A Quick ACA Trip Report (CYEG-CYVR-KPDX & Return)

[jeff_w_yeg]

Hey AC Folks...

I just wanted to drop a quick note here and say how impressed (for the most part) I was this past weekend: I took a trip from Edmonton to Portland, all via Air Canada (Jazz from YVR to PDX - but that's a slightly different story) this past weekend. It's been a long time since I've flown Air Canada (close to 8 years) and I was a little apprehensive about the trip, especially with all the negative stuff that's come out over the last few years (bitter staff, late flights, lost luggage, etc).

The Trip Out - October 31:

CYEG-CYVR: Flight from Edmonton to Vancouver was on an E190 and I have to say I was impressed with this aircraft! Seemed like there was a fair bit of legroom and even a lot of arse-room (especially for a "fat guy" like me! Ha ha!). This flight departed on-time and the check-in staff & gate staff were very friendly. Had a slightly different experience with the cabin crew though; shortly after take-off they made the announcement they'd be activating the IFE and a headphone adapter was required - which they would be coming through the cabin to provide. So, I waited...and waited...and waited. Then, as they were coming through with "service" (mmmm...Peak Freans Bran cookies...ha ha!) I asked the FA about the headphone adapters...she looked at me like I had just asked her to perform some sort of perverted act on me and said, "Ugh...(rolls eyes & turns to other FA)...do you have any of those adapter things?". Luckily, the other FA did and she handed the thing to me - although she might as well have just thrown it at me.

Only comment/complaint I have about the IFE is the 4 minutes of commercials that run ahead of any of the on-demand TV programs; I understand that the airline has to have a way to make cash to pay for the programs, but it just seemed like there were A LOT of commercials.

CYVR - KPDX: This flight was a Jazz flight, so I won't go into too much detail here but it was on a Dash 8 (very noisy, "vibraty" and cramped), it departed on-time and the crew were all friendly!

The Trip Back - November 3:

KPDX - CYVR: Again, a Jazz flight, so I won't give a lot of detail but - again - it was on a Dash 8 (a flight experience I will try to avoid if at all possible), it departed about 20 minutes late and the lone FA seemed a little short on patience and customer service skills (ex: while moving the service cart from the rear of the aircraft, a passenger's arm was slightly out into the aisle and rather than asking nicely she pretty much YELLED at him to move his arm).

CYVR - CYEG: Flight was on an A321 and again, I was impressed with the legroom & arse-room. It actually seemed less cramped than the WJA737's that I'm used to flying on. Cabin crew was friendly enough and on this trip I didn't have to worry about the commercials on the IFE - since mine didn't work! Out of the 3 IFE's in my row of seats, 2 didn't work (my screen was blank and the seat to the right of me displayed the message, "Service Not Available").

Thanks kids...and happy flying!

Jeff @ CYEG

[ourkid2000]

I asked the FA about the headphone adapters...she looked at me like I had just asked her to perform some sort of perverted act on me and said, "Ugh...(rolls eyes & turns to other FA)...do you have any of those adapter things?". Luckily, the other FA did and she handed the thing to me - although she might as well have just thrown it at me.

Why is it that this behavior is so common amongst F/A's? I'll never understand why they feel that they can act this way. If you go to McDonalds and ask for extra sauce, even these min-wagers are more than happy to help you. Some F/A's do not realize that one roll of the eyes is enough to ruin the whole experience for the passenger.

I'll never understand where the attitude comes from as i'm not a F/A but this is your job.......what is it about this job that turns people so nasty over small things?

[TyrellCorp]

Why is it that this behavior is so common amongst F/A's? I'll never understand why they feel that they can act this way. If you go to McDonalds and ask for extra sauce, even these min-wagers are more than happy to help you. Some F/A's do not realize that one roll of the eyes is enough to ruin the whole experience for the passenger.

I'll never understand where the attitude comes from as i'm not a F/A but this is your job.......what is it about this job that turns people so nasty over small things?

Especially when they are a major contact point between passengers and The Airline. Having said that there are also many that I have worked with that have provided absolutely exceptional service. In fact the service had been so good that I personally felt privileged and grateful to be part of such a team. Not only that, but it makes for such a positive and enjoyable pairing when you have a rockin cabin crew. The thing to remember is that passengers will generally remember bad experiences over good ones and all of our jobs could depend on it.

[ourkid2000]

I don't even have any high expectations...........if they just do their own thing i'm more than happy. Most people don't require any over the top service and usually do not ask them anything. The bare minimum is all I expect. Well that and do not roll your eyes at me or be saucy.

But when they piss you off, my flight is ruined.

[rigpiggy]

Why is it that this behavior is so common amongst F/A's? I'll never understand why they feel that they can act this way. If you go to McDonalds and ask for extra sauce, even these min-wagers are more than happy to help you. Some F/A's do not realize that one roll of the eyes is enough to ruin the whole experience for the passenger.

I'll never understand where the attitude comes from as i'm not a F/A but this is your job.......what is it about this job that turns people so nasty over small things?

Especially when they are a major contact point between passengers and The Airline. Having said that there are also many that I have worked with that have provided absolutely exceptional service. In fact the service had been so good that I personally felt privileged and grateful to be part of such a team. Not only that, but it makes for such a positive and enjoyable pairing when you have a rockin cabin crew. The thing to remember is that passengers will generally remember bad experiences over good ones and all of our jobs could depend on it.

12 o'clock knock

[E-Flyer]

I asked the FA about the headphone adapters...she looked at me like I had just asked her to perform some sort of perverted act on me and said, "Ugh...(rolls eyes & turns to other FA)...do you have any of those adapter things?". Luckily, the other FA did and she handed the thing to me - although she might as well have just thrown it at me.

Why is it that this behavior is so common amongst F/A's? I'll never understand why they feel that they can act this way. If you go to McDonalds and ask for extra sauce, even these min-wagers are more than happy to help you. Some F/A's do not realize that one roll of the eyes is enough to ruin the whole experience for the passenger.

I'll never understand where the attitude comes from as i'm not a F/A but this is your job.......what is it about this job that turns people so nasty over small things?

Perhaps the major ass grabbing pilot's do on lay overs and don't call them afterward

[joe to go]

So to sum things up, the plane left on time (the first one) had an F/A with attitude, and then Jazz had another grouch on the way back, TV's didnt work, aircraft left late. Sounds like the customer service is really on an upswing.

But you had a little bit of extra room for yer arse!!!

[C-FABH]

CYVR - CYEG: Flight was on an A321 and again, I was impressed with the legroom & arse-room. It actually seemed less cramped than the WJA737's that I'm used to flying on. Cabin crew was friendly enough and on this trip I didn't have to worry about the commercials on the IFE - since mine didn't work! Out of the 3 IFE's in my row of seats, 2 didn't work (my screen was blank and the seat to the right of me displayed the message, "Service Not Available").

Thanks kids...and happy flying!

Jeff @ CYEG

Did they give you one of those IFE Compensation forms? As long as you're not standby, they usually give you some sort of bonus in the form of a discount or points (not too sure) if it's inop. Might just be for longer hauls though.

PS: I enjoyed your pics of the Spruce Goose on 'another' forum

[KAFUFO]

Take the other airline

[. .]

Hey AC Folks...

I just wanted to drop a quick note here and say how impressed (for the most part) I was this past weekend: I took a trip from Edmonton to Portland, all via Air Canada (Jazz from YVR to PDX - but that's a slightly different story) this past weekend. It's been a long time since I've flown Air Canada (close to 8 years) and I was a little apprehensive about the trip, especially with all the negative stuff that's come out over the last few years (bitter staff, late flights, lost luggage, etc).

The Trip Out - October 31:

CYEG-CYVR: Flight from Edmonton to Vancouver was on an E190 and I have to say I was impressed with this aircraft! Seemed like there was a fair bit of legroom and even a lot of arse-room (especially for a "fat guy" like me! Ha ha!). This flight departed on-time and the check-in staff & gate staff were very friendly. Had a slightly different experience with the cabin crew though; shortly after take-off they made the announcement they'd be activating the IFE and a headphone adapter was required - which they would be coming through the cabin to provide. So, I waited...and waited...and waited. Then, as they were coming through with "service" (mmmm...Peak Freans Bran cookies...ha ha!) I asked the FA about the headphone adapters...she looked at me like I had just asked her to perform some sort of perverted act on me and said, "Ugh...(rolls eyes & turns to other FA)...do you have any of those adapter things?". Luckily, the other FA did and she handed the thing to me - although she might as well have just thrown it at me.

Only comment/complaint I have about the IFE is the 4 minutes of commercials that run ahead of any of the on-demand TV programs; I understand that the airline has to have a way to make cash to pay for the programs, but it just seemed like there were A LOT of commercials.

CYVR - KPDX: This flight was a Jazz flight, so I won't go into too much detail here but it was on a Dash 8 (very noisy, "vibraty" and cramped), it departed on-time and the crew were all friendly!

The Trip Back - November 3:

KPDX - CYVR: Again, a Jazz flight, so I won't give a lot of detail but - again - it was on a Dash 8 (a flight experience I will try to avoid if at all possible), it departed about 20 minutes late and the lone FA seemed a little short on patience and customer service skills (ex: while moving the service cart from the rear of the aircraft, a passenger's arm was slightly out into the aisle and rather than asking nicely she pretty much YELLED at him to move his arm).

CYVR - CYEG: Flight was on an A321 and again, I was impressed with the legroom & arse-room. It actually seemed less cramped than the WJA737's that I'm used to flying on. Cabin crew was friendly enough and on this trip I didn't have to worry about the commercials on the IFE - since mine didn't work! Out of the 3 IFE's in my row of seats, 2 didn't work (my screen was blank and the seat to the right of me displayed the message, "Service Not Available").

Thanks kids...and happy flying!

Jeff @ CYEG

If you hit the FF button you can skip the commercials that play in the IFE.

[3Green]

Actually, now you can't FF through the commercials...AND, you can't change the volume during the commercials either!! If you've got noise cancelling headphones for the IFE, be careful when the commercials start! You may not pass your next medical...

[. .]

Must be version specific then. I know that different planes, even in some cases different planes within the same fleet type have different versions of the thales software. I was on a a XM'ed 67 yesterday and I was able to still skip the ads. Maybe the new versions of the software have disabled the skip the ads ability.

Apparently in the next few months the position map option will become available too, which would be pretty cool. I'd be interested in seeing what games are available for the system too. Not sure if there's any push to get that section working though.