The first time I experienced an airline lying was around 2000. Halifax to Toronto, with a stop over in Montreal.
Flight was delayed due to bad weather in Montreal, and you could assume it might be because it was march. However, when they kept extending the delay, I decided to use a payphone to call my friend in Montreal. He said the weather was sunny and clear, no sign of snow.
After a few more hours, I said f it. I’m just going to drive. A few other passengers heard my change of plans while I was on the payphone, and asked dif they paid for gas if they could join.
Car full, we took turns doing the drive, getting to Toronto without a single snowfall encountered.
The airline eventually cancelled the flight, and tried their hardest to deny refunds saying it was due to bad weather in Montreal. I pushed for a refund but it was a pain in the ass and involved writing to them saying I drove instead and weather wasn’t an issue.
What always pissed me off the most about it was there was an elderly woman who was counting on that flight to celebrate her 90th(?) Birthday with her twin sister in Hamilton the following day.
Airlines in Canada have been fucking us passengers around for far too long.
Edit:
I wonder how more efficient they would be if the government sent them a bill for having to process a legitimate complaint, that was deemed valid and the airline had to pay back the passenger. Something like a contingency fee but directed at the airline for each valid complaint/resolution.
As much as I would like any of this to change their behaviour, the fact is that when they lose money the government will top them up each and every time, using our money.
Yeah, I really like the idea of them paying for legit complaints. Right now their default is lie-and-deny, because it costs them nothing to do so and many will probably not be willing to wait months/years or deal with the hassle. By the time stuff gets processed they’ll probably be ready for another bailout.
Make them pay for any denied claim that goes to a regulator in a manner similar to the courts, punitive damages plus fees to cover the cost of processing their bullshit. I’d even be ok putting my money where my mouth is, and having citizens potentially on the hook for false claims.
I think a lot of Canadians would be on board (except those elected). Would be awesome to see more people getting on board with this and suggest it while there is a call out for listening from customers of airlines.
To be fair, our government play the fool constantly with this. They can borrow the EU standards for airlines and apply them here or take portions of it and apply it. They really are acting like airlines are a square wheel when other countries have the circle.
The first time I experienced an airline lying was around 2000. Halifax to Toronto, with a stop over in Montreal. Flight was delayed due to bad weather in Montreal, and you could assume it might be because it was march. However, when they kept extending the delay, I decided to use a payphone to call my friend in Montreal. He said the weather was sunny and clear, no sign of snow. After a few more hours, I said f it. I’m just going to drive. A few other passengers heard my change of plans while I was on the payphone, and asked dif they paid for gas if they could join.
Car full, we took turns doing the drive, getting to Toronto without a single snowfall encountered.
The airline eventually cancelled the flight, and tried their hardest to deny refunds saying it was due to bad weather in Montreal. I pushed for a refund but it was a pain in the ass and involved writing to them saying I drove instead and weather wasn’t an issue.
What always pissed me off the most about it was there was an elderly woman who was counting on that flight to celebrate her 90th(?) Birthday with her twin sister in Hamilton the following day.
Airlines in Canada have been fucking us passengers around for far too long.
Edit: I wonder how more efficient they would be if the government sent them a bill for having to process a legitimate complaint, that was deemed valid and the airline had to pay back the passenger. Something like a contingency fee but directed at the airline for each valid complaint/resolution.
As much as I would like any of this to change their behaviour, the fact is that when they lose money the government will top them up each and every time, using our money.
Yeah, I really like the idea of them paying for legit complaints. Right now their default is lie-and-deny, because it costs them nothing to do so and many will probably not be willing to wait months/years or deal with the hassle. By the time stuff gets processed they’ll probably be ready for another bailout.
Make them pay for any denied claim that goes to a regulator in a manner similar to the courts, punitive damages plus fees to cover the cost of processing their bullshit. I’d even be ok putting my money where my mouth is, and having citizens potentially on the hook for false claims.
I think a lot of Canadians would be on board (except those elected). Would be awesome to see more people getting on board with this and suggest it while there is a call out for listening from customers of airlines. To be fair, our government play the fool constantly with this. They can borrow the EU standards for airlines and apply them here or take portions of it and apply it. They really are acting like airlines are a square wheel when other countries have the circle.