Unexpected pregnancy and Zika fears prompt feud with Air Canada

An Ottawa man is urging families to know the rules when it comes to travelling toZika-affectedcountries.

ColinLaycock, 35, saidhe wasfrustrated that Air Canada was initially unwilling to review his family's travel plans after his wife unexpectedly became pregnant.

"We [were]stuck,"Laycocksaid. "That's the really disheartening part."

Air Canada has now reviewed his claim and offered him a partial refund but onlyafter Laycock sharedhis story with CBC News on Wednesday.

Last June,Laycockand his wife booked a family getaway to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The coupleplanned to visit the Caribbean country next month with their two-and-a-half year-old daughter and their extended family.

We [were]stuck. That's the really disheartening part.- Colin Laycock

"At that point, no one was pregnant or expecting to be pregnant," he said. "And then that changed."

Laycocksaid he and his wife were surprised to learn in October they were expecting their second child.

A month later, the Public Health Agency of Canada issued atravel health notice, recommending that pregnant women or women who are planning to become pregnant avoid travelling to countries or areas where an outbreak of the virus has been reported. Among the countries on that list were the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Laycocksaid his family had only one choice. "It's time to cancel the trip," he said. "That's what we decided to do as a whole family."

Air Canada unwilling to help

WhileLaycocksaid the first Air Canada customer service agent he spoke with was empathetic, that did not last once the call was transferred to the airline's medical desk.

"Air Canada wanted nothing to do with the conversation," he said.

"They didn't want to let me talk to a manager, or give a credit for another flight. They've left the entire family out in the cold, so to speak, with airline tickets that we're not going to use."

Laycocksaid he was taken aback by Air Canada's unwillingness to reach a compromise, and frustrated by the discretion airlines have to make these decisions.

"Air Canada is in my opinion deciding which countries people can travel to and not, based on a health advisory, when they're not the health experts at all," he said. "That's completely wrong and unacceptable."

Zikastill a threat

According to the World Health Organization, the Turks and Caicos Islands are just one of65 countries affectedat the time of writing by the mosquito-borneZikavirus.

If infected, a pregnant woman can transmit the virus to her fetus, potentially leading to neurological disorders and birth defects, includingmicroencephaly.

As of Dec. 13, the Public Health Agency of Canada said there were421 travel-related cases ofZikainfections in Canadaand three cases where the infection was sexually transmitted. Those cases include20 pregnant women infected with the virus.

Air Canada stands by policy, but will contact couple

In a statement to the CBC, Air Canada said it generally assists customers who are worried aboutZika, provided they are travelling to Mexico or Florida.

Air Canada said it makes its decisions based on "recommendations from bodies such as the World Health Organization and the Public Health Agency of Canada, which for more than a year has been advising individuals who are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant to avoid travel to affected countries."

In response to theCBC'sreport, Air Canada said it would contactLaycockto re-assess his family's situation.

Laycock later told the CBC that Air Canada had refunded him in full for tickets boughtfor his immediate family, but so far not for other family members who were booked to travel with them.

He said his story should still serve as a warning to other travellers.

"Unfortunately, this is most likely going to happen to a bunch of families. People start families, get pregnant, things happen and trips are booked," he said. "Be very aware of what your rights are."