Westjet Lost My Luggage

[STeeLy]

Thinking about this, I actually have to laugh.

I'm not going to say which Airline was better. I've flown on both plenty of times, and they both have their good and bad. I've had 3 hour delays with Air Canada, I've also had 3 hour delays with WestJet. I haven't had my bags lost with WestJet yet, but I've had them delayed for Air Canada (I was not pleased with that, but that's a whole different story.)

What I've thought about, however, was... if the OP needed it, why did he not bring his suit as a carry on? You could easily go out and buy a bag that's made for suits so you can bring it on the plane. If there's one thing I learned, it's that if there is anything that I absolutely need when I'm there, I'm not risking it by checking it in.

[browna]

Never had an issue with WestJet, and had meh luck with Air Canada. Had delayed flights seemingly every 2nd or third trip (like our 2h delay leaving Hawaii a few weeks back, missing our YVR connection and having to spend the night), and delayed bags (LAS) over the past couple years.

5 years ago, a brother of a buddy's of mine had his bag travel north america after it didn't get on his plane, connecting in Winnipeg to go the Domincan. It showed up back at his house in Vancouver, after he got home, 9 days later, thus missing all his more formal clothes for his sisters wedding.

Don't care about entertainment options (although the live TV on WJ was useful if there was Stamps or Flames games on), as we usually bring our own movies on own devices.

Unrestricted (as far as content) Wifi has to be the next step, it just has to. Plus, it should be free..the Airlines missed the boat on charging for wifi like hotels have the past few years, and hotels are starting to see it as a necessity and not charge it as an extra, ridiculous, fee (although I am under no delusion that they are not passing on that cost in increased room rates).

Air Canada does seem to have more leg room and wider seats...but only if you get on an actual Air Canada plane. As soon as you get shuffled into the Star Alliance like United, things go downhill in a hurry, and most US carriers like Delta, Alaska, and especially US Air, are no better then the charter planes they fly in Canada from my experience.

Price wise, pretty much the same; as mentioned, companies usually match each other, and with either company, you have to get lucky to get the smoking deals, but they are there. WJ used to have more direct flights for the same price as connections, and some places (like Palm Springs), its a lot easier to get to direct for the same price as connecting in SLC or LAX through Air Canada.

All things being exactly equal, I would likely still pick WestJet. Even though I usually overpack, I can't imagine going anywhere for less then 4 days and not just carrying on...and those trips where luggage is checked, a basic change of clothes is essential on the carry one.

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by The Big Thirsty

That thing looks awesome. What does it retail for?

I think I paid somewhere around $100-150 for it at Men's Wearhouse in the U.S., so Moores should have it for somewhere around that price. You might be able to do a little better if you shop around online.

It's not cheap, but it's definitely worth it if you fly for business often.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

I'm always amazed my luggage manages to follow me around through various airports and almost always - but not quite - ends up where I do at the same time.

It seems like a miracle.

I don't stress too much on a lost suitcase. As long as I've got a credit card, a passport and a drivers licence, I'm in business.

Cancelled flights and lost travel days are what tick me off. Time is valuable.

Cowperson

At least WestJet is good for that. They will take off in weather that other airlines won't if you recall the incident in Kelowna this winter when Air Canada cancelled their flights and WestJet opted to go ahead only to have one of their planes slide off the runway.

[photon]

The one time I had a flight cancelled was with WestJet, and they didn't even call me. I only found out because I had checked the flight status one last time as I was heading out to grab a taxi to the airport. Didn't get anything for it either.

[jammies]

All this anecdotal evidence is not helping me make up my mind. I think there should be a poll!

[crazy_eoj]

I have often traveled on both Airlines and by far the majority of my poor experiences are with Air Canada (domestically, internationally I think they are quite good especially compared to the American airlines).

Air Canada has bumped me off several flights, lost my baggage and not returned it for over a week, and usually has much worse in flight service although that seems to have improved in the past couple years.

I've seen many Westjet employees, flight attendants especially, going above and beyond to make passenger more comfortable, change seats, store baggage, etc. If I have the choice I always choose Westjet just because their employees really do seem to care.

[PeteLFan]

I tried changing a connecting flight to a direct flight with westjet. The connecting flight was with American Airlines when I got to the westjet desk they told me they can't help me that I had to ask American to make the changes. Well I booked the flight through them I got nothing from American everything was westjet including the flight I was trying to get, I had no clue why I would deal with American. No help at all.

[lucky1]

Air Canada just unveiled the new 3 class 777's that will be heading into service in the near future... Economy or Y class will now be a 3-4-3 configuration vs the previous 3-3-3 config... This will reduce seat widths by 3 inches and reduce seat pitch to 28 :-(
On the other hand, good to see a premium economy class making an appearance at AC ( and westjet soon). I've flown TK premium economy and it was well worth the extra $$$ above standard Y

[Bigtime]

Bloody cattle-cars those new 77W's...

Unfortunately 10 abreast in Y is becoming the norm and not the exception.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by photon

The one time I had a flight cancelled was with WestJet, and they didn't even call me. I only found out because I had checked the flight status one last time as I was heading out to grab a taxi to the airport. Didn't get anything for it either.

This happened to my wife - found out when we got to the airport. We persevered in our complaining (emailed to the the VP I think) and got a $250 voucher.

[The Big Thirsty]

Originally Posted by lucky1

Air Canada just unveiled the new 3 class 777's that will be heading into service in the near future... Economy or Y class will now be a 3-4-3 configuration vs the previous 3-3-3 config... This will reduce seat widths by 3 inches and reduce seat pitch to 28 :-(
On the other hand, good to see a premium economy class making an appearance at AC ( and westjet soon). I've flown TK premium economy and it was well worth the extra $$$ above standard Y

How is anyone that is a bigger person ever going to fly if they reduce the seat width by 3 inches? I'm not even talking fat either, i'm talking just a big guy. I don't even think a normal sized person could fit their ass into an airplane seat that is 3 inches smaller.

[Acey]

Just to provide the actual numbers on seat width as opposed to "seem to have wider seats..."

All WestJet seats are 17" wide, 32" pitch on the 737-600 and -700 (34" inches pitch on the 737-800 which is 19 planes of 101 total)
Relevant AC planes: 18" wide on the Embraer 190 which sees a lot of YYC flying, and 17.83" wide on the Airbus A319/320/321. 17" wide on the CRJ's and Dash 8's, though the smaller cabins of those planes make them seem more cramped to most.

Personally, I'm taking an Embraer even if the Boeing had 20" wide seats... 2x2 seating > 3x3 seating any day of the week. May middle seats rot.

[the wanderer]

i have had the opportunity to fly both airlines. I have also dealt with both of their customer service centres.

As someone else said this is all anecdotal.

In my personal dealings I have found the Westjet staff to be much better. I have had 2 exceptional dealing with Westjet. I have also had one bad dealing with westjet. The 2 exceptional and numerous good dealings well outweigh my one bad experience.

With Air Canada I have personally had either good or acceptable service. I have never had bad experiences but I have also never had anyone go above and beyond like many westjet employees have tried to.

[MelBridgeman]

Some of you guys are just mean!!!

WE WANT the cheapest ticket and tip top service and no mistakes

cause i don't make mistakes....

but ticket better be cheap

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Random WJ story: we were flying to Chicago last year and I believe the plane was a little late coming in so the WJ person working at the gate -- a girl probably in her early 20's -- proceeds to "entertain" the crowd by performing a solo dance/song routine including an interpretive dance. It literally lasted for a good four to five minutes. And to make things extra awkward, there was not one single clap at the end. Dead silence.

That's because most of WJ employees are hitting the bong in between flights.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Guy I work with called up Westjet and said "I'm
flying to Halifax but I want my bag to go to Toronto." The customer service rep says "I'm sorry, we can't do that". He asks "Why not? You did it last week"

[Acey]

Ha! They generally like you to be on the same plane as your bag so you don't blow the plane to smitherines with the contents of your luggage.

[pylon]

I love the attitude of Westjet FA's. They act like they are some sort of Special forces detail working for the Bill Gates orphan-super-cancer-AIDS-curing foundation. Just ask one, they will tell you how awesome they are, and how they OWN an airline.

You are a 14 dollar an hour sky-busboy.

#######s never comped me for busting my lens. I am AC going forward. Their lack of responsibility for their sky-busboy blatantly throwing my camera bag into another bin, when 3 other passengers saw it, was brutal. EAD Westjet.

[FlamesAddiction]

I actually know someone who had scalding tea water spilled on her by a WJ flight attendant. She still has scars all over her stomach from it.

When she called the airline to complain and hopefully get some type of apology or compansation, they told her that they couldn't talk to her or do anything for her. She wasn't going to take it to court, but she ended up doing it just because of their crappy attitude about it.