I was on AC877 Monday FRA-YYZ. Flew out on Wednesday and spent four days in Warsaw.

When I checked in at the LH business class counter at WAW Monday around noon, the agent handed me a boarding pass for my flight between WAW and FRA, but told me I’d have to get my AC boarding pass for my FRA-YYZ flight at the transfer desk at FRA. I had checked the AC app on my iPod and it showed that AC877 was now “Delayed” and would leave FRA at 9:30p instead of the scheduled 5p. Under the circumstances – pilot flu, bad weather, aircraft and crew availability due to weekend disruptions – I had expected as much. Uneventful flight on LH, though once more as a STARGold the seat next to me was blocked off even though the flight was pretty full and there were few open seats further back. In fact, I had the entire row of three seats to myself! (If only AC could learn from LH in this regard.) Noticed a major cutback in catering on LH as I usually have received a full meal on intra-European flights of any length, but this time just a cherry cake slice. As my LH A319 began its descent into FRA, a half-hour early, an announcement was made of some gate changes, one of which included my AC flight which would now depart from gate 48.

We arrived at FRA on the new north runway and taxied forever until settling on a spot along the tarmac among dozens of narrow-bodied planes. Took a bus to pier B and taking an elevator up to the main departure hall, I followed the signs to B48, first clearing immigration and then searching for a transfer desk where I could get my boarding pass. Neither of the two transfer centres I passed were staffed, so I continued down to the gate. There I found a Condor 757 parked with no indication of an AC flight departing from the gate. However, since it was still 5-1/2 hours until the expected departure, and no evidence of AC, I headed back to the LH Senator Lounge.

It was checking into that lounge where I was told that my flight had been cancelled and I should go to a transfer desk “upstairs” for more details. After 5-minutes I found the aforementioned, staffed transfer desk and in front of the AC position was a growing line of disgruntled passengers waiting to be served by a lone woman. (All the other positions for other airlines were staffed, but devoid of passengers needing their service. Under the circumstances, this position could have been better staffed by AC.)

After four others had been processed it was my turn, and the woman went back over the details: Our flight would now depart at 8am. Because of the 11p curfew at FRA, and the 8:30p arrival of our inbound A333, it would not prove possible to get out that night. If I went to the AC check-in counter (at pier B landside), I would join others for the shuttle bus to the Steigenberger hotel where dinner and breakfast would be provided. While the agent did provide me with a boarding pass, she said she could not have my checked bag delivered to me downstairs. I then asked for an overnight kit (which I had received automatically from other stations when bags or flights were delayed. The only thing she had was a daytime J class amenity kit. (What has happened to those STAR kits with what was needed: toothpaste, deodorant, hair brush, even a T-shirt?)

I made my way landside, which required clearing immigration a second time (down to my last page and a half in my passport with six more countries to get to before I have enough time to get a new one, and get it registered with Nexus and Global Entry!) and losing another quarter page. The long trek to the AC check-in area took 10-minutes and there (in the Siberia of FRA Terminal 1, C pier) I found dozens of other passengers lined up to be informed of their fates, or clustered aside waiting for the escort to the hotel shuttle bus. I got into the one Priority line to make one last request for my checked bag, and this one would be successful. Several other passengers in my situation were also getting their bags so we headed back to pier B and belt 16 for our bags, which arrived 5-minutes after we did, then turned around and headed back to pier C where the shuttle bus was waiting. I should note that throughout this entire process, I never once came across, nor was contacted by (either by email or phone message) an AC Concierge.

It was a short ride to the Steigenberger Airport Hotel where the check-in agents were ready for the deluge, having six positions staffed and waiting for us. We signed in and were handed room key cards and told there would be a dinner at 7pm in one of the buffet restaurants, that breakfast details would be available later and we should plan to catch a shuttle back to the airport next morning around 6am. Very well handled under the circumstances. The dinner was actually quite good with a main item of stuffed chicken breast with appropriate steamed vegetables, salads, soup and a variety of pastries for dessert. Unfortunately, just water and soft drinks…no German beers were flowing!

After the initial irritations at the airport, the mood of the passengers once settled at the hotel was quite civilized. There was little complaining or grumpiness at the delay and overnight required. With the exception of the airport lineups and issues, it seems AC was prepared for accommodating over 200 passengers, and the hotel performed admirably. Rooms were quite nice, assigned quickly, and catering was of good quality and tasty.

Breakfast was set up in one of the meeting rooms from about 4am and shuttle buses started running us back to the terminal by 5:30am, though nobody was at the AC counters until 6:30am to take checked bags. The flight left the gate on (new) schedule at 8am and we got into YYZ at 11:30am local time. (My upgrade cleared at the gate, so I suppose a pod did help ease the situation for me personally.) Each passenger received a green card to claim a percentage off a new ticket or AE miles as well as a letter with a code for a future flight credit of at least $100.

All in all I can't fault AC on the arrangements made for us at FRA. For me it saved a $60 limo ride into the city had we gotten into YYZ early this morning at 2am. I had not urgent reason to be in Toronto until midday, so not a problem for me being delayed.