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-   -   What exactly can/does the AC concierge do? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-canada-aeroplan/1296681-what-exactly-can-does-ac-concierge-do.html)

YYT82 Mar 1, 2019 11:03 am


Originally Posted by sram (Post 30835830)
These recent posts give me hope that the concierge service still exist at AC. My recent experiences led me to believe it was terminated for 2019. the wait times have increased to a point where its unusable if you are in transit. If you are in transit and are waiting more than 15 minutes, it likely you'll need to hang up because you either need to speak to the counter, go thru passport control, go thru security, or the seatbelt sign is on. Email is even worse; emails are not being responded to for 8+ hours. I only need this service for irrops, and they never seem to be available during these times. We can blame it on the weather, but that's really the purpose of this white glove service. </end rant>

The program at YYZ and YUL and call centre (from 4 am to midnight ET) was terminated in 2018. The program at rest of the stations and the 4 hours during graveyard shift at the call centre are still available. Emailing the local concierges is the way to go (doesn't help if you need assistance at YYZ or YUL).

300rwhp Mar 1, 2019 11:34 am

i thought the outstation emails were gone?

ridefar Mar 1, 2019 11:48 am


Originally Posted by 300rwhp (Post 30836049)
i thought the outstation emails were gone?

They are very definitely still responding and I find it is the most effective way to contact them proactively. Just use the usual format for the email address.

canadiancow Mar 24, 2019 4:06 am

Once again, I booked the one hour SFO-YYZ-MUC connection.

Except this time, there was a bit of a delay leaving SFO.

At T-40, we had not been let off the plane yet, so I called the concierge. There was a bit of a wait, but I got through, and asked to make sure they don't offload me. He left notes. Two minutes later, when I was walking off the plane, I noticed a woman holding an iPad with my name on it.

She mentioned Munich, at which point, other passengers started talking to her. When she (we?) managed to evade them, she made a comment about hating when other passengers approach her when she's only there for one person.

Of course, the escort slowed me down, because ITI is trivial in YYZ, and I took away a concierge from someone who could really use it.

If I'm going to misconnect, meet me at my inbound. Otherwise, send me a text/email/voicemail/ACARS/whatever to tell me what to do.

CharlieL Mar 24, 2019 9:18 am

Arrived 45min before a flight from yyz to fra. had 2 suitcases to checkin, I was way pass the 60min limit. The concierge took them called the dispatch and personnally made sure they make the flight. The plane was held back 10min and the pilot said in the intercom that the flight was held back because we were waiting for a passenger bags.... :)

yyznomad Mar 24, 2019 2:33 pm


Originally Posted by CharlieL (Post 30923706)
Arrived 45min before a flight from yyz to fra. had 2 suitcases to checkin, I was way pass the 60min limit. The concierge took them called the dispatch and personnally made sure they make the flight. The plane was held back 10min and the pilot said in the intercom that the flight was held back because we were waiting for a passenger bags.... :)

[MENTION=10047235]CharlieL[/MENTION]
Are you SE or was this paid J, or both?

Nitehawk Mar 24, 2019 3:27 pm

45 mins should be long enough for the bags to be loaded without delaying the flight. Could have been someone elses bags that caused the delay, like a late connecting passenger.

CharlieL Mar 24, 2019 4:24 pm

Paid J

ajcopley Jul 19, 2019 10:04 am

Like what? What more should a concierge team be doing?

(editing post. replying to the "Great service but sounds like they need more to do" comment)

canadiancow Jul 19, 2019 11:19 am


Originally Posted by ajcopley (Post 31320737)
Like what? What more should a concierge team be doing?

(editing post. replying to the "Great service but sounds like they need more to do" comment)

I'd argue that escorts are a huge drain on resources. We can all appreciate when that stuff happens, but on ex-DEL flights, there are going to be dozens of concierge-eligible passengers, some of whom may need actual assistance.

I once expressed discontent at a concierge who met my LHR-YYZ and said she was going to walk us to the MLL and WAIT WITH US until standby was processed (there was an issue with the standby list that required intervention). I made a comment along the lines of "we don't need a babysitter - this is why there's never a concierge available when I need one" (it was a bit more polite than that).

As for 3 concierges meeting someone about a delayed bag, how about just taking better care of priority bags?

It's exceptionally rare I interact with a concierge when AC hasn't screwed up (bad IT, iRROPS, etc.). I'd love to never feel a need to interact with them.

ajcopley Jul 19, 2019 11:28 am


Originally Posted by canadiancow (Post 31321047)
I'd argue that escorts are a huge drain on resources. We can all appreciate when that stuff happens, but on ex-DEL flights, there are going to be dozens of concierge-eligible passengers, some of whom may need actual assistance.

I once expressed discontent at a concierge who met my LHR-YYZ and said she was going to walk us to the MLL and WAIT WITH US until standby was processed (there was an issue with the standby list that required intervention). I made a comment along the lines of "we don't need a babysitter - this is why there's never a concierge available when I need one" (it was a bit more polite than that).

As for 3 concierges meeting someone about a delayed bag, how about just taking better care of priority bags?

It's exceptionally rare I interact with a concierge when AC hasn't screwed up (bad IT, iRROPS, etc.). I'd love to never feel a need to interact with them.


yup understand and agree. but considering there are only four (or two now with the YYZ flight being suspended?) AC flights into / out of Delhi to be dealt with daily, perhaps they really do have the bandwidth to provide such personal service? Dunno...

canadiancow Jul 19, 2019 11:33 am


Originally Posted by ajcopley (Post 31321081)
yup understand and agree. but considering there are only four (or two now with the YYZ flight being suspended?) AC flights into / out of Delhi to be dealt with daily, perhaps they really do have the bandwidth to provide such personal service? Dunno...

For the dozens of eligible passengers? It sounds more like they're fixating on a few, providing feel-good but useless interactions, at the expense of anyone who actually needs assistance.

ajcopley Jul 19, 2019 11:41 am


Originally Posted by canadiancow (Post 31321105)
For the dozens of eligible passengers? It sounds more like they're fixating on a few, providing feel-good but useless interactions, at the expense of anyone who actually needs assistance.

define "eligible"? not trying to be confrontational....I'm actually curious who is "eligible" for AC concierge service. So on my return flight, there seem to be only two SEs in biz class (only basing that on the service director's interactions with the 20 or so biz class passengers). Of course many could be in PE or Economy...just noted what I personally witnessed.

And not sure I'd agree with the "useless" comment. Who says I didn't need a personal escort to the Singapore lounge...I could have gotten lost forever without it! :-)

canadiancow Jul 19, 2019 11:43 am


Originally Posted by ajcopley (Post 31321135)
define "eligible"? not trying to be confrontational....I'm actually curious who is "eligible" for AC concierge service. So on my return flight, there seem to be only two SEs in biz class (only basing that on the service director's interactions with the 20 or so biz class passengers). Of course many could be in PE or Economy...just noted what I personally witnessed.

Everyone booked in paid business (JCDZP) are eligible, as well as SEs on any fare.

And then there are the situations where AC's system screws up and your SE status will not show up anywhere, so the concierges aren't even aware of you unless you can find one and tell them about your issue. Which is impossible of 3 of them are escorting someone with a missing bag.

ajcopley Jul 19, 2019 11:52 am


Originally Posted by canadiancow (Post 31321105)
For the dozens of eligible passengers? It sounds more like they're fixating on a few, providing feel-good but useless interactions, at the expense of anyone who actually needs assistance.


Originally Posted by canadiancow (Post 31321149)
Everyone booked in paid business (JCDZP) are eligible, as well as SEs on any fare.

And then there are the situations where AC's system screws up and your SE status will not show up anywhere, so the concierges aren't even aware of you unless you can find one and tell them about your issue. Which is impossible of 3 of them are escorting someone with a missing bag.

OK let me clarify....."3 of them" never escorted me anywhere at any time upon landing....and "3 of them" never escorted me anywhere on my return leg. Upon landing in DEL, one of them showed up at baggage claim, with the other two coming over about 5 minutes later (those two very well could have been assisting others for all I know). The first one told me my bag was not on my flight, took down my info (what airline I was traveling on 6 hours later, etc), and done. Didn't see any of them again until 1 of them appeared with my bag at the Vistara check-in counter 6 hours later. Hardly excessive...they were doing exactly what I would have expected them to do with a delayed bag.

Return flight...I have no idea what this one concierge could or should have been doing differently while she was assisting / escorting me. Never before has that happened to me (personal escort), so I wasn't going to complain. Which is why I posted my original "kudos" post...to publicly thank them. Guess I didn't realize that they likely had more important things to attend to, so my bad.


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