Worst Airline Experience with Air Canada
Oct 28, 2018, 10:18 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
Programs: UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,210
Oct 28, 2018, 10:18 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
OP, please clarify where you checked in. You say your return flight was BLR to YYZ with connection in MUM. If checking in at BLR, it was not Air Canada serving you at the airport, but most likely the feeder airline (e.g Air India or Jet Airways). Perhaps you should direct much of the complaint at that connecting airline since it is the one servicing you at the airport?
In any case, airlines in India are not known for their quality of service nor customer care, so if there was an issue, it is more a reflection of the locals at the airport than it is of Air Canada. The airline cannot change the local culture. Everyone in Y can expect to be treated abruptly in India. It's the same at other airports. I don't blame AC when I am rudely treated at the transfer desk in PEK, or am hassled in IST or bullied at LAX. It's just the way they are in those places. If you want politeness and respect, pay more and fly via Singapore or Bangkok or Frankfurt. You wanted a cheap ticket, so accept that you will not receive the level of service you expect.
As for this bit of dramatic self entitlement, grow up and take responsibility for your decision
By this time, I was considerably piqued. I ask her how she expects two elderly people to manage on a 14-hour flight without food. She says she’s sorry but can’t do anything.
You were in the airport were you not? And you were well aware that there was an issue. Yet you did not purchase anything to eat at one of the many food outlets. Perhaps the airline could have done better, but the outcome of discomfort was entirely your doing. Were you too cheap to purchase anything? What stopped you from taking a few minutes and purchasing something? As you would have been purchasing a vegetarian option you had the added benefit of being able to purchase something that definitely would keep longer, Fruits and vegetables are readily available in Indian airport food facilities. There are millions of vegetarians flying in India and they have better options there than airports in North America. Don't blame the airline because you made the choice not purchase food.
In any case, airlines in India are not known for their quality of service nor customer care, so if there was an issue, it is more a reflection of the locals at the airport than it is of Air Canada. The airline cannot change the local culture. Everyone in Y can expect to be treated abruptly in India. It's the same at other airports. I don't blame AC when I am rudely treated at the transfer desk in PEK, or am hassled in IST or bullied at LAX. It's just the way they are in those places. If you want politeness and respect, pay more and fly via Singapore or Bangkok or Frankfurt. You wanted a cheap ticket, so accept that you will not receive the level of service you expect.
As for this bit of dramatic self entitlement, grow up and take responsibility for your decision
By this time, I was considerably piqued. I ask her how she expects two elderly people to manage on a 14-hour flight without food. She says she’s sorry but can’t do anything.
You were in the airport were you not? And you were well aware that there was an issue. Yet you did not purchase anything to eat at one of the many food outlets. Perhaps the airline could have done better, but the outcome of discomfort was entirely your doing. Were you too cheap to purchase anything? What stopped you from taking a few minutes and purchasing something? As you would have been purchasing a vegetarian option you had the added benefit of being able to purchase something that definitely would keep longer, Fruits and vegetables are readily available in Indian airport food facilities. There are millions of vegetarians flying in India and they have better options there than airports in North America. Don't blame the airline because you made the choice not purchase food.
http://www.airlinetrends.com/2011/10/13/lufthansa-britishairways-emirates-India/
That said, when it comes to staff, you get what you pay for in India. And with AC's track record on cutting costs...
Also, I wouldn't recommend buying fruits for NA-bound flights. Some lady got into serious trouble for showing up in the US with a DL-provided apple from France. CBSA could also kick up a stink if they accidentally entered the country with it, and elderly people can be forgetful about these minor things.
But yeah, fly an ME3 (who evidently manage to price dump and be more expensive than AC at the same time - middle eastern magic) EU or Asian airline next time (the SQ option would be ridiculously long for YYZ - South India). I imagine BLR-BOM-YYZ is one of the shorter routings so would command a premium. But maybe it's the cheapest. Who knows.
Oct 28, 2018, 10:18 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC/ EWR/ PHL
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Posts: 2,210
Oct 28, 2018, 10:31 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
OP, please clarify where you checked in. You say your return flight was BLR to YYZ with connection in MUM. If checking in at BLR, it was not Air Canada serving you at the airport, but most likely the feeder airline (e.g Air India or Jet Airways). Perhaps you should direct much of the complaint at that connecting airline since it is the one servicing you at the airport?
Last edited by Radha CR; Oct 28, 2018 at 10:41 am
Oct 28, 2018, 10:45 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
Only way it makes sense if we're subscribing to the same notion of reductivism that would argue that AC 759 was a non-event because no one died despite several apparent failures occurring along the way. The end end does not justify the means here.
Oct 28, 2018, 10:53 am
#24
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,454
This isn't "worst airline experience", this is "slightly mildly disappointed experience" in my eyes.
Sensational title, click-bait style.
Plus, it's well known that travellers having special dietary needs should always bring some emergency food with them.
Sensational title, click-bait style.
Plus, it's well known that travellers having special dietary needs should always bring some emergency food with them.
Oct 28, 2018, 10:57 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
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Oct 28, 2018, 11:12 am
#27
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Just to clarify, I had changed the meal option from JML to AVML at T-36 not at T-18, and yes, my parents were served a JML (the meal that I had ordered when I bought the round trip ticket). I suspect that once you've selected a meal on a ticket you are stuck with it on both legs of your journey and their system doesnt allow any updates later. Had the customer rep informed me that they were going to be served a JML, I would have understood (though a little frustrated) but wouldnt have been worried that my parents wouldnt have got any suitable food, neither would I have written this post. But she had no knowledge of this and continually insisted that a spcl meal was never ordered.
Agree I'm not a frequent flyer and that all other airlines probably provide equally bad experiences. But why do you experienced frequent flyers normalize the bad customer experience?
Agree I'm not a frequent flyer and that all other airlines probably provide equally bad experiences. But why do you experienced frequent flyers normalize the bad customer experience?
Some airlines don't permit one to order special meals for only some segments: it must be the same special meal (or no special meal at all) for every flight on the same itinerary that offers special meals. This might be why you were unable to change from JML to AVML after the outbound was flown.
Oct 28, 2018, 12:16 pm
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,271
I'm amazed that people are still complaining about food on aircraft.
I've been flying for over 50 years and since pretty much day one, realized that 'rubber chicken' is what to expect on any airline. By 'rubber chicken', I mean that all airline food is rarely beyond bland and barely edible. I cannot remember the last time I ate any of the main course dishes on any airline. The odd snack item, pick at the salad or desert, that's about it for me and has been as I say since pretty much day one. I have ZERO expectations when it comes to airline food and don't understand why anyone who has flown more than a couple of times in their life would not have the same expectations.
When I fly, I either go without eating or bring my own food on board. That's the only sensible answer there is to airline food.
I've been flying for over 50 years and since pretty much day one, realized that 'rubber chicken' is what to expect on any airline. By 'rubber chicken', I mean that all airline food is rarely beyond bland and barely edible. I cannot remember the last time I ate any of the main course dishes on any airline. The odd snack item, pick at the salad or desert, that's about it for me and has been as I say since pretty much day one. I have ZERO expectations when it comes to airline food and don't understand why anyone who has flown more than a couple of times in their life would not have the same expectations.
When I fly, I either go without eating or bring my own food on board. That's the only sensible answer there is to airline food.
Oct 28, 2018, 12:17 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
I agree with you. But, we can't forget the fact that there are a handful of service providers who are excellent in what they do. But, of course, they charge a premium. Compared to many other international service providers, I like to rate AC better than the majority. But, I am really sorry for what you had to go through.
Oct 28, 2018, 12:24 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: SQ TPPS (21),QF G, NZ E, IHG D Amb, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, Shangri-La Jade, Accor Plat, Hertz P
Posts: 397
I'm amazed that people are still complaining about food on aircraft.
I've been flying for over 50 years and since pretty much day one, realized that 'rubber chicken' is what to expect on any airline. By 'rubber chicken', I mean that all airline food is rarely beyond bland and barely edible. I cannot remember the last time I ate any of the main course dishes on any airline. The odd snack item, pick at the salad or desert, that's about it for me and has been as I say since pretty much day one. I have ZERO expectations when it comes to airline food and don't understand why anyone who has flown more than a couple of times in their life would not have the same expectations.
When I fly, I either go without eating or bring my own food on board. That's the only sensible answer there is to airline food.
I've been flying for over 50 years and since pretty much day one, realized that 'rubber chicken' is what to expect on any airline. By 'rubber chicken', I mean that all airline food is rarely beyond bland and barely edible. I cannot remember the last time I ate any of the main course dishes on any airline. The odd snack item, pick at the salad or desert, that's about it for me and has been as I say since pretty much day one. I have ZERO expectations when it comes to airline food and don't understand why anyone who has flown more than a couple of times in their life would not have the same expectations.
When I fly, I either go without eating or bring my own food on board. That's the only sensible answer there is to airline food.