Stranded B.C. flyers out thousands amid flight cancellations due to FAA-ordered ground stop

详细摘要

Some frustrated Air Canada passengers say spotty communication and a lack of rebooking help has left them paying thousands out of pocket amid widespread flight cancellations due…

Some frustrated Air Canada passengers say spotty communication and a lack of rebooking help have left them paying out of pocket amid widespread flight cancellations.

British Columbians Patricia Arndt, Corey Shack, Nancy Kristoff and Lisa Dolinski were in Cancun, Mexico, celebrating a 50th birthday but had to spend thousands of dollars to stay in Mexico after their return flight was cancelled.

"You just feel lost," said Arndt. "You’re going to have to figure it out yourself."

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop on Friday afternoon due to communications problems at regional air traffic control centres, stemming from a maintenance issue, according to officials.

Air Canada says it cancelled roughly 250 flights Friday, affecting about 27,000 passengers following the FAA's order.

In an email, a spokesperson for Vancouver International Airport (YVR) said there were 54 flight cancellations Friday and another 23 related cancellations Saturday morning.

Arndt said Air Canada didn’t communicate updated information in a timely manner. The airline told them they would receive an update about rebooking within 30 minutes, Arndt said, but no update came.

The four travellers said their return flight faced a two-hour delay and gate change before they received a text message saying it had been cancelled. They were forced to split up to find accommodations.

Rental cars, trains or Ubers? Airline passengers search for alternatives during U.S. ground stop

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