
Air Canada Reviews
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About Air Canada
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Air Canada delivers aviation transportation services, serving destinations across six continents through international, transborder and domestic routes. Founded in 1937, the airline maintains extensive cargo operations while offering multiple cabin classes and connecting regional markets through its network. Air Canada operates from hubs in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
- Friendly and helpful staff
- Good customer service experience
- Timely flight arrivals
- Poor communication during delays
- Inconsistent baggage handling
- High fees for changes and cancellations
Air Canada Reviews
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Reviewed Nov. 4, 2012
Delayed flight 8133 Edm-Calgary + loss of baggage: I'm a 47 year old woman traveling alone with disability having to use a cane. My trip from Edmonton, AB to San Antonio, TX via Calgary, AB on November 3rd, 2012 has been the most disappointing travel experience thus far in my life. I understand that Air Canada does not control the weather, but they can control how they dispense information to their customers and manage luggage. The normally simple Edmonton-Calgary AC8133 flight took almost 6 hours instead of 45 minutes. Our plane sat on the tarmac for hours without proper communication to us, the helpless passengers. Some AC staff (** at YEG) did their best to re-arrange my travel plans via Houston but at the expense of spending one night in Houston and arriving a day later to my vacation destination SAT.
The YYC-IAH flight AC8106 left late by about 75 minutes and finally arrived at 11:47pm without my luggage. I waited for 15-20 minutes by the luggage belt to be re-assured by the Air Canada and its partner United Airlines staff that my bag had been already re-routed to SAT since it was its original destination. I finally arrived in SAT after a few hours of sleep via the UA4188 flight. To my horror, my luggage was not at the UA baggage claim counter but was traced still waiting at IAH. The AC/UA staff broke their promise that my luggage was going to be there for me when arriving in SAT.
At 10:00am, the UA baggage claim lady quickly found my lost bag at IAH and promised that it will be on the next plane leaving IAH to SAT. They are UA flights (AC partner) at 11:26am and 12:50pm. ** said to expect a call after lunch to confirm if we want this luggage delivered to our hotel or if we wanted to pick it up. We called the 1-800-335-2247 at 2:10pm to ascertain the status of this bag. The website showed useless info by saying "Tracing process continues, check back later!" The rep at the call center located in India indicated that another promise to us was broken. This suitcase was not going to be on a plane until the much later UA1223 flight arriving in SAT at 9:43pm.
This means that I lost a full vacation day mostly waiting in airports or on a tarmac to finally arrive without my luggage and get the runaround for tracing my luggage. My experience with AC is so disappointing and further confirms to me that whenever given the choice between AC and another carrier, I choose the latter. How will AC compensate me for this terrible and stressful experience in trying to regain my confidence in your company? I am a woman traveling in a foreign country with limited mobility and I am wearing a bed sheet sitting in my hotel room waiting for my bag to come ... not enough tears to express how I feel being treated by AC right now!
Reviewed Oct. 4, 2012
Vancouver/UK, 1 July 2012 - AC treated us like cattle. Nineteen and a half hour delay and finally put into a hotel for 4 hours at six in the morning. Staff in departure were very rude and really could not care less. I have complained via Trailfinders and basically been told to go away. Our cases were new when we started this once in a lifetime holiday! They were 10 years old when we got home. AC have been told the whole story by letter so I am not going to repeat it all again. AC then insulted us by offering a 25 percent voucher for future use within 12 months! Why would we ever want to fly with AC again? They have no right to be in business with service like that. Thank you AC for a holiday we will never forget.
Reviewed Sept. 10, 2012
It is certainly true that Air Canada is not happy unless their customers are unhappy. I purchased 3 tickets on March 17th at Flight Centre here in Edmonton and paid for in full immediately for August 28th 1:25AM flying from Edmonton, AB to Charlottetown, PE via Montreal. On August 17th, I went online to print off our passes and seat assignments. My husband had a seat but my son and I were GTE. I called Air Canada immediately and was told we should have purchased a seat at a cost of $20 to $25 extra. My husband never paid the extra for a seat. I emailed the president Calin Rovinescu and received a call later from his rep, who also told me we should have paid extra for seats. I asked here what the $642.00 that my son and I each paid was for (standing room), but never got a response to that question. This did not sit at all well with me.
When we got to Edmonton International Airport that night, we found out that people had gotten bumped as the Montreal Alouettes were flying to Montreal and I'm sure they did not purchase tickets in March for this flight. All my complaining did pay off as my son and I got on the flight, but other people did not. I emailed Mr. Rovinescu in regard to this matter of basically stepping on the ordinary person to accommodate so-called celebrities yesterday, but never received an apology or any type of reasoning as to why when all 3 last names were the same and the tickets were all booked at the same place and time. Someone did not clue in and think family of 3 traveling together, maybe we'd better not split them up.
I just wanted to let the general public know so they can avoid Air Canada, where the ordinary customer does not come first. I've sent letters to the editors of the Edmonton Sun as well as The Guardian and Journal-Pioneer on PE. I also emailed the Alouettes to let them know what Air Canada attempted to do to us and what they did to other people, but have never received a response from anyone at the Alouettes.
Reviewed Aug. 19, 2012
Air Canada has their own set of rules when it comes to service. Most airlines have a cutoff of 30 minutes from departure. Air Canada has a 60-minute cutoff that is not disclosed on their online ticket purchase documentation. My wife had terminal cancer and we arrived 50 minutes prior to departure. We were rudely told that we had missed our flight and were told that our money would not be refunded. We were there 50 minutes before they were scheduled to leave. We talked to two different reservations personnel in Montreal, who were apathetic and the male even hung up on me.
Their solution was to to charge an additional $700 to put us on the next flight after we had already paid in full. My wife was not feeling well, was on chemo and terminally ill. They took none of these facts into consideration. These guys are jerks, do not have to compete or be good to their customers because they are owned by the Canadian government. I will never fly or recommend Air Canada to anyone ever again.
Reviewed Aug. 17, 2012
Many passengers have to deal with one or two delays, mix-ups, or lost bags. Sometimes three or four things go wrong on the same trip. We had 12. We got to the airport in Barcelona 3 and a half hours before our flight and we needed every minute of that since the wait in line at Air Canada to check our bags was 2 and a half hours. When checking our luggage, the agent put the names of others in the party on two of our bags, saying that it doesn't make any difference whose names are on which bags because we are all together. Of course, we were not together in Montreal, Toronto, or Chicago. After several delays in security, we got to the gate in Barcelona only to find there was no one there. The gate had been moved with no notice. When we finally found our real gate, there was a huge line waiting to board. We were told that passengers are expected to check the departure schedule and no announcements or gate messages would be posted.
Once we boarded the plane, the delays continued. First, we were told that paperwork was not finished so we had to wait. Then when the paperwork got there, the flight plan had expired so they had to file a new one. We finally took off over two hours late. Of course, we were concerned about our connecting flight. When we got to Montreal, there was still time to make our flight, but here is where the really unacceptable delay occurred causing us to miss our connection. Air Canada agents came and found some people who were on an even earlier flight to Chicago and rushed them through security. I suggested to my group (still 7 at this point) that we follow them, but we played by the rules and stayed in line. Big mistake. Never play by the rules in Montreal!
Even though we never left the secure area, we had to go through two security checks, two customs checks, and countless other lines where all they did was scan our boarding pass and allow us to continue. At one point, we were in a long hallway and could see four more queues ahead of us. When we got through one queue, we would get immediately into the next one a few feet (meters) later. When we got to the gate, they had given away four of our seven seats. Two of our group did board and they waited until 7pm to take off on the scheduled 5:35pm flight. My wife was also asked to board but she refused to fly without her husband. Why did they scan our boarding passes so many times if not to see where we were in the airport? This was just plain ridiculous.
Next, we were assigned to fly on the plane from hell! That plane was to take off at 7:40pm and get us into Chicago Sunday night. Plus they gave us $100 each except for my wife as a consolation prize. We told them we were never flying Air Canada again, so credit was not going to cut it. We wanted cash. After eating on your dime, we boarded the plane and hoped we would get home by midnight, but this was not to be. The plane took off at 8:20pm (40 minutes late). Meanwhile, our son began his 90-minute drive to the airport in Chicago to pick us up. Somewhere before flying over Detroit (as shown on your monitor at each seat), we were told that the plane had a problem and we would have to divert to Toronto. You would not believe the screams of horror from the passengers including us. How many more things could go wrong? We were about to find out.
We landed in Toronto and waited at a gate to see if the problem could be fixed. After 20-30 minutes, we are told that the problem could not be fixed and we were going to taxi over to another gate. We waited another 20-30 minutes for a gate. We spent another 20-30 minutes driving over to the new gate. By this time, our son is sitting in the cell phone lot at O'Hare field in Chicago. More waiting and we finally are able to get off the plane at 11:30pm. We were told that Air Canada would put us up in a hotel and give us something to eat. None of this came to be. By 12:30am, it is now obvious that our other two bags (which you charged us a whopping 110 Euros, US$139.54, to carry) were not going to arrive in Toronto. We are told to check in the morning which we did, and they could not find the bags. Meanwhile, our other two pieces of luggage have been collected in Chicago by the two people who went ahead on flight 8657. Their names were originally on those bags. They had the bags locked in the baggage office in Chicago with our name clearly marked. We then had to collect their bag in Toronto, which we did do. Eventually, we had the Chicago office send this bag to the Wisconsin home of the other couple.
In Toronto, we waited for meal vouchers that would have been unusable anyway due to the late hour (now 12:45am), but they never came. We watched for 20 minutes as a line of 50-75 people wait for the so-called shuttle to take them to the hotel and make a very smart decision to skip the four queues (line for the shuttle, line to check into hotel, line to check out of hotel, and the line for the shuttle back to the airport) all of which had to happen in a 4-hour span plus we also had to sleep during that time. The five of us decided to sleep in the airport so we could be sure to be there in the morning when it was time to check in. The next day, we talked to people who had waited for the shuttle and found out that the wait was one hour. We were then happy with our decision to sleep at YYZ.
On Monday morning, my wife checked with baggage and was told they did not lose the bags, but they did not know where they were. Okay! We board flight 7859 and flew to Chicago. Meanwhile, our son had to drive 90 minutes home the night before, get a short sleep, and drive 90 minutes back to pick us up after getting permission to take off work. We arrived on time and filed for lost luggage. On Tuesday, we are told the bags have been found and will be shipped to Chicago. From the tags, it appears they were lost in Toronto somewhere. We hope to see them on Tuesday. Wrong! On Wednesday, we made several phone calls and sent several emails and all we hear is "Please wait!"
At 10:32pm CDT, Global Delivery called and said they have the bags and can bring them tonight. We are going to bed so we decided to wait until Thursday. He said they would arrive by 1pm. At 1:21pm, a man from the delivery service calls and has the bags and is in the vicinity, but needs directions. At 1:55pm, the man arrives with the bags. I verified that everything is in the bags and no damage has occurred. The nightmare was over after 107 hours. If you had not given away our seats on flight 8657, I would not be writing this letter. The trip would have been terrible for sure, but at least if we had gotten home the same day and if we had our luggage, we would have written this off as a horrible travel day.
Reviewed March 26, 2012
We had booked one way tickets to LAX on Dec 30th 2011. Because of my medical conditions, we canceled on Dec 9th 2011 (ref # **). The tickets cost $326.08 each. We have been told that we have until June 2nd to rebook.
After my January heart attack, it is impossible for me to fly. So I lose the entire $326.08. I cannot transfer that portion to my husband. The $326.08 is lost entirely! He has been informed that a proposed trip to the Maritimes will require a $ 150.00 re-booking fee. This means out of $652.16, we now have remaining $176.08, a loss of 73%!
Reviewed March 24, 2012
As a Canadian I am deeply ashamed of this company and embarrassed when other nationals or even my fellow citizens associate it with our country. It has nothing to do with Canada, even though it used our country's reputation to bolster its bottom line for years. We, as a country, have had a reputation for safety, honesty, careful regulation, and fair treatment of customers as well as employees. This has been horribly eroded by companies like Air Canada (that take the country's name as their own) and then coarsen and cheapen the "brand".
Everyone in Canada hates Air Canada now. Yes, quite a few of their employees have become hard-nosed and difficult to deal with but that is the fault of the management. Employees however, are only the product of the company culture and the culture at Air Canada has become "beggar thy neighbour". It is appalling to see the arrogant executives walk away with their unearned millions while the airline herds its cattle class passengers around the country. They have destroyed a once great company by shifting all the profits into executive salaries, bonuses and shareholders pockets while the company is drained of resources.
I am also appalled at Aeroplan and the theft of frequent flyer miles by "obstacle corridor" tactics. Obstacle corridors are designed to make a reward, any reward or gift, so time-consuming and difficult to claim that customers abandon it out of frustration. This is a growing field of marketing for obvious reasons in spite of its inherent corruption. Anyone similarly upset should join the class action suit against Air Canada online and try as much as possible to boycott the airline. Aeroplan was hived off of Air Canada so they could pretend they were not the instigators of this. It is thoroughly outrageous and manipulative.
I would also caution people about WestJet which is pretty much the only other airline in Canada. It remains to be seen how they will behave if Air Canada crashes. Their philosophy also seems to be one of corporate entitlement and reward. So far however, they have had to cater to the customers but they may not care if they become in a monopoly situation.
Let us remember these airlines fly because the taxpayers built the airports, paid for the research into the science and business of aeronautics, subsidized these companies research and development, paid 2/3 of all costs of the university and college degrees held by the employees and management, built the highways and connecting transportation to the airports, pay still for the the regulatory structure to keep the airlines audited and safe and have no say in how these companies are governed.
Without some kind of change to the governance structure, management will continue to be able to raid these companies when they choose for their own enrichment and we the public will be forced to support them because they will be "too big to fail, or to few to fail". I do not look forward to the future of flying.
Reviewed March 15, 2012
We had booked two one-way tickets to LAX for December 30, 2011. Because of my wife's medical conditions, we cancelled on December 9, 2011. The tickets cost $326.08 each. We have until June 2nd to rebook. Wife still can't fly, so her $326.08 is cancelled. I was informed that my $326.08 is subject to a rebooking fee of $150.00 for a flight to the Maritimes. This means that our original $652.16 has shrunk to $176.08 for a loss of .73%. One factor the rebooking fee is particularly galling is because our cancelled flights were contracted to the USA and a Canadian $50 booking fee does not apply to this situation. I feel this is not only unfair but dishonest.
Reviewed Feb. 22, 2012
I landed in Houston at midnight. Not a soul around, I went to pick up my priority bag and waited until last bag came down chute. My items were packed on top and bag looked like run over and dragged. I went find some one, but there was no one around. I left airport call AC, spent 2 hours on phone. They told me I needed to do online. I went online, website tells me I need to go to the airport. I go to the airport next morning. No one at claims sign says go to ticketing. They tell me to go downstairs. I told them sign says, come here. "Oh, I will check." She comes back and says she will meet me downstairs to file all paperwork with her talking to claims.
Then she tells me I have to ship via FedEx, so I find the FedEx office ans send bag. Then I call to find out about missing items. I was told to file online. I file online and wait 3 weeks, never hear anything or even get mail. I call, they now tell me I cannot file online and I have to fill in and send through PO. I said, "Where does it say that." He cannot tell me I go online to Air Canada and under baggage tab it says lost and found. This is form I filled out, I tell him. He says that is the wrong form. So I ask were is the right form, he cannot tell me.
So far, I have wasted 6 or 7 hours and paid for parking. No one returns calls. No one can give straight answer. I tried filing a complaint, but need to send fax, imagine that. Do not use this airline! It is a joke!
Reviewed Feb. 1, 2012
In January 2012, I booked a flight and hotel online through AC for an upcoming trip to Mexico City. Both the flight and entire duration of hotel stay were charged to my credit card immediately. Five minutes after making the booking, I received information that the hotel location for my event would change. Accordingly, I went online and cancelled the hotel reservation. Normally, when one books a hotel, they can cancel or change the booking 24 hours or more ahead of arrival without charge.
But AC (and the partner services they use) have a staggering, flat rate cancellation charge of $269.77. So on a hotel booking charge of $783 which I cancelled 5 minutes after making the reservation, I was charged $269! The explanation they gave was that they were just passing on the charge from the hotel chain (I have not experienced any hotel in the world that would do this). Beware! Never book a hotel or any other travel related services through Air Canada!
Reviewed Oct. 13, 2011
I was traveling with my mother. I had a meeting in Calgary, and my mother was going to stay with my brother for a month. The baggage had my clothes and presentation for an early morning meeting, in addition to my mother's medication.
I spent three hours on the phone to file for delayed baggage and share my concern. The representative promised that I will be reimbursed for all the costs incurred due to the delay and additional costs if we do not get our baggage by morning. The baggage did not come the next morning as well. I left without the baggage (from Calgary at my brother's residence). The baggage arrived after more than two days at the Calgary address.
As advised by Air Canada, I submitted the claim with all the supporting documents, and it cost me more than US$11 to mail than to fax. After almost a month, I received a US$200 check that I refused to take and returned it back. After another two weeks, Air Canada sent again a US$200 check that was again returned back by me.
On October 11, 2011, I received a letter saying that they are sorry, but they regret that they are unable to offer any compensation after legal review.
I would like to bring this to the knowledge of appropriate organizations for Air Canada to respect the mental and financial distress they cause to passengers due to their staff's negligence and lack of competence or training.
Reviewed Oct. 3, 2011
I was booked on an Air Canada for my flight home to Vancouver from Ottawa on October 2, 2011 at 6PM. My wife was also booked on the flight. I arrived with much the same luggage and carry-on items that I have arrived at airports, for an average of 40 domestic flights per year, for the last 15 years: a suitcase to check in. and a small backpack and guitar in a cloth case as carry-ons. In fact, a cloth guitar case cannot be checked in as there is ample evidence that Air Canada baggage handlers mistreat instruments (I watched one handler stand my guitar, which was in a fiberglass flight case, on one end and drop it onto the conveyor belt and proceeded to do the same with my travel mate's guitar. I will never trust a guitar in a cloth case to your baggage handlers, other than for a gate check). Another fact, on long haul flights my cloth guitar case easily fits into any overhead and leaves lots of room to put other baggage on top and around.
Today is the first time in my 12 years of domestic travel that I have been denied the right to carry my guitar on board with me. The agent told me that this is the policy of the airport, not Air Canada, and that I had to check the guitar. I know this is not true as I traveled from Ottawa airport twice in the last 30 days with my guitar in a cloth case on board, both times. I told her this and she tried to tell me that was not possible. She would not even offer me a gate check tag, which I know is available to people with strollers much larger than my guitar so I protected my personal property, canceled my Air Canada flight and booked with WestJet. When I came back to the Air Canada lineup, my wife was still checking in and it was very clear to the agent, as I had Westjet ticket in hand and my guitar on my shoulder, that indeed I could carry on my guitar if I traveled with WestJet.
The fact that your agent and her supervisor insisted that I could not travel from Ottawa with my guitar as carry-on is untruthful, and the fact that they suggested I was not telling the truth is highly offensive. My wife and I travel for our separate businesses a great deal and we're looking forward to sharing a flight together. Your uncivil staff caused us much stress, financial loss and hassle and forced us to travel separately.
I also must say that I travel a fair amount internationally and have never been denied the right to carry my guitar on board even when carrying a guitar in a large flight case and quite prepared to check my guitar: in Madrid, Frankfurt, Havana, Puerto Vallarta, Berlin, Tel Aviv, Warsaw, Narita, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago. My guitar goes on board with me. No other airlines put people through what your agents did to me yesterday and you are considered our national airline!
You just lost a customer and I am beginning to believe what people are saying about Air Canada's unspoken but obvious mandate: We're not happy until you're not happy.
Reviewed Sept. 21, 2011
I have had a nightmare of an experience with Air Canada. If you want to actually speak to a customer service agent live over the phone, rather than dealing with their stated stonewalling policy of submitting complaints only in writing, try contacting:
Brenda Denholm, brenda.denholm@aircanada.ca, Customer Service Manager, 403-440-3151
Helen Gaulin, helen.gaulin@aircanada.ca, Customer Service Minion, 403-440-3117
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2011
I had a ticket on Air Canada from London to Chicago via Montreal. They refused to fly me (i did not have transit visa- rubbish regulations). The aircraft/boarding personnel bluntly said that i would not be leaving and when asked about my ticket - i will not be getting anything. Ok.. i contacted Air canada and they finally agreed to reschedule my ticket. I had paid 670.00 for my tickets initially and wanted it to be rescheduled for December 2011 when the fares are 480.00 They mention that there is a rescheduling fee of 100.00(which i can understand) and on top of that a difference in fare of 100.20 ( which according to them is due to the fact that its expensive in december... Its either they are IDIOTS or do have no idea about maths.. They are a complete rip off.
Reviewed April 2, 2011
The flight path from Toronto to Shanghai is over Japan's airspace. Radioactivity levels over Japan are at very dangerous levels. Customer asked if flight path will be altered. (No) Customer attempted to reschedule to a safer (? ) time (Aug). Both A/C & agent refused. Customer must pay all cancellation fees. This is a matter not foreseeable by customer. Looking to rescind.
Reviewed March 12, 2011
In the past six months, I have made 3 trips round from Edmonton to Rouyn/Noranda Quebec. Out of the six flights, I had problems with 5 of the flights. I never arrived at my destination on time, and I am not talking a little late, I am talking about 5 to 6 hours late. I even had a flight where the plane was there but they didn't have a crew to fly it. The best was when we boarded the flight in Rouyn and we didn't even have heat. It was only -30 that day and by the time we got to Montreal, it finally started to warm up enough that I could feel my feet.
It's a shame that the top brass at Air Canada can't seem to run this company, because the people who work for you and listen to customer complaints seem very nice and able to do their job. I can't help but wonder how much taxpayer money goes into this company. I think it's going to waste if 5 out of 6 flights were screwed up. This summer, we are driving to Quebec. Less stress that way.
Reviewed Jan. 14, 2011
I was on a middle seat in an eight-hour flight from Tokyo to Vancouver with a nonworking entertainment system. Normally, I wouldn't consider this a big deal, but when you are on a flight for eight straight hours with two smokers on either side, the entertainment system becomes a more important aspect of the flight experience. In an attempt to compensate, Air Canada gave me a coupon for a mere 5% discount for a future Air Canada flight. Poor customer service, a frustrating flight, a poor airline.
Reviewed Jan. 4, 2011
I am very unhappy with the service provided by Air Canada. They were very incompetent in terms of what they deemed as "delayed" baggage. Delayed baggage was too much of a euphemism. It would be more appropriate to claim it as failed delivery. I have called so many times to inquire about my baggage status and all they said was that it was on its way. They would not contact the delivery service to speed up the process. Even the personnel was unfriendly and it was obvious that they were sick of my phone calls since one of them referred me to the website to check on my status.
The flight too was less than enjoyable. The air hosts were unprofessional and made mistakes everywhere.
Overall, I am very disappointed in this company. Unfortunately, no other company flies to my area. If there were other choices, then I would surely fly with another airline. Yes, I would pay extra just to be with another airline.
This has been my worst flight experience ever and I have flown with many different companies.
Reviewed Dec. 27, 2010
This is the second year in a row. On the 21st of Dec., Air Canada has lost my luggage. In 2009, I was headed to Mexico for work, have never seen my luggage till Jan 23. When I returned home and half of my possessions were missing, it has been a year and still no one has responded to my claim. Again this Dec. 21, 2010, flying from Calgary to Halifax, my bag is gone once again. They have no idea where the bag is, and I get the runaround and I am preparing to go to court. I had enough of these incompetent people.
And if anyone didn't already know, in some of my research I found out that they have an auction in their Quebec warehouse every so often for unclaimed luggage which apparently is internal so employees can purchase it . No wonder their employees don't care that they lose our luggage because then they buy our stuff for nothing. Major inconvenience, every time a flight comes their lines are full of people experiencing the same thing. I have traveled all over the world, live in Canada but have never experienced anything like this except in my home country.
Reviewed Dec. 25, 2010
Aeroplan took away all my accumulated points because of the failure of a partner airline to update the mileage points that I should have earned. When that was alerted to Aeroplan supervisors, the excuse is that nothing can be done because these points have already expired, and it is not their responsibility to look into the matter if it was the mistakes of their partner airlines. You cannot "fax" to them to document any letters sent to them and you don't get a response or confirmation of materials sent to them via regular mails. All they want is to eliminate all your accumulated points.
Reviewed Dec. 22, 2010
I had an existing plane ticket that I canceled, because travel plans changed. I was told I could use the credit from that ticket towards a future flight a $75 change fee. It makes sense. Three weeks later I re-booked and chose to use my credit, but the reservation agent ** up the fares, then adds the $75 change fee. I caught the error a few days later, called back to have it corrected. Air Canada issues an appropriate credit, but charges me again for a $75 change fee.
After my flight occurs, I called back, get the duplicate $75 change fee reversed. Since the flight is over, reservations can no longer help. I'm told there is no phone access to Air Canada customer service. I tried to email, but got an auto-response saying they will review my request within 3 weeks. Caution to all travelers, there is no customer service at Air Canada. You cannot talk to customer service. They accept email or fax only, and they respond at their own convenience (as you'll hear among other reports on this site).
I have tried contacting Air Canada via Twitter as well, but I am getting the same runaround. They say to send an email, since they have no phone access. This is only my second time using Air Canada, and the last time I use Air Canada. Absolutely horrible customer service. I'm out $75 because of their incompetence. but more frustrated about the fact that you cannot resolve a customer issue with a phone call to Air Canada. Ridiculous.
Reviewed Nov. 12, 2010
Air Canada is increasingly behaving the way that formerly only fly-by-night outfits and charter airlines would. If you ask for an extra drink on an international flight, they will say yes, and never return. If you ask for a pillow on a flight within Canada, they will tell you that they are only for first class. Now, they want to charge for a 2nd piece of luggage, a practice that only ultra-inexpensive airlines like Ryan Air used to do. But Air Canada's prices stay the same. Well, keep rising. I am avoiding this airline increasingly, even though I have been a supporter for four decades.
Reviewed Oct. 28, 2010
I bought a one way Toronto - NY ticket at the cost of 590 dollars for on traveling September 12. I checked online that they close check in 60 minutes before take off. I only had hand luggage and arrived at the airport 75 min. before take off. I was told that the only option for checking in was the automates, so I tried to check in on one of those. I repeatedly got the message, "Please contact an agent", but there were no agents available.
To get to the counter, there was a line of at least fifty people waiting to drop off luggage. They accepted that I shortcut the line to request for the assistance of an agent. The Air Canada official at the desk told me she would call an agent. I explained to her which flight I was trying to check in on. When an agent finally came, he told me it was too late to check-in and that I had to pay a penalty to change my ticket. I missed my connection by train from Penn station because of this mishap, and I find it unacceptable that they don't have sufficient personnel at the airport.
I was equipped with both the print out of my e-ticket and my electronic passport + the bank card I paid the ticket with. If this was not enough for their automated check-in, surely their electronic equipment is insufficient. I called customer service where I was told that I had to send them an email with my complaint and that they would respond within six weeks. They denied any refund at all, pretending that security was their priority!
Reviewed Oct. 28, 2010
My wife Tina and I booked Las Vegas to Shanghai via Vancouver on August 29th, 2010 on AC 545. After check in, I lost the boarding passes. This panicked her as she suffers from clinically diagnosed, verifiable bipolar illness. Between check in and the gate (we checked in at LAS at least 2 hours early), she went missing. I asked the gate agent to help but to no avail. The captain of the flight announced that he wanted to leave early. He and the crew were aware that my wife was missing and never even spoke to me about this or offered any assistance.
Nevertheless, the aircraft was boarded and the doors were closed 30 minutes early and the flight departed early, preventing my wife from being found and allowed to travel. Her baggage was not offloaded. I overheard AC staff saying the flight must not be delayed to do this offload. This is a gross violation of FAA/TSA security regulations. I was rushed on board, unable to communicate with my wife. Her vital medications were in a carry on with me and not with her. She was not traveling against doctor’s advice.
I lost money on non refundable tickets both on AC and for domestic flights and hotels in China and replacement medications. I paid excess baggage fees on these flights because my wife’s baggage was with me and not her. Travel insurance would not have covered these expenses as she has a pre-existing condition. I suffered extreme stress and anguish. Also, Air Canada refused to refund any money and have refused to answer my complaint further or discuss the security breaches. The Canadian Transportation Agency has declined to do anything as they want to protect their flag carrier.
This resulted to monetary losses, including non refundable air tickets on Air Canada, internal flights in China, as well as hotels and replacement medications for my wife.
Reviewed July 13, 2010
Air Canada has doubled up on payment authorization causing $1998.20 to be frozen in my bank account for 7-10 working days. I booked my tickets online on the 7th July and paid $1998.20 by Visa Debit Card. Two days later, my account was deducted with two payments, each amounting to $998.10. As these amounts don't match the authorized amount, $1998.20 remains frozen by my bank despite Air Canada receiving full payment. I have contacted their reservations department and had lengthy conversations but no assistance was offered whatsoever and I am simply told that I must wait 7-10 working days for the amount to unfreeze.
I find this totally unacceptable and am appalled at their complete lack of assistance in resolving this situation. My bank have told me what they need to do which is simply to reverse the original request and $1998.20 of my money will immediately be unfrozen. Why don't they do it?
Reviewed June 5, 2010
On June 3 - I brought my mother’s Dog Misty to the Cargo area at the Pittsburgh Airport. I did not have the appropriate dishes that Air Canada required for Misty to travel. My friend had to race to the local pet store to obtain these dishes. While she was gone, I sat and overheard the truck driver in the docking area say..."What about the expletive dog? A male voice responded with, it’s going by Air Canada. I was mortified. When it was time to do the paperwork I informed the female clerk I was extremely nervous about what I had overheard. She apologized and the male clerk returned to the dock area to silence the man who spoke those words.
There was a 2 hour delay during the layover in Toronto. When my mother’s dog arrived, they would not release her to her until she paid another 46.00 for customs? We were not informed of this extra charge at any time. Furthermore, the food we had sent with Misty was still attached to the top of the kennel underneath the travel documents unopened and the water bottle was unused.
My mother’s dog was on route from Pittsburgh Airport at 8:30am until her arrival in St. Johns Newfoundland Airport at 11:30pm she had not been fed or watered. This is seriously unacceptable. I have contacted Air Canada regarding this freighting experience. I cannot describe we feel about this experience. We will never use Air Canada for any future travel bait human or other. Be advised, I will alert others of this experience.
Reviewed May 11, 2010
Upon travel with Air Canada Vacations to Varadero, Cuba during the week of March 12-19, staying at a 5-star hotel (Paradisus Princesca), I obtained both bed bugs and a confirmed parasitic infection. I have been ill for the last two months, requiring 4 courses of antibiotics, numerous hospital tests and referrals to both an Infectious Disease Specialist and a Gastroenterologist.
Reviewed Feb. 28, 2010
On August 4th of last year, I was supposed to fly home to San Francisco, departing Quebec City with a transfer in Toronto. The flight out of Quebec was scheduled to depart for Toronto at 3:30 pm but at 3:20 a PA announcement informed that the flight had been cancelled. We were told to return to the ticket counter. After being forced to wait in line for another 40 minutes, I was greeted by a frazzled and disheveled ticket agent who considered routing me to Montreal but finally booked me to Toronto later that night, departing at 6:30 pm.
I was told I would need to stay overnight in Toronto to catch my connection to San Francisco the next morning. This was not a problem since all I had to do was speak to any Air Canada Customer Service Agent to get a hotel and meal vouchers for my overstay in Toronto. Unbeknownst to me, and apparently Air Canada's own ticket staff, Toronto was still experiencing serious delays and operational problems. My 6:30 departure out of Quebec, after numerous delays, finally pulled up to the gate at Pearson at 1:15 am.
Exhausted, I cautiously went looking for any Air Canada Customer Service agent in a darkened and dim Air Canada Service area. What I discovered were long lines of angry and frustrated customers, all hoping to get hotel vouchers and flights rebooked from two overwhelmed customer service agents. It took one and a half hours waiting in this line to realize that I never was going to speak to anyone.
Air Canada totally mishandled this situation that for the vast majority of the hundreds of people waiting in line, including myself, the only option was to find somewhere on the floor to sleep. After trying to sleep on a ventilation grate for about 3 hours, I finally got up and went to my gate for my departure to San Francisco a few hours later.
My original mailed letter of complaint was never answered. I finally resorted to an online email exchange system that felt like an online tech support chat with someone in New Delhi. As a compensation for their incompetence, Air Canada has graciously offered me 25% off my next Air Canada flight. What a joke!
Reviewed Jan. 12, 2010
I decided to return to Winnipeg on route to Saskatoon a day earlier than planned (November 13th instead of the 14th). So on November 10th at the ticket office at the Winnipeg airport, I asked to changed my ticket from the 14th to the 13th. I was initially told I could not do this and that Expedia had to do it because I was already in transit on the ticket. Of course, Expedia told me to go to Air Canada. Finally, the ticket agents agreed to changed the ticket for $75 + taxes. I agreed and signed the form.
When I checked online banking a number of days later, I had a bill for $740 on my credit card. I immediately tried to call Air Canada about this (impossible apparently to call Air Canada about problems) and settled for an email. I was told to fax them the information so I did. I got the reply that they would get back to me in 3-4 weeks.
6 weeks later, I sent another email asking what was going on. I got a response from Brenda G. that said "In response to your fax of Nov 20 2009 regarding the two charges on your recent credit card statement. Please be advised that the charge of $735.35 was the original cost on the ticket. The charge of $739.91 is the additional charge for changing your flight from the 14th to the 13th. As your original fare was no longer available on the new flight, you were charged the next best fare which resulted in the additional collection."
I immediately replied back that I did not authorize this and that I would have spent an extra night in Winnipeg for $150 before doing this. I waited another week for a response and sent another email to Brenda indicating that I did not think this was fair but that I understood mistakes happen and would be willing to accept a free flight or 25,000 aeroplan miles in lieu of the $740 overcharged.
It has been sometime now and no response from this woman. I have a receipt for the $75 I was supposed to pay, and there is nowhere that it says that was supposed to be $740. It seems to be Air Canada's policy to simply ignore complaints until people get sick of dealing with it and drop it. They know that no one can afford a lawyer to deal with a $750 complaint.
Reviewed Dec. 1, 2009
Reviewed Aug. 27, 2009
There are no more direct flights available when you use premiums tickets (tickets acquired with miles earned). This is the case recently, because in spring 2009 I could have direct flights from Montreal to London or Paris. In other words, it is a way to lower the service without changing the amount of miles required. It is not fair. Flights are much longer and less pleasant with the same effort needed (same amount of miles required). Rules have been changed.
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2009
This is about my booking for the 14th of September. I booked and confirmed on the 26th of July. I will start my day on the 14th of September by catching a bus, first one of the day to get to Winnipeg Airport. It leaves at 7:00 to get to airport at 9:30, next one is too late. I booked a flight from Winnipeg to Calgary for 11:05, where I will be meeting someone from my office, and get some papers at Calgary Airport and catching a 12:55 flight to Fort McMurray with WestJet, as AirCanada did not have any good times.
Air Canada changed the booking itinerary - the first time by 10 minutes, which was okay because I could still meet my flight. A week later, they changed it again and I got an email at midnight of 7th telling me that it’s changed. This time they changed it by two hours. I will arrive in Calgary at 14:19, which will make me miss my Westjet flight. I walked up on the 8th and started calling Air Canada. After 6 attempts (because their phone systems were having issues and cannot run a phone system, I would be worried about them flying plans), I got my first chance to talk to someone. I explained my situation. And I was offered two choices. One is an earlier flight at 7:00 or a refund. I explained that an earlier flight means inconvenience for me and a hotel room, as there is no bus earlier so I would have to come in the day before. I am willing to handle the inconvenience but did not want to pay $130+ for a hotel. I was told Air Canada doesn’t pay for hotels.
I explained that a refund is not an option as I am not able to get other flights at any even remotely close price range as of the time factor. So, I suggested that they get me a flight from Calgary to Fort Mcmurray and I was told that they will not do that as they have no affiliation with WestJet. I asked to speak to a supervisor. This was when the phone systems malfunctioned again and I lost my connection. I called again and went through the whole thing again - Step 1: the explaining, to step 5: the hang up. We repeated these steps 4 times, each time taking anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes and a lot or restraint from my side. On the 4th time, I was told that the supervisor on duty was not there right now and a message was left on their voice mail, and I will be contacted.
Reviewed July 24, 2009
Air Canada was ill-equipped to cope with contingencies. I was traveling on AC032 from Beijing to Toronto and then on to Bradley, US. The weather was bad and first I was told that the flight was delayed. After almost five hours, the announcement came that the flight was canceled. This was when the chaos started. The person who came to the business class lounge was not clear in explaining what's next. Finally, we all figured what's going on and had to go all the way back through security and custom to take a bus to the hotel. We were told that we had to go together and shouldn't take taxi on our own. But then there was nobody around to show us the way (the guy disappeared shortly after) and no sign anywhere to be seen.
Through asking around, our group finally made it to the bus and the hotel. I was given a room with no bed! I finally got my room and was told to be ready for the bus at the lobby at 6am the next day. The wake-up call was automatically set for me, as I later realized, at 5am. So I got up and ate my breakfast and checked out my room. Then, I was told at the lobby that the bus won't come until 8am! I am fine with all the flight schedule changes but the lack of coordination and poor management caused a great deal of discomfort and stress throughout the process. As a result, I missed my son's birthday party. My wife couldn't reschedule it because the next weekend we would be traveling and not be able to meet with friends.
Reviewed July 6, 2009
Air Canada is a horrible company to deal with if you are a consumer and have changes to make. The service reps are inconsiderate, often complaining about their own issues with their employer. I have traveled with Air Canada for years and have had top tier status. The following scenario is a real scam in my mind and someone should advocate having it changed.
Real scenario with easier numbers; first, I buy a tango plus ticket online from Air Canada for $300 + $45 taxes, a total of $345 for the ticket. Second, I cancel the ticket due to change in plans. Third, I have no choice but to call Air Canada to rebook the ticket. I booked 1 month out and the fare price is now $200.I get zero refund. I also pay $115 in change fees for having to rebook the ticket on the phone. The original $300 does not cover the change fees even though the new fare is lower. Total paid is $345, plus $115 for a total of $460.00. Lastly, I had to cancel this second itinerary. I called again, $115 in change fees were added a second time. The new fare this time is $385.00. Guess what?! They calculated the difference that I now owe as $385 less $200 equals an additional $185 more. I now owe another $300. Total paid is $760.00.
This is ridiculous. No company in the world that interacts with consumers gets away with these calculations to gauge customers than Air Canada. I asked the rep on the phone if that seems fair that they re-calculate from a price of $200, not the original $300 I paid, and not the cumulative amount I paid since cancelling and rebooking once. She was very rude and said they "are an airline, not a t-shirt company."
It wouldn't be so bad if these customer service representatives weren't so rude and disgruntled already. If I had another choice (I don't), I would never ever use Air Canada again. I have had to unrightfully repay numerous times on a ticket that I already have a large credit for which should sufficiently cover either the change fees and/or the fare difference. They do not allow you to do this.
Reviewed May 28, 2009
Reviewed May 28, 2009
Reviewed May 7, 2009
Reviewed Feb. 5, 2009
Reviewed Jan. 15, 2009
Reviewed Jan. 8, 2009
Reviewed Dec. 29, 2008
Reviewed Dec. 27, 2008
Reviewed Dec. 5, 2008
Reviewed Oct. 9, 2008
Background: a flight from Calgary to Halifax = $248.50; flight from Calgary to Sydney (Nova Scotia) with a stopover in Halifax = $439.60. Issue: during TAKE OFF from Halifax heading towards Sydney, the plane came to a halt on the runway. After sitting on the runway for 45 mins, the pilot informs us that there is a problem with the spoiler (that's the thing that keeps the plane in the air btw) and that we have to go back to the terminal so they can get another. After the hour delay mixed with mech. problems, I found myself very uneasy with getting on the plane and opted to stay in Halifax with a friend whereas I was told there would be a partial refund of the flight cost because it was partially used to get from Calgary to Halifax.
Reviewed Aug. 10, 2008
I arrived well over two hours early for return flight from Toronto to LAX and checked in. Despite having chosen a seat during my internet ticket purchase, no seat assignment was printed on my boarding pass. Ticketing and luggage matters were handled smoothly initially.
Well before boarding commenced I lined up to receive seat assignment, but the single agent handling all pre-boarding matters was so busy with phone calls, etc., he required 40 minutes to service only the 8-10 passengers ahead of me. Consequently I was only assigned a seat at the very last minute-after standing unnecessarily in line-and boarded. I received a window seat but needed an aisle seat since I must use the toilet frequently. During the flight an attendant handed me a message stating that my luggage was not aboard the flight.
The boarding agent did not call for assistance, thus not only delaying the flight's departure, but the flight attendant then lied about the reason for delay in his PA announcement upon takeoff. The boarding agent had every reason to know that the luggage of last minute boarders would not be loaded, since security requires that flyer must be boarded-or at least have a seat assignment- before his luggage will be loaded. Since the boarding agent was so far behind, many other passengers had their luggage withheld, yet no steps were taken to augment the sole clerk at the lost baggage office at LAX, thus increasing delays for passengers since registering a lost bag is a fairly lengthy process.
The in flight video was screwed up from the beginning but it took the crew 30+ minutes to realize it and initiate a lengthy re-boot. When AC's video is not functioning it is maddening to deal with, since there is not indication that it is mis-booted. It simply acts as if it should work, but doesn't. Only 5 minutes before boarding the agent announced that the purser was not given change for on board purchases. At this point it would have been impossible for passengers to race 100 meters to attempt to get change. It was simply idiotic.
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2008
Air Canada refused to take my dog as checked baggage despite Canadian Transport Agency ruling then subsequently their own staff and communication problems I had - read small nightmare due to management policy Ihave lodged a formal complaint
- $409 - much anxiety - unnecessary anxiety for my dog - Air Canada ignoring intent of govt judicial body ruling
Reviewed Jan. 22, 2007
Air Canada's customer service is a fiasco, and the claims process is a bad joke. Air Canada is giving Canada a bad name, and I hope they finally self destruct sometime soon. I paid $1230 to fly round trip Victoria/Prince Rupert, BC in late August. When I arrived in Prince Rupert on August 20th, one of my bags was very badly damaged. The bag was ruined as (it looked like it was stuck in a conveyor) a huge hole was worn through the bag. Two items in the bag were also ruined and one item was lost due to this damage. AC has no process to deal directly with airport staff to initiate a claim.
I was given the run-around and eventually submitted a written claim. I spent a couple hours filling in AC forms and included original receipts to sustantiate a claim for over $500 in damage. I received a partial payment of $130 and a letter that denied liability for damage that was entirely the airlines doing. They basically deny liability for 99.9% of items that are commonly packed in baggage and deemed tariff restricted by AC. My goods were not fragile, in fact the destroyed items were ruggedly built and intended for rough use outdoors.
This attempt to deny responibility for damage AC obviously caused is heavy handed in my view. I spent several hours trying to deal directly with AC staff at both the Prince Rupert and Victoria airports. The agent in Victoria took my damaged bag and told me it would be replaced in a couple of weeks. It is 20 weeks later and still no replacement. I informed Ms. Lisa Ross (customer advisory rep.) on Oct 20th of this oversite, and I informed her that it will cost me $62.15 in addition to my original claim. I can only assume they want to deny liability for this too. Who knows what other options may be available to me to persue a claim? Is small claims court an option? On principle, I will follow up this matter in small claims court if this is an option. Bob K.
My cost to replace 3 damaged items and 1 lost item totals $570
Reviewed July 20, 2006
aircanada.com crashed on afternoon of July 19, 2006 and did not come back online until morning of July 20, 2006. During that period, phone calls to the airlines reservation desk assured availability of seats on chosen itinerary at the displayed price - once the website was running again. They were unaware that their revenue management systems would close the inventory of seats at that price on the next calendar day.
Whether the length of the failure was unexpected or not, the airline should honor those purchasing tickets the next day at the originally available prices. It is only the airline's failure that prevented the purchases. After a full day of phone calls, I'm resorting to blogging the issue. This has to have affected a lot of travelers who may be unaware of what happened.
Airfare/price increase of USD41.93 due to website failure and no remediation by Air Canada.
Air Canada Company Information
- Company Name:
- Air Canada
- Website:
- www.aircanada.com
