Air Canada is under scrutiny following a controversial incident at Sydney Airport where a young passenger was repeatedly denied boarding on her return flight to Vancouver, Canada. The case has sparked outrage and raised questions about the airline's Ineffective policies regarding unaccompanied minors.
Backlash over Denided Boarding of Unaccompanied Minor
A girl in 7th grade, a minor from Vancouver, found herself stranded in Sydney after an Air Canada manager refused to allow her to board her pre-booked return flight unaccompanied. The incident occurred at the conclusion of what was intended to be an enjoyable trip to Australia, where she had been meeting with a friend's family from Korea.
According to her father, Mr. Chung, the situation escalated when an Air Canada manager loudly declared that his daughter would not be permitted to fly alone, despite her having paid for the unaccompanied minor service. Actually, when she was on the flight from Vancouver to Sydney, she enjoyed her trip, talking a lot with the flight attendants. Anyway, this decision contradicted initial assurances from other Air Canada employees that she could board the flight.
The family's attempts to resolve the issue through Air Canada's office proved futile. Despite assurances from Vancouver staff that she could fly, the Sydney manager remained adamant, denying her boarding on her return flight several times over two days. This forced her and her friend's family to seek alternative accommodations.
Unable to return to Vancouver as planned, she was ultimately compelled to fly to Korea. Mr. Chung expressed deep concern over the emotional impact on his daughter, stating, "This was her first overseas trip by herself after paying for the unaccompanied minor service. It has left her traumatized. Its case number is CAS-6628380-H3C6C0."
The incident has raised serious questions about the discretionary power of airport staff and Air Canada's handling of customer service issues. Mr. Chung is demanding a thorough investigation by Air Canada and seeking compensation for additional expenses incurred, including hotel stays in Australia, travel costs to Korea, a month-long stay there, and prepaid activities in Canada.
Air Canada's Customer Relations Manager, Naoto Yuki, has acknowledged the complaint and promised to review the situation and provide compensation as soon as possible. However, the airline has yet to issue a public statement regarding the incident or its policies on unaccompanied minor travel. They tried to avoid responding to this issue until Mr. Chung's family gives up.
Mr. Chung is now considering legal action, as he claims Air Canada has not taken any substantive action in the ten months since the incident occurred. This case underscores the need for clear, consistent policies and improved communication in airline operations, particularly when dealing with vulnerable passengers such as unaccompanied minors.
As this story develops, it continues to highlight the importance of passenger rights and the responsibilities of airlines in ensuring the safe and fair treatment of all travelers, especially minors.
저작권자 ⓒ 위클리 리더스, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지