Air Canada or Westjet for flying to LA?

[BELLEDOZER]

I'm doing research for my trip to DL in Oct/11 (I"m an overplanner, I can't help it). I've noticed that there is very little difference in prices and services between the two airlines, and was wondering those who have flown either airline before what your thoughts are on which is the better airline to fly? I want to support the CDN airlines so I would be flying either one. Any help regarding this would make my decision on which airline to book next year alot easier. TIA

 

[CdnCarrie]

Depends which airport you want. I believe WJ does not fly into John Wayne (Orange County) but Air Canada does.

If you're going to DL John Wayne is close by. LAX is a long drive.

I would always chose WJ if I could but in this case we will be flying AC.

 

[drag n' fly]

WJ. Leather seats ,satellite tv and way better customer service. We got flights for an upcoming trip on WJ for 87 bucks

 

[photomama]

Westjet for us too!!! My family has been bumped off one to many Air Canada flights

 

[erinbharris]

We're flying AC in July...flying into SNA to save us the craziness of LAX. I'd even fly into San Diego before flying into LA...LAX is wayyyyyyy too crazy for us, as is the drive from LA to DL.

Good luck!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Another fact to remember is with WestJet you can purchase the specific seats on your flight for $10.00 each or $15.00 if you pick the exit row. Plus they don't overbook their flights unlike Air Canada, so once you purchase a seat it's yours and that's why I would also choose WestJet.

 

[erinbharris]

I picked my seats on AC...and didn't pay extra.

 

[ykmom]

We flew westjet last year from Edmonotn to LAX. I was worried about flying into LAX, but westjet uses terminal 2 and it was REALLY quiet. Going back there was no line at security. I prefere westjet, but would choose the one with the best times and most direct flight.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

If you can get a direct flight with WestJet then I would go with them. For my upcoming trip it was the same coast to fly direct to LAX with Air Canada vs. fly to Calgary then to LAX with WestJet.

 

[LoveDopey]

We always try to fly WestJet to LAX. It goes to Terminal 2 so it's not as crowded. I find the customer service with Air Canada to be somewhat lacking and on 3 out 5 trips to LAX our plane was late (???) and there was no customer service rep to be found to tell us what was happening. I find with Air Canada as well that they don't seem to schedule maintenance so when it's time to take a plane out of service, it's out of service and you can be left hanging.

 

[damo]

Air Canada now flies direct to SNA. Westjet does not. Personally, I've never had any issues with AC and never noticed Westjet to be any better or worse.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We always try to fly WestJet to LAX. It goes to Terminal 2 so it's not as crowded. I find the customer service with Air Canada to be somewhat lacking and on 3 out 5 trips to LAX our plane was late (???) and there was no customer service rep to be found to tell us what was happening. I find with Air Canada as well that they don't seem to schedule maintenance so when it's time to take a plane out of service, it's out of service and you can be left hanging.

WestJet is actually in Terminal 3 and Air Canada is in Terminal 1, however I do agree the WestJet lines and etc are always much better then Air Canada.

 

[crashbb]

The only flight I've been bumped from in recent years was a WJ flight - so I don't really buy their "we never overbook flights" thing. Of course, the ads they have out right now "care-antee" that my flight will always be one time - I guess they'd have just flown through the volcanic ash. Personally, I have had far worse experiences on WJ than on Air Canada (nothing hugely bad, just annoyances).

That said, I think you will find good and bad stories with either airline. Since it doesn't appear that you are frequent flyer on either airline, I'd base the decision on which airport in LA you want to get to and price.

 

[canadianmommyof2]

I have used both AC and WJ...I prefer WJ for many different reasons. For us we have had several delays/lost bags with AC. Most of the time WJ and AC run the same promos so the price isn't usually the deciding factor for us. Costumer service is much better with WJ in my opinion but if you don't want to fly into LAX then use AC. Good Luck

 

[aristocat65]

Air Canada now flies direct to SNA. Westjet does not. Personally, I've never had any issues with AC and never noticed Westjet to be any better or worse.

OP is in BC. Air Canada does not fly direct (non stop) to SNA from Vancouver. Unless you want to change in San Francisco or Toronto You'll have to fly into LAX. I haven't flown AC in years or ever WJ (we have so many miles with Alaska Air we just use them), but the consensus seems to be WJ. I'd love to try them sometime

 

[damo]

OP is in BC. Air Canada does not fly direct (non stop) to SNA from Vancouver. Unless you want to change in San Francisco or Toronto You'll have to fly into LAX. I haven't flown AC in years or ever WJ (we have so many miles with Alaska Air we just use them), but the consensus seems to be WJ. I'd love to try them sometime

oops...lol

So many people don't have their actual location in their sigs, that I completely forgot to look. I've been so excited that an airline now flies direct into SNA, that I just wanted to share!

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Just throwing this out there, but have you considered flying out of Bellingham or Seattle?

My wife and I did a little DL weekend trip after I found a great deal on Alaska Airlines, flying from Seattle to Ontario. Ontario is a bit further from DL than LAX, but the drive is very easy. It was a great deal, approximately $450 for return flights for 2 adults, including a three day car rental.

FYI, I found that deal by using Travelocity and using the "compare surrounding airports" feature. There are so many airports around both Vancouver and LA, you need to check them all to find the real deals. I just found Air Canada YVR to ONT for $264/pp.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

I live less than 3 miles from the Vancouver International Airport.fFactor that I would be travelling solo, I would tend to fly out of YVR it's so close to where I live. Thanks everyone for the great info regarding the airlines. I will definitely fly Westjet when I head down to DL for my solo DL trip in Oct/11. You are truly greyt DISer's!

Trish

 

[xdramaqueenx]

The only flight I've been bumped from in recent years was a WJ flight - so I don't really buy their "we never overbook flights" thing. Of course, the ads they have out right now "care-antee" that my flight will always be one time - I guess they'd have just flown through the volcanic ash. Personally, I have had far worse experiences on WJ than on Air Canada (nothing hugely bad, just annoyances).

That said, I think you will find good and bad stories with either airline. Since it doesn't appear that you are frequent flyer on either airline, I'd base the decision on which airport in LA you want to get to and price.

I am a little biased when it comes to this question....I happen to be a WestJet flight attendant So I am alllll for you flying with us! That being said...if AC has a better option then you should go with what works for you

I just felt the need to clarify on the quote above...I can't help myself since "I am an owner" (hahah)

We actually do not over-book our flights...EVER...I am truly sorry if you have ever been bumped, the only time that would EVER happen is if a flight attendant gets sick or there is a maintenance problem or some other safety issue...this is know for a fact

and yes we do now have our WestJet care-antee...what that means is that we will do our best to make it up to you if we cannot provide you with something you were "care-anteed"...so no we would never compromise safety...but if your plane can't fly for some reason WJ WILL put you up in a hotel....if the TVs are broken, we may give you a $10 off care-antee card for your next flight... things like that...to prove we care...that is the point of the care-antee

it is cheesy yes...but that is WestJet hahahah

good luck with your trip planning! hope you find the best solution for you!!

 

[crashbb]

I am a little biased when it comes to this question....I happen to be a WestJet flight attendant So I am alllll for you flying with us! That being said...if AC has a better option then you should go with what works for you

I just felt the need to clarify on the quote above...I can't help myself since "I am an owner" (hahah)

We actually do not over-book our flights...EVER...I am truly sorry if you have ever been bumped, the only time that would EVER happen is if a flight attendant gets sick or there is a maintenance problem or some other safety issue...this is know for a fact

and yes we do now have our WestJet care-antee...what that means is that we will do our best to make it up to you if we cannot provide you with something you were "care-anteed"...so no we would never compromise safety...but if your plane can't fly for some reason WJ WILL put you up in a hotel....if the TVs are broken, we may give you a $10 off care-antee card for your next flight... things like that...to prove we care...that is the point of the care-antee

it is cheesy yes...but that is WestJet hahahah

good luck with your trip planning! hope you find the best solution for you!!

The flight that I was bumped from left - full. So, I highly doubt that a flight attendant didn't show up or there was a maintenance problem. Nor could it have been any sort of safety issue - unless they cared about my safety more than the safety of the people that got to get on the flight . Those would all explain canceled or delayed flights - not bumping one (or a couple) passenger(s). So, again, I don't think much of your "fact".

There had been an earlier canceled flight and I assume that someone from that flight got my seat. Totally unjustified, since I had a confirmed seat and had checked in long before the deadline and was at the gate long before that deadline.

Anyway, as I said, I haven't the "amazing WJ" experience that others seem to have (admittedly, I've only been on about 10 WJ flights).

ETA - I should be clear that I am not saying the WJ is the devil incarnate or an evil airline. I am sure that people have even worse stories with other airlines (or even WJ). My experiences wouldn't lead me to tell people to avoid WJ at all - they just make me not a WJ cheerleader. I tend not to be any airline's cheerleader - they all have issues. Actually, the only airline with which I've only had totally positive experiences is Porter. I've never flown them, but their shuttle bus picked me up when my streetcar went out of service (due to an accident).