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
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.