As spring break approaches, low-cost airline Lynx Air announced that it is taking shelter from its creditors and will cease operations on Monday. Until then, it will continue to operate “the majority of its flights this weekend”. What to do if your flight is canceled? The duty walks through the steps to follow.
How to get a refund for a canceled flight ticket?
First of all, if your flight is scheduled for this weekend, check its status online on the Lynx Air website to determine if it is canceled or not.
If your flight is canceled, which will inevitably be the case from Monday, you should have received notification from the aircraft manufacturer. Lynx Air invites affected customers to contact their credit card company to request a “chargeback”, i.e. cancel the payment made when booking the flight.
Your return flight is canceled: what are your options?
If you are already on vacation and your return flight is canceled, Lynx Air suggests that you contact them for assistance in moving forward your return flight this weekend. Otherwise, you can request a refund from your credit card company and rebook a new flight with another airline.
“The crux of the problem for many people is that it may cost them more, because Lynx Air was still a carrier that offered low-cost flights,” notes Sylvie de Bellefeuille, lawyer and budget advisor at Consumer option.
In a statement Thursday, Federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said his office was in contact with Lynx and had arranged calls with other airlines to see how they can help passengers affected by the bankruptcy of the airline.
Already, WestJet has offered assistance to passengers whose flights have been canceled. The company will offer 25% off its base economy fares on non-stop routes it offers that were previously served by Lynx.
Is it possible to obtain compensation, in addition to a refund?
“There is the Regulation on the protection of air passengers, the famous travelers’ charter,” recalls Mme of Bellefeuille.
This charter “provides that when you are notified less than 14 days in advance of the cancellation of the flight and the reason for the cancellation is within the control of the carrier, you can request compensation, but it is still necessary that the company is admissible,” explains the lawyer.
However, in this specific case, the expert believes that it is likely that the airline will not pay compensation since it declares bankruptcy.
What to do about hotel and car reservations that fall through?
Sylvie de Bellefeuille recommends first checking the reservation cancellation policy of the establishments concerned and making cancellations if there is still time.
If not, “it’s worth checking whether this risk is covered by your insurance,” such as general travel insurance or insurance with your credit card issuer, he says. She.
“If you are not covered, the problem with online shopping is that if you made your reservation online, the hotel is not in default” and it is not required to repay, notes the expert.
However, if you used a travel agency for your vacation, you could benefit from the Compensation Fund for Clients of Travel Agents (FICAV).
“So if for example you purchased a package including plane tickets and hotel, as well as certain prepaid activities with a travel agency, all of these services will possibly be covered by the FICAV”, indicates Mme Bellefeuille.