Three passengers booked on a flight to Vancouver are suing Air Canada after they were left “stranded in Aruba.”
Heubert Fischer, Sandra Bruninck, and Sophie Fischer booked a flight from Aruba to Vancouver.
The itinerary included stops in Charlotte and Toronto, with Air Canada flying the final leg from Toronto to Vancouver.
Unfortunately, due to a snowstorm in Toronto, Air Canada had to rebook the applicant on another flight from Aruba to Vancouver, this time with stops in Chicago and Seattle.
The three indicated that despite rebooking, tickets for the revised itinerary were not issued, leaving them stranded until they could book new flights.
All three passengers filed a claim against Air Canada under the Airline Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) for a total of $3,000 in hotel, transportation and meal expenses, plus an additional $2,816.24 in damages.
The BC Civil Resolution Tribunal partially approved the passengers’ claims.
March 3, 2023 was the day the final leg of the journey began. Air Canada canceled a flight for three passengers scheduled to fly from Toronto to Vancouver.
The airline notified us of the change via email.
“Air Canada stated that its legal obligation was limited to rebooking the applicant on an alternative flight from Toronto to Vancouver. As the amended itinerary shows, it did no such thing. ” reads the court’s decision.
The three of us arranged a hotel. The next day, March 4, the passengers returned to the airport, but United Airlines was unable to process them for the revised itinerary. We were unable to contact Air Canada to resolve this issue.
The three were unable to leave Aruba until March 6, and returned to Vancouver just after midnight on March 7.
“This means the applicant’s arrival in Vancouver was 62 hours and 29 minutes later than the original itinerary and 41 hours and 39 minutes later than the revised but unsuccessful itinerary.”
Although the applicant in this case lost his APPR claim, he succeeded in his claim for costs due to Air Canada’s negligence.
“Because Air Canada’s breach resulted from its failure to properly issue tickets for the amended itinerary, Air Canada is liable only as a result of that error.” said the court.
Applicant was awarded $2,042.99, including damages and court costs.
