Jetsgo compensation: What ticket holders can do

Jetsgo may be grounded, but it doesn't necessarily mean Canadians will be left holding worthless tickets, industry observers say.

"If you bought your ticket with a credit card, you may be eligible for a refund or replacement ticket," Consumer Reporter Pat Foran told CTV News Toronto.

"It will depend on the card holder agreement you have with your credit card company."

Foran says Mastercard holders will be eligible for refunds, but should contact their card issuer to find out exactly what to do. Visa outlined the same policy on Friday, as well.

Declining credit card charges is the first line of defence, but consumers may have other options as well.

"Anybody who has booked through a registered travel agency in the province of Ontario will be eligible to apply for a refund with us," Michael Pepper, President of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), told CTV News Toronto.

"We do not pay the taxes, but we will reimburse consumers should they have paid through a registered travel agency," he said.

Still, regulations vary across the country, so consumers should beware.

"It's actually different from province to province," Pat Barry, manager of the Rainbow High Vacations travel agency in Toronto, told CTV.ca.

"Quebec and B.C. are similar to the TICO rules. But other provinces don't have anything similar in place."

On Friday, Manitoba's premier Gary Doer said his province wants to ensure that Manitobans have as much protection as people in other provinces. And he says laws will be changed, if needed.

In Ontario, if you purchased your tickets through a registered travel agency, you should call your travel agent first. TICO's phone number is 1-888-451-8426.

In Quebec, consumers can call the Office of Consumer Protection (L'Office de la protection du consommateur) at 1-888-672-2556.

And, consumers in B.C. should start first with their travel agent.

Jetsgo ticket holders can also call the Canadian Transportation Agency at:

• 1-888-222-2592
  
• 1-800-669-5575 (Toll Free)

The lack of coverage for all Canadians in cases like Jetsgo worries Christiane Theberge, of the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies.

Theberge says when Air Canada was having serious financial difficulties, her group pushed to have a national fund created to cover all Canadians airline passengers.

"We asked for it last year," she told CTV.ca from Ottawa.

But, even though they lobbied the federal government, Theberge said nothing was done.

And even for a province like Ontario where there is help, Barry says consumers should be aware there is a total limit on how much money can be refunded.

"TICO has a $5-million limit for any one bankruptcy," Barry said.

And he points out, consumers can only turn to agencies like TICO once they've exhausted other routes to get their money back.

As well, anyone who booked their ticket with Jetsgo directly -- and not with a registered travel agency -- will have a much harder time tracking down a refund.

"Those who paid the airline are not eligible to come to our fund, unfortunately," Pepper said.

If you are eligible for a refund, Pepper said it may not be too long a wait.

"With us (at TICO) it shouldn't take any longer than a couple of months," he said. But, "not tomorrow."

Pepper also said people in Ontario who booked their Jetsgo tickets online at a registered agency are covered.

"There's protection for you," he said.

"This brings the message home to consumers: book your travel through a travel agency."

Meanwhile, if you are still trying to get away to someplace warmer like Florida, Foran says expect to pay a lot.

"We decided to take a look at the prices. We checked with websites and Air Canada and you're looking at about $1,000-$1,500 a ticket," he said.

"That's expensive."

Foran says basically any Jetsgo passenger still wanting to travel will have to find "another airline, the bus, or drive."

Foran noted one travel website is advising consumers in southwestern Ontario to consider driving across the border to Buffalo, N.Y., to try to fly out from there.

Barry says phones to his agency have been busy all day with people seeking help. So far, he says, people have been calm.

"They know it's not our fault," he said.

"But people who haven't booked with a travel agency are the ones who are getting the most frustrated."