“Within the airline’s control” is pretty clearly outlined in the law. It’s not a grey area.
The law also states that the new booking must be reasonable. And before you say that “reasonable” is grey, it gives examples of that. Missing the connecting flight would be unreasonable. So would missing the purpose of the trip. A refund would be pretty easy to ask for in this circumstance.
Their policy was that if the new arrival time is within 3 hours of the old one, it is not their problem.
I can see them now: “So, if we change OP’s flight to the one we intend to put them on, according to company policy, we’re liable. But if we do it incrementally, in multiple installments but changing it by less than three hours each time, we’re fine!”
I try everything I can to not fly Air Canada or West Jet. To get from Nanaimo to Kelowna recently, I caught a float plane from Nanaimo to Vancouver and then flew Air North from Vancouver to Kelowna. It actually cost lest than any flights I could find from the other two.
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Policy doesn’t matter. The recent law overrides their policy.
Refunds — If the alternate travel arrangements offered don’t meet your travel needs
If an airline (large or small) offers you alternate travel arrangements that do not meet your travel needs, you are entitled to a refund.
https://rppa-appr.ca/eng/right/flight-delays-and-cancellations
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“Within the airline’s control” is pretty clearly outlined in the law. It’s not a grey area.
The law also states that the new booking must be reasonable. And before you say that “reasonable” is grey, it gives examples of that. Missing the connecting flight would be unreasonable. So would missing the purpose of the trip. A refund would be pretty easy to ask for in this circumstance.
I can see them now: “So, if we change OP’s flight to the one we intend to put them on, according to company policy, we’re liable. But if we do it incrementally, in multiple installments but changing it by less than three hours each time, we’re fine!”
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When there’s no refunds in x period but no penalty to reschedule, so you reschedule and then cancel.
I try everything I can to not fly Air Canada or West Jet. To get from Nanaimo to Kelowna recently, I caught a float plane from Nanaimo to Vancouver and then flew Air North from Vancouver to Kelowna. It actually cost lest than any flights I could find from the other two.