was about to close, an AC concierge went into the plane and asked me to deplane, claiming that there was an error in clearing me into this flight and another person needed my seat. I indicated to the concierge that I needed to be in Toronto for a meeting. I was even willing to sit in the economy. I also indicated taht I cleared the standby list fair and square. However, as it was very close to the departure time and everyone was already seated on the plane, the concierge indicated that there was not one single seat empty on the entire plane. She was very stressed out and indicated that she would make it up to me in the future.

I was very upset over having to deplane. I believe that they should have asked for a volunteer or to ask someone else on the plane to deplane (with perhaps a lower FF status or someone which cleared standby list after me). I cannot believe that everyone on this Airbus 320 aircraft was ticketed for this flight, or was Star Alliance Gold or everyone cleared standby list before me. Furthermore, there was no compensation of any kind for this "involuntary denied boarding."

After I deplaned and talked to other passengers in the boarding area for the next flight (some Super Elites as well), they were shocked to see this happen. I wrote a letter to Air Canada that night but no reply to date.

I am just wondering if I was justified in thinking that I received an unfair treatment and if Air Canada should do something for me?