Passengers complain about the airlines because of weather.

[DA900]

I was just watching CTV newsnet (the most in-depth news coverage ever… ) about passengers trapped in Eastern Canada airports due to the snowstorms. They were complaining about Air Canada was not helping them and how they were stranded there. (I guess it's only Air Canada that has this problem, as CTV did not mention any other airlines, surprise surprise.)

After watching this for a few minutes and listing to their stories all I can say is Shut the F**k Up! How is it the airlines fault that it's snowing? How is it the airlines fault that the airport authorities do not provide emergency provisions? How is it the airlines fault that they did not phone all the hotels and make reservations for everyone inconvenienced? How is the airlines fault that they did not call you at home and tell you to wait?

It never ceases to amaze me how people can never accept things just happen, and blaming anyone or someone will make it better. Live with it you dorks!

Just wanted to get that off my chest

[Stinky]

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/326806

This article will annoy you as well.
I don't get the families sleeping in airports. If I got stuck in a strange city and the airport was mass chaos, I would leave, get a hotel and see the sights and come back in two days. Screaming at airport employess will do nothing.

[sanjet]

Back in the the good "old" days, things would be easier...

Now it's: You pay $159 to fly across the country, you're going to get $159 worth of service... it's as simple as that.

[CID]

"It's Canada; it's winter," she implored. "We know weather happens here. Why can't you plan for it? Why can't there be some sort of contingency?"

Man, I'm glad I wasn't the airline employee on the other end of that plea.

Back in the the good "old" days, things would be easier...

Now it's: You pay $159 to fly across the country, you're going to get $159 worth of service... it's as simple as that.

Was the weather better back in the good old days?

[SQ]

may be
but for now eastern side of AC and ACJazz operations are not as equipped as other places in canada and its a fact. allways the sae lack of equipment / manpower and share holders benefits.
it's been long to take the snow off the gates, tug stuck in the snow and not able to push back don't make dep and arr easier, 3 ground crew for a total of 10 flights arriving and departing, all lates, cara roof broken and kitchen closed etc etc...
more than that different A/C routing made that a lot of flight crew were off duty or not available or also prisoner in Yxx because of weather as well and thus causing more delays...
at the end of course customers complainaing because a lot of hotel room were booked for AC ACjazz employee to have them sleep near the airport to have them at work next morning to avoid more disaster toward customers.
meadias short view is not surprising at all.
there were a lot of passengers waiting front of delta/ Southwest and Airtransat Zoom counters too.
don't gorget that out of the box, there is a life too...

[sanjet]

"It's Canada; it's winter," she implored. "We know weather happens here. Why can't you plan for it? Why can't there be some sort of contingency?"

Man, I'm glad I wasn't the airline employee on the other end of that plea.

Back in the the good "old" days, things would be easier...

Now it's: You pay $159 to fly across the country, you're going to get $159 worth of service... it's as simple as that.

Was the weather better back in the good old days?

No, but you would be actually talking to a counter agent who can assist you @ the airport instead of talking to an agent on the phone outsourced in india who thinks British Colombia is in England.

[sky's the limit]

Back in the the good "old" days, things would be easier...

Now it's: You pay $159 to fly across the country, you're going to get $159 worth of service... it's as simple as that.

Bingo!


stl

[200hr Wonder]

Back in the the good "old" days, things would be easier...

Now it's: You pay $159 to fly across the country, you're going to get $159 worth of service... it's as simple as that.

Back in the good ol' days mid to late fifties my grandfather was a sales man for International Harvester and use to fly TCA all the time back and forth from his Vancouver office to the praries. It was not uncommon to get a call on a Saturday or Sunday saying, gee, the weather is going to be bad for your flight on Monday however the Sunday evening departure is going to leave on time would you like to get on that flight instead we have a seat. Course I am sure his ticket back THEN was $159.

This of course did bight him in the ass on December 9th, 1956 when he was called to go on an earlier Sunday flight and never arrived in Calgary. So I guess you are damned if you and damed if you don't.

[MrWings]

The flying public's imagination abounds with stories of airlines offering free trips and first class hotels for delays/overbooking/cancellations. While these semi-urban legends happen on rare occasions, the public thinks it is the norm.

So, when there is a weather delay, many passengers see it like they hit the lotto. That become enraged when they try to cash in but don't get the same offer that their mother's second cousin got years ago.

It is a perception problem.

[RichAir]

Maybe they could sell a weather insurance. There's always cash to do when you sell insurance!

[L1011]

It's times like these that make you glad that you're in/planning to be in the cockpit, rather than at the ticket counter or on the plane serving drinks to these neanderthals! "I don't care if there's a foot of snow on the wings even after deicing/anti-icing, CTV told me these planes can fly in all weather!"

It's always terrible to see a poor ticket agent running off crying because of some a**hole.

And as far as families sleeping at the airport, well, maybe because they already risked their life getting TO the airport, they just don't wanna leave!

[Four1oh]

Back in the the good "old" days, things would be easier...

Now it's: You pay $159 to fly across the country, you're going to get $159 worth of service... it's as simple as that.

Exactly, that's why the super elite and elite travellers all got to their destinations in a timely manner whereas the Tangos were stranded.

[sanjet]

Back in the the good "old" days, things would be easier...

Now it's: You pay $159 to fly across the country, you're going to get $159 worth of service... it's as simple as that.

Exactly, that's why the super elite and elite travellers all got to their destinations in a timely manner whereas the Tangos were stranded.

Most super elite and elite actually did make it quite quickly after wx cleared while the tango's are still waiting for seats as they are still short of econo capacity...

What I mean as I said earlier is that there's been so much cost cutting that airline personnel can barely keep up with ops on a normal day, not their fault but the fact remains; when there are IRROPS, the system pretty much is guaranteed to collapse... Having a "couple" of ramp attendants to handle 10 inbound flights is asking for trouble. But I guess that's the market demands of today...

[Four1oh]

Back in the the good "old" days, things would be easier...

Now it's: You pay $159 to fly across the country, you're going to get $159 worth of service... it's as simple as that.

Exactly, that's why the super elite and elite travellers all got to their destinations in a timely manner whereas the Tangos were stranded.

Most super elite and elite actually did make it quite quickly after wx cleared while the tango's are still waiting for seats as they are still short of econo capacity...

What I mean as I said earlier is that there's been so much cost cutting that airline personnel can barely keep up with ops on a normal day, not their fault but the fact remains; when there are IRROPS, the system pretty much is guaranteed to collapse... Having a "couple" of ramp attendants to handle 10 inbound flights is asking for trouble. But I guess that's the market demands of today...

2 things: first, the elite didn't get any farther on the day of the storm either, after, yes, it would make a big difference how much you paid for your fare, but that's not what you were meaning, as far as I read. Second, I don't hear to many WJ guests complaining about the service they get for $159... apples and oranges, I guess...

[tailgunner]

Before you go throwing stones Four one oh...
Flying through YHZ yesterday saw a WJ flight heading for Punta Cana? that was supposed tp leave at 0630 AM. and was delayed until 2330 ...if I remember correctly. I am going to assume that these " guests" were not that thrilled as they were losing 18 hours of a tropical holiday. Unfortunately, sh#t weather in Toronto or Montreal affects the entire national airline system. AC, Jazz , WJ, and the other charter operators were all scrambling to make the best of a very tough situation. Apples and Apples.

[sanjet]

2 things: first, the elite didn't get any farther on the day of the storm either, after, yes, it would make a big difference how much you paid for your fare, but that's not what you were meaning, as far as I read. Second, I don't hear to many WJ guests complaining about the service they get for $159... apples and oranges, I guess...

Icing doesn't discriminate against tail colours

[dashman69]

2 things: first, the elite didn't get any farther on the day of the storm either, after, yes, it would make a big difference how much you paid for your fare, but that's not what you were meaning, as far as I read. Second, I don't hear to many WJ guests complaining about the service they get for $159... apples and oranges, I guess...

Orange decides to cancel/divert the flights, apple decides to continue flying to YOW and overuns runway...

[flyingguycanada]

Pax, not all, but most, are so impatient. I recently flew CYYZ -> CYYC, and of course, leaving in a storm. Delayed 3.5 hours. Ya it sucks, but what the hell. With wx below mins, planes being put into holds, etc. When the plane arrived, there was so much snow, fuel trucks and baggage carts couldn't get near the plane. Then spending 3/4 of an hour taxiing over and getting de-iced.

But everyone else was getting so wound up. I was sitting near the counter where you catch the flight, and the one lady came up about 10 times, asking if the flight was there yet (you can see when the A/C is outside), and getting mad at her when she stated it'll be a few more minutes late.

People in the article said the airlines should be more prepared when bad wx hits. How? My only guess in a huge fan to blow away the system before it hits?

[joe to go]

Hey Dashman69

Excellent Comment at the end!! Apples.....WestJet keeps their gear under the wings, Oranges....Others put their gear through the wings.......Pears......trees sometimes go through the fuselages!!!! Oh dear god...what have we learned? Sometimes shit happens!!!! But thanks for that anyhoo!!

[BigB]

Back in the the good "old" days, things would be easier...

Now it's: You pay $159 to fly across the country, you're going to get $159 worth of service... it's as simple as that.

In all seriousness, that has to be one of the most uninformed, and idiotic posts I've seen in a while. Sanjet, if one were to pay say...$50,000 for a ticket, do you really think they'd make it out during a total airport shutdown? That $50G may get you your own personal 10 CSR's/TA's/CSA's rubbing your feet, feeding you grapes, massaging your shoulders, and whispering sweet "we'll get you out today" nothing's in your ears, but at the end of the day.....if the planes aren't flyin'.....the planes aren't flyin'! No amount of customer service will get you to your destination in times like these.

Perhaps, the issue is with the media. Have we ever heard a question asked by a reporter (to a pax stranded at an airport due to weather)......"Sir, have you been late for work due to the weather.....in say... (reasonably speaking) the last 5 years? And if so, was your Boss as mad as you are now?"

Food for thought. Public perception folks, that's the bottom line.

Perhaps as an airline industry, we should should start our own media outlet.

[BigB]

2 things: first, the elite didn't get any farther on the day of the storm either, after, yes, it would make a big difference how much you paid for your fare, but that's not what you were meaning, as far as I read. Second, I don't hear to many WJ guests complaining about the service they get for $159... apples and oranges, I guess...

Orange decides to cancel/divert the flights, apple decides to continue flying to YOW and overuns runway...

Coming from someone who has experience in these matters......? If you may, please refrain from those types of comments, since you obviously don't have the background/knowledge to back up your statements.

I have a feeling that both sanjet and -69 are Newfoundlanders. Unfortunately, they are bucking the trend WRT great NF hospitality and friendliness......unfortunate indeed....

[g5]

I have a feeling that both sanjet and -69 are Newfoundlanders. Unfortunately, they are bucking the trend WRT great NF hospitality and friendliness......unfortunate indeed....

Picking on Newfoundlanders is a form of racialism and as such will not be tolerated on these forums.

[Hedley]

Newfies are a different race?! I'd always suspected that,
but thanks for confirming it

[YYCcrew]

The other thing that I noticed on CTV Newsnet during one interview... "We were stuck in the terminal and then Starbucks started to close up for the night, I said HOW can you close with all these people here. How can AIR CANADA let starbucks close for the night in their terminal??? Air Canada did nothing for us!"

That person deserves a slap! I can tell you that team teal was experiancing the SAME problems, Hell I was delayed 6 hours in YVR - Our guests did not understand, gave us such a hard time.

Oh well, S$&T happens!

[DA900]

The other thing that I noticed on CTV Newsnet during one interview... "We were stuck in the terminal and then Starbucks started to close up for the night, I said HOW can you close with all these people here. How can AIR CANADA let starbucks close for the night in their terminal??? Air Canada did nothing for us!"

That person deserves a slap! I can tell you that team teal was experiancing the SAME problems, Hell I was delayed 6 hours in YVR - Our guests did not understand, gave us such a hard time.

Oh well, S$&T happens!

That was one of the stories I was watching. I just couldn't listen to this idiot's verbal diarrhea any longer. Quit blaming airlines for the weather!

On the plus side I did see one of our aircraft's tail in the background during the story. I was not going anywhere either!