Got bumped ? Who can I write to in Ireland ?

DannyD

Hi,
Recently got bumped from a Air Canada flight to Toronto from Shannon.When checking in I was informed all seats were taken and offered no alternative even though I had a valid ticket.Got the next flight to NYC with Aer Lingus instead.

I've written to Air Canada in England but got no reply.Who can I write to in Ireland ?

Camille

Air Canada
C/O Premair Marketing Services
7 Herbert St
Dublin 2

aircanada@premair.iol.ie

btw, there is new Eu legislation re denied boarding due to overbooking. i.e. scheduled airlines guesstimate and overbook. Then when passengers with expensive flexible tickets do turn up, other passengers are bumped off. For long haul flights, the compensation is considerable. Not sure is this applies to non EU airlines, but there is similar legislation wodlwide anyway.

BuffyBot

Originally posted by Camille
Air Canada
C/O Premair Marketing Services
7 Herbert St
Dublin 2

Note that it's a C/O. Not Air Canada themselves. I doubt they can do much about it.

Camille

No, it's Air Canada's Dublin office.

BuffyBot

Yes, but by the address, operated by "Premair Marketing Services". As Air Canada only fly to Ireland in the summer months it seems unlikely they would bother having an office of their own. Hence this marketing company will handle things for them. And I don't think you would get very far with them, especially the the flight did not was booked with them, or travel through an Irish airport --> They are very unlikey to give a damn

Camille

original post says flight was from Shannon to Toronto, and if you ring the Dublin number they answer "Hello, Air Canada". Tel 6793958.

Its worth a try.

bucks73

Premair are not Air Canada. They are the General Sales Agents for Air Canada in Ireland but they should handle any queries regarding Air Canada.

What should have happened in Toronto was Air Canada should have offered compensation for no seat being available. This would have included cash and an overnight hotel and a seat back to Shannon on their next night.

Alternatively they can also rebook you on the next available routing to get you to Shannon as quickly as possible. This is what happened to you so in their eyes they have fulfilled the contract.

Bluehair

What bucks73 said. Can you clarify though you say no alternative was offered and you got home via New York with Aer Lingus. If AC paid for this reroute then they fulfilled their contract and youve no leg to stand on.

If however you had to stump up for this yourself (and presuming you weren't late for the flight or anything) then you have a case and should pursue it.

(Btw every airline overbooks and whilst there is legal protection it extends to limited compensation (few hundred+ € depending on certain things) and getting you home on a later flight or with another airline. Always get to the airport early to avoid this!)

DannyD

Ok I think people are getting confused.
Air Lingus cancelled my flight to NYC.I then asked for and got a Air Canada ticket the next day from Air Lingus.Arrived at the Air Canada desk the next day and they said people with tickets from Air Lingus couldn't get seats as the flight was full.Went back to Air Lingus who got me a flight to NYC the next day.Arrived the next day and finally took off for nyc.

Air Lingus offered us €100 compensation for waiting 3 days for a flight.They also blamed Air Canada for selling seats when the flight was full.However I believe that Air Lingus sold us the seats knowing that the flight was full just to appease the crowds.

So even though I got to NYC with Air Lingus on the 3rd day, Air Canada still bumped me off their flight.Correct ?

shabbyroad

Your contract is with Aer Lingus.

I'd start there.

Bluehair

ok that sucks

I'd have to see what exactly Aer Lingus gave you but it sounds to me like they ligitimately rerouted you on Air Canada (along with others) and in the process oversold the AC flight quite badly.

This ain't EI's fault it's AC. It's entirely upto each airline how many seats they sell versus how many seats are on the aircraft (It's a complicated process depending on markets/routes etc but you can be sure most flights are oversold by 10% or more). AC defined how many seats *could* be sold and EI bought them on your behalf to reroute you off their flight.

You were bumped and imho are entitled to the relevant compensation.

Sounds like Air Canada decided to bull$hit the oversold Aer Lingus crowd to solve their overbooking problem in one go and save themselves loads of cash/hassle.

Thing is though Aer Lingus seems to have taken back responsibility when you went back and got you out the following day. I'll check tomor for guidelines but would be looking for around either €300 cash or €500 travel voucher from them for this. Don't let it slide but don't get your hopes up either!

DannyD

Thanks alot for the advice.I agree that Air Lingus got me to NYC on the third day and resolved the issue.However the thing that ****s me over is that Air Canada simply said go away, not our fault even though I had a valid ticket and was a customer of theirs.I've written to the address above and Air Canada in England for the second time.I'll update this thread when I myself get an update.

I believe their is an organisation in Ireland that is a go between for disputes with airlines and customers.I'm pretty sure I found it once on google but haven't been able to find it since.

BuffyBot

Well, I can advise you that complaining to Aer Lingus has about as much point as a blunt pencil made of rubber. If there is another organisation you can go to, try it.