Canadian Transportation Agency Backtracking on Flight Vouchers
UPDATE- Due to a comment below, I am adding a disclaimer that this post is not suppose to be biased towards any sides. The point of this post is to encourage people to see the different sides of the story before making a decision on what to do if they are faced with a cancelled flight. Keep in mind that regardless of anyone’s perspective, it is totally understandable if you need to act in your own best interest.
This is not exactly a good look on the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) who is now backing away from their previous position that airlines are not required to refund flight cancellations. Their position was that airlines have the right to issue travel credits instead of refunding cancellation trip. Even though their position is not a binding decision, it was their position.
CTA’s New Position
CBC reports that the CTA has now backtracked on their position on siding with airlines about refusing refunds.
The CTA states on their website that people can continue to file a complaint against an airline:
- During these difficult times, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) continues to maintain its normal operations … You can continue to request CTA services, file applications, and do normal business with us through our normal channels.
Where it gets confusing is that even though they “maintain its normal operations”, there is an exception.
Dispute Resolution Paused
If you read further on their website, it also mentions that they paused any dispute resolutions:
- … the CTA has temporarily paused all dispute resolution activities involving air carriers until June 30, 2020, ...
That’s not all. The pause can be drag out even longer:
- ... On or before June 30, 2020, the Agency will determine if the pause should end on that date or be extended to a later date.
So they are stating their position, but they are not available to help.
Compromise Solution
Let’s not get too negative about the CTA, since there is only so much they can really do anyway. I would say that regardless of what you read online. I think most airlines are still dealing with passengers on a case by case basis.
Perspective of the passenger
Let’s discuss the arguments for the passenger first before balancing things out. If you want your money back because you need it, or you do not plan to take the trip anymore (or any other reason), then there is nothing stopping you from working it out directly with the airline.
You may be on hold for a long time with customer service and you may need to call in a few different times depending on which agent you speak with, so you will need to be patient to work it out. So be prepared for that.
Perspective of the airline
On the other hand, I would keep in mind that every day that passes (while travel restrictions remain), airlines run into deeper financial trouble. At some point, either the airline goes bankrupt or the government needs to bail them out.
Neither situation is desirable in the grand scheme of things. So yes, if we are scared that the airline goes bankrupt, it is reasonable to want our money back now. If the government decides to bail them out, it will comes from our tax dollars, where everyone is on the hock for that bill, even if you are not travelling.
Personally, I think that if you have the financial means, flexible with your travel and willing to take the risk, I would recommend changing your flight instead of cancelling. Many airlines are offering 12-24 month vouchers, which is open to be extended if the pandemic drags out further. It’s a lot to ask, so what’s in it for you?
If you do change your flight, I would however argue with the airline to maintain the price that I paid, rather have them charge me a fare difference. I think this is where airlines can work with us. To balance things out for the airline, regardless of whether the future fare increases or decreases, they will honour the price that we paid. So they win some and lose some, but it balance things out overall.
What should you do?
My only suggestion is to keep some sort of balance in mind and act according to your personal situation.
If you are being fair and reasonable with the airline, I think that they will do what they can to accommodate you.
Shame on you for bootlicking the airlines. Here’s why consumers are angry: they have no simpathy for the airlines. In the last decade, major Canadian airlines have been making record profits while shrinking seat space, charging for things that used to be free, reducing customer service to the average economy class traveller and lobbying against consumer rights. Now why should consumers let them off the hook from the obligation to refund for services not provided ? Some might even feel that this is an opportunity to punish airlines for the contempt they’ve shown and continue to show towards consumers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/16/opinion/airlines-bailout.html
This type of comment is exactly why I talked about the perspective of the passengers first. Here it is again:
“Perspective of the passenger
Let’s discuss the arguments for the passenger first before balancing things out. If you want your money back because you need it, or you do not plan to take the trip anymore (or any other reason), then there is nothing stopping you from working it out directly with the airline.”
That beings said. Pointshogger aims to be explain both perspectives. An airline going bankrupt is going to cost a lot of jobs and really hurt to economy. Not to mention reduce the competition, which does not bold well for free market.
But you are entitled to your own opinion. The point of this post was not to be biased, but to encourage people to see both sides of the story when deciding what to do. But everyone is definitely entitled to their own opinion and to look out for their own best interests. I am sorry if you did not get that from my post. I will add a disclaimer at the top.