Air Canada

[SKFamily]

Anybody worried about this? We just booked our trip to Disneyland on Air Canada the other day. The travel agent assured us it was safe to do. I asked specifically. Now I'm worried. We're booked to go in July.

What happens if Air Canada isn't flying? We've only paid the deposit so far, but I'm sure it's too late to switch airlines and forgo the deposit. The only reason I did Air Canada was because dh was adamant about a direct flight and Air Canada was the only airline that had any. That should have been a big enough clue there.

So I guess if Air Canada is finished, so is our trip. Or do you think I'm worrying over nothing?

 

[Amberle3]

First of all, I wouldn't worry too much about Air Canada going under. Yes they are in financial trouble, there's no doubt about that. But remember that Canada is not the like the US, we don't have dozens of carriers transporting people every day. In fact we really only have 1 national airline, although Westjet is expanding to be pretty close to that. Air Canada is the only Canadian airline with codeshare agreements with US carriers to do regularly scheduled transborder flights currenltly (although Jetsgo does one or two flights a week to Las Vegas and Newark).

The point to all that is that when the Air Canada situation becomes critical, someone (probably the government) will step in to ensure that it continues flying until someone takes it over (in whole or in pieces).

Also, because AC does have codeshare agreements with American carriers it means that United can (and hopefully will) step in to take over those routes.

I have a flight booked to LAX in December with AC myself.

The only thing about your post that confuses me is the mention of direct flights. Are you in SK? I don't see any direct flights on AC to LAX from anywhere in SK. As far as I know (and I could easily be wrong) AC only has direct flights to LAX from Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.

 

[mbb]

and you might want to check on the "directness" of your direct flight...unfortunately, direct doesn't always mean get on this plane, sit in this seat, and stay there until you reach your final destination...that's what non-stop is.

And a non-stop flight from SK to LAX is, as far as I know, non-existent...and I could easily be wrong, as well...call your TA, and check. That's what they are there for

AC has been "on the brink" many times...but too many players at the table have too much at stake...you'll be fine

 

[SKFamily]

Ok. Guess I'll stop panicking now. We're flying out of Calgary. It's cheaper than Regina, we got the direct flight, better choice of flight times, and my parents will look after our dog, take us to the airport and take our vehicle home with them. We'll just travel to their house a couple of days before our flight. I don't really consider the gas driving to their house, because we would have gone there this summer anyway. We'll just get in our visit with them after Disneyland.

I don't have much flight info yet (should be in the mail this week) but we leave at noon and get in at 2:10 - I'm assuming California time, since the agent said the flight is a little over 3 hours. That sounded pretty direct to me - hope I was right.

 

[mbb]

Originally posted by SKFamily
Ok..... the flight is a little over 3 hours. That sounded pretty direct to me - hope I was right.

I would say that you are!!

Happy planning!!

 

[Amberle3]

Originally posted by SKFamily
Ok. Guess I'll stop panicking now.

Definitely stop panicking! And yes, sounds like you're on a direct flight.

I do the trip to Disneyland once or twice a year - I was just there in February. If you have any questions, feel free.

 

[mom_rules]

Glad you posted this thread-I'm a worrier anyway. We're flying AC this Friday and I know most of their flights out are overbooked.
I almost had DH take the van for a tuneup in case we had to drive down!

 

[SKFamily]

They're overbooked?? Why would they do that?

 

[mom_rules]

Apparently, most airlines count on a certain percentage of no-shows for one reason or another. This is why flight bumping usually happens.

 

[SKFamily]

The story has changed... I'm watching the morning news. Travel agents are now NOT recommending booking with AC, and are saying don't plan on travelling with them. I'm calling my agent as soon as they are open to see if we can switch flights or something. EVERY INSTINCT was telling me not to book with them... I should have ignored dh and gone with my instinct.

 

[madonna31]

Rest assured; I am a Disney Specialist travel agent and I ENCOURAGE my clients to fly with Air Canada. This airline really is second to none to all other so-called 'airlines' out there for us Canadians. I don't get why a travel agent would recommend to 'Not' travel with AC when the airline is still running as normal... Do these particular TA's have ESP?!?

A few issues to address on this thread:

1) EVERY SINGLE AIRLINE OVERBOOKS - NOT just Air Canada. Simply for 'no shows' as they always exist.

2) As mentioned by Amberle - IF the situation gets critical (which it won't - this will be settled long before it gets to that point), the government will step in to ensure that it continues flying one way or another as it is our only national carrier.

3) As mentioned by Amberle - AC has sharing agreements with United Airlines; therefore - one option would be that they will step in to take over those routes.

4) Lastly; if you paid for any airlines tickets w/a credit card and did not receive what you paid for...you are covered for it by the CC company as well.

Hope that helps stop the panic.

 

[mom_rules]

Madonna31-can you explain the " if you paid by credit card" part?

 

[mom_rules]

Just called my TA-she said that she would absolutely not worry about booking with AC. If you book through a TA and the airline does go bankrupt she said that the Travel Agencies Compensation Fund compensates you. She could not tell me about the credit card part though.

 

[madonna31]

The credit card part has nothing to do with TA's - just with the individual card companies.

You see; if you ever purchase any goods via credit card and you do not receive them, the CC company is responsible for reimbursing you for what you purchased.

BTW - I would REALLY stop worrying about all of this...there are two other companies interested in Air Canada as we speak...the airline is not going anywhere.

 

[SKFamily]

BTW - it was a Calgary based agency saying "don't book". I haven't called my TA and I don't know if I'm going to - she'll have a nuts enough day. Plus we've only paid the deposit and at this point won't make the final payment until the last possible day. if it turns out we can't go this summer, we'll go back to our original plan of going next March. So there's time to "re-save" any money we may lose. Either way, we'll go.

 

[madonna31]

The only way you could possibly lose that deposit to Air Canada is if you paid by cash and EVEN then - the Travel Agency you booked through can retrieve it for you IF they are a properly registered travel agency.

If you paid via credit card - you will recieve your money back from them.

The only concern I would have in this WHOLE thing is the 'headache' is having to re-book the airline tickets/vacation...

 

[SKFamily]

Even re-booking wouldn't be that much of a headache. We would have plenty of time I would just call the same travel agent way in advance and have her let me know when the deals start coming in. In some ways it might be easier, we would just have to worry about Southern Sask/Alberta weather at the end of March... with the number of blizzards we had this year, that was a time of year I was hoping to avoid travelling during lol. (Nothing much for years, and then three blizzards in a month and lots of freezing rain closing highways... go figure)

Thanks for the info and the reassurance.

 

[madonna31]

Nope - it will only be a headache for your TA...keep in mind - you are one of hundreds of bookings that they would have to change...

Your welcome...glad I could help!

 

[mom_rules]

Yup-I don't think I'd worry. When I called my TA this am I was the first call they had received on this.

 

[Scratch42]

What am I missing here?

At, work and can't DIS, so is there a problem with our flight Friday!

Pls say no!

Scratch