DO NOT fly with Air Canada

[Sprailenes 47]

Canadians are always curious about Americans. They are always trying to figure out why we are vastly superior!

slips in to swipe timbits and tim horton's when the angry canadian mob shows up.

They should be along shortly.

Don't make me get my hockey stick out!

[La Souris 19]

Overall, I've been happy with Air Canada. Their rates don't seem to be too high and they offer a video screen at everyone's seat. It's touch-based and you can watch the movies and TV shows you like, instead of being locked into whatever movie the airline chooses for that flight.

Having said that, Air Canada -- which is government run -- receives very little "at home" competition. There used to be Canadian Airlines, but it was absorbed into Air Canada years ago. Sure, there are American airlines in Canada too, but they can only fly outside the country or to the U.S.; they cannot fly within Canada unless arriving at a Canadian airport. In Canada, the only alternative to Air Canada (that I know of) is West Jet, although they lack some of the amenities Air Canada does, they're late more often, and they travel to far fewer locations. The upside is that West Jet flies only 737s, whereas Air Canada and most other airlines fly different aircraft depending on the location. West Jet also seems to be friendlier.

Hmmm, Air Canada is definitely NOT run by the government. It was the case but it's all private since the 80s. They are regulated and have some extra rules to follow which were part of the privatization deal.

Air Canada's predecessor, Trans-Canada Air Lines (TCA) inaugurated its first flight on September 1, 1937. The 50-minute flight aboard a Lockheed L-10A carried two passengers and mail between Vancouver and Seattle. By 1964, TCA had grown to become Canada's national airline; it changed its name to Air Canada. The airline became fully privatized in 1989. In 2000, Air Canada acquired Canadian Airlines International. Today, Air Canada is the 14th largest commercial airline in the world, with approximately 23,900 full-time equivalent employees. Air Canada shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol “AC-B.TO”.

source: http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/acfamily/index.html Edited November 24, 2008 by La Souris

[La Souris 19]

The OP may want to contact them by email there: lost.items@aircanada.ca ... then, you have their answers in writing if you have further problem.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Actually Dean, the root of Widge's problem was obvious; he went through YYZ, a disaster posing as an airport--and rated by Globe And Mail (published in Pigtown/Toronto, the city served by YYZ) as Canada's worst for nearly two decades running!

[Widge 0]

How about this? http://www.aircanada.com/en/common/baggage...orldtracer.html

Or this number? 1 888 689-BAGS (2247)

I know them both intimately that is the Indian phone number! And if that world tracer thingy tells me to check back later as tracing continues I will go beserk lol The saddest part is that if you go to world tracers website then virtually every airline in the world uses them - I just hope someone somewhere is getting better info than me.

[Widge 0]

The OP may want to contact them by email there: lost.items@aircanada.ca ... then, you have their answers in writing if you have further problem.

I followed the email customer service route today only to be further irritated by the fact that it said (after sending the mail) replies take 21 days apart from for lost baggage which takes 28 days which is pretty good as claims have to be made in 21 days !!! Can you begin to see why I am so FRUSTRATED!

[MrsCat 6]

I'm not laughing at your widge - but say buh-bye to your luggage. Air Canada is the worst. Me hates them for so many reasons.

[NickD 203]

HAL 9000 has flown with Air Canada to Scotland before. I cannot complain about the level of service on board, nor at check-in. Hopefully you will find satisfaction at some point.

I intentionally selected Air Canada for not only their safety record, but making a profit providing good service, and no hanky panky that is going around with our FAA, I am ashamed of that. Our trip five days ago was excellent and glad they took the time to deice the wings first even though it added an hour to the flight. Our baggage was perfect, and their employees were very curious to us.

Did you say anthing to tee them off?

Nope not that I am aware of lol I Know my luggage arrived Toronto but I had a five hour wait to connect to Pitts so I wonder where it got shuffled to in that time. It's got to be out there in the abyss somewhere just sad that I feel it will never be reunited with me. And the fact that I cannot ask a single question Of an Air Canada employee is unreal and it is that fact which will stop me ever using them again.

Sometimes my wife says I am paranoid, maybe because I say I am paranoid, but careful is a better word. Air Canada site says to clearly mark your luggage with name, address, and phone number. Also to print out a form with the same information and put that inside each piece of your luggage.

Did you do that?

Use to travel a lot by the airlines, have all kinds of nasty stories to tell about every carrier out there, stuff happens. Just happy to be alive. How about a fire in an engine?

[Shpat_Argjira 0]

I heard its dangerous in Canada.

[Reba 2]

Maybe another passenger walked off with your luggage and that's why the airline can't find it?

[DeadPoolX 9]

Maybe another passenger walked off with your luggage and that's why the airline can't find it?

Here's my advice in that respect: do not get any piece of luggage in black. Why? Because black is the most commonly used color. That makes it difficult to tell which piece of luggage belongs to you or someone else. There are many options for luggage in other colors, such as red, blue, gray, purple and more. If your luggage stands out, you'll be able to find it faster and someone else would be able to tell that it's not their suitcase.

If you do opt for black, make sure to get a bright tag for it. I have a green tag that's fairly obnoxious. It does the job, though, since I can recognize my luggage. On any tag you have, make sure to write down the address you want it shipped to if it gets lost. If you have your own business or work for someone or some company you trust, write down your work address. You really don't want anyone knowing your home address if you can avoid it.

[almaty 19]

I heard its dangerous in Canada.

it is a dangerous violent place..when i went there years ago..and was in a pub..drinking with the locals..one hit me with a snowball (canadian cruise missle)...in the parking lot..

[Saddle Bronc 124]

A few historical factoids (with spin): until 1986, competition for domestic routes in Canada was from Canadian Pacific (CP), on some Western Canadian routes from Pacific Western Airlines (PWA, known for chronic lateness on its core Calgary-Edmonton flights--and dubbed "Please Wait Awhile"; I took one return flight Christmas 1983/New Year 1984 to Regina, PWA's concept of "customer service" was nonexistant). PWA acquired CP in December 1986 to become Canadian Airlines (remember, acquiring company known for chronic lateness).

Air Canada in 1994 changed colours--ominously, to match those of Canadian, which it acquired in 2001; now a monopoly, they decided they could get by with PWA's concept of customer-service.

[Emancipation 2]

Actually Dean, the root of Widge's problem was obvious; he went through YYZ, a disaster posing as an airport--and rated by Globe And Mail (published in Pigtown/Toronto, the city served by YYZ) as Canada's worst for nearly two decades running!

[Ban Hammer 13,460]

I heard its dangerous in Canada.

it is a dangerous violent place..when i went there years ago..and was in a pub..drinking with the locals..one hit me with a snowball (canadian cruise missle)...in the parking lot..