The overall experience is just - well - Air Koryo has a better reputation.

Case in point, I had a customer reservation ticketed over a month ago, seat 16F assigned and confirmed, visible in GDS, Air Canada website, and Air Canada app.

1. seat becomes 16D without notice
2. then prior to check-in, seat disappears
3. then seat becomes 29F
4. then seat disappears again

I call the "Platinum" agency line,

1. agent 1 - too bad, sucks for your client
2. agent 2 - system won't let me assign a seat. Calls the help desk to get the team that can unblock a seat - help desk refuses
3. help them through OLCI and system assigns 26F - OK, not great, but at least a seat and not a middle
4. before boarding 19D becomes open, LAX gate agent refuses to change the seat and tells me client "we're boarding, we can't help you, please go away" (I'm on the phone listening)

Then they sit for almost an hour loading bags - as if the fact there are bag cans to load was a complete surprise.

The airline is just so incredibly bad, they almost take pleasure in torturing customers for sport and often need to be sued in small claims court to get assignment of consumer penalties that are payable to a customer.

This relationship may be created to "make transborder travel easier" - but not if you're booked on an AC flight.