As some of you know, we're planning a two-week trip to DisneyWorld, Florida. We finalized these plans last January. Since then, we've been going stark raving mad with anticipation.
The flight was booked last January with Aeroplan points. There were three reasons why we went with Air Canada: (1) We could use the points, (2) It was a direct flight to Orlando and (3) we had no idea Air Canada hated kids. Since we have two young boys, the importance of a direct flight cannot be emphasized enough. When we did DisneyWorld in 2006, we went by WestJet direct to Orlando. When we went to Hawaii the year before that, there was a changeover in Vancouver. These changeovers are a killer with kids in tow. Apparently, these airlines have a policy that you can't use kennels for kids, you can't stow them in cargo. Whatever.
On Sunday, the boys' Grandma gets a call from Air Canada that our family-friendly Orlando flight had been cancelled. We had been reassigned a red-eye flight that left Calgary at midnight to Toronto, then change planes to Orlando. Grandma called to protest indicating that we had young kids with us, but it fell on deaf ears. Any effort to compromise came with resistance. In the end, we're getting there over two days: day one Calgary / Toronto, day two Toronto / Orlando. We pay for the hotel in Toronto. We get an extra hotel bill, and a big ol' middle finger from Air Canada.
I told this story to my co-worker Jabba. As she was munching on a chicken-wing, she wisely stated that companies have this bass-ackwards. Shouldn't customers who redeem loyalty points be treated like gold? Air Canada, as yourself this: how did we come to collect these "points"? Ever hear of a company called "WestJet"? Are you aware that this is not 1990, there is actual competition now?
Jabba vented her disgust with a mighty burp. I touched a nerve.
So, it is my duty as a customer to pass on my story. I hope you remember this story the next time you are confronted with the choice of Air Canada or WestJet.
6 comments:
I thought that was a picture of an Air Canada flight attendant. "Here's your #%&king pretzels!"
I'd fly Westjet everywhere if I could, but apparently they tried to fly to Europe once but the 737 ran out of fuel and was lost over the Atlantic—somewhere near Bermuda I think.
Where'd they get that picture of your mama?
Its a picture of Ms. Riverbend 2007.
Well, at least they are improving. You should've seen Ms. Riverbend 2006. Gerry, you work for the City, do we have a Nuclear plant or chemical weapons testing facility near Riverbend? It sure would help explain some things...
It's built on a big manure patch to give it more of a Winnipeg ambience.
But that's a classified secret. So it stays here.
Actually, flying Air Canada will give me an opportunity to teach my son. I would point to the flight attendant and say, "Look son, that's what you call a 'cougar'".
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