Dear Air Canada,
Recently I took a flight from toronto to RDU, and there was no air condition, and seemingly no ventilation at all, while taxiing before and after the flight. It was very hot, stuffy, and smelly. It was completely absurd.
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Sorry to hear about your flight, unfortunately sometimes aircrafts are dispatched with in-operable apu’s which run the a/c while taxiing. I agree it is a very unpleasant feeling and you should have filed a complaint regarding the issue. Management needs to learn that these instances/issues are not acceptable by passengers in any way.
- an employee.
no email address for customer complaints. truly amazing.
BUSINESS CLASS SEATS ON AIR CANADA
The Business class seat on Air Canada’s 767 - 200 or Air canada’s 319 and 320’s is the WORLD’s WORST. They charge full fares (Toronto - Vancouver - Toronto) is $3,000 and if the person in front of you leans back you cannot work or even read or keep your tray table open because there is no room. Who ever heard of a Business Class seat on what is allegedly voted the “Best Airline in North America” being so terrible. I think Air Sudan (if there is such an airline) would give them a run for their money. The sad part is that they have no competitor that offers Business Class - I would switch tomorrow.
The worst thing they do is that shceduled equipment gets switched regularly. They schecule, say a 767 300 as the plane they have scheduled but in 9 cases out of 10 switch the plane to a smaller one. It cannot be an emergency every time. What a crappy airline!!!
The worst mistake I commited in 2006 was to have taken air canada. I was insulted and descriminated by the staff. It is a weird situation since crew members will defend eachother and not admit to their horrible, unprofessional service.
I was taken off from a flight simply because I asked the crew to apologize for having insulted me (flight attendent called me a fucking asshole) and I complained and asked for an apology.
It is impossible to discuss matters personally because air canada does not have an office or person where one can discuss serious matters.
I think it is a shame that this is the only airline of Canada. They will try to intimidate passengers, but I will fight the way I was treated every way possble. I hope anyone who goes through similar situations take the proper steps to speak up and be heard.
DO NOT FLY AIR CANADA. IF YOU WANT GOOD, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FLY REAL AIRLINES SUCH AS BRITISH AIRWAYS, JAPAN AIRLINES WHERE PASSENGERS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT.
The fact is flight attendents from air canada barely got through high school and it shows. They are old, nasty.
I WILL NEVER
Please address your comments to Robert Milton Montie Brewer. The people in CONTROL. Yes we are undergoing an extreme makeover badly needed and The Efficiency mode is not necessarily effectivefor Passengers.One must endure this difficult time in order to have better. It certainly is even harder for employees.
I refer to Miintoca’s comments. It is unfortunate that you’ve experienced what you have and I do encourage you to follow the appropriate channels in order to rectify and discipline that one flight attendant’s behavior that was completely out of line. However on your comment “barely got through high school”, I would like to enlighten you that many flight attendants do not only serve you a cup of coffee with a smile many of us including myself have an MBA are Registered Nurses, some are Dentists and are perfectly bilingual with up to four to five languanges. It is unfortunately that you encountered one or possibly two flight attendants that were out-of-line which has made you paint a negative picture, however, it is not the case for most flight attendants.
Sincerely,
AC Flight Attendant
i had a friend thats works for air canada and that time she only had a high school diploma but inever met anybody so brigth like her
You are quite right about education, most employees are high school graduates, I say this because for all positions that are unionized (baggage, customer service, flight attendant) you only need high school education. Since these positions make up about 80% of the company, you are quite right about the lack of education on these people.
The most unfortunate thing is that those that are educated in the airline are unfortunatley not compensated at all relative to their union counterparts.
I could go on and on, but the reality is that those that are unionized are better off then those that are not unionized. If you get layed off at least you have recall rights….if ur mgmt its goodbye….all those yrs working with them mean nothing.
I just read over the comments of many clearly passionate people. In adding my own two cents, I must say that as an Air Canada Flight Attendant who started with Canadian Airlines, I am proud to stand alongside all of my F/A colleagues (originally CDN or AC). Like the MAJORITY of us, I, too am a post-secondary education grad. In fact, I hold two different university degrees and still CHOOSE to be a Flight Attendant.
I love my job and like to think that, again, the MAJORITY of other Flight Attendants feel the same. That said, we are all human beings and some of us do manage to lose self-control at times and it can be then that professionalism flies out the window. That said, I am a Catholic Elementary school teacher as well and definitely do not CONDONE swearing, however, I have heard bad language on board the aircraft.
I would be lying if I said that such swearing as was previously described in someone’s comments, would just arise from someone UNPROVOKED. The description of what took place on board sounds out of the ordinary which leads me to believe we’re not hearing the full story.
Canadian Airlines is gone and so with a lack of competition worth mentioning, Air Canada really does become the only Canadian choice for many of us. I encourage any past, present or future customer reading this to communicate any issues that arise on board that leave you feeling dismayed, frustrated or even angry to both Customer Service and possibly most importantly the Inflight Service Department.
As an educator, and as someone who went through Canadian Airlines training, it is my great hope that Air Canada will recognize sooner than later, that their training of Flight Attendants in terms of Customer Service is admittedly inferior and could certainly do with improvement. I am not going to deny that the current training program does fall short but in all, as a North American Airline we do continue to win awards because we are the Best in North America.
It is highly unfair for anyone to try to compare us to a British Airways, Virgin, Cathay, JAL or any other truly International Airline because quite frankly, we are unable to compete with them at this time.
Once again, in closing, I ask any of you out there that may have experienced unsatisfactory service on Air Canada to ensure that before painting all of the staff members with the same brush you accept that we are an airline of many employees, most of which work hard to present a great product and provide exemplary service.
In reply to mytwocentstoo
I absolutely agree with your comments, we are a group of many hard working people as in any company. Their always will be a hand-full of employees who could care less about the passengers and baggage. Unfortunately I don’t think that will ever change. To regard Air Canada as the only airline that disregards their customers is an equally unfair quote. It is a shame to be working alongside some employees that could-care-less, but its an everywhere occurance. I am a proud AC employee, and would apologize to passengers where they have had unpleasant experiences with the AC employees.
No doubt Robert Milton has to take responsibility for the current situation at AC, but it is the front line staff that have the greatest opportunity to affect change and of course our travel experience. Time and time again AC staff force the customer service bar lower and lower, to the point now that I just ignore them. The problem is that they are unionized, mgmt’s hands are tied, it would take nothing short of a miracle to fire an under performing employee, although having said that how would mgmt know if someone was not performing up to par… their heads are so far up there collective ass’s. Let you money do the talking… Fly anything but AC!!!
I’ve flown every airline in North America barring southwest. Air Canada is the WORST, bar none! Anyone who says anything different hss no clue. I’d say American Airlines is the best.
I don’t know…I’ve flown Korean Air, Asiana, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Air, Thai Airways, Air Philippines, and Canjet, and some of the grumpiest service I’ve ever received on an airline has been from Air Canada.
I really feel that many of Air Canada’s flight attendants are, to put it bluntly, too old. They are grouchy and seem to resent their customers. My Dad was in the R.C.M.P. for over 30 years…near the end of his career he started getting grumpy because he couldn’t handle the night shifts anymore. If you get to this point, it’s time to retire.
It saddens me to see these comments. I am also an AC flight attendant. I have 20 years and I love my job. My job is to provide a pleasant and safe environment for passengers to travel from point A to point B. Nothing else.
Since I am a Service Director all complaints come to me. Personally I am tired of people whining about things that are out of our control. The 9 out 10 aircraft changes is not true and if this happens its because a plane is stuck somewhere else or there is a mechanical problem. People don’t realise that we have a personal life too. Many a time I have been stuck and not been able to return home due to delay or have plans with my family that don’t happen because of delays. We have the same emotions as you and lives outside the airline.
As for the unions you are saddly mistaken. Our unions are pretty well powerless to management. We can work 16 hours a day (please remember that when you see a flight attendant maybe a little worn down on the 5th flight of the day with an hour between each flight and quit often no time to eat. People don’t realise that we are paid only when the engine is turned on. I have been delayed up to 4 hours and we don’t get paid for that I am starting to vent which I never do on a flight. I always have people tell me it was great flight.
I am tired of people bashing my job that with many faults I still love. I would love to enter you business offices walk in like I own the place demanding thing from your employees complaining about everything your company stands for and see the reactions.
I would say that in this day age if you arrive safely and alive to your destionation then Air Canada has done an excellent job.
And for the person who loves BA and others take a close look when you travel on a widebody aircaraft. They can have 16 to 18 flight attendant while many flight we have 8. We can not supply the quality of service with the cutback on employee.
In closing I wish that people would slow down, relax more and just treat people with the same respect that they expect to receive.
Say what you will, Air Canada has the best safety record of any airline in the world- i’ll take a grumpy flight attendant that gets me there alive, than one that smiles as the plane is crashing.
It’s truely amazing to me. What other industry exists where supposedly otherwise intelligent individuals blame front line workers for corporate policies and industry trends. As an original Air Canada flight attendant, I can assure you that MOST Air Canada flight attendants have post-secondary education. I have three degrees and two languages. Many people I know have at least that. We sacrifice our personal lives for the safe carriage of our passengers and the renumeration rarely fits the sacrifice. Unfortunately many otherwise intelligent people regress when faced with having to hand over control to others and therefore lash out by insulting those very people charged with their safety. An easy target I guess. Rather than think, you lash out at what’s in front of you and scream like a child in a grocery store. That is until you need food in which case I’m your mother, or have a heart attack, in which case I’m your doctor, or a fire in which case I’m you’re fire fighter/paramedic. It’s amazing how I can miraculously conjure up the appropriate attributes with my lack of education. If you believe we’re uneducated then perhaps you should try walking an airmile in our shoes. That is if you can make it past the language requirements, or the physical, or the emergency training and MOT exams, then put yourself on the bottom of the seniority list for 10 years. Good Luck!
I have had bitchy flight attendants on AC a few times but lots of labour strife going at the time and I am suspicious that training for every AC staffer was outsourced to Aeroflot for a while there. Every airline on earth gives little comfort items sleep masks slippers etc to their pax on transoceanic flights; everyone but A.C. On a walkout to the weedeater flight to a smaller destination we had a rude smarmy tarmac chief who told us a bald faced lie that our equipment was on the a/c and caused us a pile of expensive delays. Suffice it to say that he exhibited such a care less attitude and was such a smug twit that had he not been secure on the air side he should have been sitting stunned on the tarmac on his lazy fat posterior with both eyes blackened. Cabin crew from the old CAI were in my view a little more hospitable as they were mainly westerners. AC provided kind, first class attention even way back in steerage on a YYC >LHR flight and back with the same crew a few weeks later. I try to be friendly and have a smile and act civil. I usually find I get the same treatment back. The cabin folks are your equals no matter what management position or degree you hold. Why attempt to Lord it over someone who can pour hot coffee on your head or your crotch or both! In fact men and women who use that to cow cabin crew are insecure jerks and should be ejected before the plane comes to a full stop. My thought is that the cabin attendant who called the guy an “FA” just made a good guess. All of this said we generally fly WJ for all domestic stops now that they dropped the 732’s. Even they are gettiong to a size where not everyone is funny witty and “on” all the time, we are all humans.
I arrived via AC yesterday from San Francisco direct to Toronto. I learned long ago to carry on my AC bags into Canada as have had lost luggage on AC too many times (and when they lose it it is GONE FOR DAYS). This time I had an injured arm and thought since it was a direct 7am flight to TO it would be fine. WRONG! No one can find the bag. No one will let me talk to anyone at SFO and there is NO CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TO CALL!!! All they can tell me is that although I checked in early yesterday in SF my bag didn’t make it on the plane because the plane was over the weight restriction!!! I have repeatedly been on the phone with (very nice) people in India who cannot help me. They refuse to escalate! I am a biz traveler who paid $1000 RT for my ticket, which irks me as well. NEVER AGAIN, Air Canada, NEVER AGAIN. The worst airline I have ever traveled, bar none. Any business that does not effectively provide customer service is the worst, in my book. I have combed the website and nothing is listed for customer service for email or phone.
AL
I think that the quote below by an AC employee says it all. Read it carefully. The text says- Don’t think you have a right to complain about the service you paid good money for and you should be happy if you don’t die from our service. Wow! Your company deserves to go bankrupt and you should lose your job.
“I would love to enter you business offices walk in like I own the place demanding thing from your employees complaining about everything your company stands for and see the reactions.
I would say that in this day age if you arrive safely and alive to your destionation then Air Canada has done an excellent job.”
There adamant that their job is to provide “nothing else” in terms of service.
I too have survived many Air Canada flights. I will never again choose Air Canada, not because of grumpy staff but because:
1. It seems that there is no real management. No one seems to think ahead and or consider how inevitable flight cancellations and delays will affect customers. If they did, they could make arrangements to ease the distress. Instead NOTHING is planned, NO consideration is given to passenger comfort. Even a place to sit and a drink of water would be humane. If staff were informed of the situation and prepared it would go a long way to reduce tension and distress.
2. There isn’t ANYONE (real person) who a passenger can actually speak to when things go wrong!
I wrote to Robert Milton and never even had the satisfaction of believing that anyone understood the real issues I was raising. Instead I heard excuses about cancellations being in passengers best interests (safety). I felt patronized while my concerns weren’t even acknowledged.
I understand air travel often involves delays and unforseen problems. If I wanted no trouble I would stay at home. I do expect however, to be treated with consideration. I also know that I can make a choice when I purchase my next ticket. Based on my experiences, Air Canada will rank only slightly above crawling on hands and knees!
AC is the worst airline in the world. The flight attendants are surly, the desk clerks unknowledgeable and unhelpful. And, it is virtually impossible to lodge a complaint that reaches anyone who cares. It’s time to dismantle and/or sell the airline to someone serious about service.
I just read the obove comments, starting with Mar 25th, 2006 - Gus -
It is next to imposible to be called a F… A… without some input from your side.
Many people have no manners and do not respect or value the work of the next person.
It is very common these days.
Manners have nothing to do with education or diplomas. Manners and respect used to be thought at home, from grandparents and parents.
People would smile and say: Hello, Good Morning or How are you when they meet or enter a place.
Now many people walk into a place with bad attitude,or a preconceived notion, treating the next person with dissrespect and expecting respect and good attitude.
It does not work that way.
Next time you walk in a plane, walk in with a smile and say hellow, how are you.
If you need anything during the flight use please as part of the sentence, not because the person that will help you has 3 diplomas or speaks 5 languages.
Do it, because they are a person just like you with needs, wants, family and a job and deserve just is much respect.
The front line personnel is not responsible for the state of the airline.
On January I returned from Munich ( Air Canada Bussiness Class ) on a broken seat, 2 rows down one other Bussiness Class seat was taped closed with duck tape and 3 rows up the foot rest did not go down.
The flight crew was as helpful and apologetic as they could be, it was not their fault but they tried.
Most of the Flight Attendants on international routes have many years of experience, they have seen and felt the deterioration of the airline industry over the last 25 years.
Even this condition is created by the traveling public.
In 1980 most people could buy a nice house for $ 85000.00, have an income of $ 40000 to $ 50000.00 and the price for an international flight was about the same as it is now, when that same house that people purchased in 1980 would sell now for $ 600000 to $ 700000.00 and their income is $ 70000.00 and more.
The Air Canada management ( directed by an American ) is competing with the no frills, minimum service offered by the North American airlines.
I see no reason for them not to want to mantain the aircraft cabin, that is just bad managment and extra presure on the front line staff.
Also I see no reason to blame the Air Canada flight crews for this, they do their best with what they are given.
As far as for my inconvieneance for traveling on a broken seat;
I was given a voucher by the Flight Director and told that I would receive some form of compensation in 30 days.
It is past 38 days and I sent a fax to Air Canada Customer Solutions ( no phone number is available ) and received an automatic fax reply that somewone would respond in the next 15 to 20 days.
We are all to blame for this situation, we destroyed most for our manufacturing sector, shop in magastores for goods manufactured in China, Taiwan and India and complain about unionized labor, even though it is the only reason we have a better standard of living.
Hopefully we will wakeup before is to late.
Now back to your comments:
Give respect, get respect, it is the only way.
Dear Dan, Your comments reflect a “blame the victim” approach. I would encourage you to read up on standard customer service protocols - dealing professionally and respectfully with difficult customers is a measure of FA professionalism. If you want to play tit-for-tat then you need to find another job - perhaps politics?
Dear Emery,
I am not an airline employee. However your comments of Feb 2.2008 cover all of Air Canada’s flight attendants and desk clerks.
It is unlikely that you met all of them and arrived at this conclusion.
I am an independent sales person and travelled on airlines for the last 38 years and never did a flight attendant on any airline, called me a name or did not make the effort to help when asked.
I did not get help instantly but help did arrive. As far as the Air Canada customer service (Customer Solutions), I do agree with you as you can see from my comments.
Most of us, in sales would not dream of treating / ignoring a customer the way Air Canada does, it is just poor management.
Been Elite with AC for 16 years (no thanks to AC other than its monopoly in Canada). Their Customer Service is without question THE WORST in the world - backed up by poor, typically, ground personnel with attitude problems throughout the system. Interesting: I have EXCATLY the same issue referred to by Dan re inf light isue, addressed by Flight Director and constant ‘no response’ from AC - dating back to January (2 Elite members in Business Class with broken - new style!! - seats).
On the positive side, they are innovating with Flight Passes - a great idea - and with Embraer RJ’s - a terrific plane. Shame that Fat Cat Milton (his speciality was revenuie management after all throughout his life before AC) and rest of management doesn’t understand Marketing 101. Innovating is good - but customer affection is critical to success.
Alex, or any of the other employees: this is kind of unrelated but I’m wondering how I could get in touch with public relations or human resources at AC. I was recruited for a Flight Attendant meet-and-greet but could not make it to the event. I would love to work with AC but I can’t get in contact with anyone there- they’re are very locked down with communication.
Any way you could connect me to someone there?? Please?? Feel free to email me:
pixystyx@hotmail.com
I have been Super Elite with Air Canada for many years. My feelings are mixed. I depend on this airline so I want to like them. But the attitude from some of the flight attendants above shows clearly what the problem is. “We have a personal life too” - yes, but you represent the company.
If I buy a Canon camera I want it to work. I frankly do not care that the production line worker has a personal life, is mistreated by management, is tired, has worked four shifts. All I care about as the customer is hat I get a fair deal for my money. Airline employees are not entitled to special privileges: you are there for the customer, not the other way around.
I fly to China next week, from Toronto. 20 hours. Hope the seats all work, and hope I get a modern pod seat aircraft. Not holding my breath!