Got Bumped by Air Canada Yesterday

Hugh R · 03-08-2014, 04:45 PM

I had a reservation and a confirmed seat. I get to Pearson Airport (Toronto Int'l) 2.5 hours before departure. Get my boarding pass from the Kiosk and on seat assignment it says "Gate". WTF, I go to customer service (1 hour wait) and they say I have to deal with it at the gate, which won't open until 45 minutes before departure. Turns out some school(s) had reserved their seats on-line the night before for Spring Break to Los Angeles. They had overbooked the plane. So I got bumped but got another seat six hours later. In my million miles or so of flying, I've never been bumped before.

For my troubles, they are sending me a check for $800.

I would have arrived at LAX about 4 PM and faced a Friday rush hour drive of 2+ hours, and maybe have gotten home by 6PM if I was lucky. I arrived at 9PM and was home in about 45 minutes. So while it sucked hanging around the airport for six additional hours, in reality I actually got home about 4 hours later, so $200/hour ended up being sort of OK.

Moral of the story, check-in online the night before, even if you have to cough up a few bucks at the hotel business center to use their computer and print out your boarding pass.

JJ 911SC · JJ 911SC's Garage

Love those $200 an hrs job.

Took me 2 hrs to explain a simple think to our "lovely" cable company (Rogers)

But I did enjoy the $350 credit for my wasted time.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

I am glad that they got you home. I am ~650,000 miles with AC. Sort of a love/hate relationship but overall positive.

Great to see you again, Hugh.

Ian

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

I always TRY to bump. Wait next to the kiosk next to the gate, watch for the 1st guy who starts talking with his hands, then show up and offer to give up seat.

It's sport to me

rjp

Bill Douglas · 03-08-2014, 07:20 PM

$800, excellent.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Getting bumped is usually a bonus - I've had it happen to me a few times. I volunteered for it once - plane out of Miami was chock-full of about 200 out-of-control, hyperactive, rowdy and under-supervised young / teenage Latin-American kids going to some soccer tournament (think behaviour at a typical Brazilian soccer game x10, in a confined space...). The gate agent was sympathetic when I volunteered to be bumped off that flight - she knew what I was really asking ("please don't stick me on this plane ride from hell for the next three hours") so made it happen for me with a wink and a nod. Made a few extra bucks too as I recall.

Definitely can be a good thing sometimes!

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

Well Hugh that will offset the cost of the wine while visiting Ian. All part of the friendly service. Happy that you had a good visit!

Guy

wildthing · 03-09-2014, 07:42 AM

I think you can check in online without printing a boarding pass. So you can use your phone or your room internet. Just print at the kiosk. (Caveat: I am not a frequent flyer. My last business trip was a year ago so they may have changed the rules since then.)

Nostril Cheese · 03-09-2014, 08:46 AM

Air Canada has always been good to me.

mikesride · mikesride's Garage

Air Canada is brutal....I avoid it at all costs.....

Hawkeye's-911T · Hawkeye's-911T's Garage

Quote:

air canada is brutal....i avoid it at all costs.....

yup!!

Hugh R · 03-09-2014, 01:04 PM

Going from LA to Toronto, Air Canada seems to have in seatback individual TVs, United its hit and miss.

JJ 911SC · JJ 911SC's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesride

Air Canada is brutal....I avoid it at all costs.....

We love to kick them in the nuts but they are better than some of their American counterpart.

I'm going to Las Vegas next month for the same price I paid 15 years ago.

It keep being vote the best Airline in North America; Air Canada was chosen Best Airline in North America by readers of U.S. travel magazine Global Traveler in their tenth annual GT Tested Reader Survey, for the ninth consecutive year. http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/media/facts/awards/

Nostril Cheese · 03-09-2014, 02:47 PM

I just wish Porter flew to either Portland or LA.

Fantastic airline. And I dont understand the hate for Air Canada. They have gone MILES ahead of any US airline in service, comfort and attitude.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

They have gone MILES ahead of any US airline in service, comfort and attitude.

^^^^^^ The truth.

But . . . flying really, really, really sucks.

Ian

JJ 911SC · JJ 911SC's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by imcarthur

^^^^^^ The truth.

But . . . flying really, really, really sucks.

Ian

You got it.

Flying really sucks the big one... Especially if you live in Ottawa "the National Capital" where 90% of the "direct flight" are via TO or Mtl

My next month trip to Las Vegas was either via TO or Mtl...

I pick the lesser of the Evil, trough Montreal, less chance for major screw-up like "all fight cancel due to the Army not showing up for a 2 centimeter snow storm"

David · David's Garage

I bought a Continental ticket to Montreal a few years ago for the F1 race. It was on an Air Canada flight and got cancelled. They did nothing to help me unlike the folks who bought through Air Canada. Got there the next day buy it cost me a hotel room charge and missed practice. I'll pass on Air Canada next time.

JJ 911SC · JJ 911SC's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I bought a Continental ticket to Montreal a few years ago for the F1 race. It was on an Air Canada flight and got cancelled. They did nothing to help me unlike the folks who bought through Air Canada. Got there the next day buy it cost me a hotel room charge and missed practice. I'll pass on Air Canada next time.

Its all about in which country the ticket is issue from/to/by who.

If you are an US citizen, according to the very small print on the 5th page of the "agreement" you can sue anybody in the chain of command all the way to the Withehouse... (Same DNA right that allow you to by an AK-47 while drunk at a Gun Show).

On the other hand, if you are not an US citizen you are SOL... We apply the same rule

I Hope you enjoy the race, I think its the same one I went to (2011), the race was delayed for hours due to piss down rain, and Button won on the last lap

Tishabet · 03-09-2014, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

I just wish Porter flew to either Portland or LA.

Fantastic airline. And I dont understand the hate for Air Canada. They have gone MILES ahead of any US airline in service, comfort and attitude.

I spent a few months flying Boston to Toronto every week, Porter is AWESOME!

gordner · gordner's Garage

Air Canada is ten times the airline it was ten years ago. I used to exclusively fly West Jet inside Canada, but nowadays I definitely select AC where ever I can, they have a phenominal entertainment system, much better staff than in the past and the do not generally over book anymore.