jmottle

Literally just got off the phone with Visa and no joy. I'd have to have known about the issue, refused the flight and then tried for refusal of service, but because i took the flight and did not know about the broken lavatories or seat until well into the flight. SOL on that front. Am thinking consumer protection agency in Alberta and/or the Canadian Transportation Agency. I've used the latter before to good effect with another airline who refused compensation when they lost my luggage for 30 days.

canadiancow

Or just file a small claims suit.

False advertising.

Send skybluesea a message - he may have made more progress on that front.

jmottle

Will do, I just filed online with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). Will see where that goes and post back here. I don't suppose a handwritten letter to old Calin would do much would it?

YYT82

24left

Missed opportunity:

I would have loved to see the reaction of shareholders if a number of people had shown up to the recent AC Investor Day with their inflatables and offered to explain their purpose and usage application.

24left

Put cute little airplane stickers on it. It will stand out in the stack of mail.

goretexpretzels

I don't know if I should be comforted by the fact that I'm not alone, or saddened that mouldy food and paying a hefty premium for what amounts to sleeping on a floor is completely unremarkable to AC travellers... Thanks for that!

24left

Sorry, but you posted and asked.

You have a few choices - you can write AC and they may send you a discount coupon towards your next flight, or you can post the photos on a public forum, or both.

Example AC Fresh Fruit that is Frozen

goretexpretzels

I'll see what the 'white compensation form' results in... curious if the compensation will differ between my food-issue flight and deflategate flight.

Of note to others, my form specifically provides a selection. "Please choose goodwill compensation option" and a "future travel credit" tickbox or a "Aeroplan Miles credit" choice.

24left

@goretexpretzels

Yes, standard wording on the form. Photo of form tear-off piece is posted in the wiki

nexusCFX

I selected miles for LAX-YYZ and they gave me a $300 credit anyway.

skybluesea

delete

emma69

I can answer one question posed in this monster thread - I have asked on multiple flights, including AC, about using inflatable footrests and/or cabin bag as a footrest in bulkhead seats. I have been told by AC (and others) that it is fine once at cruising altitude, but that it needs to be stored again before descent. I cannot see why the same would not apply to blow up mattresses.

emma69

I'm not sure if you have had prior dealings with the Bureau, but a few things you might want to note.

Firstly, the Bureau does, by and large, try and work with companies to resolution, rather than insist on punitive fines. The amount for the first civil offence is 'up to' $10M, not upwards of $10M. And the Bureau would not fine them that for a first offence of this nature - I am not sure it ever has. They may, should it go far enough, ask what AC are doing to correct the issue and AC could quite honestly say they are working on a resolution. That in itself would likely be considered enough. If not, paying reasonable restitution is another measure they have the ability to enforce, but as AC are already offering compensation, again, the Bureau would likely take that into their considerations as well.

Secondly both the criminal and civil provisions require that the advertising is 'false or misleading in a material respect'. If you take, for example, the language used to advertise their service in one place on their website and break it down into the components it features:

"Air Canada Signature Service is our new end-to-end premium travel experience featuring the Air Canada Signature Class cabin, dedicated check-in counters, concierge service, Maple Leaf lounge access, exclusive boarding lanes, priority baggage handling and more. Onboard our Air Canada Signature Class, relax in your own Executive Pod with lie-flat bed with lumbar support and massage function; enjoy hundreds of hours of top-rated entertainment on a personal touchscreen entertainment system and elevated dining and beverage service." If these are the features advertised, and 8 of the 9 listed items are met, I don't know that you would call the failure of having the ninth item material (after all, not every airport has a Maple Leaf Lounge you can use either).

Moreover, the majority of the seats appear functional by pretty much everyone's accounts on this thread (which I have just read completely). Numbers like "20% of the cabin had issues" illustrate that 80% of the cabin did not. They are not deliberately trying to mislead if the majority of its services deliver as promised.

By all means write to the Bureau about false advertising, ditto with your comments relating to Transport Canada, but right now you don't seem to care about that, you seem to be using this to leverage Air Canada to compensate you. I assure you that they know the thresholds the Bureau applies, and have had extensive experience dealing with them.

canadiancow

The fact that you equate "priority baggage handling" (which is often not delivered), "exclusive boarding lanes" (which is often not delivered), and "lie-flat bed with lumbar support", is quite telling.

I'm the first to say that my own inflatable mattress solves all my issues. But I feel like you're saying "lounge access" is equivalent to "eventually getting your destination", which is ludicrous.

So 20% of the cabin experienced deceptive advertising is acceptable? I'm not sure I'd accept 0.1%, but I certainly don't think 20% is reasonable.

My second last Signature flight had 60% of my party of 5 with deflated seats. I have no idea how many others didn't even notice.

So it's okay for companies to do bad things to thousands of people? Being properly compensated is a self-serving component of this, but I want them to stop the misleading advertising. "Working to fix it" is great, but that doesn't mean their advertising isn't misleading NOW.