Updated: Mon May. 04 2009 9:05:46 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

In a bid to derail a private member's bill focused on the rights of air travellers, Canada's largest airlines are proposing their own bill of rights for passengers.

Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Air LP and WestJet submitted tariffs -- the terms and conditions a passenger must abide by when they buy a ticket -- to the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) on April 24.

The airlines, through the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC), made the submission as part of a bid to convince MPs to kill Bill C-310, a private member's bill put forth by Manitoba NDP MP Jim Maloway.

Maloway's bill proposes that passengers kept on a plane for longer than one hour should receive compensation at a rate of $500 per hour.

The bill also calls for airlines to pay $1,200 to a passenger if they are bumped from a flight longer than 3,500 kilometres.

NACC President George Petsikas said the airlines have submitted their own rules because the private member's bill was too focused on punitive measures.

"We're offering what we believe is a fair and balanced package of new consumer rights, enforceable by law," he told CTV's Power Play on Monday.

Petsikas said the private member's bill is a "very imbalanced approach" based on fines and punishment.

He added that the legislation fails to take into account situations like severe weather, in which the airlines have no control.

Petsikas said the airlines have now gone above and beyond what is needed to protect consumers, and he added that the commitments will be enforced by law almost immediately across the country.

The carriers will likely adopt the measures internationally by the first week of June, he said.

But Maloway said the airlines haven't gone far enough to protect passengers, and he called the airline's rules a "tactical" move.

Maloway noted that his private member's bill is based on effective, European legislation in effect since 1991. Four years ago, European lawmakers strengthened the rules to include tour operators, he added.

Maloway's bill includes many of the same measures -- some of which protect airlines as well.

"It's there in black and white," he told CTV's Power Play. "We are not going to force them to fly in bad weather."

In September of last year, the federal government asked the airlines to voluntarily agree not to keep passengers in an airplane on the tarmac for longer 90 minutes.

However, only three months after those federal guidelines were issued, some passengers had spent several hours on the tarmac awaiting takeoff, Maloway said.

"So we see they don't even follow their own voluntary agreements."

CTA spokesman Marc Comeau said the tariffs put forth by the four airlines closely resemble the guidelines the Tories put out last September titled "Flight Rights Canada."

However, the "Flight Rights Canada" initiative was not legally binding.

The newly proposed tariffs would be legally binding once the airlines put them into their terms and conditions.

First, the CTA must approve the international tariffs within the next 45 days. The CTA does not have approval authority over the domestic tariffs but can enforce them.

After the tariffs are adopted by the airlines, Comeau told CTV.ca that a traveller "can make a complaint to the agency" if they feel that the airline has not abided by its tariffs.

"It's a commitment that they (the airlines) are making on behalf of themselves but they do have to abide by it," Comeau said from Ottawa.

Comments are now closed for this story

sherrr
This I gotta see!

Trent
I like the bill even if the numbers are high.Most of the airlines overbook and people get screwed now they are going to be accountable... Good will make alot of our flying better.

JD
So once again, the consumer finds himself at the short end of the stick. Perhaps the private member's bill is a bit extreme but it is also a situation of human rights. Passengers have the right be told what is happening; it is actually abusive to sit on a tarmac with no food or water and not be allowed to leave the plane. Passengers should be compensated at least for what it cost them. In this case, the consumer has no right of recourse at all. They buy the ticket; they take their chances; nothing has changed here. When do honest innocent consumers get any protection or rights?

Shane
Would be nice to see, I was stranded inside a plane on the tarmac for 3 hrs at Heathrow last June b/c president bush came into town and oddly all the airlines kept the passengers hostage and Air Canada only gave out water! They wouldn't let us off the plane when people asked. You'd think they would know about this.

Peter
I prefer the idea of the private members bill in parliament.

Last thing we need is yet another "entity" policing themselves. We already have proof it doesn't work ... just look at the police, the insurance agencies etc. Lodge a complaint with any of them and they ALWAYS find themselves in the clear and having done nothing wrong.

jd
Air Canada is once again the reason why passengers need rights - after the winter fiasco they created.

Maria-Toronto
Really?!?! I definately would like to see some compensation go towards the consumer. How about compensating me when the flight's departure is delayed (which is almost always wether I travel to the U.S. or Europe)and then I miss my connecting flight! I end up having to spend hours and hours on stand-by at the airport, tired, hungry with luggage and a cranky toddler. Airlines should definately come up with a plan although that will probably mean higher ticket prices...umm, so, who does win??? Not the consumer...once again!

Doug BC
I love how the airlines say they are struggling to maintain service and that is their excuse for treating people like crap!
Booohoo!
I can't believe these corporations are allowed to hold people hostage and for what?
To save $ ?
If they claim they cannot provide their service if they are made to respect basic human rights then perhaps air travel should be a regulated government run industry.

Dave from NB - A have not and never will province
Air Canada is on the brink of Chapter 11. If they can't afford to continue at the present cost of fares how will they ever be able to go along with this bill of rights with its punative clauses and rates. With their reputation, they will be bankrupt in less than a day. I think whoever is making these rules for the airlines should include lost ot misplaced baggage. Then Air Canada will only last till noon. Air travel within our own borders is more expensive than going overseas. With an increase of fares comes a decline in ridership by those who look forward to it but can barely afford it now. Bring on the Railroads. Oh I forgot, we lifted all the steel rails here more than a decade ago. Got a bike your not using????

Pat
Our rights should be respected no matter what and if its take ridiculously high incentive, then be it. Airlines shouldn't be aloud to take people hostages like that. I said they shouldn't be aloud to raise there prices since common sense is not something you should pay for.

Dave, Ottawa
Rather than compensation for being kept on an idle aircraft for hours on end, I would far prefer that the aircraft be taxied to a safe location, and the passengers allowed to deplane.

If due to bad weather, you get rebooked on the next available flight, on another airline if necessary.

If it was due to a screw up, flyers should be given a full refund plus either a full-fare credit or rebooking on next available flight. Let the carrier, airport and government fight about who's fault it was.

chicken
We also need our luggage included in the Bill of Rights - the right to get your luggage when you step off the plane ....

not a knock on the hotel door at 3AM with your luggage being delivered, when you are trying to get a good night's sleep before your 8AM meeting and not knowing if you are going to have your shaver there or not.

Gabe - Ottawa
re: JD "a situation of human rights"?

Not sitting for a long time is NOT part of human rights!

They do offer water, coffee, and snacks (on Air Canada Jazz, anyway) when you are stalled on the tarmac.

Clearly, you must understand why they don't let you off the plane onto a tarmac.

THINK, people. Yes, they need to be held accountable for over-selling flights. But I would much rather them fix a problem and make me wait than to be in the air and something goes wrong.

Eric
RIDICULOUS!!! Are they serious? If this bill passes then ticket prices will skyrocket! If you don't want to deal with the waits involved in flying, either start your own airline or take the bus. You don't ask for compensation when you stand in line at the bank, unemployment line or passport office.

I think this just shows how irrelevant the NDP have become as of late. With Airlines already operating on razor thin margins, where does this MP expect these funds to come from? I guarantee you they will come out of our pockets. So the people who get on flights with no wait will be paying for the ones that do. C'mon...are you serious?

Alastair
What a bunch of whiners!

If the airlines need to pay $1200.00 to someone who is bumped from a flight then perhaps people who don't show up for the flight that they booked should be fined $1,200.00. What about the people who show up at the airport 30 minutes before the flight leaves and then expect the airlines to hold the plane for them. Do the airlines get to charge them for being late?

If people sit on the tarmac because George Bush comes to town or the airport is on fire or god forbid there is another terrorist attack why should the airlines have to pay a cent to anyone. Do you get paid when you sit in a traffic jam because there has been a deadly accident on the highway you are on? No you don’t.

People who expect to be paid by an airline because the flight was delayed or cancelled due to circumstances beyond the airlines control should STAY AT HOME. If you can’t handle sudden unexpected changes don’t travel. Bills like the one proposed are simply a waste of time and worse, a waste of tax payer’s money.

Jim-Surrey
Most Airlines are scrambling because of their outrageous rates. It should not matter what time of the year you fly the rates should not vary and the same goes for your return trip which should not be more than your flight to get where you wanted to go, cost the same to operate the plane either way I would think. It is just gouging on behalf of the airlines, just like the price of gas at the pumps. It is ALL greed that is why we are in the state we are in. The rich get richer and the middle and lower class are left with the burden to carry everyone else on their backs.
If any business can not properly give customer service they should be fined not just airlines!!!!!!

Phil in Calgary
Awesome I can add a complaint to Air Canada and still get nothing, but they will get another bailout.

Thanks Harper way to lead

Jacqueline
I wrote to Jim Maloway supporting his bill after I had appalling service on Air Transat who charged me another $300 at the check in after I had already paid $900 for my flight. They refused me a boarding pass until I paid them more money.

They have a nerve trying to stop the air travellers bill of rights. I urge everyone with a bad airline experience to write to Mr. Maloway or your own elected member to support his bill.

Laura Langstaff
I don't want to see Air Canada's template for Flyer's Rights. They act like what they offer is a favour, not a service. I call on the conservative government to stop the de facto subsidizing of Air Canada by booking the cheapest flight on the cheapest carrier for bureaucrats, stakeholders, committee members, et al. I don't think we'd have to deal with the likes of Air Canada if that 'under the table' subsidy was stopped. I don't think we need a Rights Bill with West Jet. Let's remember which Airline really abused its customers and which got them off the ground this past winter.

dwayne-ottawa
Wow the airlines have found a way to bankrupt themselves first the big three and now the big four

Jon in Burl.
I like the tought of the private members bill, although I do think the compensation is to high. perhaps be compensated wit a credit covering the cost you paid for the fare or points you used on a rewards program.
I also feel the Airport authority has to be a part of this also. last Dec. I was delayed by A.C. and Vancouver airport doe to lack of snow removal equipment...Van. decided to by expensive art instaed of ploys.
So between A.C. and Van.Airpot I arrived 12.10 AM on the 23rd and was supposed to arrive at 5.30 pm on the 22nd.
If we are going to have a private members bill, lets bring in all parties that are responsible for getting us from point"A" to point "B".
This would include Airlines, Airports, Line personal, Pilots and Attendents.
We the passenger, bought our tickets based on your schedule, price, and advertised service.

Tomasz in Ontario
Finally the airlines are looking into customer rights! And it only took the threat of a bill that would send them into oblivion. As a flier who's been delayed, stuck on a plane, missed a connecting flight, and arrived at his destination a few days before his luggage, I understand the temptation of bill C-310. However, many times delays are not the fault of airline, and the compensation proposed is excessive. In this economic climate it could bankrupt the airline industry, at which time the government would socialize it, and it would become like our medical system. Five to ten hours delay times, and a 6 month waiting period for flights.

What we need is more competition, so that you can switch airlines if one doesn't treat you appropriately. I wish WestJet would fly to more places...

LAL
It is a phenomenon how airlines have been allowed to treat their passengers. I have used many airlines over the years and can attest to the fact that they are all equal in their lack of service. I have rarely had a flight leave on time and actually have lost a complete day of vacation because of delays and was "compensated" with a complimentary glass of wine and a $15 food voucher (hardly equitable to the cost of 1 day vacation). I have experienced air rage that a flight attendant provoked and upon filing a complaint, was told I should be grateful that the "rest" of the flight crew was available to secure my passage home. I have been left sitting on a tar mac for hours in excessive heat without being afforded so much as a free beverage.

Any other service industry would be ostracized for their poor service but unfortunately, all airlines follow the same protocol so as consumers we are left with little choice. This private members bill should be passed.

Brian
Air Canada will definitely not stick to this they are horrible the have no customer service that is good and they treat customers with disrespect. There have been many problems with them and how they operate

Kevin - calgary
I travel a lot, first off, rules in canada do not allow Canadian airlines to overbook flights. In the US this is common. The issues I run into are when I book flights that are code/sharing or alliance flights. For example, book Air Canada through to Germany. I might fly Calgary to Toronto on an Air Canada flight then transfer to a lufthansa flight from Toronto to Frankfurt. If Lufthansa overbooks is it Air Canada that needs to pay the penalty?

WESTERNER
How stupid! Weather is unpredictable (get snowed in can't de-ice will be to expensive and they will not recover costs) , overbooking by greedy Agents and as for Government Security - go figure of course you'll be held up for a political fugure. Don't like it drive your car or take the bus if you dare. Airlines are there to make a profit for all associated (them, agents, hotels, etc.) Airlines will just add the extra onto the passenger and reduce flights in order to fill up the planes. Inconvience you say - well drive and see how inconvenient and how much time you require to get there espically one side of Canada to the other. I'll take a little inconvenience - "Cowboy up people" - in otherwords suck it up, I've travelled lots of Airmiles and seen discontent everywhere but the other option is far less attractive.

Alex
All this is a lie, they are just looking for higher prices and who's gonna pay for that? ...we are gonna pay. Personally I never travel with Air Canada, it is overrated and expensive.I rather foreigner airlines, I don't care if I to make an extra connection the service is better just BETTER.

Andrew Chisholm
Air Canada took good care of me when I was stranded in Montreal on a connecting flight from Heathrow to Charlottetown. I was compensated a couple hundred dollars, received lodging and meals and was even given a couple free tickets for a few beers at the hotel bar. Mind you, I had no desire to return home in the first place, so I was happy with a two-day paid vacation in Montreal. Great city!

Kris
To Kevin of Calgary,
I flew non-stop to England a month ago via Air Canada. The flight was overbooked. Same with my Air Canada flight home. So it seems to me that Canadian airlines are allowed to overbook.

Wilbur Wright
Talk about a culture of entitlement. Me, me, me, me, me. What about the airline? Does weather eliminate late fees? How about a delay at a connecting flt airport outside the control of the airline? Be careful what you wish for Canada. If another Canadian airline goes bankrupt what do you think will happen to airfare prices? How can you expect any airline to pay a penalty of $1200 for being late when the entire ticket was say $400? How is that fair? The last thing this country needs is another frigging government bailout of an industry weakened by government interference i.e. high fuel taxes, (weren't they imposed as short term?) excess departure taxation and now, late fee penalties. Wake up Canadians, it's not all about you, it's about maintaining price and industry stability. (and maybe the gov't could reduce those nasty departure taxes)

R
Air Canada has the worst service that I have seen, world wide. Some checks to keep them honest for a change would be nice.
Are they connected to CAW....they act the same...

Terry of Quispamsis, NB.
Of All the air carriers in Canada, Air Canada treats their own employees with contempt, so the employees treat the Paying passenger with the same respect, (there are a few good ones) If we allow them to post their own bill of rights then the consumer will be screwed at every corner by the carriers (Air Canada). The private members bill will take the consumers problem and handle it to the satisfaction of the passenger (we would hope) were the air carrier (air Canada) will lose it and pretend that they don't know what we are talking about. I have been around the world multiple times and fly over seas to China, Singapore and Europe quite often in a year and the only real problems I have had were with Air Canada, I am all for a members bill as long as Air Canada has nothing to do with the Handling of it.

gary in ontario
I can't wait till some little tax collector runs out on the runway the second after the first hour is up and put a boot on the tire of a British Airways, Lufthansa or Qantas jumbo jet, and demand payment of $15.000+ per hour before they can depart.

Tired of those who whine when they fly. Grow up.
You people who comment here are very uneducated. You think you should be compensated more for a flight then you paid?? What sense does that make! You all complain about Air Canada, but outside of our own country it is a highly respected airline for safety. Most of you have no clue and seem to want somethign for nothing. You want to see Air Canada go under. Well I hope whatever industry you are in...you go under. Think of all the good employees and those who work hard to get you from point a to b. Ever had a run in with a pilot or a baggage handler? You people are clueless as to how the idustry runs...take the bus next time.

MG
You are all a bunch of whiney babies, stay home or take the bus. It is incredible how you all act like grade kids, grow up, thats life!

D.K. in Courtenay
"Doug BC
...If they claim they cannot provide their service if they are made to respect basic human rights then perhaps air travel should be a regulated government run industry."

ROTFLMAO - cause the government is sooooo good at respecting human rights. Ahhh man the whole office just stared at me for laughing so loud.

The real funny thing about this is that WestJet already offers/does these things in the tarrif. The last few delays or cancelations (which as I understand are usually out of the airlines' control) I've had I have been put up or accommodated more than fairly.

From a free-market point of view this tarrif will impair competition in the market by forcing the other airlines to bring their level of service up to an equal standard with the best in the business.

Why not just travel on the airline that already gives you these things and let the crummy ones go out of business (oh wait the government won't let Air Canada go under - should say something about what regulation would bring us eh?)

Cambob
$500 per hour??? That's not compensation, that's petty vengence. The NDP is insane.

MAL
Bumping and overbooking can easily be handled by our existing legislation, both federal and provincial. Selling an item that does not exist [ie selling the same seat twice] is FRAUD, treat it as such with civil and criminal penalties.

Tanya Strembiski
Hey, Kevin in Calgary:
Sorry to rain on your parade, but, there are NO regulations in Canada regarding overbooking. NONE!
I know this for a fact because last month my husband was bumped from an Air Canada flight that they admitted was due to OVERBOOKING/OVERSELLING OF SEATS. Shock of all shocks, everybody who paid for their seat showed up that day! Russian roulette as to who got bumped. My husband sat in the airport for 5 hours until they got him on the next flight, he missed his connecting train out of Montreal, and they wouldn't even pay for his taxi.
At least in the U.S., there are regulations regarding the treatment of passengers who have been bumped. Here in Canada, there are none. It is up to the discretion of the carrier as to what compensation you are offered (I found this out after in vain trying to complain to CTA).
Air Canada admits to overbooking on their website.
Westjet maintains they do not overbook.

Anne
Did everyone forget Air Transat?? If there was ever an airline who was famous for changing flight times it is them....you see a trip with times that work for you and guaranteed within one week of leaving Air transat has changed it, usually losing you a day to a day and a half from your trip...I won't even get into the food.

Steve
Remember Air Canada's motto "We are not happy until you are not happy".

Tim
"If the airlines need to pay $1200.00 to someone who is bumped from a flight then perhaps people who don't show up for the flight that they booked should be fined $1,200.00."

Are you kidding? If you don't show up for a flight they keep your money, and then can sell the seat to a standby passenger. Why would they need to fine you? They'd love it if more people didn't show up.

"...the airport is on fire or god forbid there is another terrorist attack..."

You're playing the terrorist card? Why not bring up Hitler while you're at it to really cover the overused lame internet arguments.

randy
(The compensation requirements are grossly punitive)That is the intent. If it wasn't the airlines would have on reason to avoid doing it.( Air carriers will have to increase ticket prices substantially in order to recover the costs contemplated by the bill)Don't incure the cost you don't have to recouver it.

JB in Ontario
Being delayed is not so difficult to deal with. Being bumped would annoy me a little.

I would be happy with one free drink per hour if we were delayed on the ground or in the air.

Andy Kanata
I am all for treating people right and due compensation when service is delayed or not available but 500 an hour and 1200 if you get bumped. These rates must have been thought up by a politician based on what they think they should get for their time. And we all know what their time is really worth. Put some realistic numbers and expectations together and protect passengers rights without bankrupting the airline industry again.

GP
Unless this is regulated/supported by legislation it means nothing.

The industry will whittle this down and point to some fine print somewhere to justify their actions...I believe they mean well but won't be able to stop themselves from falling into old patterns downstream.

Lynn in Hamilton
I travel Toronto to Halifax by train at least once a year.... A return ticket for me and my daughter is cheaper than just one way for both of us on an airplane. We can get up, walk around, go to the snack car, watch a movie. It is great. Might take 32hrs but it is what it is. Last time I went we were more than 2 hrs behind schedule from Toronto to Montreal (they held the train for us)and 5 hrs behind from Montreal to Halifax, we got 50% off our next ticket purchase so long as we used it within 6 months. We even got a free dinner when we boarded in Montreal, free lunch and dinner along the way to Halifax too. I understand with the train it is easier to give free meals, but how about a meal voucher to use at the airport? With the recession it was a great money saver when I just booked my next trip for this June. Instead of these outrageous "fines" to the airline payable to the consumer, if you have to sit on the tarmac for an hour or more, try giving discounts on your next ticket and have more supplies brought aboard.

Matt in Ottawa
What exactly is the alternative that the airlines are proposing?

The article never actually says!

It's about time that something was done about this, but I agree that the private members bill may go too far.

Is the Airlines alternative a reasonable middle ground? I don't know. What is their alternative?

Mel
I couldn't agree more with "WESTERNER". An airline cannot control the weather. If there is a thunderstorm or severe weather ground crews are put on red alert which basically means they cannot be outside. If they cannot be outside there isn't anyone there to marshal in the plane or attach the bridge/stairs. This is often a reason why people get stuck on planes. Now please explain to me how that is the airlines fault?

I think people need to realize that most times things such as delays are often for safety concerns. I will agree sometimes the reason for the delay is not properly communicated. And can we please talk about delays caused by passengers? Passengers who check in and then don't show up at their gate at the proper time so the ground crew has to go through all the bags to find those of the missing passenger to offload them.

To be honest I think most people complaining are a bit selfish. If you think you could do it better, than why don't you? And a little tip, if you're having problems and bring it up to a flight attendant or customer service agent or anyone else and you want to get positive results, then don't be rude and yell at the person. You're more likely to get a more positive result and get your situation resolved faster if you are calm and polite to people! These people are just as important as you are and do not deserve to be treated poorly since chances are your problem isn't actually their fault and they're just trying to do their job.

JD
Hey Phil, Get your facts right. The government did not bailout Air Canada, the employees did. Anybody that passes this bill must be a cousin of Maloways

Alex (Toronto)
I agree about just letting the passengers off after an hour. I don't want to bankrupt the airline, I just want to be able to go to the bathroom or get a soda.

Likewise being bumped from a plane should get an extra credit equal to the value of the flight. Let the market set prices.

I once found a "cancel for any reason" voucher for a flight. I bought it. I would buy one of these every time if I could.

The government's proper role in this would be to help airlines present useful alternatives to consumers in ways that benefit both. Many people benefit from competitive flight prices and would not want a lot of extra costs imposed on airlines.

Not that we have competition in Canada; I almost always fly out of Buffalo, where half the cars in the parking lots have Ontario plates. Plus Pearson still has substandard food and amenities compared to most American airports, even in much smaller cities. I'd rather fly out of Toronto but the local airlines have priced themselves out of my reach; I could even put up with paying all the extra fees at Pearson, but the price differential is generally many times the extra few dozen dollars of fees.

Christine Ridings
Chris (Toronto)
I fly quite frequent and have no issues, i have been stranded on tarmac, and delayed however safety has always come first. maybe we should look at ourselves i have seen people speak to the staff in a rude manner and expect respect, i think not, as for these outragous fees the airline should pay should that not be applicable to all means of transportation when travelling, and any line up we have to stand in - we are in a recession wake up people do we want another 24,000 + unemployed as the airlines can no longer operate.
If you dont like the airline book on another or dont fly you are in control of your own decisions.

Sergai Karpenko
This bill is going to cause a disaster, why do you think there are delays?
Weather condition, Maintenance problems... you think the airline are going to keep the same standards maintaining their aircraft, i don't think so.
You rather be involved in a crash or few hours delay?

Elmer Fudd Oakville
So how much an hour are we going to be compensated for waiting in the doctors office or better yet the waiting in the emerg. They should be able to pay by diverting money from new equipment and nursing wages.
Wake up oh you pampered fools.

CK in Vancouver
Definitely want this private bill to pass.

Situations where the airline can't predict, I can understand the airlines need not be responsible.
However, I have traveled lots and I am amazed at the nonsense that is caused by the airlines and that customers have to put up with.
Eg: Father's bag got stolen with items worth over $2000. Found out that Air Canada staff stole them (they took a pic of themselves with the camera). How did we get reimbursed? $200 gift certificate to a Tango flight.

A. Bica
Could they have colluded to put this proposed bill of rights together?

Why not then on air fares and scheduling too!

Ray In AB
So can I pass a members bill that says if im stuck in road construction for more than an hour per day, ill get 1200 from the govt. I would get 1200 a day for the rest of the year. Yippee

Jason in Slave Lake
What a bunch of whiners we have become! It really is disgusting that so many of us, and many of the above commenting, feel that they are entitled to something when their life isn't perfect. Airlines are in the business of moving people from one place to another. If you really want the comfort and luxury you so desperately crave, maybe you should pay a bit more for it.

It's never enough to be able to travel to new and exciting places. People will always find something else to complain about and wait with open hands for people to feel sorry for them. I'm with the airlines on this one... you people want too much. You disgust me.

Dunny from Manotick
The airlines in Canada and the USA have been providing marginal service since the 70's. I seriously doubt that this silly bill will do much for the traveler. If our government would take the bold step of committing to high speed rail and thereby provide real competition to the airlines, the bar would be raised and our airlines would then provide the service we want.

The mag-lev trains in Japan have been in operation for 45, yup forty-five YEARS! Europe has had them for over 30 years. Safe, reliable, on-time, comfortable, fast and less expensive than air travel. There is an infrastructure program I would support. Let's start with Windsor-Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec corridor and plan on a full east-west Canada route as a next step. Taking semi-trailers off the road and transfering that freight to rail should be done simultaneously. The combined effort would have a huge impact on Canada's fossil fuel consuption.

THE Fattman
The air carriers do their damnedest to move you and yours from one place to another in the fastest, safest, most comfortable way they possibly can under the existing circumstances. They don't intentionally create delays and inconveniences, for the most part they just happen, like as in "S*** Happens!"

This whole thing is totally asinine! If you don't like the way things are done by the airlines....WALK!

From my viewpoint it amounts to a bunch of people who want to get something for nothing!

Tanya in Alberta
The amounts are a little over-the-top don't you think????
Being a frequent flier myself, I would be much happier if airlines like Air Canada would just improve on the services they do offer and make reasonable compensation for when they do mess up.

Mike from Toronto
What with these bills? Any compensation provided to customers will result in increased fares for customers. The airlines wont pay for these fees, customers will pay through higher airfares. Leftwingers like the NDP are seriously kidding themselves.

Mike from Canada
I have a suggestion that would help airplanes leave on time...get rid of carry on luggage...all of it. If there was no such thing, we would be thru security in minutes, and be able to board an entire aircraft in less than 10 minutes. Currently it takes 25 mins to board an aircraft while everyone stuffs luggage weghing tons over your head. Ever wonder where that luggage is going to end up in a crash? Right in the exit aisles or on your head. I am Air Canada Elite, a frequent flier, and nothing ticks me off more than a buisnessman with two days worth of luggage, trying to stuffe everything he owns over my head. Nobody enforces the size limit.

ME
I wonder how much fares will go up to pay for this. It's a given that nobody but Mr. and Mrs. paassenger will do the paying, because neither the airline nor government will foot the bill

james
More NDP absurdity. No wonder socialism collapses in every country that's tried it.

Get serious, its a free market economy, If you don't like Air Canada, fly another airline. All I would like to see is Air Canada be competitive and not receive a government bailout every time it runs out of money.

Michael
First bill of rights: abolish airport fees and surtaxes to which you have no right to collect. Look at US regulated law, perhaps you'll learn something from it...until then I will go to buy tickets at Burlington...and you lose!!!

Dave H. - Cornwall, Ontario
More leftist crap. Regulations, regulations and more regulations. Rules for everything. What we need is LESS goverment. Stay out of our lives. If I don't like a service it's up to me not to buy that service again. I don't need some overpaid Governement cronie to tell me this.