At BNA, Air Canada doesn't bother to show - 15 miss flight!
Aug 31, 2017, 1:28 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Delta, BC
Posts: 1,646
AC didn't show, the title is correct (although I was left initially wondering exactly what part of AC didn't show). The contractor is an internal issue between AC and the contractor and is irrelevant to the passenger relationship with AC. AC doesn't get ANY slack because it was not a direct employee involved.
Aug 31, 2017, 1:48 pm
#33
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NY State
Posts: 212
AC didn't show, the title is correct (although I was left initially wondering exactly what part of AC didn't show). The contractor is an internal issue between AC and the contractor and is irrelevant to the passenger relationship with AC. AC doesn't get ANY slack because it was not a direct employee involved.
Aug 31, 2017, 2:15 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,552
You might suspect that but there is no basis for the suspicion if they arrived more than 60 mins before. There was probably one agent who could not process all the checked bags on time and went to the gate. Note that AC is rebooking all passengers and has not thrown them under the proverbial bus which would lead me to believe that the passengers were correct.
Aug 31, 2017, 2:30 pm
#35
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,429
Off course. But if the passengers were late, AC would have mentioned it and said they were rebooking as a sign of goodwill. The fact that they quietly admit that they will rebook likely means someone did not show at the airport so the solitary agent left the checkin passengers and went to either meet the incoming flight or prepare for departure.
Aug 31, 2017, 2:50 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,812
BTW the tweet does not say the agents did not show up. Merely that there was no agent there when these passengers arrived.
Likely a situation where the same agents move from check in to boarding after the cutoff, because it's a small station and that's enough people. And that they had already left when these passengers arrived.
Whether the agents left a but early or whether the passengers arrived late we don't know at this point. We have only heard one side of the story really. So better to keep an open mind until/if details get clarified.
Aug 31, 2017, 3:06 pm
#38
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,222
It's speculation based on an acknowledged assumption.
Aug 31, 2017, 3:08 pm
#40
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,222
Given the low volume of passengers flying AC from there, I'm assuming that ground staff at BNA would be sub-contracted at BNA, so this is a subcontractor issue that unfortunately impacted 15 passengers. I presume AC will be taking steps with the contractor to avoid a repeat.
Aug 31, 2017, 3:15 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,665
Unless they chose a fly-by-night contractor, no it is not their fault.
To pose/answer the question slightly differently, I would say that Air Canada has the ultimate accountability (which differs from fault) and further that this is moot because what really matters is the customer's perception and the customer does not differentiate between Air Canada and its subcontractor - the customer blames Air Canada.
To pose/answer the question slightly differently, I would say that Air Canada has the ultimate accountability (which differs from fault) and further that this is moot because what really matters is the customer's perception and the customer does not differentiate between Air Canada and its subcontractor - the customer blames Air Canada.
Aug 31, 2017, 3:51 pm
#43
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
) and still got checked in. With most other airlines, it's a question of how much they want to help you. With AC, even if they want to, they can't.
Aug 31, 2017, 4:00 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
As to AC I've been stuck in a non status line for AC a few years ago with about 100 other people and no sign of AC. They finally turned up about 90 mins before the flight... Its all well and good to say did no one call but this is a FF forum. I'm sure a few SE with concierge numbers could have helped, and now I'd probably be posting "any ideas" ... but airport security? I believe they'd say it was the airlines responsibility.
Of course, I always try to OLCI. When AC doesn't stop me for IT or residency reasons.
Aug 31, 2017, 4:21 pm
#45
formerly sahiljain22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: BOS;NYC;YVR;YYZ;DEL;BOM
Programs: Amex Plat; HH Diamond; SPG Plat; Hyatt Diamond; United 1K; National EE; HSBC Premier
Posts: 532
This happened to me once in MDT. There was 1 agent in the entire airport for aircanada. I hadn't done online checkin and the website won't let me since I reached the counter with 45 minutes to spare. I was told by Airport security that the 1 agent 1 hour before the flight leaves the checkin counter to become a gate agent. He cannot leave the gate and come back and help me. They did overhead page for him 1-2 times. Calling aircanada wasnt helpful as they said its upto airport agent at this point. Since I don't have a boarding pass, I am basically sc***wed. MDT is a very small airport, 15 minutes is more than enough to catch a flight.
Had to cancel (luckily was booked with UA points) and rebook on a UA flight leaving in 10 minutes (check in), fly to ORD and connect to YYZ from there.
Lesson learnt, always webcheckin for air canada.
I blame AC for this. There is a reason I live and work in Canada and am a United 1K with no air canada status
Had to cancel (luckily was booked with UA points) and rebook on a UA flight leaving in 10 minutes (check in), fly to ORD and connect to YYZ from there.
Lesson learnt, always webcheckin for air canada.
I blame AC for this. There is a reason I live and work in Canada and am a United 1K with no air canada status