Summary:

Joel and Mia Mackoff wanted to fly from Los Angeles to Vancouver with Air Canada on February 15^th. When they were trying to board their flight the Mackoffs claim that an Air Canada agent "improperly refused to allow either of them" to board the flight because Mia tested positive for COVID-19 on February 5^th. The Mackoffs submitted a screenshot of Air Canada's website taken that day, which said passengers could fly to Canada with proof of a positive COVID-19 test result taken between 10 and 180 days before departure.

So basically, the Air Canada agent at the airport refused both of them to board the flight because in their opinion they had counted the ten days that need to be between a positive Covid test and the departure date wrong.

The dispute was heard by B.C.'s Civil Resolution Tribunal which determined that the Mackoffs were entitled to the expenses incurred due to their delayed trip.

Thoughts:

In this case, the Air Canada agent at the airport was given the authority to act on behalf of Air Canada. It was their actual authority to prohibit someone to board their flight, however, even if it was a misunderstanding of how to count the days correctly the agent had no right to also stop Joel Mackoff from boarding as he did not test positive for covid 19 prior to the flight.

Questions:

Do you think the agent still acted within their actual authority or do you think they should be liable for the losses they have incurred to the company?

What could have been done to prevent a situation as such?

Did the agent fulfill their duties to the principal (Air Canada)?