What was supposed to be a layover at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport turned out to be days of chaos for Bermuda native Valerie Adams.
Since landing on Thursday, Adams says she’s been stranded at the airport with no proper winter attire or promises from her airline to pay for her hotel until she leaves.
She’s resorted to hanging around the airport in hopes of getting clarity from staff, who she says get their attention taken away by other frustrated customers before they even get to resolve her questions.
“It seems to be very unprofessional because there’s no one to give answers,” Adams said.
“It’s so easy to get a ticket … but it’s not easy for people to assist you when this kind of stuff happens.”
Adams is one of countless passengers who have had their travel plans disrupted following a major winter storm that parts of southwestern Ontario are still recovering from. Storms affected flights across Canada and the United States over the weekend, resulting in many flight delays, cancellations and luggage mishaps at airports.
Passengers are hopeful they’ll get to catch the tail end of their travel and holiday plans, but they don’t know when that might be.
“I’m still hoping to get to at least spend a few days there and come back,” said Robert Williams, who is travelling with his wife and young son.
His flight to Orlando, Fla., was supposed to leave on Friday but was cancelled due to mechanical issues, Williams said. He wanted to spend Christmas with his daughter and other family members.
“But instead I’m here at the airport,” he said.
Three days later, he said, airport staff haven’t given him a new flight yet. “You’re in limbo, waiting.”
Delays follow even after worst of storm abates
CBC News has reached out to Pearson airport for comment on the state of flights, and this story will be updated with its response. According to the airport’s website, more than nine per cent of its flights and more than eight per cent of its departures were cancelled on Monday.
Mark Corbett’s flight was one of them. The head coach of the Burlington Eagles hockey club said his team’s flights to Calgary were cancelled on Monday morning due to mechanical issues, and they’ve been at the airport since 3:30 a.m.
The team was supposed to compete in the Circle K Classic, an ice hockey tournament for players under 18. Corbett said they’re the only team from Ontario invited to play and it’s supposed to start Tuesday. However, the replacement flight they’ve been given flies out on Dec. 30.
“It’s just disheartening that a mechanical issue is going to cause us to miss a massive tournament for these boys,” Corbett said.