July 23, 2007 @ 09:02
Believe me; I know this is not unique. Everyone has an Air Canada story because simply put, it's just not a very good airline and Friday night a got a large dose of their incompetence.
What was supposed to be a direct flight from Toronto to Atlanta at 5:15, arriving at 7:20 turned into a connecting flight New York, departing at 6:30 and arriving in Atlanta at midnight.
Here's what happened.
Because my wife has an American Express Platinum Card through her work place, we have access to the Air Canada lounge and believe me, it's a nice perk for a beer drinkin', trailer lovin' redneck such as myself.
Anyway, we arrived at the Air Canada lounge at about four o'clock giving us about 45 minutes to have a couple of drinks and as we were showing our credentials at the lounge, the woman at he desk told us our flight had been delayed till six.
"That's odd" I said. "We just checked in and they didn't say anything down there."
"It just happened" said the woman.
No big deal we thought. It would give a little more time in the lounge, and a 45 minute delay was nothing to complain about. The woman told us to be at the gate at 5:30 instead of 4:45.
Me, my wife and our good friend Lori Love enjoyed ourselves in the lounge and about 5:25 made out way to the gate.
I knew there was something wrong as I approached Gate 166 and their appeared to be none there. No one except and Air Canada woman who quickly told me our flight had just left the gate and we had missed it by about three minutes.
"But they me it had been delayed until six" I said.
"I realize that sir, but it was changed back to 5:30 when some bad weather cleared."
"How was I supposed to know that?" I asked.
"We made an announcement throughout the airport" she said.
"But I was in the Air Canada lounge, and I didn't hear a thing."
"Unfortunately sir, nobody made a call to the lounge."
"Why" I asked. "Isn't that part of the deal."
"Normally yes" she replied, "but in this case the call wasn't made. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry. What good do does that do me right now? My flight is on its way to Atlanta and I'm not on it, so what do I do now?
"Go to customer service" she offered.
This story could go on forever, but I'll spare you all the grimy details. Just let me tell you from that point on, it was typical Air Canada arrogance and buck passing.
The guy at customer service was helpful, but he ended up putting us on a connecting flight through La Guardia that we had no chance connecting. We ended up on a nine o'clock flight thanks to Delta Airlines, but no before being tagged at security and having everything done to me just short of having a probe stuck up my ass.
A two hour direct flight turned into a six hour nightmare.
I should also make two other points.
In Toronto I went back to the Air Canada lounge to voice my displeasure with the woman who originally told me about the delay. I pointed out that if she had taken on the responsibility to tell me about the delay, maybe the system should have allowed for some important updates.
She was quick to retort that it wasn't her fault and if I wanted to continue the conversation I could do it with the police.
It seems some airport employees are taking the new security measures a bit too far, I'm not an idiot, I'm an excitable guy, but I hardly raised my voice to the woman - I was just adamant in my argument but she was embarrassed and her defense was to threaten me.
And one last thing. Apparently a major part of new security measures means no bag can be put onto a plane if the passenger doesn't board the plane.
In other words, if Fred Patterson arrives at the airport and checks a bag, and then Fred Patterson doesn't board the plane, then Fred Patterson's suitcase should not be allowed on the plane. Makes sense.
My bag flew to Atlanta, on time, on the original flight. So did my wife's and so did Lori's
How's that for security?
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