I work at the airport/for the airline. You're wrong.
Sep 19, 2022, 12:12 am
#466
Join Date: Oct 2019
Programs: AC 50K, WS Gold, MB Titanium, National EE, UA Silver
Posts: 237
I was interacting with a YYT lounge agent last week about a likely misconnect. A gentleman comes through the door and says that he has a "quick question".
He wants to guest in his entire party of 9 pax into the MLL. Agent says No. Gentleman says the he "read somewhere" that his Visa Infinite Privilege card gives him the ability to have up to 8 guests in the MLL. Agent again says No.
He's clearly not happy and pushes the point, again. Agent finally asks if they are all on the same "reservation". He says that he paid for tix but that his family members booked their own flights. So, she says No again, and says that they all have to be on the same PNR to guest in 8 pax.
He goes away unhappy.
Truly, his was incorrect. But her explanation was wrong too.
I kept my mouth shut since I clearly do not work at the airport.
(A pox on CC lounge access.)
He wants to guest in his entire party of 9 pax into the MLL. Agent says No. Gentleman says the he "read somewhere" that his Visa Infinite Privilege card gives him the ability to have up to 8 guests in the MLL. Agent again says No.
He's clearly not happy and pushes the point, again. Agent finally asks if they are all on the same "reservation". He says that he paid for tix but that his family members booked their own flights. So, she says No again, and says that they all have to be on the same PNR to guest in 8 pax.
He goes away unhappy.
Truly, his was incorrect. But her explanation was wrong too.
I kept my mouth shut since I clearly do not work at the airport.
(A pox on CC lounge access.)
Jan 6, 2023, 8:11 pm
#467
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 209
I had a good one with the AE call center a few days ago.
Needed to book a DEL-YEG one way and was getting the usual nonsense options from the web search. I look through various connection points and build an itinerary that will work and likely price around half what's showing online.
Called in, got through to an agent and walked him through what I wanted to do.
"I can't do that"
"Sorry, what can't you do"
"I can't construct any itineraries. I can only book whatever comes up when I search DEL-YEG, it's the same as what you see online"
"I'm sure that you can, that's how I've booked my last 5 flights"
"No, we're not allowed to do that"
"Right, please transfer me back to the call queue"
Next agent took forever to do it but got it done. The AE agents have been a disaster lately with pricing itineraries. With the few good ones, I'll give them an itinerary and they'll have a price for me two minutes later. With the rest, they spend hours with the ticketing department and have to call me back. Is it too much to ask that they're trained on their own system? If all the call center could book is what's available online, why would anyone ever call them to book and pay the extortion fee?
Needed to book a DEL-YEG one way and was getting the usual nonsense options from the web search. I look through various connection points and build an itinerary that will work and likely price around half what's showing online.
Called in, got through to an agent and walked him through what I wanted to do.
"I can't do that"
"Sorry, what can't you do"
"I can't construct any itineraries. I can only book whatever comes up when I search DEL-YEG, it's the same as what you see online"
"I'm sure that you can, that's how I've booked my last 5 flights"
"No, we're not allowed to do that"
"Right, please transfer me back to the call queue"
Next agent took forever to do it but got it done. The AE agents have been a disaster lately with pricing itineraries. With the few good ones, I'll give them an itinerary and they'll have a price for me two minutes later. With the rest, they spend hours with the ticketing department and have to call me back. Is it too much to ask that they're trained on their own system? If all the call center could book is what's available online, why would anyone ever call them to book and pay the extortion fee?
Jan 30, 2023, 12:08 pm
#468
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,569
There is a uniformed Spirit Airlines pilot aboard this 220 out of YUL (to DEN) arguing with the AC SD about his comically oversized crew bag not fitting in the overhead.
Jan 30, 2023, 3:23 pm
#469
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,826
I'm sure the SD knows the starboard side bins are bigger than the port side ones on the 220. Does the Spirit pilot though? Or is it just that oversized? :-)
Jan 30, 2023, 4:22 pm
#470
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 15
I was interacting with a YYT lounge agent last week about a likely misconnect. A gentleman comes through the door and says that he has a "quick question".
He wants to guest in his entire party of 9 pax into the MLL. Agent says No. Gentleman says the he "read somewhere" that his Visa Infinite Privilege card gives him the ability to have up to 8 guests in the MLL. Agent again says No.
He's clearly not happy and pushes the point, again. Agent finally asks if they are all on the same "reservation". He says that he paid for tix but that his family members booked their own flights. So, she says No again, and says that they all have to be on the same PNR to guest in 8 pax.
He goes away unhappy.
Truly, his was incorrect. But her explanation was wrong too.
I kept my mouth shut since I clearly do not work at the airport.
(A pox on CC lounge access.)
He wants to guest in his entire party of 9 pax into the MLL. Agent says No. Gentleman says the he "read somewhere" that his Visa Infinite Privilege card gives him the ability to have up to 8 guests in the MLL. Agent again says No.
He's clearly not happy and pushes the point, again. Agent finally asks if they are all on the same "reservation". He says that he paid for tix but that his family members booked their own flights. So, she says No again, and says that they all have to be on the same PNR to guest in 8 pax.
He goes away unhappy.
Truly, his was incorrect. But her explanation was wrong too.
I kept my mouth shut since I clearly do not work at the airport.
(A pox on CC lounge access.)
Jan 30, 2023, 7:30 pm
#471
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 1,553
NK has a grand total of three aircraft types so its pilots may be excused for not being familiar with a BCS.
Jan 30, 2023, 8:23 pm
#472
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,569
Jan 30, 2023, 10:57 pm
#473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,068
Rebooking on Westjet (IRROPS)
Agent at Nanaimo airport says she cannot rebook us on the only option out on Westjet after AC flight cancelled due to mechanical. I said that I am sure it’s possible and agent said that she cannot and only the rebooking line can. Called the rebooking line to be told in front of the agent that ONLY the airport can rebook onto WS in IRROPS. I asked that she call her help desk as she was getting error codes. Finally she did and we got rebooked. Should not be this hard!!
Jan 30, 2023, 11:03 pm
#474
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,331
Agent at Nanaimo airport says she cannot rebook us on the only option out on Westjet after AC flight cancelled due to mechanical. I said that I am sure it’s possible and agent said that she cannot and only the rebooking line can. Called the rebooking line to be told in front of the agent that ONLY the airport can rebook onto WS in IRROPS. I asked that she call her help desk as she was getting error codes. Finally she did and we got rebooked. Should not be this hard!!
Rebooking on an airline you don't have an interline agreement is as close to impossible as it gets.
My expectation, as a seasoned AC flyer, is that WS is just not worth mentioning in IRROPS. I'm more surprised that you got it done at all than that you had any initial pushback.
Jan 31, 2023, 7:31 am
#475
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,068
I was very nice, not angry but did insist she call her help desk as it is possible to do as they have a protection agreement with Westjet. In this case it was WS or nothing Sunday and Monday was not necessarily going to be easy to rebook on the YVR-YEG segment.
Jan 31, 2023, 10:05 am
#476
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
As the author of this thread, I'm actually kinda sympathetic with the agents here.
Rebooking on an airline you don't have an interline agreement is as close to impossible as it gets.
My expectation, as a seasoned AC flyer, is that WS is just not worth mentioning in IRROPS. I'm more surprised that you got it done at all than that you had any initial pushback.
Rebooking on an airline you don't have an interline agreement is as close to impossible as it gets.
My expectation, as a seasoned AC flyer, is that WS is just not worth mentioning in IRROPS. I'm more surprised that you got it done at all than that you had any initial pushback.
Jan 31, 2023, 2:21 pm
#477
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,331
But it's not necessarily their problem either. There are airlines in this world (and continent) that simply refuse.
May 1, 2023, 8:18 am
#479
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,363
Not sure the best thread to put this one.
Had a very lengthy discussion with an Aeroplan rep & supervisor who were both adamant that awards that are 100% partner airlines are dynamically priced and that the mileage quoted in the chart is just the starting point.
Had a very lengthy discussion with an Aeroplan rep & supervisor who were both adamant that awards that are 100% partner airlines are dynamically priced and that the mileage quoted in the chart is just the starting point.
May 1, 2023, 9:15 am
#480
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,068
I think Emirates is dynamically priced now so not entirely wrong….