Apr 14, 2017, 3:14 pm
Last edit by: canadiancow
This wiki thread is devoted to the topic of what to do when Denied Boarding, the Compensation provided, and general experiences of those who were Denied Boarding.
If applicable, please post your Denied Boarding experiences as per the below list:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31305207-post171.html
For those IDB'd/VDB'd, please post in this thread:
Recent Example Denied Boarding Compensation form/card/"receipt":
Restrictions:
1. Can only be used over the phone
2. Only applies to base fares (not YQ, not taxes/fees)
3. Can be used to book a ticket in anyone's name
4. Can be used multiple times
5. Expiry date of 2 years (even though it says 1), but you can call to get it reactivated after that
Required amounts as dictated by the Government of Canada:
Less than 6 hours: $900
6-9 hours: $1800
9+ hours: $2400
From Air Canada Customer Service FAQ
Does Air Canada overbook its flights?
Just the facts:
Yes, we do.
Behind the facts:
Airline passengers place a high value on refundable tickets (in case they can't make their flight, don't show up or decide to change travel plans). In these cases, overbooking is a means (certainly not perfect but, on the whole, pretty viable) that lets us offer refundable tickets without losing a lot of money.
In the rare circumstances (and it is rare) where you can't get on a flight due to overbooking, we offer compensation (in the form of a travel voucher or cash) and we make alternate arrangements to get you to your destination as quickly as possible.
Air Canada - General Conditions of Carriage
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...e-tariffs.html
OVERBOOKING NOTICE
Airline flights may be overbooked, and there is a slight chance that a seat will not be available on a flight for which a person has a confirmed reservation. If the flight is overbooked, no one will be denied a seat until airline personnel first ask for volunteers willing to give up their reservation in exchange for a payment of the airline's choosing. If there are not enough volunteers, the airline will deny boarding to other persons in accordance with its particular boarding priority. With few exceptions, persons denied boarding involuntarily are entitled to compensation. The complete rules for the payment of compensation and boarding priorities are available at all airport ticket counters and boarding locations.
Also included here are
UK Alternative Dispute Resolution – for UK departing flights only
and
China departing flights only
If applicable, please post your Denied Boarding experiences as per the below list:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31305207-post171.html
For those IDB'd/VDB'd, please post in this thread:
- Date of IDB/VDB
- IDB or VDB
- Compensation dollar amount
- Cash (cheque) or eMCO
- Flight # you were DB'd from
- Flight # you were placed on after being DB'd (also indicate if next day)
- Were hotel vouchers provided?
- Were food vouchers provided?
- Other
Recent Example Denied Boarding Compensation form/card/"receipt":
Restrictions:
1. Can only be used over the phone
2. Only applies to base fares (not YQ, not taxes/fees)
3. Can be used to book a ticket in anyone's name
4. Can be used multiple times
5. Expiry date of 2 years (even though it says 1), but you can call to get it reactivated after that
Required amounts as dictated by the Government of Canada:
Less than 6 hours: $900
6-9 hours: $1800
9+ hours: $2400
From Air Canada Customer Service FAQ
Does Air Canada overbook its flights?
Just the facts:
Yes, we do.
Behind the facts:
Airline passengers place a high value on refundable tickets (in case they can't make their flight, don't show up or decide to change travel plans). In these cases, overbooking is a means (certainly not perfect but, on the whole, pretty viable) that lets us offer refundable tickets without losing a lot of money.
In the rare circumstances (and it is rare) where you can't get on a flight due to overbooking, we offer compensation (in the form of a travel voucher or cash) and we make alternate arrangements to get you to your destination as quickly as possible.
Air Canada - General Conditions of Carriage
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...e-tariffs.html
OVERBOOKING NOTICE
Airline flights may be overbooked, and there is a slight chance that a seat will not be available on a flight for which a person has a confirmed reservation. If the flight is overbooked, no one will be denied a seat until airline personnel first ask for volunteers willing to give up their reservation in exchange for a payment of the airline's choosing. If there are not enough volunteers, the airline will deny boarding to other persons in accordance with its particular boarding priority. With few exceptions, persons denied boarding involuntarily are entitled to compensation. The complete rules for the payment of compensation and boarding priorities are available at all airport ticket counters and boarding locations.
Also included here are
UK Alternative Dispute Resolution – for UK departing flights only
and
China departing flights only
VDB, IDB and Compensation - Master Thread
Apr 6, 2019, 7:54 pm
#136
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: AC E50K, FPC Platinum
Posts: 56
Vdb yul-yyt
Flying YUL to YYT on March 26, overheard them talking to someone at the counter saying they were oversold by 4 and offering her compensation if she wanted to take a later flight.
I was coming back from vacation and had time so went up to see what they were offering. $800 cash to get you in later the same day, but possibly not until the next morning. Was told $800 is the max no matter how long the delay. They removed me and the friend I was travelling with and made us wait to see if anyone didn’t make a connection.
On my my boarding pass they wrote “DBC VOL 800- later today or tomorrow w/ hotel”
Customer service was very helpful. Rebooked is YUL-YYZ-YYT. It was Y fare (originally booked standard) so more points and gave us $20 in meal vouchers. Also gave us a receipt to confirm compensation amount
Got in 6 hours later
Luggage continued on the original flight so no waiting.
Compensation cheque arrived one 7 days later (and hasn’t bounced)
I was coming back from vacation and had time so went up to see what they were offering. $800 cash to get you in later the same day, but possibly not until the next morning. Was told $800 is the max no matter how long the delay. They removed me and the friend I was travelling with and made us wait to see if anyone didn’t make a connection.
On my my boarding pass they wrote “DBC VOL 800- later today or tomorrow w/ hotel”
Customer service was very helpful. Rebooked is YUL-YYZ-YYT. It was Y fare (originally booked standard) so more points and gave us $20 in meal vouchers. Also gave us a receipt to confirm compensation amount
Got in 6 hours later
Luggage continued on the original flight so no waiting.
Compensation cheque arrived one 7 days later (and hasn’t bounced)
Apr 8, 2019, 11:01 am
#138
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
Yes, you can combine it with a promo code. You input the promo code when you run your search on AC.com then you input your travel voucher on the payment page.
Apr 8, 2019, 11:41 am
#140
Join Date: May 2013
Location: YYT/YYC/TPE
Programs: AC SE, UA, National Exec Elite, Nexus, GE
Posts: 1,810
If your E-Voucher doesn’t have a PIN code, then I don’t even think you can use it online. You would need to call in, but then you can’t use the eCoupon if its T&C says online only.
Apr 8, 2019, 12:42 pm
#141
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold, CM Presidential / *A Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 1,648
Does your E-Voucher have a PIN code? If yes, I would think it’s just the same as using two eCoupons together, provided they cover the entire ticket cost.
If your E-Voucher doesn’t have a PIN code, then I don’t even think you can use it online. You would need to call in, but then you can’t use the eCoupon if its T&C says online only.
Apr 8, 2019, 4:53 pm
#142
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582
To follow-up on my earlier post, I did a VDB last Monday and I got the $800 cheque in the mail today (exactly 1 week later) - not bad!
Apr 8, 2019, 6:24 pm
#143
Join Date: May 2014
Location: YYJ/YYT
Programs: AC 75K (*G), NEXUS
Posts: 652
March 25 I was offered and accepted a $200 travel voucher at check in counter to take the next YYJ-YVR flight (half an hour later). No ecoupon so I had to phone in to use it. Does this count as a VDB since it was at check-in?
Apr 9, 2019, 4:53 am
#145
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: YQM
Programs: Aeroplan/Altitude 50K
Posts: 16
I have used the eCoupon code over the phone when payment kept on failing online. Its definitely possible and I would guess that for this instance (of using a voucher that you cannot use online) would net the same results if explained nicely. Might have to HUCA, so start out by saying you have both a voucher and coupon code
Last edited by ekc8946; Apr 9, 2019 at 4:53 am Reason: grammar
Apr 10, 2019, 4:09 pm
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Apr 10, 2019, 6:10 pm
#147
Join Date: May 2014
Location: YYJ/YYT
Programs: AC 75K (*G), NEXUS
Posts: 652
Apr 23, 2019, 12:41 am
#148
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,251
flying thursday before good friday long weekend on the last yul-yyc flight of the day. as i was boarding asked if they needed volunteers, she said yes, $800, i said "that better be cash" and she said yes check mailed to you. accepted. looks like they had around 8 other volunteers on this flight.
edit: just to clarify, i went to the csa counter to get my meal chits (2x $15 valid 365 days), hotel room (sheraton yul) with $10 for lunch $15 dinner, etc. and i got the boarding pass printout stating i'm entitled 800cad check mailed to me from customer relations.
edit 2: check received 8 calendar days (5 working days) after the oversell. ^
edit: just to clarify, i went to the csa counter to get my meal chits (2x $15 valid 365 days), hotel room (sheraton yul) with $10 for lunch $15 dinner, etc. and i got the boarding pass printout stating i'm entitled 800cad check mailed to me from customer relations.
edit 2: check received 8 calendar days (5 working days) after the oversell. ^
Last edited by cur; Apr 28, 2019 at 5:56 pm
May 1, 2019, 5:01 pm
#149
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2
Hey everyone,
Just looking for some info about compensation after being bumped from my flight.. seems like there are lots of rule changes etc happening.
I was involuntarily denied boarding in mexico and had to spend an extra two nights there.. missed a day of work and was 36 hours late home.
Air Canada just send me a $800 ECoupon.. am I entitled to cash compensation instead? And I was thinking the compensation would be more then $800 since I was back so late.
Appreciate any info!
Just looking for some info about compensation after being bumped from my flight.. seems like there are lots of rule changes etc happening.
I was involuntarily denied boarding in mexico and had to spend an extra two nights there.. missed a day of work and was 36 hours late home.
Air Canada just send me a $800 ECoupon.. am I entitled to cash compensation instead? And I was thinking the compensation would be more then $800 since I was back so late.
Appreciate any info!
May 1, 2019, 5:19 pm
#150
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,324
By the rules, I think the most you can hope for is getting cash. You can push for more, but I doubt you'd get it without going to court (though if you complied with all check-in/boarding deadlines, I would hope a court would be reasonable about a 36 hour delay).