More Air Canada, WestJet passengers baffled by reasons for denied compensation

For Scott Aalgaard, it doesn't add up.

On the morning of July 5, Air Canada informed Aalgaard by email his flight that day from Toronto to Hartford, Conn., had been delayed due to "an unforeseen maintenance issue."

That afternoon, the reason had changed to either "staffing constraints" or "health and safety initiatives."

Three days later, Air Canada informed Aalgaard he doesn't qualify for compensation because his flight was cancelled (instead of delayed) due to a "labour dispute" that was outside the airline's control. 

Aalgaard, a Canadian from B.C. currently living in Middletown, Conn., says the new explanation makes no sense. 

"There was no indication that there was any sort of labour dispute," he said. "It feels to me like the company is throwing darts at a big poster on the wall, trying to pick out reasons and see what will stick."

The recent travel chaos at some Canadian airports has led to a spate of flight delays and cancellations. And that has sparked a spate of complaints from passengers that some airlines are providing suspect reasons why they were denied compensation for flight disruptions. 

Under federal regulations, airlines must compensate passengers up to $1,000 for flight delays of three hours or more. 

Because Aalgaard's flight was delayed by six hours, he, his wife and daughter, whom he was travelling with, would each get $700. However, airlines only have to pay up if the reason for the delay was within their control and not for safety reasons, such as unforeseen mechanical problems.

Aalgaard has filed for compensation with Air Canada despite its claim his flight isn't eligible. If that doesn't work out, he plans to file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).

"I don't want Canada to be a place where big companies can just make up the story as they go along," he said. 

Aalgaard's not alone. Shortly after Canada launched its flight delay compensation rules in 2019, thousands of air passengers flooded the Canadian Transportation Agency with complaints they received inadequate reasons for denied compensation. 

In November 2021, following a lengthy inquiry that involved all of Canada's major airlines, the CTA announced it found no evidence the airlines "intentionally misled passengers." However, the agency said much of the information provided to passengers explaining their flight delays "was inadequate, terse and unclear."

As a result, the CTA clarified that airlines must explain in "sufficient detail" the reason for a flight delay.