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Aircraft Crash @ Pearson!!!!!!!!!!! (pg. 9)
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| starsearcher |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
I cannot think of even ONE airline in the world that has greater population and coverage challenges than Air Canada.
Think about it: as our national carrier AC is expected to serve a country of 35 million people - spread along a 7200 km long stretch of North America (distance from Victoria to NFLD).
If AC decided to lower prices and personalize services - they would end up dropping 60% of their domestic routes (a la PEI). |
That is true...that is Canada's big disadvantage...howerver I don't understand why would anyone fly AC to remote destinations when other airlines offer the same services for much less, other than national pride or brand preference...
I'm just appaled how passangers are usually treated on the ground if there are problems...like yesterday for example. You missed all your flights (connectors and etc) because of the air crash, and nobody from AC is going to help you...the best you get is a phone number and you have to do all the work yourself. If I was faced with such a scenario I would never in my life fly with AC again. But with that said I never fly with AC because they are more expensive... |
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| loconet |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
Some might not agree:
June 2, 2005 - AC ranked Best Airline in North America in international survey of air travellers.
January 2005 - AC awarded "Best Airline in Canada" by U.S. Global Traveler magazine.
April 11, 2003 - AC wins honours for: Best Frequent Flyer Program, Best Airline Website.
April 11, 2003 - AC Shortlisted Among Top Four Airlines Worldwide.
February 2003 - AC receives seven nominations for OAG Airline Of The Year Awards 2003. |
lol, yah yah, there was actually a discussion about this in cbc a few days ago. Of course Air Canada is going to be considered the best in North America. Most of North American's airlines are not that great to begin with. Now if you compare Air Canada with airlines from around the world it gets an "average" rating. It has a 3 star rating on Airline quality, rating which is shared by Air India. ;)
Air Canada's website can say whatever they want about their "North American awards", from personal experience, at least when it comes to customer support, AC is far from an award winning company. |
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| starsearcher |
| From my personal experience British Airways has been pretty terrific (but horribly unattractive air hostesses on my flight :p which was a shame), Alitalia has been great...Olympic airlines was alright - good service. El Al is really good but the crazy orthodox jews usually drive me nutts lol... |
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| baystreetboi |
| quote: | Originally posted by starsearcher
That is true...that is Canada's big disadvantage...howerver I don't understand why would anyone fly AC to remote destinations when other airlines offer the same services for much less, other than national pride or brand preference...
I'm just appaled how passangers are usually treated on the ground if there are problems...like yesterday for example. You missed all your flights (connectors and etc) because of the air crash, and nobody from AC is going to help you...the best you get is a phone number and you have to do all the work yourself. If I was faced with such a scenario I would never in my life fly with AC again. But with that said I never fly with AC because they are more expensive... |
I guess they have their good days and bad days. Back on July 31st when their pilots were running short on hours they could legally fly, they had to cancel about 4% of their flights. They knew this was coming up in advance and as a result, had contacted as many passangers as they could a few days beforehand to rebook / reschedule them. In some cases where time was a pressing issue, they even rebooked people on competing airlnies. So in this instance, it's not like they left things to the last minute and had passengers fend for themselves. |
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| rabbitjoker |
| quote: | Originally posted by starsearcher
I don't understand why would anyone fly AC to remote destinations when other airlines offer the same services for much less, other than national pride or brand preference... |
Schedule flexibility.
Sure I can fly to Regina on WestJet for $399 but I have to go to Calgary first (which adds 3+ hours to the trip).
I can also fly to Regina on SkyService for $350 (direct) but they only have two flights a week (Tuesday and Thursday) and I'd rather be shipped FedEx than sit in a cramped charter jet.
No thanks, I'll go for AC's $500.
(plus, the Maple Leaf Lounge in T3 is heaven... try getting in there with a CanJet ticket... ;)) |
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| rabbitjoker |
| quote: | Originally posted by starsearcher
like yesterday for example. You missed all your flights (connectors and etc) because of the air crash |
I'm sure all the passengers on the AF flight are writing their apology notes now... "Sorry for the inconvenience..."
Give me a break - a plane crashed... |
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| starsearcher |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
Schedule flexibility.
Sure I can fly to Regina on WestJet for $399 but I have to go to Calgary first (which adds 3+ hours to the trip).
I can also fly to Regina on SkyService for $350 (direct) but they only have two flights a week (Tuesday and Thursday) and I'd rather be shipped FedEx than sit in a cramped charter jet.
No thanks, I'll go for AC's $500. |
By remote destinations I meant outside of Canada :p |
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| starsearcher |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
I'm sure all the passengers on the AF flight are writing their apology notes now... "Sorry for the inconvenience..."
Give me a break - a plane crashed... |
Yeah but AC had nothing to do with the AF crash...they could help people reschedule and arrange something rather (and I'm saying this becuse that's what people have been saying on the news) give them some phone number to do all the work on their own |
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| Skipper |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
Schedule flexibility.
Sure I can fly to Regina on WestJet for $399 but I have to go to Calgary first (which adds 3+ hours to the trip).
I can also fly to Regina on SkyService for $350 (direct) but they only have two flights a week (Tuesday and Thursday) and I'd rather be shipped FedEx than sit in a cramped charter jet.
No thanks, I'll go for AC's $500.
(plus, the Maple Leaf Lounge in T3 is heaven... try getting in there with a CanJet ticket... ;)) |
I can't remember the last time air canada offered me a flight that was anywhere NEAR a comparable price to that of the discount carriers.
Canjet has a really great selection of flights throughout canada. I've flown with them quite a few times and have always found it to be pleasant.
Air Canada is not THAT superior to the other airlines such that they can justify their premium prices, IMO. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
Schedule flexibility.
Sure I can fly to Regina on WestJet for $399 but I have to go to Calgary first (which adds 3+ hours to the trip).
I can also fly to Regina on SkyService for $350 (direct) but they only have two flights a week (Tuesday and Thursday) and I'd rather be shipped FedEx than sit in a cramped charter jet.
No thanks, I'll go for AC's $500.
(plus, the Maple Leaf Lounge in T3 is heaven... try getting in there with a CanJet ticket... ;)) |
This is why I fly Air Canada! Try to get an open ended ticket on Sky Service or West Jet. Not likely.
And what's all this about having bad service when making changes. I fly to Ottawa on business quite frequently. One day I changed the time of my flight home 4 times.... I was booked for 6pm, changed to 7, then to 8, then to 10, and finally 11. There was no problem in changing these flights (about 5 minutes each phone call). Had I been on any other domestic carrier I doubt it would have been possible for me to get a later flight let alone 4.
Searcher, you should keep in mind that Air Canada is the only Canadian Airline that maintains regular service to most of these distant destinations you speak of. All the flights you get from West Jet to any foriegn port are charter flights. This of course means that if you need to change your return date you can't.... you'll have to forfiet your ticket and purchase another on another airline.
I love AC!
Oh, and the in-flight service is top notch! |
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| starsearcher |
Once again you guys are talking about domestic flights...but international flights are different. I remember my mom booked a flight to Israel with AC - the terms were, no refund, no exchange, no changing flight time without a penalty...the only way you can probabbly get the flight changed is if you died...it was the most rediculous thing I've ever seen. And it was at the time US just invaded Iraq so there were fears that the airport might be closed. So with that in mind AC still didn't allow her to change the flight time/date or cancel...
I can basically tell you to go on any flight reservation website and enter a destination abroad - AC will always come somewhere in the middle price range...
Also if you're a frequent flyer and flying for busines purposes it's a different story (unless you're paying for everything yourself)...many companies have deals with AC...but if you're just a regular traveler you could easily get shafted. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by starsearcher
Once again you guys are talking about domestic flights...but international flights are different. I remember my mom booked a flight to Israel with AC - the terms were, no refund, no exchange, no changing flight time without a penalty...the only way you can probabbly get the flight changed is if you died...it was the most rediculous thing I've ever seen. And it was at the time US just invaded Iraq so there were fears that the airport might be closed. So with that in mind AC still didn't allow her to change the flight time/date or cancel...
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In order to do any of these things you need to buy an open ended ticket.
FYI, if you have to re-book a flight AC will give you credit for the cost of the ticket you had already purchased, I've done this a number of times. |
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