Passenger rights
A passenger studies an airport flight schedule. (Photo credit: Dreamstime)

It was supposed to be the trip of their dreams. Thunder Bay couple Laura and Joseph Zaina were planning to treat their children and grandchildren — nine in all — to Florida’s theme parks and all the fun the Sunshine State has to offer.

But the dream became a nightmare just before take off, when the family’s Air Canada flight from Thunder Bay to Orlando was cancelled. The crew had timed out — meaning they couldn’t work more hours until they’d had a break, Laura said a flight attendant told them.

An Air Canada employee told the Zainas their only option was to fly to Toronto then wait three days for a flight. But that would mean losing thousands of dollars in pre-booked theme park tickets.

“Our hand was forced to book alternate [airline] tickets,” said Joseph. “Three nights in Toronto for 11 people for hotel and food. I don't know what that would have cost.” Instead, the Zainas rented cars, drove to the United States and flew from there, which added an additional $10,000 to their trip.

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Hadassah Alencar is a bilingual journalist based near Montreal. She recently completed the journalism program at Concordia University, where she worked as a teaching assistant and became editor-in-chief...