Just in case there are Canadians here, beware of Air Canada

[FatCow]

No more Air Canada for me.

It started from my original booking for a return flight of December 13 2004, which then changed by AC to December 12th at 5.45pm, then changed again to 7pm, then to 3:30, then to 1:25, then to 10:30, then back to January 13th at 1:25pm.

(that does not include the 4 time changes of my departure times)

3 hours later, when I tried checking it online, it says "you do not have any bookings"

Then I called my travel agent... she can't find my file.

Neither can Air Canada.

Basically... I'm F&*%ed

I may not even be able to go to WDW even though I've paid for every single thing.

 

[Mortlives]

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble, but it sounds like your TA may be more than a little to blame. She can't find your file? That's inexcusable. Did you get a receipt, e-ticket or printed ticket? If you have any of these, they should be honourable. How did you pay? Do you have a credit card statement showing a payment to AC? Did your TA give you an itinerary?

Maybe someone on the boards who is a travel agent can explain what your TA's obligations to you are? If she booked it, I wouldn't think it would be you that was out of pocket.

Good Luck!
Morticia.

 

[Hippychickali]

Sorry to the Travel Agents in the room but let this be a lesson to you:

Never use a Travel Agent.

I have heard a lot of Air Canada horror stories but I'm a very frequent traveler (with AC of course...not a lot of option here) and have never had any major problems. I've also always booked things myself.

Ali

 

[FatCow]

Originally posted by Mortlives
I'm sorry you're having so much trouble, but it sounds like your TA may be more than a little to blame. She can't find your file? That's inexcusable. Did you get a receipt, e-ticket or printed ticket? If you have any of these, they should be honourable. How did you pay? Do you have a credit card statement showing a payment to AC? Did your TA give you an itinerary?

Maybe someone on the boards who is a travel agent can explain what your TA's obligations to you are? If she booked it, I wouldn't think it would be you that was out of pocket.

Good Luck!
Morticia.

No, she can find the file on her (TA) server, but not on AC server she accessed through the TA's server.

I have all the receipts, e-tickets (printed) and paid via credit card (and have the receipts for everything).

Everything was fine until around 5pm yesterday when everything disappeared (and still not showing now, more than 12 hours later).

 

[Mortlives]

If you have a ticket, this should be solveable. Even if it's disappeared from their computer, you have proof. Also, this should be your TA's problem, not yours. I wouldn't think you should be worried about this, she should be talking to AC customer service and getting it straightened out.

AFAIK, if you have a ticket that you've paid for, it must be honoured, computer glitch or no. Even if this is not the case, AC's site shows seats available for flights for your departure and return dates. At worst, you book new flights, and have your credit card company charge back the first charges.

The prices may be a little different, though.

Good Luck!
Morticia.

 

[KittyKitty]

As an ex travel agent, I'm going to be biased.

From what I'm reading the travel agent is not the problem.

Unless you were not informed of all the changes. Usually if you book a flight 6 months or more ahead, there will be schedule changes. The agent receives each change notice, and good ones(travel agents) will be on the phone seeing what the options are, even before you are contacted.

There is no reason you should be paying more for your flight. The airline made the change/cancellation, and your agent ,hopefully, is talking to them about this. Agencies have connections, especially if they do a lot of business with an airline, and usually can get everything cleared up.

Lets us know what happened.
Susan
PS. Never say never. Just make sure you have a good agent.

 

[FatCow]

I personally don't think it's the TA's fault either. She's being more than helpful to try to sort this thing out. I'll contact her soon after I get out from my upcoming meeting.

 

[Mortlives]

I'm not blaming your agent, now you've explained what file she can't find, but I am saying that the reason people go to TAs is so they can solve the problems, and you don't have to worry. So, you shouldn't be worrying, the problem should definitely be solveable, without you having to fret.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[PneumaticTransit]

Originally posted by Hippychickali
Sorry to the Travel Agents in the room but let this be a lesson to you:

Never use a Travel Agent.

I have heard a lot of Air Canada horror stories but I'm a very frequent traveler (with AC of course...not a lot of option here) and have never had any major problems. I've also always booked things myself.

Ali

Sorry to the TAs on the board, but I would have to agree... I book my own flights and hotels and get them easier and cheaper than TAs have quoted me. I have never had any problems.

And as a former Front Desk cashier... I have had countless guests hand me a travel voucher from their TA office that they have paid in full only to find their TA forgot to book the room/booked the wrong hotel/booked the room and then cancelled the reservation/guarenteed them amenities that we don't even have a the hotel... etc.. etc.. etc... We had to basically tell the guests "Sorry, there's nothing I can do - it's between you and your travel agent".

If you do use a TA, make sure it's someone you or a friend has used successfully before. Don't just walk into a random office and hand them thousands of dollars for a vacation. And once you get your confirmation from them, call the airline and hotel directly to confirm.
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But I agree, this should be handled by your TA - that's what you paid them for. If she has your original file and proof that you paid, you are entitiled to a refund or credit for another booking with Air Canada.

 

[4orm]

and there shouldn't be a problem as long as you have a res. number. AC should/will honour an E-tkt for the proper dates you paid for as long as there are ticket numbers, and a reservation code/number.
Ticket numbers are 12 -13 digits long, and your reservation/booking reference is 6 letters and numbers long. If you have these they should be able to fine you in their system. ALWAYS get this information when you book either online, through a TA or over the phone.