Changing Seats on an Air Canada Flight - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

I-Hate-Hulse · 03-15-2007, 10:26 PM

My g/f and I are leaving for Australia tomorrow. However our incompetent travel agent has screwed up our seating arrangements - putting us in 2 seats not together.

Webcheck in shows the plane as full. The AC agent over the phone says I can only change this at the airport. (I connect to the flight in Vancouver so I'm not sure if showing up at YYC is going to help me)

Anyone know of some tips or tricks on how to get this sorted out, preferably by not having to go to the airport early? Thanks

Bean · 03-15-2007, 10:39 PM

Something similar happened to me on a trip back from TO, we just went to the desk and asked nicely; they were pretty quick to make the change as we didnt' check in last minute.

(Plan B is to say that you guys got engaged while on the trip) ha ha..

Dion · 03-15-2007, 10:40 PM

Show up early and ask for exit row seats.

Peanut · 03-15-2007, 10:48 PM

Air Canada did this to us recently on our way to Cancun. We were told to just talk to the gate attendant - which we did and ended up being seated together with very little problem (and our flight was full). The fact that we were early didn't make any difference, because the gate attendant doesn't show up at the gate until about 30 minutes before boarding time anyways.

Good luck!

photon · 03-15-2007, 10:51 PM

I've done it that way before (spoken with the gate attendant) and they're usually very accommodating if they can be. I've also made it all the way onto the plane and got into our different seats and been able to switch after that by talking to our neighbours. Only once have I flown without being able to sit with my wife.

TheDragon · 03-15-2007, 10:52 PM

Usually when you check your baggage and confirm your boarding passes at the airport, you can ask and see if there is anyway you can get you and your companion to travel together. It might be different with Air Canada, but I've never had a problem doing that with Westjet.

Try and get there earlier than normal, though.

Scrambler · 03-15-2007, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

My g/f and I are leaving for Australia tomorrow. However our incompetent travel agent has screwed up our seating arrangements - putting us in 2 seats not together.

Webcheck in shows the plane as full. The AC agent over the phone says I can only change this at the airport. (I connect to the flight in Vancouver so I'm not sure if showing up at YYC is going to help me)

Anyone know of some tips or tricks on how to get this sorted out, preferably by not having to go to the airport early? Thanks

I work for Goway Travel and we handle a lot of passengers on AC 033

I can put a message through to AC check-in @ YVR if you like. PM me with your record locator and I'll give it a shot.

If you don't mind me asking, what travel company did you book with?

Scrambler · 03-15-2007, 10:58 PM

Also forgot to add that AC check-in can change your seats all the way to Sydney at YYC airport.

photon · 03-15-2007, 11:01 PM

Goway Eh? Cool, I used to have a travel agency and we booked a few things with you guys, always thought you were good to work with.

Scrambler · 03-15-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Goway Eh? Cool, I used to have a travel agency and we booked a few things with you guys, always thought you were good to work with.

That's good to hear, we definately take pride in our service to both travel industry professionals and the public.

Especially when it comes to travel Downunder!

I-Hate-Hulse · 03-15-2007, 11:39 PM

Thanks for all the advice and help guys - I've sent one hell of a nasty email to the Owner of the Agency and cc'ed our corporate travel department telling them to call me at 8:00am tomorrow. The agency has our corporate account and I'm hoping some worries about losing that might shame them into sorting this out for me.

I'm debating driving out early in the morning to the airport to see if someone can switch the seats for us but not actually check in. (Flight to YVR is not until 4pm - will they let me do this?)

These are the same guys who forgot to even mention I needed an ETA visa for Australia until I found out 2 days ago. Most other people have said their agents did these for them. Maybe I'm wrong but I expect at least a heads up from a 'full service' travel agent. Someone else in our office booked a 6 person flight to the Orient with this agency and was in the very last aisle of the plane, and equally as steamed as we both booked these trips back in Nov.

icarus · 03-15-2007, 11:47 PM

Where are you going in Oz? Hope you are not flying into Sydney, it's supposed to be rain here for the next several days!

Scrambler · 03-16-2007, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Thanks for all the advice and help guys - I've sent one hell of a nasty email to the Owner of the Agency and cc'ed our corporate travel department telling them to call me at 8:00am tomorrow. The agency has our corporate account and I'm hoping some worries about losing that might shame them into sorting this out for me.

I'm debating driving out early in the morning to the airport to see if someone can switch the seats for us but not actually check in. (Flight to YVR is not until 4pm - will they let me do this?)

These are the same guys who forgot to even mention I needed an ETA visa for Australia until I found out 2 days ago. Most other people have said their agents did these for them. Maybe I'm wrong but I expect at least a heads up from a 'full service' travel agent. Someone else in our office booked a 6 person flight to the Orient with this agency and was in the very last aisle of the plane, and equally as steamed as we both booked these trips back in Nov.

Ouch, didn't tell you about the ETA?!? Good lord, I can't tell you what kind of hell that is if you don't have it... The Aussies are very stingy about visas and who they let into their country. We typically do it for free as a service to our clients and $20 for non-clients (same as what they would pay anyway if they got the ETA themselves through the Australian Embassy).

I'm not sure if Air Canada staff will help you with the seat situation by going to YYC early. Might be worth a try but if it doesn't work, that might be considered a bit of a waste of time.

I-Hate-Hulse · 03-16-2007, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icarus

Where are you going in Oz? Hope you are not flying into Sydney, it's supposed to be rain here for the next several days!

Doh. Oh yes. I'm headed for Sydney for the 1st bit. Maybe it'll be a warm rain... Bringing my Flames t-shirts to confuse the locals!

I'm afraid getting 1.5-1.75 hours early to the airport is all I can do. Hopefully that'll be enough.

STeeLy · 03-16-2007, 01:34 AM

So you need a Visa to get into Australia? Or is it just for business (work related)?

icarus · 03-16-2007, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STeeLy

So you need a Visa to get into Australia? Or is it just for business (work related)?

You need an ETA which is not quite a visa. Essentially you go online and spend two minutes filling out a form.

icarus · 03-16-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Doh. Oh yes. I'm headed for Sydney for the 1st bit. Maybe it'll be a warm rain... Bringing my Flames t-shirts to confuse the locals!

.

I don't know when you are arriving but if you are here on Sunday you should go down to the harbour. It is the 75th anniverary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and all sorts of cool stuff is planned all day.

Fobby · 03-16-2007, 08:36 AM

When you check in.. check in together.. Since they print your boarding pass at the time of check in, you can ask to be seated together. If the check in person can't do it for you, you will have to go to the ticket counter in YVR to get seats together.

Good luck! It's going to be a long flight.

Sample00 · 03-16-2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrambler

Ouch, didn't tell you about the ETA?!? Good lord, I can't tell you what kind of hell that is if you don't have it... The Aussies are very stingy about visas and who they let into their country. We typically do it for free as a service to our clients and $20 for non-clients (same as what they would pay anyway if they got the ETA themselves through the Australian Embassy).

I'm not sure if Air Canada staff will help you with the seat situation by going to YYC early. Might be worth a try but if it doesn't work, that might be considered a bit of a waste of time.

I would have to agree with you on this one, scrambler. In this particular circumstance, if AC wont help out, I suspect you might find an accommodating individual on the plane that would move to have you and your wife/gf sit together.

MoneyGuy · 03-16-2007, 11:47 AM

Remember, no joining the mile-high club until you and the GF are married.