Air Canada.....YOU SUCK

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I've always had problems with AC. I'm 6'4 and never have I been so uncomfortable on a flight as I have with Air Canada.

Have you tried getting there early and requesting the exit row? Right over the wings where the emergency exit is; the row is about 4 inches wider. You can't book those in advance; the person checking you in has to size you up to see if you can handle ripping the emergency door open in the event of a crash.

[Flash Walken]

Whenever I fly, I always request an emergency exit row. I'm 6'2, not a particularly big guy, but it always makes such a difference on the flight. I couldn't imagine the flight across the atlantic without being in that seat.

Lik ken said, they expect you to hulk smash that door in case the plane crashes and miraculously you are still alive.

[disco_inferno]

I was flying Air Canada. I was on a dang long ride from TO to the UK and there was a stewardess. I thought they were supposed to be nice. She wasn't. She must have been like 60, and was big and angry too. She hit my shoulder every time she walked by me (she was big). Not only was she rude, she also triped on something, spilled water all over me while i was asleep, and then didn't apologize, offer me napkins, or anything. She just stormed off. So i stole like 15 cans of Coke..It was ok.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Have you tried getting there early and requesting the exit row? Right over the wings where the emergency exit is; the row is about 4 inches wider. You can't book those in advance; the person checking you in has to size you up to see if you can handle ripping the emergency door open in the event of a crash.

Yeah I have, last time I did it, I got there 1.5 hours before the flight and they were already taken.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Air Travel.

People who complain about the plane being late - a note: airlines are only obligated to get you to your destination within 24 hours (read the legal jargon on the ticket)...............

Are you in the airline industry?

I was once talking to a a guy who is (a guy I know, in a social setting) and he answered a lot of questions like you did above.

"Well, you got here, we did our part, so what are you complaining about"?

That was the gist of it. No matter what the complaint. The food sucked? "At least you got food". The plane was late? "Better late than never". The staff was rude? "It's a hard job with people complaining all the time".

I wanted to slap him. As long as you got from A to B and didn't die in the process, he figured that was enough.

This was a long time ago though. Maybe things have changed. It doesn't sound like it. I've watched that "reality show" about that Yank airline and usually have to flip the channel because I feel the urge to choke one of the smug employees who can't figure out why a guy who got bumped from his flight and is going to miss his brother's wedding would be a little unhappy and not excited about sleeping in the airport.

[jam26]

While we're on the subject, while you were sitting there I was flying from Toronto to Portland via Chicago on United. I enjoyed a nice glass of wine and when I asked for another, the stewardess looked at the bottle I had just enjoyed and said "This stuff isn't very good, I'll be right back."
She soon returned with two full cups of the good stuff from first class and wouldn't accept my money.
It's a small gesture but one that will make me go out of my way to fly United over AC in the future.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I love to fly, but don't get to do it nearly as often as I'd like. I've had only good experiances with both AirCanada, WestJet, and CanJet... now realize I love the airline industry (follow it a bit as a hobby) so not much can really make me upset. I'll look for the longest connecting time so I can spend more time in an airport (I'm a very odd individual I know).

When I flew Moncton to Calgary on WestJet I found the flight attendants were great, laid back, and relaxed, something that I thought was great. A rude or cold flight attendant really makes the flight less enjoyable.

I once was bumped to first class on an AirCanada flight from Montreal to Halifax, that was amazing. It was still only on a BaE 146 but still, more room, it's as if you have a personal servant as a flight attendant, and again friendly and laid back.

I flew CanJet from Halifax to Montreal and found it fine, it's a discount airline, but was ontime, they held the plane for us while we got caught trying to get through security. However a friend of mine did discover that if you call a flight attendant "waiter" and snapping your fingers when you want a beer, they don't like that too much.

I'm booked with CanJet flying to Ottawa over the St Patty's Day weekend. My bro just flew CanJet to Ottawa for his spring break and had no complaints. There was a delay in Halifax, but I believe it was for everyone, not just his plane.

I'll let you know how things go on CanJet for me this time around.

[Rakiet]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

I had the same problem as well.

In November, I was on my way from Calgary to Hong Kong to visit my relatives. The Flight from Calgary to Vancouver was perfectly fine... Then the Vancouver - Hong Kong flight wasn't so pleasent. it is frigging JAM PACKED. Why? you ask... Because of the Star Alliance and the low demand to Thailand at the time... they put the Vancouver to Hong Kong along with those going from Vancouver to Thailand flight (Hong Kong transfer, same plane) together taking up absolutely every single seat possible.

Ok, then next time they'll just send up two airplanes at 45% capacity.....comon what are you complaining about. If they use the above logic your ticket would go up by 250% in price

Originally Posted by STeeLy

Then return flight was even worse.
The Captain or First Officer of the Hong Kong - Toronto (Direct) was sick and couldn't fly... obviously no replacement pilots or anything... so they stuck them on the Hong Kong - Vancouver flight and they will transfer at Vancouver. That packed the plane up a little bit, then The Thailand thing once again! So some people who had seats on their plane had to change airlines and delayed their return. Then the Vancouver - Calgary flight was horrific. There was snow in both Vancouver and Calgary. The Hong Kong Flight was delayed as well, and some people connect to a 1:00 PM Vancouver - Calgary flight but the Hong Kong flight came in at like 12:30 and they couldn't get to that connector flight in time. So Air Canada decides to push them down to the 2:00 flight (which I was originally booked to get) and that flight was supposed to leave at 2:00 PM but first they had to switch aircrafts to accomodate a bigger mass (older 767 I believe) and they we had to sit in the plane for 3 friggin hours while they wait in line for de-icing. Really Screw Air Canada.

You want to die next time? haha.........I think its the weather that you really hate and not airlines man. Their doing their best to cut costs and integrate it with scheduling and the weather. Their losing money the way it is so they have every right to "pack the planes"

Originally Posted by STeeLy

And Speaking of U.S. Airlines... I don't even wanna talk about them.

I don't know where your going with this man, you just seem frustrated and are venting, if your really serious about what you said then try taking trains or boats.

[STeeLy]

Actually, about U.S. Airlines... it wasn't really the airlines fault but rather the fault of the company we booked it through. Though, I strongly recommend continental for their service (the only good US one)

In Early Janurary, my family was off to a cruise to the Carribean... so the flights were booked through the Cruise company.

So the flight departs Calgary at around 6:30 AM, but the flight was delayed by 3 hours, so I won't blame them for that. United Airlines did their best to find us an open flight that departs from Calgary and flies to Fort Lauderdale whether Directly or Indirectly... They transferred us over to Continental to go through Dallas then over to Fort Lauderdale. However, that flight leaves in about 30 minutes (7:30)... the US and their homeland security thing was a pretty big mess, but the Calgary airport did a good job, separating people who are departing before and after 7:00, letting the people who depart first go first. But here's the deal, the group that we're travelling with, they had a group of 8 and after United put us on Continental, there wasn't anymore room so United went over to American Airlines, they had room so they went over, BUT... there was a huge line up leading to the AA counter and their flight also leaves at the same time. Now, because their flight leaves that quickly, they could have easily directed them up to an open counter, check them in quick and go through the US homeland security stuff so they could catch their flight, but... they didn't do that, so the missed that AA flight completely. They went back to United Airlines and complained... so then... UA went over to Air Canada, asked if they had room and they did, but it doesn't leave for another 3 or 4 hours... (I think this almost surprised me) they let them sit in the lounge for that time duration until their flight leaves, but they transfer at T.O. and they had to sprint their butts to the TO - Florida gate because that flight leaves within 45 minutes of the Calgary plane arriving, they caught the flight to Florida, but their luggage didn't so they had to grab a taxi to the airport in the morning, pick up their luggage. I think that the least Air Canada could have done (or UA for that matter) was pay for the taxi.

The moral of that is: When booking for a cruise, book the plane ticket yourself incase the airline does overbook their flights.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Rakiet

You want to die next time? haha.........I think its the weather that you really hate and not airlines man.

I think the point was it shouldn't take 3 hours to de-ice a plane. I've flown Calgary to Winnipeg and back a lot. In both cities de-icing is a 5 minute delay just before the plane backs up from the jetway.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

but their luggage didn't so they had to grab a taxi to the airport in the morning, pick up their luggage. I think that the least Air Canada could have done (or UA for that matter) was pay for the taxi.

Wow. Last time my luggage didn't arrive with me, the airline brought the luggage to my hotel, free of charge.

I think the point was it shouldn't take 3 hours to de-ice a plane. I've flown Calgary to Winnipeg and back a lot. In both cities de-icing is a 5 minute delay just before the plane backs up from the jetway.

Usually it's the wait for a de-icing truck that takes forever. De-icing trucks are run by the airport, not the airlines, so you can blame the airport you're at if they take too long. I'm really surprised though if they de-iced your plane in 5 minutes - it usually takes 45 minutes total at best. You probably caught the final de-icing before take-off - most airports will start de-icing before passengers board.

I hate flying.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally Posted by Indi

I used to hate AC like everyone else....then I took a job transfer that rotates me out to the middle east every five weeks.....business class is something else on air canada...they treat a person like gold!....the pillows are still free, the port and cheese is a nice touch, but the best thing is the after dinner freshly baked cookies with hagen daaz ice cream......

Boo, my Honolulu to Vancouver flight was a red eye. It was fun having maybe 10 minutes sleep only to wake up to Horrid Waffles and MASHED POTATOES!!!!

[BerubeHater]

I have flown Singapore Airlines a few times and it is by far the best airline I have ever flown. If I were you, I would fly to Vancouver just to fly SA. My flights had unlimited free boozes, awsome meals, tv's and video games in every seat and the service was the best ever.