Steve and Darlene Mecredy in The Praca do Comercio in Lisbon, Portugal, on Friday as they wait to return home to Kingston. (Supplied Photo)
Steve and Darlene Mecredy of Kingston have been stranded in Lisbon, Portugal, for four days because United Airlines is not allowing Canadians on its flight UA 65 from Lisbon to Newark, N.J., due to travel restrictions caused by COVID-19.
“Almost all of these Canadians were transiting through Newark and had flights booked with Air Canada from Newark to Toronto or Montreal. We were similarly barred today and it was very upsetting,” Steve Mecredy said in an email.
He said more than 50 Canadians at the Lisbon airport are being denied access to flights home.
“I spoke with a United ticket person who walked out to talk to me when I insisted on speaking with someone, and she said that they had spoken with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and they had told them no Canadians,” Mecredy said.
As well, Mecredy said, the flight they want to board is only half full while just allowing American citizens on board.
Mecredy said Canadians were being sold tickets on the flight by Air Canada or TAP (Portugal Air), even though they knew Canadians were being barred from flying.
Mecredy said he spoke with staff at the Canadian Consulate in Lisbon about the issue.
“She told me that there was no way this should be happening as we were all simply transiting through the U.S. and not entering,” he said.
The Mecredys had booked their flights all through Air Canada, including the United Airlines flight, but can’t get a refund from Air Canada or United.
“We were booked on one of the supposed Air Canada flights earlier in the week: Lisbon to Frankfurt to Montreal. In fact, the initial carrier was TAP, Portuguese Air, to Frankfurt,” he said.
“While on the five-hour train from Tavira to Lisbon on Tuesday to catch our flight Wednesday, we got a text from Air Canada that the first leg with TAP had been cancelled and we were now rebooked on Thursday’s United Airlines flight Lisbon to Newark and then connect Air Canada to Montreal.
“Air Canada offered a credit and said we would have to go after United for a refund, even though we booked through Air Canada and paid them.”
Mecredy contacted United Airlines, but it said it was not its problem and there would be no refund.
“Air Canada has our money, not (United). They said Air Canada should not have sold us that ticket,” Mecredy said.
The Whig-Standard contacted Air Canada via email.
“I can tell you generally that due to new restrictions imposed, often with minimal notice, by foreign governments, including the U.S., on foreign nationals entering their countries, some international air travellers going to or making connections through third countries might have their travel impeded. Canadians who find themselves in such situations should contact the government of Canada for assistance,” an email reply from Air Canada media relations said.
“Air Canada is attempting to maintain service on select international routes to facilitate the repatriation of Canadians, and we are also working with the government of Canada to operate charter flights to select countries where numbers warrant.”
Mecredy also contacted Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen’s office on Friday. After speaking with a staff member, he was emailed some information, including the Canadian government’s SOS email address.
Mecredy was also told to register the out-of-country trip with the government, which had already been done.
“We have received one email from the federal government, but it was about the Spanish part of the trip. Nothing on Portugal to date,” he said.
