What Kind Of Compensation am I owed?
Jul 17, 2012, 2:52 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
I was flying an AC Airbus a319, from EWR-YVR.
My seat of IFE WASN'T working while the whole plane was.
So for 6 hours I had nothing to do as I relied on the IFE
Then I asked for a special meal on my flight from YVR to HKG due to dietary restrictions I have probably called AC and my travel agent 3 times each to confirm.
When I got on the plane their was no meal at alll and I wasn't on their list. So I was stuck eating basically nothing for 13 hours
Does Air Canada owe me anything for my inconveinces?
My seat of IFE WASN'T working while the whole plane was.
So for 6 hours I had nothing to do as I relied on the IFE
Then I asked for a special meal on my flight from YVR to HKG due to dietary restrictions I have probably called AC and my travel agent 3 times each to confirm.
When I got on the plane their was no meal at alll and I wasn't on their list. So I was stuck eating basically nothing for 13 hours
Does Air Canada owe me anything for my inconveinces?
What I do know is that over the next few posts, some will say you are. Some will say you aren't. And at least one poster will try to blame you for what happened and for not planning any contingencies. Don't take any of it to heart. Sooner or later someone who's experienced this and complained will tell you what happened and how it was resolved.
Have you contacted AC? I don't think there's any watchdog you can raise this issue with. Well, we have one, but its utterly useless.
Contact AC. IF that goes nowhere, try this site:
http://www.otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/air-travel-complaints-1
And hope for the best. AC will probably resolve it by giving you AE miles or a 5-10% off voucher (valid on base fares only).
Jul 17, 2012, 2:52 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,519
You can try to send your complain to the following link:
http://help-aircanada.com/aircanada/...ue.do?lang=ENU
and see if you can get anything by a % off code.
http://help-aircanada.com/aircanada/...ue.do?lang=ENU
and see if you can get anything by a % off code.
Jul 17, 2012, 2:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
AC should send a letter to BA to tell them to help manage Canadian's expectations.
Jul 17, 2012, 3:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
All it will cost you is an email or two. I'd give it a shot.
Jul 17, 2012, 3:29 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YUL
Posts: 2,283
Jul 17, 2012, 4:15 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,769
It has been well-documented that AC doesn't always cater special meals. 
If you have such sever dietary restrictions that you can't eat the chicken/pasta usually on offer, then you should really buy something at the airport, or bring something with you. @:-)
If you have such sever dietary restrictions that you can't eat the chicken/pasta usually on offer, then you should really buy something at the airport, or bring something with you. @:-)
Jul 17, 2012, 4:23 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
Perhaps AC should explicitly advertise that they may or may not provide special meals regardless of whether a client orders them, and therefore the client must plan for contingencies.
When they do that, I will agree with you in principle. But as such, when one buys an airfare, AC does not warn pax to prepare for contingencies such as their own inability to cater to customers despite adequate notice. Therefore it is a bit unreasonable to expect pax to come prepared for the possibility of AC screwing up. A first-time passenger would have no idea.
Bit rich trying to pass the blame from the airline to the pax, dont you think?
Jul 17, 2012, 4:25 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YQR
Posts: 2,746
Actually, I'm in agreement that with AC it is pointless to rely on their special meals as delivery is so unreliable.
Jul 17, 2012, 4:28 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,769
Like clockwork.
Perhaps AC should explicitly advertise that they may or may not provide special meals regardless of whether a client orders them, and therefore the client must plan for contingencies.
When they do that, I will agree with you in principle. But as such, when one buys an airfare, AC does not warn pax to prepare for contingencies such as their own inability to cater to customers despite adequate notice. Therefore it is a bit unreasonable to expect pax to come prepared for the possibility of AC screwing up. A first-time passenger would have no idea.
Bit rich trying to pass the blame from the airline to the pax, dont you think?
Perhaps AC should explicitly advertise that they may or may not provide special meals regardless of whether a client orders them, and therefore the client must plan for contingencies.
When they do that, I will agree with you in principle. But as such, when one buys an airfare, AC does not warn pax to prepare for contingencies such as their own inability to cater to customers despite adequate notice. Therefore it is a bit unreasonable to expect pax to come prepared for the possibility of AC screwing up. A first-time passenger would have no idea.
Bit rich trying to pass the blame from the airline to the pax, dont you think?
Jul 17, 2012, 4:38 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75K *G
Posts: 7,114
Air Canada is very cheap with compensation.
I think no food on an international flight merits a full refund.
And since IFE is one of the main things that distinguishes AC from the rest of North American airline detritus, I think 15% is minimum compensation.
All that being said, the fact you had nothing to eat is your fault. The only guarantee for a picky eater is to bring your own. Remember - never rely on an airline to do anything right.
I think no food on an international flight merits a full refund.
And since IFE is one of the main things that distinguishes AC from the rest of North American airline detritus, I think 15% is minimum compensation.
All that being said, the fact you had nothing to eat is your fault. The only guarantee for a picky eater is to bring your own. Remember - never rely on an airline to do anything right.
Jul 17, 2012, 4:41 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
No, not trying to pass on the blame. Just don't like the post title at all. And I do believe when you pre-order a meal that your meal choice is never guaranteed, just like your seat choice is never guaranteed. Any notion from Air Canada will be a notion of good-will, and good marketing of course.
On the face of it, the airline shouldn't have this problem, though I suppose it does demand a follow-up question to OP - did the cabin crew at least try to resolve the problem by scavenging across the galleys? I've been on airlines where veg options (just the main) have been brought from the 'front', to help out folk who're going without food in the chicken or beef class. I find it odd that this pax had to go without food.
Was it due to a lack of options or a lack of effort?
Jul 17, 2012, 5:21 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,856
1. They don't *owe* the OP anything. He is not entitled to any form of compensation under the contract.
2. However some goodwill would be nice. As we all know, if he files a complaint, he'll likely get a 10-15% discount coupon for his next ticket purchase.
3. We probably should have a master thred for the "entitled" folks. something like /dev/null.
2. However some goodwill would be nice. As we all know, if he files a complaint, he'll likely get a 10-15% discount coupon for his next ticket purchase.
3. We probably should have a master thred for the "entitled" folks. something like /dev/null.
