Comments on: Air Canada refunds ticket and hotel bill — even though it didn’t have to http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/ The travel troubleshooter. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:22:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Airline Safety Videos | Flying The Funny Skies | Trip Quips http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-25076 Airline Safety Videos | Flying The Funny Skies | Trip Quips Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:52:51 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-25076 [...] and here is one from the new customer friendly, Air [...] [...] and here is one from the new customer friendly, Air [...]

]]> By: Arizona Road Warrior http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-24893 Arizona Road Warrior Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:25:07 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-24893 A year ago, I was on an Air Canada flight that left IAH late due to weather and every one on board with connections missed their connecting flights in YYC. When we arrived at the gate at 11:00 PM, they already had our boarding passes and hotel vouchers printed and etc. I wasn’t expecting that since the delay was weather but other passengers said it is the ‘policy’ of WestJet and since WestJet flies into YYC, Air Canada matches that ‘policy’. My question are either airlines making money? A year ago, I was on an Air Canada flight that left IAH late due to weather and every one on board with connections missed their connecting flights in YYC. When we arrived at the gate at 11:00 PM, they already had our boarding passes and hotel vouchers printed and etc. I wasn’t expecting that since the delay was weather but other passengers said it is the ‘policy’ of WestJet and since WestJet flies into YYC, Air Canada matches that ‘policy’.

My question are either airlines making money?

]]> By: Dang http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-24888 Dang Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:26:14 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-24888 I travel extensively on Air Canada. Not the luxury of the AC's Star Alliance Asian partners but I never encounter a problem. Nice and polite service and attention. And best of all in Economy, you can check 2 bags free up to 23KG each. 3 free checked bags when you are in Business and they just don't bother you if your bags are a little over-weighted. I travel extensively on Air Canada. Not the luxury of the AC’s Star Alliance Asian partners but I never encounter a problem. Nice and polite service and attention. And best of all in Economy, you can check 2 bags free up to 23KG each. 3 free checked bags when you are in Business and they just don’t bother you if your bags are a little over-weighted.

]]> By: Bill http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-24865 Bill Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:19:01 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-24865 I meant take the whole trip a lot earlier, not have a longer "connection time". I realize not everyone would be able to do this, but if I were going to an event that was important to me, I'd go the day before I actually "had" to. She got some money back, which was good, but she didn't get to go to the event, because there wasn't enough time....and go to the event is probably what she wanted to do. I certainly didn't intend to get two posters upset with me - I was just saying I would rather leave earlier. My parents had an anniversary celebration and they certainly didn't fly in a few hours before it was to happen. I meant take the whole trip a lot earlier, not have a longer “connection time”. I realize not everyone would be able to do this, but if I were going to an event that was important to me, I’d go the day before I actually “had” to.

She got some money back, which was good, but she didn’t get to go to the event, because there wasn’t enough time….and go to the event is probably what she wanted to do.

I certainly didn’t intend to get two posters upset with me – I was just saying I would rather leave earlier. My parents had an anniversary celebration and they certainly didn’t fly in a few hours before it was to happen.

]]> By: Travel News and Stories for 10/01/2009 : Kathika Travel Website http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-24852 Travel News and Stories for 10/01/2009 : Kathika Travel Website Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:42:49 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-24852 [...] Air Canada refunds ticket and hotel bill — even though it didn’t have to Once in a blue moon, you come across a hard-luck story with a happy ending that involves an airline doing something nice for a passenger, even though it doesn’t have to. Nancy Pearson’s story of trying to get to Toronto for a surprise birthday party is one of them. http://www.elliott.org [...] [...] Air Canada refunds ticket and hotel bill — even though it didn’t have to Once in a blue moon, you come across a hard-luck story with a happy ending that involves an airline doing something nice for a passenger, even though it doesn’t have to. Nancy Pearson’s story of trying to get to Toronto for a surprise birthday party is one of them. http://www.elliott.org [...]

]]> By: Christopher Elliott http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-24844 Christopher Elliott Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:54:39 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-24844 @Phil, I'm aware of that. I thought the 1988 photo would remind us of a time when air travel was a little more pleasant. Maybe I should have made a notation in the original story. @Phil, I’m aware of that. I thought the 1988 photo would remind us of a time when air travel was a little more pleasant. Maybe I should have made a notation in the original story.

]]> By: Koala http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-24843 Koala Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:44:44 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-24843 Bill, Great, another blame the OP comment. She did allow for at least 1 hour and 25 minutes worth of delays. In your perfect world, everyone who flies should apparently book 2-4 hour connections so there will be "room for delays." Bill,

Great, another blame the OP comment. She did allow for at least 1 hour and 25 minutes worth of delays. In your perfect world, everyone who flies should apparently book 2-4 hour connections so there will be “room for delays.”

]]> By: Phil http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-24842 Phil Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:25:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-24842 Air Canada has done the right thing. Your picture unfortunately of the AC B747 is rather old since AC has not flown this type of aircraft for years. Air Canada has done the right thing. Your picture unfortunately of the AC B747 is rather old since AC has not flown this type of aircraft for years.

]]> By: Eric Smith http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-24837 Eric Smith Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:05:47 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-24837 Bill, her connection wasn't that tight. Flying time from Nashville to Toronto is about 2 hours. Accounting for the time zone difference, her flight would have landed at about 9:30. giving her 1:35 for her connection. Which brings up the issue of layover times. I routinely see flight pairs with layovers of less than 45 minutes in Atlanta. If the inter-concourse subway chooses that day to break down, you'll never make your flight. Atlanta is a pretty big airport if you have to walk. I generally shoot for about a two hour layover which gives me a comfortable window to catch my connection. And if I end up with the whole two hours, I have a calm, unrushed, meal in close proximity to my departure gate. And, of course, I NEVER book the last flight of the day. If it gets cancelled, you're screwed. Bill, her connection wasn’t that tight. Flying time from Nashville to Toronto is about 2 hours. Accounting for the time zone difference, her flight would have landed at about 9:30. giving her 1:35 for her connection.

Which brings up the issue of layover times. I routinely see flight pairs with layovers of less than 45 minutes in Atlanta. If the inter-concourse subway chooses that day to break down, you’ll never make your flight. Atlanta is a pretty big airport if you have to walk.

I generally shoot for about a two hour layover which gives me a comfortable window to catch my connection. And if I end up with the whole two hours, I have a calm, unrushed, meal in close proximity to my departure gate. And, of course, I NEVER book the last flight of the day. If it gets cancelled, you’re screwed.

]]> By: Bill http://www.elliott.org/blog/air-canada-refunds-ticket-and-hotel-costs-even-though-it-doesnt-have-to/comment-page-1/#comment-24815 Bill Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:47:57 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=8683#comment-24815 We all know that flights can get delayed - why would she book it so tight as to not be able to go if the flight was a little late? What if she was going on a cruise and missed the cruise ship? Maybe it was nice of Air Canada to give her a refund but at the same time, it wasn't very nice of her to not allow for any delays by Air Canada...fly a day early if it is that important. I remember flying to Louisiana for a wedding a year ago. We were in Denver and our final flight was delayed. We were going to get in a few hours later than planned. However, it wasn't an issue since we were flying enough before the wedding. Maybe I have read enough of Chris's columns just to do this by habit...but it is a good thing to do. We all know that flights can get delayed – why would she book it so tight as to not be able to go if the flight was a little late?

What if she was going on a cruise and missed the cruise ship?

Maybe it was nice of Air Canada to give her a refund but at the same time, it wasn’t very nice of her to not allow for any delays by Air Canada…fly a day early if it is that important.

I remember flying to Louisiana for a wedding a year ago. We were in Denver and our final flight was delayed. We were going to get in a few hours later than planned. However, it wasn’t an issue since we were flying enough before the wedding.

Maybe I have read enough of Chris’s columns just to do this by habit…but it is a good thing to do.

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