Air Canada travel turmoil ruins holiday reunion for Barrie, Ont. family
After years apart, Breda Schraner was excited to reunite with her children living overseas during the holidays, but instead, the Barrie, Ont. woman was met with travel turbulence without ever taking off from the airport.
In the early morning hours on Christmas Eve, Schraner was preparing to fly out of Pearson International Airport in Mississauga to Switzerland, only to experience a two-hour delay before boarding the plane.
Once on board, she said they sat on the tarmac as minutes turned into hours while Air Canada staff ensured the plane would take off.
"After three hours on the plane, we were told our flight was cancelled," said Schraner.
As the disappointment sank in, the Barrie resident said she was forced to cancel her holiday plans and return to the terminal to retrieve her luggage.
Schraner said she arrived at the baggage claim amid crowds of people and very few airport employees to offer help.
She said they sent various people to different carousels to search for their items.
"People were going back and saying, 'There is no baggage. There is no baggage.' And they finally gave us forms to fill out for lost baggage," she recalled.
Two weeks later, Schraner's luggage is still missing.
In a statement to CTV News, an Air Canada spokesperson wrote severe weather over Christmas disrupted travel, adding, "A delay in one part of the country has knock-on effects across our network," noting the situation led to cases of "delayed and misconnected baggage."
Air Canada told CTV News it had looked into Schraner's claim, which it said was filed on Jan. 4, and now that it has the complete information, her baggage will be returned.
Gábor Lukács, the president of Air Passenger Rights, has been following the flight airline disruptions closely and said many passengers could be entitled to reimbursement.
"After the 21st day, you can start replacing the items that were in your baggage and keep your receipts. Ultimately, you can make the airline pay for that," he said.
Lukács noted the recent challenges at airports were reminiscent of those over the summer and believes disruptions will continue unless drastic measures are taken.
"If the airline breaks the law, they should be fined heavily. So that it will be less profitable for the airlines to break the law and have to comply," said Lukács via zoom.
Still, Schraner said it doesn't make up for the time lost with her family.
"We were really looking forward to visiting and spending Christmas with them, but it wasn't to be," she concluded.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau and Harris? Poilievre and Trump? Here's who Canadians think would work best with: survey
As Americans prepare to elect their next president on Tuesday, new data from the Angus Reid Institute suggests Canadians hold differing views as to which federal party leaders would be best suited to deal with either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
B.C. port employers launch lockout at terminals in labour dispute with workers
Employers at British Columbia ports say they are going ahead with locking out more than 700 foremen across the province after strike activities from union members began.
Months after VRBO booking, Taylor Swift fan told home 'not available' during Vancouver concert
A frustrated Taylor Swift fan is speaking out after being pushed from a short-term rental she booked for the upcoming Vancouver leg of the superstar’s Eras Tour.
Felonies, assassination attempts and a last-minute change on the ticket leads voters to Tuesday's U.S. election
A campaign that has careened through a felony trial, incumbent being pushed off the ticket and assassination attempts comes down to Election Day on Tuesday.
Measles cases in New Brunswick more than double in three days
A measles outbreak declared in New Brunswick’s Zone 3 last week, which includes Fredericton and the upper Saint John River Valley, has more than doubled since last week.
Prison sentences handed down for sexually abusive London, Ont. parents
In handing down the sentences for two London parents, Justice Thomas Heeney told the court, "The facts of this case were the most egregious that I have encountered during my 26 years on the bench."
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year ago. Here's how her condition was reversed
A year ago, Lorraine O'Quinn was coping with stress, chronic illness and Type 2 diabetes. Then she discovered a health program that she says changed her life.
Surprise swing state? Iowa poll has Harris suddenly leading
Based on victories in the past two elections and polls leading up to Tuesday’s election, Donald Trump had seemed almost certain to win Iowa, but a new poll has Kamala Harris with a sudden three-point lead.
Russia suspected of sending incendiary devices on US- and Canada-bound planes, Wall Street Journal reports
Incendiary devices that ignited in Germany and the United Kingdom in July were part of a covert Russian operation that aimed to start fires aboard cargo and passenger flights heading to the U.S. and Canada, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Monday, citing Western security officials.