Air Canada denies seat to N.S. man with peanut allergy
Matthew Burns, who has a severe peanut allergy, was not granted on an Air Canada flight. (CBC)
A Nova Scotia woman wants an explanation and a refund from Air Canada, after her son was denied a seat on a plane leaving Halifax last weekend because he is allergic to peanuts.
Matthew Burns, 19, of Louisdale, Cape Breton, who has a severe peanut allergy, was headed to Fiji for a two-week stint of volunteering. April Burns stated her son is no stranger to traveling and has never been refused by an airline before.
“We fly about four or five times a year to different countries,” she said. “In March 2010, we went to the Bahamas — from Halifax to Toronto, Toronto to the Bahamas — and there were no problems, no questions, nothing.”
Last weekend, Matthew was booked on an Air Canada flight from Halifax to Toronto, headed eventually to Fiji with a volunteer group.
Burns stated she booked the ticket through RBC Rewards, and told them of her son’s severe peanut allergy. They did not call Air Canada directly.
Matthew Burns arrived at Halifax’s Stanfield International Airport, armed with several Epi Pens and allergy medications for the flight, but Air Canada would not let him on the plane.
“The supervisor told my husband, ‘Your son is not boarding this flight this day unless you get in contact with Air Canada medical desk.’ He handed my husband the paper and said, ‘Now, you are on your own. Basically, you are on your way, you handle it,’” Burns said.
April Burns wants a refund from Air Canada over the incident.
Burns rebooked her son on an American Airlines flight that left a couple of hours later on the same day, and stated that airline had no problem with her son’s allergy.
Air Canada would not comment specifically on the case of Matthew Burns, but stated its policy concerning travellers with peanut allergies is clearly spelled out on its website.
The airline requires 48 hours notice to create a peanut free zone around a person’s seat and may also ask for a medical certificate.
Air Canada told April Burns that it would look into her complaint and get back to her in three weeks.
“I especially want people with peanut and nut allergies to realize that when you book a flight with Air Canada, you could be denied boarding and it’s not right,” Burns said.
“To me, it was unjust. I would feel a tiny differently maybe if they would have helped us find a solution. They had no solution, other than calling this number, and sending us off on our own and saying we are not helping you.”
Back to accessibility links
source : www.cbc.ca
Related News:
- Salt levels in fast foods higher in Canada
- North’s on-job carcinogen limits weakest in Canada
- Air Canada ground crews walk off job in Toronto
- ANALYSIS | Health Canada drug approval policy lacks key power
- Health Canada deemed slow to assess drug safety
- Cellphone usage limits urged by Health Canada
- Wambach scores two goals, U.S. blanks Canada
- Canada weighs lifting blood donor ban for gay men
- Discredited slimming cream sold in Canada
- Canada wins battle to keep asbestos off dangerous list
Details :
Submited at Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 at 9:00 am on Health by Alina
Comment RSS 2.0 - leave a comment - trackback