2 days ago
‘I haven't been able to sleep': Edmonton woman stranded in France despite Air Canada resuming services
Mireille Abewe said she'd love to be anywhere in Canada right now, as her vacation in France has turned into a sleepless nightmare.
She's stranded in Lyon with her two children after trying to navigate Air Canada's flight cancellations amid a turbulent strike situation still in the early stages of resolution.
The family had a flight from Lyon to Montreal, then Montreal to Edmonton scheduled for Aug. 20, she told CTV News in an interview on Tuesday.
The union representing Air Canada's flight attendants gave a 72-hour strike notice on Aug. 13.
Not wanting to have to navigate potential cancellations, Abewe made what she thought was a strategic choice: max out her credit card to move her flight up to Aug. 15.
'I think that's where I made my mistake,' she said. Although the strike did not begin until Saturday, Air Canada began cancelling flights in preparation.
Abewe said it cost her $4,800 out of pocket to change her flight. She said she is now effectively stranded.
Although Air Canada announced early Tuesday that it would gradually resume operations, Abewe said she has still not been able to contact anybody.
'I've tried everything to contact a human being but I haven't been able to,' she said. Any email she sent, she said, has gotten an automatic reply saying that she would receive a response within seven to 10 business days.
Her and her children have been taking shifts around the clock to incessantly call Air Canada officials.
'We've been doing this overnight … I haven't been able to sleep,' she said.
With no money but the cash in her purse, Abewe said she's considering going to the police station. She's contacted the embassy but their only consulate is in Paris, seven hours away from Lyon.
She said she knows, logically, that her and her children are stuck in France for possibly another week.
She said she also knows, as an educational assistant, that striking is an important process.
'But at the end of the day, when you're in a country that's not yours, it's really difficult,' she said.
With files from CTV News Montreal and CTV News National
