eigenvector

AC8501 YXE YVR was cancelled today (22 August) due to lack of crew.

Looking at a 5-6 hour delay as the only rebooking options are via at least two other points.

I guess this will be my first opportunity to wrangle with AC over APPR compensation.

mboca28

On a 10 week odyssey mostly thru aeroplan.

step 1 FLL - YYZ Rouge 8/18 arrived on time Off plane 245 cleared immigration, picked up 2 bags and golf clubs in oversized in rental car by 335pm. Flew coach. A+

Step 2 YYZ-FRA-VIE J class 8/20 arrived airport 3 hrs before flight , cleared security in 20 minutes, 2 hrs 30 minutes in lounge which was jammed because everybody 2 hrs early. Impossible to find a charging station which was the only fail. A-

Step 3 arrive FRA 20 minutes late clear passport control in 10 minutes, arrive VIE on time, 2 bags golf clubs 15 minutes in rental another 15 minutes A+

couple more comments

Way too many carry-Ons FLL-YYZ stressing out flight attendants trying to jam bags in overheads

service on Lufthansa ( haven’t sat on a top level on a 747 for a long time ) was impeccable

airports jammed ( FLL, YYZ, FRA, VIE)

nomadic.relief

Not sure if this is AC specific, but when trying to board my AC ZRH-YVR flight today from a tight MUC-ZRH connection, I was made to go line up separately for a doc check (specifically had to show ArriveCan was completed, which I thought was odd, you are *allowed* to enter without it, you would just have to spend a lot of money, so it was a bit silly to delay boarding with that) and they also said the airport insisted on locally printed BPs, so the one I received from LH was pointless.

Poor concierge was a bit harried with multiple flights boarding at the same time and a lot of us who had no idea we needed another BP.

YOWgary

Booked the longest connection I could for a YOW-YYZ-DEN today, expecting mayhem at US security and Customs, especially as I had to register my updated US work visa.

...instead, I was the only one at security, waited almost thirty seconds to see a CBP officer, and got to the lounge 16 minutes after touchdown.

So, now I'll be taking up space at YYZ TB for several hours, because Pearson can't be trusted to have its poop in a group.

No wonder the lounges are overcrowded.

canadiancow

They were doing that at SFO yesterday, but somehow I managed to skip it and board without a typical doc check.

But yeah, I always try to make sure I have AC-printed BPs. In MUC last year, I went to the gate to get them, and the concierge was helpful, but didn't think it was necessary. Until she actually tried to print them. "Oh, I need to verify all your stuff. It's a good thing you came now or this would have delayed boarding." The calf, unfortunately, did not feel like doing the same, and got stuck in a big line in the YYZ transit area, because they would not let him through transit security with the LH-printed BP.

bocastephen

What is the deal with requiring Air Canada printed boarding passes? Pretty dumb when the airline gives you an electronic boarding pass after check in then demands you waste paper getting another one? This airline has some of the most ridiculous habits.

Seems Neville Longbottom is not a fan, Air Canada’s behavior here seems unacceptable

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/harry-pot...onto-1.6044335

Jebby_ca

That was an issue I had a few months ago. I stopped by the check-in desk to show my passport and proof of vaccination (when it was still required). They printed a paper boarding pass for me. When boarding started, the announcement was you must have seen an Air Canada agent prior to boarding the aircraft, not that you needed a paper boarding pass issued by Air Canada. They wouldn't let me board with my electronic boarding pass. I'm willing to accept some extra hassles with flying these days, but at the very least be clear about what you are expecting from passengers.

I always get a printed boarding pass from the Air Canada agent at international/transborder stations and just use that to board now.

bocastephen

I wonder if it's rogue agents, or an official policy that isn't being properly communicated. A more competent solution is using the same passport verification system used by United, where you just scan your passport at check-in using the mobile app, and then you get a boarding pass on your phone with a DOCSOK, vs a "see agent for check-in" where you need to swipe the passport at a kiosk or with an agent to get a boarding pass.

Maybe the paper boarding pass nonsense is just a lame excuse by the agents to force everyone who did not check-in at the counter to have their passport verified before boarding.

capedreamer

Sitting onboard AC415 YUL-YYZ on Sep 1. 10 out of 12 seats in J on this A220 are occupied by uniformed crew (I think all pilots), including 2 who flew me across the Atlantic on AC867 LHR-YUL a few hours earlier.

(As an aside, those AC867 pilots were awesome. They saw me peek into the 787 cockpit while they were doing pre-departure prep, invited me in, offered to take a photo of me in the left seat, and chatted with me for a good 5 minutes. I eventually felt bad and left while they seemed perfectly happy to keep chatting as they were all done with prep.)

AC415 is oversold. There are more crew in the back. They asked for 3 volunteers to take a YTZ flight 1.5 hours later and offered $400 as compensation. I was briefly tempted but decided against it.

Update: Ended up chatting with one of the pilots on this flight. She started a conversation as we were walking through YYZ because she thought I was also crew (I have one of those AC covid masks). Super nice lady. She had flown in from FRA to YUL that morning and said they've been needing to do a lot of these repositioning flights between YUL and YYZ due to a shortage of YUL-based crew. Her son is studying aviation and business at Western and hopes to follow in her footsteps. Awesome!

Bohemian1

This is a first for me leaving YVR. Delayed boarding AC304 today due to the cabin being +32 degrees.

That's one way to heat towels I guess.

antistan

Super nervous for my wife on this one.

We have J tickets YXU-YYZ-FRA-NAP

Should we check bags or carry on...
I hate carrying on bags, but am unsure on how bad it really is out there right now.
What would you do?

vernonc

I have checked bags and not had an issue other than waiting 45mins+ for the bags - for anything Canada based incl YYZ. If you have adequate connection time, you should be fine. I cannot speak to FRA or NAP though as I have not flown via them with bags.

tracon

I check bags because I have delayed baggage insurance.
You should do the same.

lcohen999

This was new, out of YYZ today. I always go through the Priority area to get to Nexus or Priority Domestic security to avoid the crowds.

They were checking carry on sizes there and giving out those sticker/tags assuming it fit.

mathemagic

The days of going that route to avoid being slowed down and harassed about your perfectly "legal" carry on bag(s) are...over? Great way to build and maintain customer "loyalty" , AC!