My everyday hate for Air Canada - which I share with most Canadians, it seems - has today reached murderous new depths.
I sit here writing this in a cheap Best Western airport hotel, where I have been forced to stay for the night (on a travel voucher) because of Air Canada's spectacular incompetence. I had three flights booked home from Conference City to Scary City - an epic day. I won't get into the boring details, but I was bumped off the second leg of my trip, and can't now get home until tomorrow. This makes me miss both of my classes tomorrow, at a crucial time in the term, with work coming in from them. It means Diamond is without me for another night, and the cat sitter isn't coming in. I don't have any clean socks or underwear left, nor any comfortable clothes. I don't even have any toothpaste left.
The rage I feel is pretty strong. Not least because the people around me were given flight vouchers, and I wasn't. The customer service agent just shook his head sorrowfully at me until I wanted to strangle him. Due to some arbitrary technicality, they are calling mine a "missed connection," when it wasn't. I was there, at the gate, while they were boarding the flight, but they wouldn't let me board. Everything that happened is their fault, and others got compensation, but this bullshit means I didn't. God, I'm angry. This is simply too much.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
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8 comments:
I hope you're writing a long complaint letter. Air Canada sucks!
I once had to throw an absolute tantrum to get on an Air Canada flight. We're talking tears, hysterical yelling, the works. This is very much not my personality, and the poor airport people certainly shouldn't have had to deal with me, but it seemed to be the only way to get on the flight.
It seems that, with Air Canada (and Westjet... and American Airlines... and United... and US Airways --obviously I've been doing some crazy annoying traveling lately) we have to become the terrible people we hate to get the seats WE HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR.
Unfortunately, I haven't figured out a way to change this situation, other than not flying.
Sympathy to you.
You have had a hell of a week my dear! You either need to take up karate, so you can kick some ass, or meditation, so you can let it all go. Perhaps both.
Hang in there, some sunshine must break through the clouds soon. If nothing else it is almost the end of term.
I hope you make it back with your sanity intact.
Psychgrad - Yeah, I thought about an epic complaint letter, but I am sure, judging by people's litany of compaints about them, that they get hundreds of letters a day. That have absolutely no effect.
PFDG - You know, I actually like Westjet a lot, and I *always* fly them when I can. They weren't an option because my conference was in a US city that they don't serve. But I'm been extremely pleased with Westjet, I have to say...
Grumpy - I like the idea of taking up both!
m(mmm) - Yeah, I'm back now, safe and sound. Never thought I'd be so happy to get to Scary City.
Anyway, I have become determined to make an even stronger effort to avoid Air Canada. I.e. if I'm flying to Europe, I'll fly Westjet to some other city where I can get a European carrier. I don't want to give Air Canada another penny. I was already feeling pretty uncharitable about them, anyway. This pushes it over the edge.
I'd visit Germany more often but the Lufthansa/Air Canada partnership is a joke. (There's nothing Lufthansa about it)
The thought of flying into JFK or Heathrow to transfer would throw me into a fit.
AND I'm getting more and more claustrophobic. I guess I'll have to stay put or drink alot.
I feel your pain - I loathe, hate and despise Air Canada. I plan most of my air travel around where Westjet flies.
I did send in a complaint to Air Canada once through their online complaint service and did get a response. Took several weeks, but it might work. If only to relieve your outrage.
Hi,
I have found your blog when i was surfing the net. As I was doing my research, I have also found a great resource for online complaints: Complaint Letters. I think you will find it very interesting and resourceful
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