Flight Delayed or Cancelled? Canadian Automobile Association Launches Air Passenger Help Guide
The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) today launched an easy-to-use guide to help air travellers navigate the rules when they run into some of the most common problems, such as flight delays, cancellations, lost bags and getting bumped from a flight.
“Travelling can be complex, and the rules protecting air travellers are complicated. CAA is stepping up by providing Canadians with the information they need when things go wrong,” said Ian Jack, vice-president, public affairs for CAA National.
Canada has had federal rules governing air passenger rights for several years now, but they are complicated and long, running to over 60 pages. CAA’s Air Passenger Help Guide provides a plain-language guide that answers questions about the most common flight disruptions in five clicks or less. Air travellers wondering what, if anything, the airlines owe them can consult our guide for help.
A flight information board at Toronto Pearson Airport. JIM BYERS PHOTO
“CAA runs one of Canada’s largest leisure-travel agencies and has been a strong advocate of strengthening passenger protections. CAA has been pushing the federal government to simplify the rules to make them easier to use,” said Jack. “But until then, CAA’s Air Passenger Help Guide will be there to help air travellers when something goes wrong.”
According to a recent CAA survey, more than six in ten (61%) Canadians say they or someone they know has experienced a flight disruption in the last two years.
As a strong advocate for the travelling public, CAA has also been pushing the government to live up to its commitment to publish statistics on airline performance on topics such as on-time or baggage loss, so Canadians can judge for themselves how everyone is doing. More than 80% of Canadians agree, saying they want more transparency through the publishing of statistics by the federal government and airlines.
Travellers are encouraged to consult the guide the next time something goes wrong to find out the rules that apply to them.
PORTER BOOSTS NEWFOUNDLAND SERVICE
Porter Airlines is bringing more of its elevated economy experience to Newfoundland travellers this summer. This includes launching the only non-stop Ottawa-St. John’s flight on the market, and the introduction of Deer Lake as a new destination, with service to Halifax.
Daily roundtrip Ottawa and St. John’s flights start June 6. It’s the first time in five years that any Canadian carrier has served the route. A Porter hub, Ottawa offers passengers connecting flights from St. John’s to over a dozen destinations in Canada and the U.S. This includes Western Canada cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, plus Orlando, Boston and New York.
This route will be served by the Embraer E195-E2, the quietest single-aisle aircraft on the market. It features 132 seats configured two-by-two (which means no middle seats!), and fast, free WiFi for all passengers.
Deer Lake is the newest pin on the Porter map, with daily roundtrip service connecting the Newfoundland summer destination with Halifax as of June 4.
Halifax-Deer Lake will be served by the 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400, which combines speed, noise reduction, and high fuel efficiency for quicker trips across Porter’s Eastern Canada and Northeastern U.S. regional network.
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Unfortunately, the CAA’s guide is inaccurate. The CAA’s expertise is in automobiles, and not in passenger rights — and it shows.
Furthermore, it is disingenuous to Refer passengers to the CTA, which has a 60,000+ backlog and a cozy relationship with the airlines.
Thanks, Gabor. good to know