There once was a dad who lived around Lisbon and wanted to bring his adult daughter home from Montreal for the holidays (YUL-LIS-YUL).

Air Canada and other airlines said: “That’ll be over €1000!” (Meanwhile, the opposite route LIS-YUL-LIS? €450.)

And this is where the horror tale would normally end.

Unfortunately for Air Canada, that same dad (an EU citizen) was delayed 2 days on a trip to Canada last August because they treat their employees like dirt, and they went on strike right at that time.

Because the EU has very strict laws protecting its citizens, this dad is entitled to a €600 settlement for the inconvenience.

Air Canada, cunning as they are, tried to deny this, stating on their site that they were not eligible.

Unfortunately for them—again—this dad’s life partner (who was traveling with him at the time) is a law school graduate, is now on a mission, and knows all the ins and outs of the process through the most law-abiding German branch of Star Alliance.

So this daughter’s trip will now cost €400. Which, if you’re keeping tabs on the math, means Air Canada is effectively being forced to give us a €50 discount on the daughter’s trip—or more accurately, their greed and law-dodging just subsidized our family reunion.

You might have thought this would be a traveler’s spooky tale. Instead, it’s what Air Canada management’s nightmares are made of.

Know your rights. EU261 is real.