Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Air Canada | Aeroplan
Reload this Page >

Air Canada Customers Can Now Ask Alexa for Helpful Travel Information

Air Canada Customers Can Now Ask Alexa for Helpful Travel Information

Old Nov 15, 17, 10:59 am
  #1  
Posting Legend, Moderator, Manufactured Spending
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,222
Air Canada Customers Can Now Ask Alexa for Helpful Travel Information

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases...657692033.html

MONTREAL, Nov. 15, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada is offering customers additional convenience by becoming the first Canadian airline to develop a skill for Amazon's popular voice service, Alexa. Devices with Alexa will use machine learning and artificial intelligence to respond to spoken questions about such things as fare quotes and the status of Air Canada flights.

"Advances in innovative and new technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing have great promise to deliver more convenience for our customers," said Mark Nasr, Vice President of Loyalty and eCommerce at Air Canada. "We're thrilled to be working with artificial intelligence start-up RozieAI to launch this capability so that customers across Canada can access AC services quickly and simply, using their voice."

Simply by asking, Air Canada customers will be able to obtain useful travel information from their devices with Alexa. The skill developed by Air Canada will initially enable Alexa to tell customers the status of their flight, provide fare quotes, and which baggage carousel to go to pick up baggage after a flight, with further topics to be added in the future. Additionally, Alexa will provide general answers about Air Canada's mobile app, required travel documents, TSA precheck availability and certain ticket policies.
tcook052 is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 11:04 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Impressive given Air Canadas own app and website often can't do these.
Dorian, Marlin240, YEGcg and 1 others like this.
jc94 is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 2:08 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,702
So maybe I should buy a alexa to buy flights since AC's website won't sell them to me?
Marlin240, YEGcg and karachi like this.

Last edited by Sean Peever; Nov 15, 17 at 2:31 pm
Sean Peever is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 2:29 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Originally Posted by Sean Peever
So maybe I should buy a alexa to buy flights in AC's website won't sell them to me?
Perhaps.

Coming soon to a MLL near you... Alexa.
jc94 is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 2:38 pm
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,536
Who is Alexa?

Is she Siri's wife?
Stranger is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 3:25 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: YVR
Programs: ACSEMM QRGold SPGLifetimePlat FairmontPlat HyattD AMEXCenturion SerenaPlat TalkBoard Founding Member
Posts: 8,963
Incredible that AC IT makes time for such nonsense when there are so many other items to fix or add on both the web interface and APP.
canadiancow likes this.
Dorian is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 3:25 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 5,944
Originally Posted by Dorian
Incredible that AC IT makes time for such nonsense when there are so many other items to fix or add on both the web interface and APP.
Better press release fodder.
Bohemian1 is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 4:13 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,702
Originally Posted by Dorian
Incredible that AC IT makes time for such nonsense when there are so many other items to fix or add on both the web interface and APP.
There is nothing to fix if you don't admit there is a problem.
Sean Peever is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 4:28 pm
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson
Posts: 35,082
Alexa, please buy @Sean Peever a flight pass.
bluenose77 and Sean Peever like this.
yyznomad is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 5:17 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: YOW
Programs: Altitude 75K, LT Marriott Platinum
Posts: 257
Originally Posted by Dorian
Incredible that AC IT makes time for such nonsense when there are so many other items to fix or add on both the web interface and APP.
100% in agreement.
qrctraveller is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 8:11 pm
  #11  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, AA PPro, UA Gold, Bonvoy Tit LT Sil, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 43,498
I don't even understand this.

I can already ask Google Assistant about my flights, and it works without AC doing anything special.

"OK Google, when is my next flight?"
"Your next flight is Air Canada flight 754 to Toronto which leaves Friday at 10:45 pm."

Similar useful responses for "Is Air Canada 754 on time?"

So not only are they investing in "nice to haves", they're doing it on platform that competes with one that supports everything by default.

I'm not sure if Google supports fare quotes, but I want to stop talking to my phone at work
canadiancow is offline  
Old Nov 15, 17, 9:17 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,373
I call bs. Their website literally doesn’t work outside of Canada on Chrome. At all. Not even a little bit. You can’t check in on 014 ticket stock for many flights. Their departure times at time of purchase are sometimes wrong. There is no way they are so frigging stupid or ignorant to think Alexa is more important. Not even they are that dumb. Surely.

Last edited by ridefar; Nov 15, 17 at 10:36 pm
ridefar is offline  
Old Nov 16, 17, 4:09 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: Yes, I belong.
Posts: 361
Originally Posted by ridefar
I call bs. Their website literally doesnt work outside of Canada on Chrome. At all. Not even a little bit. You cant check in on 014 ticket stock for many flights. Their departure times at time of purchase are sometimes wrong. There is no way they are so frigging stupid or ignorant to think Alexa is more important. Not even they are that dumb. Surely.
+1 Im P25K this year and the IT cant figure out how to link my paid MLL pass to my BP. I have to show thr card and BP every time.
YEGcg is offline  
Old Nov 16, 17, 4:29 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,494
Originally Posted by ridefar
I call bs. Their website literally doesnt work outside of Canada on Chrome. At all. Not even a little bit. You cant check in on 014 ticket stock for many flights. Their departure times at time of purchase are sometimes wrong. There is no way they are so frigging stupid or ignorant to think Alexa is more important. Not even they are that dumb. Surely.
I am guessing that Amazon did all the work and AC just made a press release to imply they did it.
quantumofforce is offline  
Old Nov 16, 17, 4:45 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Only J via Peasant Points, 777HDPeasant or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance and Narcissism.
Posts: 5,852
Originally Posted by tcook052
and which baggage carousel to go to pick up baggage after a flight.
Is this a joke ROFL
Jumper Jack is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.