GoldFlyer
Feb 22, 06, 4:38 pm
I'm not really loyal to either airline prefering to buy on price rather than through some established passenger loyalty. I'll never fly enough to be a top tier customer on any airline agian and that I think has been a revelation to me - FREEDOM!
Recently I flew both airlines and here is what I experienced.
I was late arriving on an unlinked flight into Toronto and experienced trouble getting through customs and over to T1 to catch my AC flight to Montreal. I rang AC from the baggage hall to tell them where I was and that I would likely miss my flight. The agent could do nothing for me and fair enough I wasn't asking that the plane be held just for me (although there were about 12 other passengers on my flight in the same predicament and also going to Montreal).
My partner never takes no for an answer so rang again and spoke to someone that had far more compassion and booked us on a later flight no penalty and no question - great service and certainly an asset to AC. Service like that perhaps would build loyalty but with the inconsistent nature of AC and depending on who you talk to I'm wary to think this is standard amongst AC employees.
The plane was a very dirty 767, the FA's looked tired and even though the flight was less than half full, the service was no better than if it had been full.
Leaving the flight after a very long and tiring day I limped along to baggge claim on my crutches without any assitance from the ground staff or even any enquiry as to if I would like the aid of a wheelchair. Don't ask don't get I suppose but it would have been nice to have been asked especially in a service industry.
Flying back to Winnipeg the next day on Westjet the service was chalk and cheese. We were pulled from a very long check-in line and given seats up front to accomodate my leg better. The agent asked if I would like a wheelchair (declined but nice to be asked anyway) as we were really short on time. At the security check, the line was huge so I asked someone if I could hop ahead instead of standing for 10-15 minutes. The person I asked actually worked for AC and without even listening to my question he looked at my WS boarding pass and said "you'll have to talk to Westjet, I work for Air Canada" indeed, and again it showed. I did eventually get through the security line and thanked him dryly for his "help" once a security person spotted me in the line.
Onboard, the plane was clean, in-seat PTV, and a happy crew there to help. Coming into Winnipeg they even asked if I would like a wheelchair to meet the aircraft.
Legacy airlines really do have a hard task to keep the level of service up to standard. AC really has a long way to go.
Recently I flew both airlines and here is what I experienced.
I was late arriving on an unlinked flight into Toronto and experienced trouble getting through customs and over to T1 to catch my AC flight to Montreal. I rang AC from the baggage hall to tell them where I was and that I would likely miss my flight. The agent could do nothing for me and fair enough I wasn't asking that the plane be held just for me (although there were about 12 other passengers on my flight in the same predicament and also going to Montreal).
My partner never takes no for an answer so rang again and spoke to someone that had far more compassion and booked us on a later flight no penalty and no question - great service and certainly an asset to AC. Service like that perhaps would build loyalty but with the inconsistent nature of AC and depending on who you talk to I'm wary to think this is standard amongst AC employees.
The plane was a very dirty 767, the FA's looked tired and even though the flight was less than half full, the service was no better than if it had been full.
Leaving the flight after a very long and tiring day I limped along to baggge claim on my crutches without any assitance from the ground staff or even any enquiry as to if I would like the aid of a wheelchair. Don't ask don't get I suppose but it would have been nice to have been asked especially in a service industry.
Flying back to Winnipeg the next day on Westjet the service was chalk and cheese. We were pulled from a very long check-in line and given seats up front to accomodate my leg better. The agent asked if I would like a wheelchair (declined but nice to be asked anyway) as we were really short on time. At the security check, the line was huge so I asked someone if I could hop ahead instead of standing for 10-15 minutes. The person I asked actually worked for AC and without even listening to my question he looked at my WS boarding pass and said "you'll have to talk to Westjet, I work for Air Canada" indeed, and again it showed. I did eventually get through the security line and thanked him dryly for his "help" once a security person spotted me in the line.
Onboard, the plane was clean, in-seat PTV, and a happy crew there to help. Coming into Winnipeg they even asked if I would like a wheelchair to meet the aircraft.
Legacy airlines really do have a hard task to keep the level of service up to standard. AC really has a long way to go.