Air Canada questions

[Daisy-J&D]

It seems like everyone is flying out of the states for the cheap prices but we went with AC because I'm a nervous flyer and I didn't want to drive to Buffalo before the flight.

I'm hoping someone can give me a pep talk? Is AC ok with kids? Friendly, helpful, etc or are we in for it? I don't think they're going to gate check our stroller which I'm already a bit concerned about (Phil and Ted's Smart buggy). Also, we're leaving at 8:30 pm, has anyone been on this flight? I've only ever been on "crack of dawn" flights.

Any info would be great! I'd like to know as much as I can before I get there.

Thank you (;

 

[Disney Daniel]

No experience flying AC with kids, however I have done the 8:30pm Toronto-Orlando flight several times and especially if you and your children don't mind being up a bit later it can be a good thing. In my experience it tends to be a quieter flight than those flights traveling to MCO during the day and the airport will be less busy when you arrive which is helpful when you have little ones in tow as there is less chance of being run over in a packed terminal.

Like I said, no experience using Air Canada with kids however as an airline itself I have no complaints. I tend to fly Star Alliance when I travel so I am pretty familiar with US Airways, United, etc. and I tend to prefer the AC experience over the American Star Alliance carriers. I imagine the AC seat back televisions will be helpful for your kids on your flight as well.

Enjoy.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Aircanada is fine with kids .... one of the best.

 

[Daisy-J&D]

Thank you for your replies! I had done a bit of googling and saw a lot of people complaining about AC and started to worry we'd made the wrong choice and should have gone with West Jet. Unfortunately their flights/prices didn't match up with our travel dates. With AC we got Sat-Sat direct flight for $400 pp tax incl.

 

[corster]

AC doesn't have a reputation for good customer service, but besides WestJet or Southwest i'd have trouble naming you an airline who actually has a reputation for good customer service.

They do have a reputation for having a good in-flight product (compared to most other North American airlines, anyways). The personal TV's are great for kids (AC has a selection of Movies vs. Livetv on WestJet), just don't forget to bring your own headphones for each person - the ones AC sell aren't great.

 

[gilsan]

I have flown frequently with my DD on Air Canada and they are great. We always have gate checked her stroller with no problem. If you are traveling with a car seat (not a booster) you can bring it on board for yor child to sit in.

As far as customer service I personally would choose Air Canada over West Jet. Last time we flew down to Orlando via WJ and back on AC. I had never really thought there was much difference, but the customer service was night and day between those flights. The AC staff were more friendly. I have never found WJ staff to be very good and I am usually disappointed with their service.

Plus as a PP said you also get the Air Canada entertainment system which is far superior.

 

[Daisy-J&D]

Gilsan, what kind if stroller are you using. I seem to be finding conflicting info that some people are getting to the gate with non-umbrella folding where others must check. Our stroller meets the height requirements but exceeds the width and does not umbrella fold. DD is only going to be 21 months so I'm worried about carrying her through the airport. That said, our current stroller is the only stroller she'll sit still in and not fight to get out of. (;

 

[gilsan]

Most recently I used a chicco umbrella-type stroller, but I did fly Air Canada using a full size Graco travel system stroller and had no trouble gate checking the stroller. It was a pain to get through security but nice to have in the terminal.

Every time I traveled I told them I was gate checking I didn't ask. I think you will have no trouble. Another choice would be to check in and when you get to the gate ask for a tag for the stroller at the desk there.

 

[dis_guy]

I have flown frequently with my DD on Air Canada and they are great. We always have gate checked her stroller with no problem. If you are traveling with a car seat (not a booster) you can bring it on board for yor child to sit in.

As far as customer service I personally would choose Air Canada over West Jet. Last time we flew down to Orlando via WJ and back on AC. I had never really thought there was much difference, but the customer service was night and day between those flights. The AC staff were more friendly. I have never found WJ staff to be very good and I am usually disappointed with their service.

Plus as a PP said you also get the Air Canada entertainment system which is far superior.

I agree about AC over WJ. The surliest gate agent I've ever come across was with WJ at YEG. She was just down right rude. On my last flight with them the FAs spent way more time sitting in the rear jump seats chatting and reading than they did tending to passengers.

Oddly, I've found the nicest people working for (I know, I know, there are complaints everywhere) United of all places. The UAL people I've had contact with are friendly and really wanted to help. In one case I screwed up and didn't have seats selected for the second leg of our trip so was told to report to the GA for seat assignment. She was great, addressed me by name, told me they were expecting us and quickly gave us E+ seats at no extra cost. Good service in my books.

 

[gilsan]

I agree about AC over WJ. The surliest gate agent I've ever come across was with WJ at YEG. She was just down right rude. On my last flight with them the FAs spent way more time sitting in the rear jump seats chatting and reading than they did tending to passengers.

Oddly, I've found the nicest people working for (I know, I know, there are complaints everywhere) United of all places. The UAL people I've had contact with are friendly and really wanted to help. In one case I screwed up and didn't have seats selected for the second leg of our trip so was told to report to the GA for seat assignment. She was great, addressed me by name, told me they were expecting us and quickly gave us E+ seats at no extra cost. Good service in my books.

I agree United does have very nice FA, my husband recently flew Continental and also said the customer service was good. The US planes just are not as nice as Canadian planes.

 

[CanuckTraveller]

Haven't flown to Orlando with them (that was US Air!) but we did fly them to Cuba and they were great. The kids were 2 and 4 at the time, on a 6am flight. The flight attendants asked us as soon as we were on board what they could do to help, and were great with getting milk and cups for the boys to eat breakfast as soon as they were able. The individual touch screens are great for in flight entertainment, just be warned that little ones won't be able to reach the screen unless in a car seat. DS1 is tall for his age and barely reached them sitting in the seat (he was too big for his car seat).
I can't help you with the gate check, we had an umbrella stroller and it was fine.
This being said, I hope WestJet isn't that bad, we're using them to fly to Tampa in Jan/12

 

[dis_guy]

Haven't flown to Orlando with them (that was US Air!) but we did fly them to Cuba and they were great. The kids were 2 and 4 at the time, on a 6am flight. The flight attendants asked us as soon as we were on board what they could do to help, and were great with getting milk and cups for the boys to eat breakfast as soon as they were able. The individual touch screens are great for in flight entertainment, just be warned that little ones won't be able to reach the screen unless in a car seat. DS1 is tall for his age and barely reached them sitting in the seat (he was too big for his car seat).
I can't help you with the gate check, we had an umbrella stroller and it was fine.
This being said, I hope WestJet isn't that bad, we're using them to fly to Tampa in Jan/12

No, WJ isn't "bad". Mostly just not as much better as their advertising likes to suggest. We always fly them from Edmonton to Hamilton when visiting family in Niagara. Sure beats flying into Pearson and dealing with the GTA! You'll be fine with them.

 

[Daisy-J&D]

Sigh of relief... I need nice FA just in case I'm a basket case. haha

Too bad the inflight doesn't appear to have Disney Junior. I'll still have to bring my iPhone with episodes of Oso and MMCH for DD! We're not a Treehouse family!!

 

[gilsan]

Sigh of relief... I need nice FA just in case I'm a basket case. haha

Too bad the inflight doesn't appear to have Disney Junior. I'll still have to bring my iPhone with episodes of Oso and MMCH for DD! We're not a Treehouse family!!

They do have kids programming and movies on the inflight system. Kept DD entertained for the whole trip. We found the iphone to be handy during meals, (especially at signature restaurants), she could watch a movie if she wanted while we ate it gave her some decompression time after the parks all day.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'll admit that I haven't flown AC in a long time (fly out of the US most times) but have never had any trouble with any airline in gate checking my Peg Perego Uno stroller. It is not an umbrella folding stroller. I'd be surprised if they gave you any grief. I wouldn't even ask about it if I were you. I've never thought to ask and have gate checked it on more than 15 flights with a variety of airlines. I've seen many larger strollers being picked, including some doubles, at the airplane exit and never any trouble. On more than one occassion a SW pilot has even seen me waiting for my stroller and gone down the outside stairs to retrieve it for me himself! Now that's customer service!

Hope this helps ease some of your concerns.

Also, I did fly AC once with my DD and they were amazing! It was when we were returning from China after I'd adopted her and there were 10 babies in our group (ranging from my DD at 8mos. up to 22 mos.) and they couldn't have been any more helpful. A couple of the flight attendants even stopped to talk to my entourage (heh...more than 50 people waiting at the Toronto airport) to say that she'd met my DD and that we were on our way! Yes, the AC staff were great with us!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

We've never flown on AC or WJ on our trips to Orlando. We find that the US carriers have cheaper flights and have better flight schedules for us. Also for us, flying on a US carrier, we clear US customs here in Edmonton. With AC or WJ, we would need to stop in either Calgary or Toronto/Ottawa, gather our luggage and go through US customs there, then re-check our luggage. While we're all for supporting Canadian businesses, the hassle of another stop-over isn't worth it for us, especially when we can get cheaper flights and better flight schedules with a US carrier. YMMV

 

[michelle1]

Bring some snacks....AC gives out NOTHING except non alcohic beverages. You can purchase food onboard but a little pricey. On our way to California a few years ago we had a mechanical delay and sat on the tarmac for 2 hours waiting to take off and they still didn't offer us anything while we were waiting. Also, in the last few years I have flown a few times with them and not once did we leave on time although maybe that's just my bad luck. Once on board, however, it's comfortable and inflight entertainment is a huge bonus with kids.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Bring some snacks....AC gives out NOTHING except non alcohic beverages. You can purchase food onboard but a little pricey. On our way to California a few years ago we had a mechanical delay and sat on the tarmac for 2 hours waiting to take off and they still didn't offer us anything while we were waiting. Also, in the last few years I have flown a few times with them and not once did we leave on time although maybe that's just my bad luck. Once on board, however, it's comfortable and inflight entertainment is a huge bonus with kids.

Actually I don't believe any of the airlines offer snacks anymore ... that is unless you are in 1st class

 

[gilsan]

We had snacks on both of our last flights with AC and WJ. They were bits and bites or cookies. Now that I am thinking about it it may have just been WJ.

 

[DeniseinNS]

We flew to Orlando (from Halifax) on AC last year with 2 kids and they were wonderful. Don't worry, everything will go fine.