Air Canada Woes - I can't get no satisfaction

[sprmom]

Oh my goodness. Is anyone out there having trouble getting satisfaction through Air Canada? We had an over two hour delay resulting in a missed connection. We are delayed now 8 hours arrival from our original arrival time due to a maintenance issue with the inbound plane. The employees here at the airport (left Halifax, now in Toronto) cant help us out except for rebooking us (2 AD and 2 CH) on the next available flight out with individual seats all around the aircraft (even though we preselected our seats through all flight segments). I understand they don't HAVE to do anything, but I was hoping there was something or someone out there who can make this unpleasant experience a little better. There isn't a phone number to call to speak with anyone who can help, we have been advised to write an email or send a fax. It all seems a little frustrating.

Any thoughts? Has anyone ever got upgraded seats? Lounge passes? Flight credit? Is there a number to call that I am not seeing so we can at least get our seats together so our DDs are not travelling "alone" at midnight?

 

[twinspirit]

Keep raising a stink. Be the squeaky wheel, continuously. Email is great for in writing stuff, but not for immediate results. I dont know what number you have..even the booking line to keep being heard, I have this number

For assistance during your trip, call a customer care agent toll-free:

Most destinations: 1 800 296-3408

IMHO, and I know its going to cost right now, but can you get on a different carrier to your destination? WJ or AA anything? I have recently been in this situation via WJ and although it wasnt handled '100% perfect', in the end, things were made right.

Let me know how its going for you there....

 

[disneymath]

If you get this, go to the AC desk and ask for meal vouchers or to the Maple Leaf lounge. This is the least that should be done for such a long delay. Inquire if a credit for a future flights is possible. When you get home, write to AC customer service. In your letter be specific. Identify the flight numbers and timelines and issues with the planes and inconveniences/difficulties to your family. State that you had paid for seat selection to avoid being split from your kids. Be polite, but state your case.

All that said, I hope the rest of your vacation runs smoothly!

 

[mickeyman42]

Agreed with everything being suggested. We have flight disruptions almost everytime we travel, resulting in us missing connections and being rebooked the next day in most cases. When you do get on the plane see if anyone would seitch seats with you, id even offer to reimburse them for their seat if they preselected it, then when you get home email AC, be very specific and you should be conpensated on some way. We have been by both AC and WJ when it has happened to us

 

[sprmom]

Thanks for the replies. An 8 hour delay was an unpleasant way to start our trip. I just wondered whether it was worth it to pursue this with AC, we really felt that we were treated poorly. I would have loved the Maple Leaf passes, I should have thought to ask for that. We did get meal vouchers but they were small considering the length of our layover covered two meal times for the children.

I will follow up and thank you for the information. A big shout out to everyone on that very late night flight to Atlanta who changed seats for our daughters to be together. Thank you.

 

[keaster]

Another option...call them out on it on social media.

I had an AC issue and sent them a tweet, they responded within two minutes inquiring about the problem and how to fix it.

The airlines are always monitoring Twitter and Facebook for any negative and positive feedback.

 

[bdoyledimou]

don't know about you but my time is worth money. my wife's time is worth money. and my vacation time is worth money. that is a lot of money.
AC should be taking care of you.

 

[Gigi22]

We had a significant delay when flying AC from MCO to Montreal. Looking back, I would have done things differently, but our circumstances were different from yours--two adults flying Business Class.

AC only offered passengers a $100 voucher each, plus meal certificates. You had to apply to receive the vouchers, and I only got ours after contacting AC multiple times. Not a transparent process!

Regardless of what AC claims, we were also re-imbursed cab fare to downtown Montreal, plus our "night" (if from our arrival time at 4 a.m. to nine a.m. counts) at a Montreal hotel prior to the next part of our trip home. Had we considered the situation more carefully at the time, we would have left the boarding area at MCO, obtained our luggage if possible, and checked in at the Hyatt at MCO.

Keep your boarding passes, you will need them to submit a claim. Plus keep any receipts for hotel, transportation, etc. You can, and should, receive multiple food/incidentals vouchers for expenses while at the airport.

 

[minnie56]

Facebook!!!!!! You'd be surprised how fast they want you off of their page !!

 

[disneymath]

Thanks for the replies. An 8 hour delay was an unpleasant way to start our trip. I just wondered whether it was worth it to pursue this with AC, we really felt that we were treated poorly. I would have loved the Maple Leaf passes, I should have thought to ask for that. We did get meal vouchers but they were small considering the length of our layover covered two meal times for the children.

I will follow up and thank you for the information. A big shout out to everyone on that very late night flight to Atlanta who changed seats for our daughters to be together. Thank you.

I'm glad things worked out and your girls didn't have to sit alone on the late flight. Enjoy the rest of your vacation!