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U.S. Department of Transportation Fines Air Canada $26MM

24 points by neom 5y ago

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
Yhippa 5y ago
Air Canada eventually gave me a refund...one year later. I was pretty peeved and filed a regulatory complaint only for Air Canada to punt. One one hand I feel bad for a lot of thee airlines because I imagine having to cancel all these flights is a lot different from not having people eat at your restaurant (which I don't take lightly since a lot of them closed). On the other hand I gave them an interest-free loan for a year while they figured stuff out. That's okay for me because I didn't need the money at the time but I imagine that's not the case for others. Curious to see the fallout of all of this. One interesting thing is that it seems some US airlines didn't give refunds and "store credit" only.
chuckDidIkui 5y ago
News at 11. Everything in Canada- airlines and healthcare is shit. Canada actively blocks cooperation with many developing countries. For example, Indian passport holders require visa to just pass through Canadian shithole airports to come to the US. I think every day return is delayed fine should be doubled.
CaptainZapp 5y ago
"He said the airline has refunded more than $1.2 billion to eligible customers with refundable fares whose travel was impacted by COVID-19." (emphasis mine) But that's exactly the point. If I buy a non-refundable flight, which is cancelled by the airline, then the airline cannot honor the contract and owes me my money back if they cannot provide an acceptable alternative. Supplying me with useless and expiring credit just doesn't cut it. Claiming that they have refunded all refundable tickets is disingenuous, at best. And I really hope that they get whacked by the DOT for that. It also gives me pause to ever considering buying a ticket with such a customer hostile company.
axelthegerman 5y ago
Can't say anything good about AirCanada and refunds. Had my flight rescheduled due to covid (and changed from direct to one-stop) so they offered me to cancel with full refund. Did that and they only refunded one of the two tickets. Then they refused to do anything for 90 or days or so. Then still claimed they refunded both. Ended up having to involve our credit card company. They told us they usually don't refund airline tickets but in this case the found the airline clearly in the wrong. Glad they're now getting fined for this. Cheers from BC, Canada
- culopatin 5y ago
  Did they actually refund you like they initially said or they gave you a voucher? When I initiated the process I was offered either a refund or miles. I chose refund. Only after accepting that, they showed it wasn’t actually a refund, it was a VOUCHER. Not only it was a voucher instead of my money back, but it would then take them 4 months to process it and my money was in a limbo. Now they are offering the money back, but they are again taking months to keep your money in a limbo between voucher and actual money. I can’t say other airlines offer a better experience though, they are all scammy in the same way.
  - axelthegerman 5y ago
    Actually got a refund but was worried it would just be a voucher. Agree though that most airlines are scammy like that and also have to say I wouldn't want to be in their position with COVID
tannedNerd 5y ago
As a customer reading Air Canada’s response it pretty much ensures I’ll never fly them again and I used to visit yearly, usually on Air Canada flight, well I’ll take the extra layover in Seattle and visit friends for a bit instead.
rdtwo 5y ago
That’s such a joke big win for air Canada

24 points by neom 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

Air Canada eventually gave me a refund...one year later. I was pretty peeved and filed a regulatory complaint only for Air Canada to punt. One one hand I feel bad for a lot of thee airlines because I imagine having to cancel all these flights is a lot different from not having people eat at your restaurant (which I don't take lightly since a lot of them closed). On the other hand I gave them an interest-free loan for a year while they figured stuff out. That's okay for me because I didn't need the money at the time but I imagine that's not the case for others. Curious to see the fallout of all of this. One interesting thing is that it seems some US airlines didn't give refunds and "store credit" only.

chuckDidIkui 5y ago

News at 11. Everything in Canada- airlines and healthcare is shit. Canada actively blocks cooperation with many developing countries. For example, Indian passport holders require visa to just pass through Canadian shithole airports to come to the US. I think every day return is delayed fine should be doubled.

CaptainZapp 5y ago

"He said the airline has refunded more than $1.2 billion to eligible customers with refundable fares whose travel was impacted by COVID-19." (emphasis mine) But that's exactly the point. If I buy a non-refundable flight, which is cancelled by the airline, then the airline cannot honor the contract and owes me my money back if they cannot provide an acceptable alternative. Supplying me with useless and expiring credit just doesn't cut it. Claiming that they have refunded all refundable tickets is disingenuous, at best. And I really hope that they get whacked by the DOT for that. It also gives me pause to ever considering buying a ticket with such a customer hostile company.

axelthegerman 5y ago

Can't say anything good about AirCanada and refunds. Had my flight rescheduled due to covid (and changed from direct to one-stop) so they offered me to cancel with full refund. Did that and they only refunded one of the two tickets. Then they refused to do anything for 90 or days or so. Then still claimed they refunded both. Ended up having to involve our credit card company. They told us they usually don't refund airline tickets but in this case the found the airline clearly in the wrong. Glad they're now getting fined for this. Cheers from BC, Canada

culopatin 5y ago
Did they actually refund you like they initially said or they gave you a voucher? When I initiated the process I was offered either a refund or miles. I chose refund. Only after accepting that, they showed it wasn’t actually a refund, it was a VOUCHER. Not only it was a voucher instead of my money back, but it would then take them 4 months to process it and my money was in a limbo. Now they are offering the money back, but they are again taking months to keep your money in a limbo between voucher and actual money. I can’t say other airlines offer a better experience though, they are all scammy in the same way.
- axelthegerman 5y ago
  Actually got a refund but was worried it would just be a voucher. Agree though that most airlines are scammy like that and also have to say I wouldn't want to be in their position with COVID

tannedNerd 5y ago

As a customer reading Air Canada’s response it pretty much ensures I’ll never fly them again and I used to visit yearly, usually on Air Canada flight, well I’ll take the extra layover in Seattle and visit friends for a bit instead.

rdtwo 5y ago

That’s such a joke big win for air Canada