I apologize for the long post but any insight will be appreciated!
Back in July 2019 I was traveling from Prague to Houston with a connection in YYZ (Toronto) via Air Canada. The flight was booked via United Airlines (Star Alliance partners). My mom was also traveling w/ me and booked the same return trip on a separate reservation. I checked into the flight and was issued a boarding pass. About an hour before the flight, I was called to the boarding desk and told there was an issue with my 'eticket number'. I was then on the phone with a United agent who issued a half dozen new eticket numbers, all of which the Air Canada employees said were not working. They ultimately did not let me board, but my mom was allowed to board despite also booking her flight via United. The United agent helped book me on a flight to the US, but it was over 24 hrs later. The return flight was now via United and not Air Canada. I was left without any accommodations for the night, and none of the Air Canada employees informed me about any compensation rights.
Later, I did some research and issued complaints with both United and Air Canada once I finally made it home. United Airlines told me that EU compensation rights fall on the responsibility of the airline that is operating/fulfilling the flight (though they offered me a 200 USD coupon) - this is consistent with my interpretation of the regulation, and Air Canada told me they would have to investigate the situation and ghosted me for months. From my understanding, I should receive 600 euros of compensation because my flight originated in the EU, and I was denied boarding despite arriving with adequate time and the correct documents.
I ended up issuing a complaint with the Czech Aviation Authority, and this motivated an Air Canada representative to email me. She said that compensation isn't typically offered when the situation is out of their control, and she offered me a 500 cad Air Canada coupon as an "exceptional goodwill gesture". I'm about ready to give up, but an Air Canada coupon is nearly worthless to me as I live in the southern part of the US and don't plan on traveling anywhere that would utilize a connection in Canada in the next year (when the coupon expires).
Basically, I'm wondering if I have any basis to the EU flight compensation, if Air Canada is responsible for the payment, and any next steps I can take. I've read that flightright can help in these situations.
TLDR: Air Canada denied my boarding because of eticket issues and now are claiming they're not responsible for compensating me because it was out of their control. What can I do now?
Submitted February 28, 2020 at 05:33PM by maotinachris https://ift.tt/2wPkfKO
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