"Bait and switch pricing"

Air Canada, the national airline of Canada, is in hot water! The Quebec Court of Appeal has just ruled today that Air Canada must pay out CAD 10 million to compensate passengers who were scammed by "hidden charges."

This lawsuit has been going on for 15 years. It all started when Air Canada played the "price illusion" trick on its website, showing a low price but then piling on extra fees during checkout, catching customers off guard.

This means that past passengers may now be eligible for compensation!

The incident dates back to 2010. Montreal resident Michael Silas noticed when he bought his ticket on Air Canada's website that the final price he paid was CAD 124 higher than what was initially displayed.

The extra cost mainly came from undisclosed taxes and fuel surcharges. Silas believed this clearly violated Quebec's newly passed consumer protection law, so he sued Air Canada along with a consumer rights group.

The initial court ruling was somewhat interesting. The court acknowledged that Air Canada had broken the law but felt that consumers hadn't actually suffered any harm, so no compensation was necessary. However, the consumers clearly disagreed and immediately appealed.

This April, the case took a dramatic turn. Quebec Court of Appeal Judge Judith Harvie harshly criticized Air Canada, stating that the airline showed "ignorance and negligence," mistakenly believing it didn't need to comply with provincial consumer protection laws, resulting in many consumers being unable to accurately understand the true cost of tickets.

The judge's ruling was stern, condemning Air Canada for prioritizing its own commercial interests over consumer rights, deeming the behavior serious and deliberate, thus requiring punitive damages as a warning.

Judge Harvie pointed out that Air Canada's practice falls under "bait and switch pricing." It first displays a low price to attract consumers, then adds various extra fees at checkout, preventing effective price comparison and infringing on consumers' right to know.

According to the verdict, Air Canada will have to pay CAD 10 million in compensation. On average, each affected consumer could receive around CAD 14.45, provided they purchased tickets between June 30, 2010, and February 8, 2012.

Peter Fitzpatrick, an Air Canada spokesperson, stated that this judgment primarily involves interpretive differences between federal and provincial laws prior to 2012, which are no longer relevant today.

However, the Consumer Union organization disagrees with Air Canada's statement, clearly stating that the court's decision is not merely a "technical issue," but a serious condemnation of Air Canada's severe neglect in ticket transparency.

It's worth noting that Air Canada has faced similar controversies in recent years. For instance, in January this year, Air Canada began charging baggage fees even for the lowest fare tier, including small carry-on items.

Many people believe these recurring additional fees are a form of disguised price hikes, becoming increasingly opaque, sparking strong dissatisfaction among consumers regarding airlines' pricing strategies.

Currently, Air Canada is considering whether to appeal this ruling further. The Consumer Union also stated that although the court awarded punitive damages, it did not require Air Canada to fully refund all improperly collected fees. They are assessing whether to pursue further legal action.

In summary, this lawsuit serves as a severe warning to Air Canada and once again reminds consumers to be vigilant when purchasing tickets and to safeguard their legitimate rights.

All those affected passengers should stay tuned for updates; they might soon receive compensation!

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496985347277079092/

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