How does one actually talk to Air Canada?
Jul 25, 2014, 1:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,300
How does one actually talk to Air Canada?
Forgive me if this has been addressed elsewhere, but I've searched everywhere and came up empty handed.
I've never flown AC before, but will be next month from YYZ-SFO. A client has already purchased the ticket for me and I wanted to call in and buy a preferred seat. I've now spent 2 hours on the phone getting either a busy signal or the call actually disconnecting itself before even that happens. I've tried the 888 general number as well as the 514 area code number listed on their website.
Is there another option I don't know about? I can see my reservation online, but it won't let me do anything to it as far as seat assignments are concerned.
Any help out there for an AC luddite?
I've never flown AC before, but will be next month from YYZ-SFO. A client has already purchased the ticket for me and I wanted to call in and buy a preferred seat. I've now spent 2 hours on the phone getting either a busy signal or the call actually disconnecting itself before even that happens. I've tried the 888 general number as well as the 514 area code number listed on their website.
Is there another option I don't know about? I can see my reservation online, but it won't let me do anything to it as far as seat assignments are concerned.
Any help out there for an AC luddite?
Jul 25, 2014, 2:18 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,361
Have you tried the online seat selection tool accessing via Manage my Bookings or here: https://services.aircanada.com/Servi...method=english
Jul 25, 2014, 2:19 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
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Posts: 3,300
My assistant was also calling and finally avoided the busy signal. After 53 minutes on hold, she finally got an agent and transferred her to me. Due to my outbound being on UA, it's an 016 ticket so she couldn't do anything at all, which made me laugh. Here I am trying to give AC money and they won't take it. How very Canadian.
For what it's worth, she was really sweet and polite about it and also found the whole thing rather amusing. So evidently it's a roll of the dice until OLCI opens
Jul 25, 2014, 2:26 pm
#5
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Not sure why she couldn't do your seating. I've had lots of 016 UA-issued mixed flight itineraries and have had no problem getting seats either from an AC agent, or now online (once I get the AC record locator).
Jul 25, 2014, 2:31 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,300
No idea. I tried the Manage My Bookings route as well - I have the AC record locator and it pulls it up, but when I click the select seats button a pop-up says "You can't use this link to select your seat". I'm clueless.
Jul 25, 2014, 2:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
OP is not trying for a simple seat assignment; OP is trying to pay for a Preferred seat. AFAIK UA won't be able to handle this, similarly AFAIK you can't buy a UA E+ seat through AC.
Jul 25, 2014, 3:06 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,300
Who knows, we should probably just blame United's SHARES system and call it a day.
Jul 25, 2014, 3:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,422
Forgive me if this has been addressed elsewhere, but I've searched everywhere and came up empty handed.
I've never flown AC before, but will be next month from YYZ-SFO. A client has already purchased the ticket for me and I wanted to call in and buy a preferred seat. I've now spent 2 hours on the phone getting either a busy signal or the call actually disconnecting itself before even that happens. I've tried the 888 general number as well as the 514 area code number listed on their website.
Is there another option I don't know about? I can see my reservation online, but it won't let me do anything to it as far as seat assignments are concerned.
Any help out there for an AC luddite?
I've never flown AC before, but will be next month from YYZ-SFO. A client has already purchased the ticket for me and I wanted to call in and buy a preferred seat. I've now spent 2 hours on the phone getting either a busy signal or the call actually disconnecting itself before even that happens. I've tried the 888 general number as well as the 514 area code number listed on their website.
Is there another option I don't know about? I can see my reservation online, but it won't let me do anything to it as far as seat assignments are concerned.
Any help out there for an AC luddite?
Jul 25, 2014, 4:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,515
You are absolutely correct, although I don't know if the situation were reversed and I was traveling on AC ticket and called UA to buy E+ if they would be able to sell it to me as an add collect. I've never been in that situation, but it does seem a bit silly that AC can't do an add collect for a preferred seat in this scenario.
AC's system, unfortunately, cannot seem to handle this. Which is really a shame for AC when customers WANT to give them money.
Jul 25, 2014, 4:28 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,422
Forgive me if this has been addressed elsewhere, but I've searched everywhere and came up empty handed.
I've never flown AC before, but will be next month from YYZ-SFO. A client has already purchased the ticket for me and I wanted to call in and buy a preferred seat. I've now spent 2 hours on the phone getting either a busy signal or the call actually disconnecting itself before even that happens. I've tried the 888 general number as well as the 514 area code number listed on their website.
Is there another option I don't know about? I can see my reservation online, but it won't let me do anything to it as far as seat assignments are concerned.
Any help out there for an AC luddite?
I've never flown AC before, but will be next month from YYZ-SFO. A client has already purchased the ticket for me and I wanted to call in and buy a preferred seat. I've now spent 2 hours on the phone getting either a busy signal or the call actually disconnecting itself before even that happens. I've tried the 888 general number as well as the 514 area code number listed on their website.
Is there another option I don't know about? I can see my reservation online, but it won't let me do anything to it as far as seat assignments are concerned.
Any help out there for an AC luddite?
Jul 25, 2014, 8:20 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: YYG
Programs: airlines and hotels and rental cars - oh my!
Posts: 2,995
That is true. However they have still to confirm which October they really meant. Consensus seems to be October 2019 at the earliest. But don't worry, they're the best airline in North America. Just ask them.