Not so easy to book the new $500 plane tickets funded by the Legault government. Even Air Canada was not ready this week for the launch of this program supposed to facilitate access to the regions.
The newspaper was able to see that it takes patience and perseverance to take advantage of the Regional Air Access Program (PAAR), which came into effect last Wednesday.
Clearly, word hadn’t gotten around to the largest carrier in the country. The newspaper was unable to book a discounted ticket through the Air Canada phone line.
“There is nothing confirmed yet”, answered us wrongly the attendant, visibly in nothingness.
” [Air Canada] is in the [programme], but we were given no instructions, no direction. We do not issue these tickets yet and I do not know when it will start, ”she admitted candidly.
problem on the internet
Another pitfall, this time on the web. Air Canada does not currently offer the $500 ticket for destinations with stopovers. This is the case, for example, for a citizen of Quebec wishing to go to Rouyn-Noranda, Bagotville or Sept-Îles.
“Since the launch of the program was this morning [mercredi] and that the logistics around it are complex, we favored non-stop connections, ”said an Air Canada spokesperson who did not identify himself on Wednesday. However, we are assured that the situation should return to normal within a few days.
Our journalist, who was planning a family trip to the Magdalen Islands, finally managed to book a return ticket with Pascan Aviation.
Screenshot
Our journalist managed to buy two round-trip plane tickets for $999 on the Pascan Aviation website.
Other obstacles also await travelers, and you have to read the fine print, it was possible to see (see below).
Adjustments
In the office of the Minister of Transport, François Bonnardel, we recognize certain difficulties, but we assure that “generally speaking, things are going well”.
“It’s day one of a program that will last five years, so for sure there may be small glitchesbut we will adjust and continue to monitor the situation,” said Jean-François Del Torchio, director of communications for the minister.
THE PROGRAM IN BRIEF
- Eligible flights must connect Montreal or Quebec and the regions, or vice versa.
- For personal travel only. Travel for work excluded.
- Participating airlines: Air Canada, Air Creebec, Air Inuit, Air Liaison, PAL Airlines and Pascan Aviation.
- In the first 24 hours of the program, 1,200 Quebecers reserved subsidized tickets, according to Minister Bonnardel.
VIGILANCE IS REQUIRED
Not all carriers apply the discount immediately. For example, Air Canada requires you to do it manually via a subtle box on its website. At PAL Airlines, you must enter a promotional code located on another web page. Travelers who are unaware of the program will most likely end up with a bill much higher than the promised $500.
NON-ALLOWABLE LINKS
Even if a carrier offers a connection, it does not say that you can take advantage of it for $500. To be eligible, the connection must be offered by the airline all year round and not only in the summer. Would you like to visit the Îles-de-la-Madeleine for $500 from Montreal or Quebec? You can with Pascan, but not with Air Canada. To find out, you will have to… do some trial and error! Besides, forget Expedia, Google and other comparators to find the schedule that suits you; you have to shop directly on the carrier’s website to hope to take advantage of the promotion.