[shawnkinley]

I fly tomorrow... AC844 Not looking forward to what is ahead. (thanks to Air Canada). Here is a note I just wrote to a consumer help group... it sums up my experience over the last three hours.

Hello,
I am not sure who to turn to or speak with. My issue with Air Canada will not be heard by Canada Transportation until 30 days after the incident occurs (and it WILL only occur tomorrow MARCH 25) while Air Canada responds with "there's nothing to be done".

I appreciate your time for reading and apologize if this is not your area of help.
My Story:
I travel 9 months of the year. I travel TOMORROW. I have a flight on Air Canada. It flies Calgary/ Frankfurt / Oslo. And then It returns from Oslo to Calgary.

Work has come up for me in Frankfurt so obviously I have chosen to disembark in Frankfurt and make my way to Oslo on my own later for my return flight in May. As a courtesy to Air Canada, I called them tonight and explained that I would not be using the second portion of my purchased flight. I did not ask for a refund. I believed it was the right thing to do in case they 'oversold' their flights which they sometimes do, or just so they wouldn't have to concern themselves with vegetarian meals which I ordered.

They explained that by not flying to Oslo, my return flight would PROBABLY be cancelled. They said I would have to re-book the flight to only go to Frankfurt where I would be charged approximately ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. My only recourse is to fly to Oslo, and book another flight back to Frankfurt- GO BACK TO WHERE I JUST WAS 8 - 20 hours later (- at which point I will have missed two pieces of work - teaching and directing a performance in Germany).

The first Air Canada employee understood that it was insane but "it was policy" but he agreed to talk to a manager who said that the computers would automatically react and cancel my flight home if I did not take the second part of the flight. The manager, who I spoke to after the first employee said that I would "probably" lose my flight.

If I buy some food and only eat part of it, I am not charged more. If I get off the bus or taxi early I don't get charged more. Air Canada stops in Frankfurt and I would have to change planes anyway. My luggage would be on the carousel with everyone elses. BUT... if I walk out of the airport and not onto another air canada flight, it will cost me 1000 dollars.

I'm not sure if there is anyone at the consumer association who can help me. BUT if there is ANYONE willing to help, I would greatly appreciate it.
Shawn Kinley