An 84-year-old woman from Vancouver Island was shocked when she received a bill for $450 from Air Canada after requesting an ice pack during her flight.
The incident occurred when the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was traveling from Victoria to Edmonton for a medical appointment. Due to her health condition, she needed an ice pack to keep her medication cool during the flight.
However, when she asked the flight attendant for an ice pack, she was informed that there would be a fee for it. The woman agreed to pay, assuming it would be a small amount. But to her surprise, she received a bill for $450 from Air Canada after the flight.
The woman’s daughter, who was traveling with her, was shocked and outraged by the unexpected charge. She immediately contacted Air Canada to inquire about the bill and was told that the fee was for the use of a medical kit, which includes an ice pack.
The daughter argued that her mother did not use any other items from the medical kit and only needed the ice pack for her medication. However, Air Canada stood by their policy and refused to waive the fee.
The family then reached out to Alberta Health Services (AHS) to see if they could help with the bill. AHS, who provides medical services to the province, confirmed that they do not charge for ice packs and were surprised by the amount charged by Air Canada.
In a statement to CTV News, AHS said, “We do not charge for ice packs, and we are not aware of any other health authority that does. We are disappointed to hear about this incident and will be reaching out to Air Canada to discuss the matter further.”
Air Canada has since apologized to the family and offered a refund for the ice pack fee. They also stated that they will review their policies and procedures to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
The family hopes that this incident will bring attention to the issue and prevent other travelers from being charged exorbitant fees for basic medical needs during flights.
This incident serves as a reminder for airlines to have clear and fair policies in place for passengers with medical needs. It is also a reminder for travelers to be aware of any potential fees for medical services before boarding a flight.
