Canadian low-cost airline denied boarding to a family with a child and dogs: regulator uncovered the deception.

According to ТСН: A Christmas trip for a Canadian family turned into a legal conflict when the low-cost airline Flair Airlines denied them boarding. The reason for this was the internal rules of the company, of which the passengers were not informed, and the state regulator even called them manipulative.

The essence of the incident: a surprise at the boarding gate

Ryan Coulson and his wife Rebecca Bordeyasu arrived at Abbotsford Airport (British Columbia) with plans to return home for the holidays. They were traveling with their young daughter and two pet dogs, which they wanted to take with them in the cabin of the plane. However, an unpleasant surprise awaited them at the gate.

Flair Airlines staff informed them that they could not board. According to new internal rules that came into effect on November 20, one adult cannot simultaneously accompany both an infant and an animal. Since the family had three 'dependent' passengers (a child and two dogs) for two adults, one of the 'dependents' was offered to stay on the ground.

“We were actually offered to choose between our dog and our child,” Rebecca Bordeyasu emotionally commented on the situation.

Lack of information and contradictory rules

The couple claims that during booking and check-in, there were no warnings about such restrictions. Moreover, the airline's system still allows adding both a child and an animal to one adult ticket at the same time.

Rebecca noted that she had already flown with this same airline in September, holding a child on her lap and with a dog at her feet, and there were no objections back then.

A Flair Airlines representative emphasized that the company only updated the wording on its website on December 17 “for better understanding,” stressing that this rule is longstanding and based on the requirements of the Canadian Ministry of Transport for certain types of aircraft. However, the state regulator responded, essentially accusing the airline of misinformation.

“There are no requirements from the Canadian Ministry of Transport that prohibit passengers from traveling simultaneously with infants and pets. These are purely internal restrictions of individual airlines,” the agency stated.

After being denied by Flair Airlines, the couple had to urgently seek an alternative. Within a few days, they managed to take a flight with Air Canada, where no objections were raised concerning their group. Although the low-cost airline offered to refund their ticket money, the couple considers this insufficient and has already consulted a lawyer to seek compensation for moral damages and the disrupted first Christmas for their child.

It's worth noting that at the airport in the capital of Scotland, a passenger plane of the low-cost airline Ryanair collided with a fuel service vehicle while preparing for takeoff in the morning.

This incident has sparked discussions on safety and passenger service in the airline industry, especially in the context of the pandemic and changes in transportation rules. The family's case has already attracted media attention and could prompt changes in airline policies regarding the transportation of children and pets.