AC has stranded us in Athens … advice?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Even more so than most things in life, peoples' stated preferences around flying are not the same as their revealed preferences. The margins of airlines are very small, and the biggest factor in consumer choice is price. We have the service (or lack of) in the air industry because most people are looking for the cheapest and most convenient flight.

Because 70% of human beings couldn't fly if they went above the very lowest price, right? But it's always the consumer right Cliff, and never the race to the bottom from cooperations taking over and destroying everyone?

[topfiverecords]

They could easily just put a vending machine in the back of the plane and save all this trouble.

[fulham]

Its not like the mid/poor pay wasn't known when going into these careers.

If you choose to pursue what unfortunately a poorly compensated career path for how long can you illegally shut down air traffic in the country? its not like this was a bait and switch. I'd imagine given the growing unemployment rate these jobs would be filled immediately if advertised.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by fulham

Its not like the mid/poor pay wasn't known when going into these careers.

If you choose to pursue what unfortunately a poorly compensated career path for how long can you illegally shut down air traffic in the country? its not like this was a bait and switch. I'd imagine given the growing unemployment rate these jobs would be filled immediately if advertised.

Some things have changed in the last decade, friend. Not sure if you noticed.

If Flight Attendants are worth so little why doesn’t AC just fly the planes without them?

Air traffic is still flying along in the country, FYI. It’s just one airline. Much how when airlines cancel or wildly change the time of your flight, it’s not a big deal, because it’s just one flight.

[btimbit]

People in this thread are acting like they're demanding six figure salaries and 8 weeks of paid vacation.

Considering the first several years of doing the job you make less than $40k a year and don't even get paid for all the hours you work, I don't think this strike is that unreasonable. Air Canada knew they didn't have to negotiate in good faith because they could get the government to force them back to work, now they're doing the fake incredulous act that the union called them on their BS.

The conflict of interest thing is what is going to be interesting to watch. The chair of the CIRB, that gave the return to work order, worked for Air Canada for seven years until 2023.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Acey

On the flip side, any of the hundreds of YouTube videos with titles similar to "Why I left my dream job as an Emirates flight attendant" share some insight into why I wouldn't universally label it as "a lot of fun".



In Canada? Less than Air Canada. Whatever happens with this Air Canada deal will set the standard the second biggest flight attendant group in the country and they will be negotiating early next year.

West Jet flight attendants contract is up in December. I suspect they will be watching closely with what happens with Air Canada.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by Dion

West Jet flight attendants contract is up in December. I suspect they will be watching closely with what happens with Air Canada.

Good to know. I will book all future travel based on which airline has contracts settled. When I planned my trip to Europe, I chose Air Canada because I figured if something came up and I needed to cancel, at least I get a credit with an airline in my country instead of a European based airline.

Knowing WestJet has upcoming negotiations, I will take that into account when planning a winter trip.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Acey

Lynx Air rolled in here and offered $40 fares on Calgary to Vancouver, and then social media was just inundated with posts about people saying that Air Canada and WestJet are simply corporate greed monsters for charging $100 on the route and Lynx was charging the true cost to operate the flight.

Those people were apparently unaware that Calgary Airport takes 35 of those 40 dollars and were strangely silent when Lynx Air went bankrupt 2 years later, $100M in the hole.

Unless the government changes the structure of fees and taxes on airlines in this country, it's going to forever be expensive to fly, have the airlines not be bankrupt, and also have the airlines pay their employees a decent wage.

Canadian airport fees are also part of the problem. They have near zero competition or reason to try harder to lower them.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Good to know. I will book all future travel based on which airline has contracts settled. When I planned my trip to Europe, I chose Air Canada because I figured if something came up and I needed to cancel, at least I get a credit with an airline in my country instead of a European based airline.

Knowing WestJet has upcoming negotiations, I will take that into account when planning a winter trip.

Jan 1st, but if there was a strike it likely wouldn't be for weeks or months afterward

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Jan 1st, but if there was a strike it likely wouldn't be for weeks or months afterward

Oh yeah. I will consider that. I was thinking of going to Belize in Feb-April time frame.

[White Out 403]

Strikes over

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

Strikes over

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air...ants-1.7612403

Good news. I'd be eager to hear specifics, 9 hours of talks is interesting

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by btimbit

The conflict of interest thing is what is going to be interesting to watch. The chair of the CIRB, that gave the return to work order, worked for Air Canada for seven years until 2023.

1998 to 2004. It's been twenty years since she worked for AC. It is unlikely she has any loyalty to the company after all these years and she can probably do her job without conflict.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Because 70% of human beings couldn't fly if they went above the very lowest price, right? But it's always the consumer right Cliff, and never the race to the bottom from cooperations taking over and destroying everyone?

Taking over and destroying everyone? Touch grass.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

1998 to 2004. It's been twenty years since she worked for AC. It is unlikely she has any loyalty to the company after all these years and she can probably do her job without conflict.

She continued to represent them in private law firms for decades after that. Both with BLG and Heenan Blaikie

[hixxes]

Just to follow up, we made it home last night on Delta/ WestJet.

In the end the only communication with AC was the original call that was dropped (with no follow up), a second call that was dropped immediately (again no follow up), and a missed call after two rings. We called one more time after that but had no success reaching anyone or receiving a call back.

Now the process of getting reimbursed begins. Thanks to all that provided insight into what lays ahead.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by hixxes

Just to follow up, we made it home last night on Delta/ WestJet.

In the end the only communication with AC was the original call that was dropped (with no follow up), a second call that was dropped immediately (again no follow up), and a missed call after two rings. We called one more time after that but had no success reaching anyone or receiving a call back.

Now the process of getting reimbursed begins. Thanks to all that provided insight into what lays ahead.

Let us know how this goes! Reddit and online sources basically say if you book your own flight you are SOL but maybe this is enough of a disruption that they're gonna make a new procedure on it.

I think you'll get it back after a fight, but it might be a long one.

I got through to AC and they rebooked us on another AC flight this friday so hopefully with the strike over I can go home too.

[activeStick]

Was curious if Westjet is taking advantage of the situation and saw that one-way tickets from Calgary to Toronto are about $1,500 for a 17-hr long trip or $2,500 for a direct flight if I book a few days out.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Was curious if Westjet is taking advantage of the situation and saw that one-way tickets from Calgary to Toronto are about $1,500 for a 17-hr long trip or $2,500 for a direct flight if I book a few days out.

Yes they are. Everyone is. I think someone said they've disabled the fully refundable ticket options as well.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Dion

West Jet flight attendants contract is up in December. I suspect they will be watching closely with what happens with Air Canada.

Originally Posted by activeStick

Was curious if Westjet is taking advantage of the situation and saw that one-way tickets from Calgary to Toronto are about $1,500 for a 17-hr long trip or $2,500 for a direct flight if I book a few days out.

Clearly westjet are just trying to be proactive by putting some additional funds in their coffers so that they’ll be able to offer their FAs a nice raise and avoid a dispute. Nothing to see here