An ugly end to a great Negril week-AC1699

[thepegboy]

I have never before had an experience like this, how about you?

About 100 Winnipeggers and myself were seated on Air Canada flight AC1699 Feb. 14 afternoon, in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The pilot informed us that they had to check a maintenance issue, and we’d be departing in twenty minutes.

Three hours later, we were told ‘the plane isn’t going anywhere today’, and we were herded into the airport to wait, and were told either parts or another plane will be sent right away. 90 minutes later, we were told that we’d have to stay overnight in Mobay, and we’d get our flight in the morning. We were shuffled to hotels without our luggage.
In the morning, we were informed that we’d be sent to Toronto or Montreal this afternoon/evening, where we’d connect to Winnipeg.

On arrival in Toronto, we were told we’d have to stay until morning, when we’d get our connections. We were shuttled around freezing Toronto (some of us had only shorts and sandals) to hotels to await early morning flights. We arrived in Winnipeg Monday morning, two days after “departure”.
I’m all for safe flying and have no problem with maintenance. I question WHY Air Canada didn't fix or send a replacement plane, instead of putting us through two days of waiting and stress. It was financial I'm sure.
I question why they lied to us repeatedly...I guess we would have rioted if they told us Saturday afternoon, that we'd get home monday.

The upshot: Air Canada doesn't care about its customers.
DO NOT FLY AIR CANADA, YOU WON'T BE HAPPY!

[takinitslow]

That sucks I know when my trip is over I am sad to leave but want to get home and not 2 days later.

[stonyplainclint]

We have had 2 similar incidents with A/C. Few years back air canada wouldn't fly out of edmonton for our Jamaican flight due to cold, yet west jet flew out 30 minutes later that same night. Then in 2014, leaving montego also our flight was delayed. Didn't leave til 3 hours after our departure time, never giving us a reason, just bumping departure times every half hour or so. Finally arrive in Toronto and they say, tough luck you have missed your transfer to Edmonton. Same thing shuttle us off to a hotel and then get us out next day. All of it with little to no communication or compassion when you were able to talk to someone.
Crappy part is it's air canada and west jet only and no direct flights available in December when we leave for Negril in December. We try to use west jet but sometimes price does have to come into play. This year it will be west jet if we can!

[thepegboy]

Sadly, many Canadians don't have a choice as AC is a monopoly carrier for many centres. Even sadder, they act like it. if you're fortunate to have a choice, avoid Air Canada like the plague. Otherwise, good luck.

[rosalie]

So sorry to hear sounds like a nightmare. I had a very similar experience. Don't remember the airline, it was in the early 90's. We boarded on time and were on the runway engines all fired up started for take off and the pilot came to a sudden stop HOLY $h!t. So we went back to gate told we had mechanical problems and sat on the plane for about an hour. They told us we had to deboard and than went in the terminal for hours and finally told we had to stay overnight in Mobay. It was a full plane and they put us up at Sandals (not a fan of) We were given 5 rooms to share between all of us and no luggage, they did give us food vouchers. NIGHTMARE to say the least but I guess it could of been worse had we of taken off

[Bnewb]

Yup, had it happen...twice with AC, NorthWest and a now defunct airline...lol.
A friend just complained about major delays with West Jer also...frustrating when they don't give you a straight answer.

[negrilsand]

I would certainly write to the president of Air Canada and complain. He will not likely see your complaint but his assistants will. Describe in detail what you experienced and ask for some compensation. You would most likely receive a voucher for a future flight. Airlines have daily briefings where all delays are discussed. Airline executives are usually part of these daily stand ups. Maintenance issues are not immediately analyzed and what at first seemed like a minor issue can become a more serious one due to federal air regulations etc. I remember a naive copilot complaining that her seat had a very minor problem. Turns out that according to some obscure regulation that the seat had to be fully operational for the flight to operate-the flight was cancelled!She could have easily waited to complain about the seat arm rest at the next station that had parts. Getting a replacement aircraft is not that simple as an airline will only have a few spare aircraft and those very few may be at the far end of the system. Another crew would have to be called out also. I would have demanded my luggage or asked for funds to buy any necessary items such as warm clothing. As a precaution, I always carry on enough clothing etc to get me through a delay. In fact, I only check luggage when absolutely necessary.Still it is amazing with all the variables such as humans, machinery and mother nature that our airlines provide us with such wonderful safe transport to travel and see the world and to rather quickly travel to see out loved ones.

[thepegboy]

Points taken negrilsand. I still don't think its right that Air Canad would trade its pain of finding planes, crews, etc. in favour of its customer's misery. I do intend to contact the President or Directors of Air Canada. What I want in compensation is unlikely to happen; I want a better customer contract, published processes for dealing with delays, punitive costs for customer misery, and perhaps some openness and sincerety. I'm likely to get black-listed for my efforts, they are a vengant corporation!

[sammyb]

How about getting to the tkt counter in Mobay only to be told come back in two days flight has been cancelled, no hotel no voucher no nothing...it was only after I caused a fuss that I was told okay wait over there.....finally put up in a Mobay hotel for the night. Hauled to the airport for a wait and see game. Flight finally took off, arrived in Miami, assured my connection was booked only to learn it wasn't , so collect luggage run to the tkt counter pleading my case, missed connection flight. Put up in a Miami hotel. Next morning fly out of Miami/Ft Lauderdale two connections later arrived home. This was on Spirit.

[TAH]

How about getting to the tkt counter in Mobay only to be told come back in two days flight has been cancelled, no hotel no voucher no nothing...it was only after I caused a fuss that I was told okay wait over there.....finally put up in a Mobay hotel for the night. Hauled to the airport for a wait and see game. Flight finally took off, arrived in Miami, assured my connection was booked only to learn it wasn't , so collect luggage run to the tkt counter pleading my case, missed connection flight. Put up in a Miami hotel. Next morning fly out of Miami/Ft Lauderdale two connections later arrived home. This was on Spirit.

Spirit has to be the worst airline in the history of air travel. It's a shame, they were very reasonable at one time.