Air Canada does it again

Air Canada lost my luggage this week. Boy do they suck.

Since they no longer serve meals, here’s the dinner I bought at the airport as I was seething.

On Tuesday, a computer crashed in Halifax which cancelled several flights east. I got stuck at Toronto Pearson which is apparently the worst place to lose your luggage. It’s just too big and too unorganized. On a good day, they lose several bags and this was a bad day.

I dutifully reported my missing suitcases and was told to monitor the Web site. The only message I ever got was, “Tracing continues. Check back later.”

Calling the central baggage centre is so helpful. The operators check their computers and say, “We are very sorry for the inconvenience but we still cannot find your bags.” Yeah.

I was authorized $100 US for toiletries and emergency clothes. Even after four days, don’t bother asking for more. Never mind that I have to go to work or that my company is now paying me to waste time on hold with them. They can’t authorize compensation. They’re in India.

Can I talk to a manager in Canada? Nope. Apparently, they don’t have phones.

If you search all of Air Canada’s info, the only way you can complain is through fax or email. I got an automatic reply that someone would get back to me in 10 business days.

I’m quite a patient person and I go onto Air Canada flights prepared for the worst. But this was ridiculous.

The only reason I got my bags back on the fifth day was an angel in the Fredericton airport. Ron has been in the business of chasing down bags for years. He called three airports. They said they had nothing. He insisted. Finally someone said, “Oops. Here they are.”

Ron is my hero. He was compassionate, smart, efficient and damn good at his job. So unlike Air Canada.