BC firm gets approval for class action suit targeting Air Canada
Posted February 1, 2017 12:18 pm.
Last Updated February 1, 2017 2:07 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – Quebec’s highest court has green-lit a national class action lawsuit against Air Canada over a ticket-pricing glitch.
Over four days in August 2015, hundreds of flyers snapped-up what they thought was a sweet deal on the airline’s website: 10 one-way business-class flights for just under $800 before taxes.
But that price was a mistake. It was supposed to be $8,000.
Air Canada blamed a “computer loading error”, yanked the tickets, and offered the affected customers apologies and refunds. This quickly spawned a class action suit, which is now being handled by Evolink Law Group out of Burnaby.
Lawyer Simon Lin says there are 249 people identified in the suit, but “there could actually be more, we don’t know.”
Because the airline is based in Quebec, that’s where the case is being pursued, and Lin argues his clients should be compensated for damages under the province’s Consumer Protection Act.
“In our view, it’s part of the Quebec law that advertised prices must be honoured. There have been some Quebec small claims court decisions in respect to this topic,” he adds.
Getting authorization from the Superior Court of Quebec means the case can go to trial, barring any appeals.
Air Canada said it was not able comment on the class action certification, as the matter is before the courts.
