Airline passengers getting new protections

If you frequently fly the friendly skies, you will have more at your disposal should your trip fail to leave the ground.

The federal government's Air Passenger Protection Regulations officially took effect Monday morning. Passengers who encounter trouble when they fly will have more avenues open to them for pursuing compensation. Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau described the new regulations during a media conference at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal.

According to the official CAA website, the new regulations are being rolled out in two parts, with the first phase taking effect Monday being as follows:

• Travellers must receive notice of what their rights are in clear, concise writing on any itineraries, tickets, and so forth.
• If a flight is overbooked, airlines must first make an effort to ask for volunteers to be bumped in exchange for compensation. For those who are involuntarily bumped, the airlines must provide up to $2,400 in compensation, and book the passenger on another flight at no cost to them.
• If you lose your luggage or if it is damaged in transport on a domestic, there are now increases to an airline's maximum liability to match those of international flights. Airlines must also refund any baggage fees to the affected consumer.
• If a plane is stuck on the tarmac for an excessive delay, airlines must provide passengers with the basic necessities, such as heat or air conditioning, refreshments and access to working washrooms. Airlines must also allow passengers to leave the aircraft and return to the terminal within three hours after the start of a delay.

The second phase will take effect on December 15, in time for travel during the winter holiday season. The CAA says at that point, airlines will also be required to provide cash compensation for delays within the airline's control that last over three hours, airlines must rebook or refund travel that is delayed or cancelled depending on the circumstances, and airlines must make every effort to seat those 14 and under on flights with their parents at no cost to the consumer.

CAA said a recent survey showed that 85 per cent of Canadians were in favour of an airline policy allowing for reimbursement or rebooking in the event of a problem. Eighty-four per cent of those surveyed were in favour of airline policy providing compensation for lost or damaged baggage, as well as refunded baggage fees.