Heads Up: Ridiculous Hold Times for Air Canada Reservations
Jan 8, 2010, 2:35 pm
#46
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Western Canada
Programs: AC
Posts: 18
... My guess is they turn the Elite number off overnight due to lack of staff and we are in the general cue ...
Air Canada Elite Priority Contacts
Phone: 7 days a week, 7 a.m. - 12 a.m. (EST)
You have priority access to our agents for a variety of Air Canada and Aeroplan travel services—at the Elite Priority Contacts below
Jan 8, 2010, 4:03 pm
#47
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LGA
Programs: DL Gold
Posts: 147
The 2009 numbers do still work, to answer my own question. Must be that they turn them off overnight. Called twice today and twice was picked up within 1min. Elite coming through for me in the clutch!
Jan 8, 2010, 6:26 pm
#48
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: Super Elite 100K, Mariott Ambassador Elite,
Posts: 231
After my long night on hold, called today and got through in 1min. I had now idea the Elite number stopped working after 12am. What do other FTer's do to call in for an upgrade when the 12am window opens. I thought I would be good and follow the rules, but do some just call a little ahead?
Jan 8, 2010, 7:30 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,768
After my long night on hold, called today and got through in 1min. I had now idea the Elite number stopped working after 12am. What do other FTer's do to call in for an upgrade when the 12am window opens. I thought I would be good and follow the rules, but do some just call a little ahead?
Jan 9, 2010, 7:17 am
#50
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: Aeroplan, Virgin, Starwood, RBC Awards, Air Miles, OneWorld
Posts: 106
Hey,
I called the other night at midnight, EST, and the wait was 56 minutes. Garf!
PS
I called the other night at midnight, EST, and the wait was 56 minutes. Garf!
PS
Jan 9, 2010, 4:56 pm
#51
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
After my long night on hold, called today and got through in 1min. I had now idea the Elite number stopped working after 12am. What do other FTer's do to call in for an upgrade when the 12am window opens. I thought I would be good and follow the rules, but do some just call a little ahead?
Jan 9, 2010, 6:15 pm
#52
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: YOW
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 968
Can we upgrade online even when using a non-Canadian ISP? I haven't tried before, having always called in but this would work better for me since I abhor making phone calls.
Jan 9, 2010, 7:24 pm
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
That's easier said than done... Only works for Aircanada.com bookings and even then it's spotty, most of the times it returns an error message that doesn't let the booking be modified.
Jan 9, 2010, 8:06 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
I do not see how the source/location of the internet service provider should make a difference with the ability to book online - as long you have access to the aircanada.com/ca web site, you should be able to request the upgrade.
Jan 9, 2010, 8:08 pm
#55
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
If it is an aircanada. com booking, it will have under your bookings list(if you login with your Aeroplan number and password), the reference number(s). It will however not have the list of non aircanada.com bookings - however, you can manually enter your reference number for such a booking, and you would be able to access your booking, with the ability to upgrade.
Jan 9, 2010, 10:16 pm
#56
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YYZ/DLC
Programs: AP, HHonours Diamond
Posts: 3,722
If it is an aircanada. com booking, it will have under your bookings list(if you login with your Aeroplan number and password), the reference number(s). It will however not have the list of non aircanada.com bookings - however, you can manually enter your reference number for such a booking, and you would be able to access your booking, with the ability to upgrade.
I do a fair bit of bookings through phone agents and this has been the case each and every time.
Jan 15, 2010, 12:40 pm
#57
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: YYZ
Posts: 63
hmm.. I called the elite (514) line from Tokyo for an upgrade and the call only took me 3 minutes total with a very friendly and knowledgeable agent! (it was 10am 1/9 in Montreal = 12am 1/10 Tokyo)
Last edited by NRTbound; Jan 15, 2010 at 12:41 pm Reason: esl
Jan 15, 2010, 12:48 pm
#58
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 367
Makes me love the SE line, never had to wait for more than 2 min .. !
Jan 15, 2010, 12:52 pm
#59
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,768
The best strategy when traveling is to get Skype and free call the 1-800 number... Any hold time is OK - cause you browse the web and the call's free!
Any hold time is OK - cause you browse the web and the call's free!
Jan 15, 2010, 8:44 pm
#60
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 142
I have never heard of the elite number being turned off at any time of the day. If you are waiting really long on the overnight it's because there are way more calls waiting than there are agents to answer the calls. Once the non 24 hour offices close, there may be 10 agents left for the overnight shift.
As for the date the 2009 numbers are cancelled. They will be valid til Feb 28/10
As for the date the 2009 numbers are cancelled. They will be valid til Feb 28/10
