Air canada flight denied?

I think you may have been entitled to compensation for the full cost of your replacement flight and more. According to Air Canada's (and most airlines are like this) website: "...In the rare circumstances (and it is rare) where customers can't get on a flight due to overbooking, we offer compensation (in the form of a travel voucher or cash) and we make alternate arrangements to get you to your destination as quickly as possible..." What usually happens when an airline overbooks is that they ask for volunteers to take a later flight. If no one volunteers, then they have to do an INVOLUNTARY cancellation of your ticket, and they are supposed to provide compensation to get you to your destination. The usual thing they do is offer you a flight out later in the day or the next day and a $100 voucher. If that does not sound appealing, they sometimes up the offer, such as to put you up at a local hotel and fly you out the next day. They are even supposed to get you a flight on a competitor's airline and they pay the full cost of the flight. That is a requirement by the US federal government, but I believe that Canadian consumer laws are similar when it comes to aviation and overbooked flights. My advice is that you put a letter in writing (not just an email) and send it to the airline, telling them you are not happy. Explain the costs...you said it cost you $150 for the change in connecting flights. Why? Air Canada normally absorbs that cost. The $100 voucher is supposed to be for your troubles..to help you pay for a meal or hotel stay if your later flight means long delays. The key to not getting bumped in an overbooking situation is to make sure they know you have connecting flights to catch, or important places to be at a specific time. For example, someone who must catch a cruise ship in Vancouver that leaves the next morning will not be able to take a "later" flight if the later flight arrives in Vancouver after the ship has left port!

I think the key part to this issue is where you state "I changed my connection flights". If you had let them do it for you there would not have been an additional charge but since you chose to do it on your own they are limited as to what they have to compensate you for. Otherwise, you could have just booked yourself the rest of the way in First Class and billed Air Canada for the $2000 in extra fees. If you are not happy with the issue, take it up with the Air Canada ombudsman.

Well, the first thing to realize is that when you get "bumped" the airline is responsible for booking you on the next available flight that they have or, generally, that a partner airline has to the same destination. Where you went wrong is in your statement "I changed my connection flights". Once you take over the task of re-booking flights then the compensation offered by Air Canada, or any other airline for that matter, is limited. Basically you have two options, absorb the $50 and just accept the compensation offered by Air Canada or continue to pursue the additional $50 owing to you. I would not suggest, as one previous answer stated, that you go to the media. Since you took matters into your own hands in re-booking a flight there would be little sympathy for you, especially over such a small amount. Your next step would be to appeal the compensation award. To do that however you would need to show that you had to be at your destination by a certain time either for a meeting or some sort of emergency. In this case you will then have a possible reason for them to grant you an exemption and pay the additional money. However you need to take a look at this, is the amount of time and money you spend on letter writing etc really worth the amount of money you feel you are owed? A suggestion, if this happens again let the airline rebook your flight, that way there should be no cost to you. Also, if possible, remember to arrive at the airport early as the earlier you arrive the lesser the chance of being bumped.

Probably not much... If the flight you had to change was booked on another airline,or another itinerary,they won't assume any responsibility for that. and.. According to AC's terms of Carriage,once you accept the 100$,they're off the hook.(see page 5, rule 245 ac) http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/documents/ca_section6.pdf