| rev:text
| - I am tired of hearing people say oh no Air Canada.
I have flown both West Jet and Air Canada and they are similar yet different.
I choose to fly with Air Canada to LHR from Calgary over BA - why $600 why. I have flown BA before and they were fantastic, but not $600 fantastic.
My last trip to LHR, I called ahead in an attempt to change my seat. I wanted to possibly upgrade to business using my points if I could as I had a lot of work to get done and the space would be welcome. My dismay when I come to find out they can't even move me to the emergency rows with the bit of extra leg room because it appears the flight is fully booked.
That's fine, as long as I have a seat I am ok.
To the second, 24 hours before my flight I log into the website and 'check-in'. I have my seat we are all ok.
International flight - I get to the airport with loads of time to spare - you never know with security etc so better to be on the other side, drink a coffee and play solitaire than freaking out and running. Note - the Maple Leaf Lounge - do it! Totally worth the extra! I didn't this flight, I regret it. *SIGH*
I get to the gate and there are young children running around and misbehaving, then it happened the hell of all hells. Not one but TWO groups of high school students arrive at the gate ... so now I am sitting there thinking - WHY DID I CHEAP OUT ON THE MAPLE LEAF LOUNGE WHY!?
Suddenly, amongst the chaos, a wave of panic hits me - my name is being called to the desk. Don't bump me I have tickets to the theatre I can't miss this flight. (Yeah ok not the brightest move to book theatre tickets on the night you arrive but hey I also cheaped out on the lounge so I know sometimes I am not bright). I go up to the counter, and the lovely staff member asked if I could move seats because one of those families with the hellish children didn't select seats when the booked and couldn't get them together due to the volume of sales on the flight. But lucky me they could put me in a window seat a few dozen rows back.
I will admit, this is where I may have got a bit cheeky, oh ok a LOT cheeky. I may have and did say, "I don't have to move do I, I hate window seats. I could be persuaded to move if you could find me a seat in business?" Click click click, print. Here is your boarding pass you are now in 8K. Thank you AC staffer, it has been a pleasure doing business with you. CLINK CLINK FIRST CLASS!
Now my fiscally unadventurous side will never permit me to pay for first class I just cannae do it (cheesy Scots accent). However, it is heaven. Priority boarding. Champagne (probably sparkling white, but leave me with the fantasy) mixed with orange juice so you don't feel so alcoholic - in REAL glass. A menu, a choice with appetizers and puddings and METAL CULTERY! A seat that fully reclines an forms a bed. A pod... a pod. No one touching you or coughing on you. Then the little bag of essentials - socks, eye mask, ear plugs, lip balm, toothbrush and paste, a mint. It was fabulous!
A easy flight that I have done a few dozen times - noise free from the screaming children and the excited high schoolers. It made me remember my high school trip across the pond - for those that suffered on our flight, I am sorry.
Before we land, boarding cards and this lovely little silver ticket - akin to the golden ticket in the famed Willie Wonka. What is it for - fast tracking to Immigration. No queue waiting - just walk up show the silver card and be shown expeditiously to an immigration officer. Meanwhile, the cattle in economy (where I will find myself again) are still waiting to disembark.
Air Canada provided this experience, thankfully because some family of lazy idiots couldn't select their seats when they purchased their family of 5 tickets. But they did it gracefully and with a smile and without a fuss. They were spectacular.
Anytime I have had to call - ie. change a flight date - the customer service staff have been so kind and helpful. Remember, you are not the first person to call and yell and scream that day. They are paid little and take a lot. If you are funny and kind and appreciative they will help you any way they can. That has been my experience.
I love Air Canada - note did you see the Air Canada Christmas advert - yeah I LOVE AIR CANADA!
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