Wednesday 7 January 2009

Montréal

Well, I've arrived ...just not yet in England. No, I am in Montréal. It's snowing, so that's kind of good.

Our flight crew kept trying to get information from Montreal airport about connecting flights, but none came back. Before we 'de-planed' we were told that an 'agent' from the airline would be waiting for us as we got off the plane.
Nope.
We went to customer services, who just told us to go to the departure gate, so we did. Virtually ran there. The plane had indeed been delayed and we could see it sitting there waiting.
BUT...we couldn't get on without an Air Canada rep. One had been paged.
None came.
It was a lie anyway, apparently once the doors have been closed, that's it, like contaminating a crime scene, the security clearance of the crew would have been compromised.
We tried to go back to customer services, but we couldn't get back past security, we needed a rep.
None came.
Apparently, we might have bought Duty Free, even though it wasn't open and you have to let them scan your boarding pass when you buy anything, so presumably that's fairly checkable, after all, isn't that the point of computerisation?

Finally, finally, someone arrived. He led us out of the departures gate and back through customs. He gave us a special number to ring so that we could 'get a special rate' because we were stranded overnight. Yes folks, they don't even put you up in an hotel.

The shuttle to the hotel - an old style minibus such as used to transport kids from Mayhem to...well, wherever they were going to cause mayhem - was driven...ok, you know how the French French drive, right? Well like that, only through snow. Hmmm..

We're booked on the same flight tomorrow - let's keep fingers crossed on that one. Apparently, they 'don't fly to Europe in the morning,' well, why would you?

Ok, well, if you're reading this, it's because ..for some reason you read my blog...but also because the inernet actually works in the rooms.

Still...watch this space.

4 comments:

kdf said...

utter bollocks. Proud of our Junior World hockey players...ashamed for our national airline. Clearly they need to be awakened to the realities of the hospitality industry. Bye Bye Air Canada. Canadian was so much better.

WV "phistril"...really??

Sleepy said...

Oh Mate! What a pain in the arse.

Are we all boycotting Air Canada Kev?
Bunch of bastards.

kdf said...

If only WestJet would start flying into Gatwick! Sadly the option are getting thin, and that's probably why the service is getting so poor.

kdf said...

Latest text said "I'm finally on a plane". Here's hoping it's the one headed for London and due to arrive "early".