TAH, Air Canada is by far the worst in my experience, maybe Spirit stole some executives
TAH, Air Canada is by far the worst in my experience, maybe Spirit stole some executives
Maybe not the worst, the very 1st time I flew I was flying Peoples Express out of Newark to Chicago. Our plane didn't arrive in Newark until 3 hours after its scheduled departure due to a "mechanical" problem. To complicate things, Peoples had another flight departing to Chicago every hour but we couldn't get on those flights and bump those passengers to the next flight so 2 planes came and left while we sat in the concourse in Newark (which was a crappy terminal). Finally our plane arrives and we board, and sit in the plane in the tarmac for an hour before we finally begin our take-off. 5 minutes later the pilot announces that as we flew past the control tower they noticed we had a cargo hatch not secured and must land to secure the hatch and should only be a minute.Originally Posted by TAH
As we are landing we notice that every emergency vehicle at Newark is along the runway waiting for us to land. Did I mention this is my 1st flight ever? Landing was otherwise uneventful EXCEPT that about 35 people demanded to be let off the plane because it was destined to crash. After being instructed that their luggage would not be removed and no refunds issued, 35 people still got off the plane muttering things like I don't care if my luggage dies as long as I live. OK, I'm thinking that every one of them probably had more flying experience than me and maybe they were right but then again there were still 300 people on board so I'll stick it out. That few minutes to secure the hatch stretched out to another hour, this was in July and they left the ventilation turned off so it was uncomfortable but eventually we took off and everything turned out fine. In fact my ride from O'Hare was not going to arrive until about 4 hours after I was scheduled to so that timed out pretty well. My flights have all been a joy since that one.
It's not just AC. The one (and only) time I flew West Jet, the flight left 3 hours late making us miss our connecting flight to Ottawa. We too were freezing as we waited for a transfer to an hotel for the night - with our luggage! Then we had to check in all over again the next day. I have had delays with AC but nothing like the one I described.
Irie Sue
How was your actual stay in Jamaica?
Jamaica was great! interesting blustery weather for a few days, excellent concert, great mornings!
Exactly the reason(s) why we fly American Airlines from Calgary. Yes we have to overnight in Dallas but it's part of the vacation experience!
WestJet may offer a direct flight (but only in the winter) but that's almost 8 hours stuffed in like sardines. Thanks but no thanks. Air Canada is the most expensive
carrier so we nix that altogether.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Failing, If AirCanada is the most expensive, why are they always full. All the airlines have become the same. Cram them in, charge for toilet paper and breathing space. Aren't Westjet and American using the same type aircraft?
What I was trying to explain is that, under the circumstances, it would have been almost impossible to do what you propose. Montego Bay is a rather isolated station for Air Canada. It is at an end of their route structure and a replacement aircraft and crew would not have arrived-even if possible-until after your actual departure. Unfortunately you also apparently had a mismatch upon your arrival in Toronto. Air Canada is a fairly small airline and can not offer the flexibility that Delta or American ,for instance, could offer out of Atlanta or Dallas Fort Worth. Air Canada should, indeed, have handled the situation with more understanding. They should have allowed access to your luggage, perhaps, but you would not have been happy with the additional security screening and baggage check-in afterwards. This would possibly have delayed you even further. Air Canada might have allowed access to luggage in Toronto but again with further delays. What Air Canada could certainly have done is to have offered, as a courtesy, blankets, at least, and some vouchers for future flights. I think that there is still a possibility of the vouchers . I will add this serious bit of advice. I think that it is foolish for anyone to travel in flip-flops, shorts and tee shirts especially to a cold place such as Toronto. Hopefully, most of us will never be involved in an aircraft accident where we will have to walk through sharp glass and metal or even through a flash fire. With every "chicken little" yelling terrorism these days there is an even better chance that you might be required to exit the aircraft away from the gate. Gee, the hotel shuttle might not make it to the hotel. I carry nomex gloves in my carry on just in case of an on board fire. I would be able to help myself and others in such an event. I was once a passenger on an SAS flight in Norway when I noticed the flight attendant putting on nomex gloves just before the landing. I told her of my gloves in my carry on and she replied that she would not be of much help in a crash landing if her hands were badly burned. I noticed that she also wore lace up shoes. I noticed the nice legs too!
All these stories should be a good lesson for other people to learn how to travel. Everyone should pack whatever they need to survive for a day in their carry-on luggage. And if one is flying to a cold climate to pack at least a light jacket. Change of clothes is a good idea. Also some light snacks in case you are stuck in a plane for hours waiting for a "quick fix". Plan for the worst when traveling
Thanks for your comments, Negrilsand and Captain Oil. I'm not convinced AC could'nt find a replacement aircraft, or charter us with a different carrier. MBJ is 2 air-hours from many north american hubs served by AC. I believe they just didn't care to make it happen, or pay for it. I have asked the VP of maintenance for some logistical answers, I doubt I will get replies.
I think everyone was prepared to 'survive' with thier carry-ons, but this wasn't about survival, it was about the comfort we paid for. How many circumstances should one reasonably prepare for in a carry-on? Note that none of us expected to end up in Toronto's outdoors.
