The first phase of new air passenger rights came into effect today in Canada.
Of note, passengers will now be Passengers are eligible for up to 24-hundred dollars in compensation if they’re bumped from a flight.
There will also be compensation for lost or damaged luggage, and a requirement to refund any baggage fees.
Julia Kent with CAA, a major proponent of the bill, says 91 per cent of Canadians felt they were lacking some sort of protection as air travellers.
“CAA heard this loud and clear and three years ago we started lobbying the federal government and joined a task force, and just worked really hard to try and get something in place that makes us feel like we’re treated a little bit more fairly when we’re flying,” she said.
Kent says airlines will also be forced to have clear language on the new rights on all tickets and itineraries.
“Often times when we’re flying we just don’t really know what we’re entitled to, we don’t really know what the rules are, it seems to be different every time. Now there’s rules in place that force airlines to be very, very clear, concise and simple in their language that they use,” she said.
There will also be tighter rules around flight delays while on the tarmac. Airlines must now provide access to toilets, heating, cooling and refreshments starting at the time of the delay.
They also have to let passengers off no later than three hours after the delay starts.
Other changes, including cash compensation for long delays and cancellations within the carrier’s control, will come into force in mid-December.
Kent says the new rights are a really big step forward.
“The European Union and the United States have had a regime in place to protect people travelling by air from things like overbooking, lost luggage etcetera, for a really long time, so this is a massive step in the right direction for Canadians.”
She notes though, that there is still room for improvement, especially around flight bumping rules.
“There are still areas of the air passenger rights regime that can be improved upon, such as an airlines ability to just claim mechanical issues and get off scott-free. We would really like to see some clear language around what constitutes as a mechanical issue and when they can claim that,” she said.
More information about the new rights can be found on CAA’s website, or on the Canadian Transportation Agency’s site.
