[Jenniferhe]

I booked a weekend gataway for family member's 75th birthday from Toronto-Charlottetown on Aug 12, 2011.
AC424 Toronto - Montreal and connecting AC7676 Montreal - Chalottetown.

First of all, the delay is totally caused because of Air-Canada. We were late at the departure of my first flight for 20 minutes. I asked the gate attendant whether I have time to catch up the connecting plane, they assured me yes. Then I was assured by the flight attendant on the plane again. On arrival at Montreal, the flight was delayed more than 30 minutes again while waiting at the Montreal airport for the gate to be cleared. Air Canada could have arranged something to get us connected to the 2nd plane. Air Canada was aware that me and other about 5-6 passengers were connecting to the Charlottetown flight.
Secondly, Customer service booked me for the next day flight which will arrive in YYG by 5pm -- I have a 75th year birthday party to go to on Saturday, so I could not be that late. I was delayed for more than 12 hours while arrived at Moncton which was still 150 km away from my destination Charlottetown.
Thirdly, there were passengers in the same situation that were offered a taxi ride from Moncton to Charlottetown. I was never given the option. Why did Air Canada treat passengers differently? Are they just more important? I was also told that Air Canada will only hold an aircraft if there are a significant number of passengers! There were 5-6 of us trying to connect are we not significant?
My family drove 300 km round-trip to pick me up from Moncton, I want Air Canada to reimburse that. Attached please find a bridge crossing invoice for me to cross the PEI bridge to get to Charlottetown ($43.25). Also I called a Moncton local taxi company, see below. The quote they give me one way from Moncton to Charlottetown is $231+bridge crossing fee = 274.25.
The minimum compensation I want from Air Canada is $274.25, I think it is fair. Do you think so?