'I may never fly again': Horror stories from the Vancouver airport
Travellers, baby trapped on plane for 11 hours with no food, formula
Taryn Caley and her family left their home in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Dec. 19, headed for Toronto.
Their connecting flight from Auckland was delayed, but they weren't worried as they figured they'd still have time to make their next connection in Vancouver. But when they got to Vancouver, things got much, much worse.
First, the flight was delayed an hour and a half. It got delayed a few more times and finally boarded at 8 p.m. on Monday night.
Caley, her partner Paul O'Connor and their baby, Hudson, sat in the plane on the tarmac at YVR for 11 hours before they were told the flight had been cancelled and they'd have to deplane.
WATCH | Chaos at YVR as snowfall grounds flights:
During those 11 hours, whenever Hudson became restless, she gave her baby some formula to calm him down. She'd brought two days' worth — by the end, she had just one sachet left.
When she mentioned this to a customer service agent, she was told she'd have to leave the airport to buy more formula.
"I don't know where I'm going to go and get formula," Caley said.
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) told CBC it is monitoring the situation related to tarmac delays at YVR, which involves several airlines, and "will take appropriate actions as necessary."
Passengers have rights in this situation; airlines are required to provide them with certain amenities while on the plane, and once the delays have reached three hours, airlines must let them leave the aircraft, according to the CTA.
Meanwhile, WestJet sent Caley an email saying it wouldn't be able to rebook until after Christmas and offered no accommodation because the delay was due to weather.
They have no idea when they'll be able to get to Toronto.
Their flight was one of hundreds cancelled or delayed on Tuesday as heavy snowfall grounded planes at Vancouver's airport.
"The current winter storm, including severe snowfall, has had an unprecedented impact on flights," a spokesperson for YVR said in an email to CBC.
They are anticipating cancellations and delays through the week ahead — just as people begin their holiday journeys.
Travellers are being told to check with airlines on the status of their flights and not to go to YVR if they don't need to.
"We sincerely apologize to all of those impacted," YVR said.
But it might take more than an apology for some fliers.
"I may never fly again," said Sarah Beuhler, who was set to fly to Washington, D.C., through Ottawa and had her flight cancelled and dealt with "absolute chaos" every step of the way through the airport.
Steve Da Silva was scheduled to fly home to Toronto from Vancouver on Sunday. His flight was cancelled, and he waited in line for seven hours, eventually being rebooked on a Monday flight.
Then, that flight got delayed, again.
And again.
And ... again.
He was rebooked, boarded his flight at 7 p.m. Monday and sat on the tarmac for 13 hours. Da Silva said travellers were eventually allowed off the plane and told to go home or go to a hotel and wait for an email from the airline.
He's since bought another ticket with another airline.
"Hopefully, that goes a little bit smoother," he said.
Da Silva said he hasn't been offered any food vouchers, hotel or compensation in his two days at the Vancouver airport.
"It's very disheartening. I'm just trying to get back to my family, my girlfriend, and just enjoy the holidays."
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With files from Jon Hernandez