Flight delayed due to crew availability
 

Hi. So my flight today from YYZ to YVR was delayed due to crew availability. We've now easily exceeded the first teir of the new compensation guidelines for delays within the airlines control. We are about 5.5 hours late on arrival so should be able to claim $400. Air Canada sent the passengers a text for a flight discount voucher. If we accept this does that mean we've forfeited the right to seek compensation under the new passenger rights framework? A few of us on the plane are reluctant to hit the "retrieve tour voucher" link because we are not sure if that means that is considered our compensation vs applying for the cash compensation.

I should note that AC has been fairly accommodating and are communicating regularly with us, provided us with food and drink as required, and the crew have been good considering everyone's frustrations.

Thank you!

There might still be a gotcha if they try to claim the crew wasn't available because of weather.

Good luck! I hope you get the $400.

It’s reasonable to expect they would have standby crews, esp at YYZ to avoid such a lengthy delay. Don’t buy such an excuse if offered.

Yes, it's reasonable to expect, but as far as payouts go, it covers them.

From Europe you get both voucher and compensation but seeing how the compensation rules are so weak in Canada I would not be surprised if it forfeits it.

Yeah, I'm really curious to see how this plays out. The OP is breaking some new ground here.

With all the weather delays and cancelations on the east cost recently I don’t think AC will have any problem justifying that the crews were unavailable.

Hi everyone. Thanks for the patience. I will update you as I find out more information.

The inbound crew was coming from yul and apparently they had some issues in yul that caused them to be delayed but the crew did not tell us what it was exactly.

I submitted a claim with AC under the air passenger protection framework and am waiting to hear back. The automated case email says they can take up to 30 days for a response and I have not claimed the sms compensation yet.

I suspect ac will do everything they can to avoid paying out and calling it a weather delay from yul. But in my non-legal, non-binding view is that a major hub like yyz without standby crews seems like something that would/should be within their control.

I'll update this thread as I receive their response. Thanks!

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As I know things are changing with the legislation commencing on the 15th December. I would like to hear if any of you would bother with pursuing any kind of compensation from AC and if so where to contact?

I flew YUL-YYZ-ZRH-CPH on the 31st and 1st of January in Y.
I arrived 5+ hours late in CPH due to delay out of YYZ, therefore missed connection in ZRH. It was not wheather related as far as I know....

YUL to YYZ AC flight number.
YYZ to ZRH LX flight number AC metal.
ZRH to CPH LX flight number.

I got a meal voucher in ZRH.

Was this due to crew availability issues?

No, not as far as I know.
Mod, please move my post if you see fit :)

Hi everyone, as mentioned I am following up to let you know about the result of my claim.

AC has responded and agreed to issue me $400 by way of cheque. I'm pleased with the outcome and did not need to provide any further details or documentation above and beyond what was originally included in the claim form.

All around a good experience. Well done Air Canada.

How much did you pay in airfare?

were you able to claim the voucher too?