Air Canada passenger wins $1,050 after seat-bumping spat

A Nova Scotia man has won a $1,050 judgment against Air Canada after he was bumped off a flight and sued the country's largest passenger airline after it refused to compensate him.

In a decision released this week, an adjudicator sided with DanLachance in his fight with Air Canada regarding a flight fromHalifax to Whitehorse in February.

The court granted Lachance $800 in compensation, an additional $100in general damages and $150 to cover his court and travel costs.

Lachance, of Waverley, was heading from Halifax to Whitehorse toteach computer classes to corporate clients. Hehad booked hisflights a couple of weeks in advance and Air Canada routed himthrough Toronto and Vancouver.

In Vancouver the last leg of his trip Lachance boarded the planeto Whitehorse with a valid boarding pass. But before the plane tookoff, he was told to get off the flight because the airline had soldthe same seat to another passenger.

Air Canada rebooked Lachance on the next available flight toWhitehorse, but that delayed him by eight hours.

According to Air Canada's tariff, it must pay a passenger $800 ifthey are bumped for more than six hours. Lachance said the airlinerefused to pay.

Air Canada had denied Lachance's compensation claim, saying hewasn't denied boarding but was rebooked in the normal course of business.