Don’t want to eat shit and die? Pay us $25!

If you’ve ever had anything go wrong with an Air Canada journey — cancelled flight, weather delay, missed connection, lost luggage — then you know well the torture of endless lines at the counter, often followed by a “oh, we can’t help you here — you have to call the 1-800 number” or a “you need to go downstairs.”

The airline always appears to be operating on the edge, keeping just enough staff around for normal operations and getting completely flummoxed when things go off the rails.

So what’s their answer to a winter season’s worth of customer frustration?

Pay them $25 — in advance, on the chance that something will go wrong — and their new On My Way service will give you access to a “travel assistance service that will help get you on your way quickly, no matter what setback you encounter.”

This is almost comical enough to be joke.

I can only imagine that their next up-sell is going to be something like “Crash No More” …

Air Canada understands how terrifying it can be to hurtle through the air and 500 miles: the fear of unpleasant death is ever-present. That’s why we’re introducing Crash No More, a new flight crew upgrade service that will have you flying in peace.
Crash No More is now available at a low price when you book your next flight on Air Canada: for only $25 per flight segment, we’ll replace your regular pilot and first officer with seasoned veterans, many with actual combat flying experience. These are pilots who know the skies well, and are trained for any circumstance, thus helping you avoid the inconvenience of unplanned crashes or midair events.

I’ve got no problem with splitting off checked baggage, lounge access, meals and advance seat selection into optional services, but charging for what is an essential part of just being an airline is unconscionable.

Comments

Jennifer's picture
Jennifer on April 3, 2008 - 14:35 Permalink

Peter, I 100% agree with you! I always assumed customer service was part of the deal- and it should be! And what guarantees do we have that this new “On My Way” service is any different from what we’re already getting? It brings to mind an image of some poor schmuck waiting for hours on hold on the telephone…and paying Air Canada to do so! :)

Leo's picture
Leo on April 3, 2008 - 15:52 Permalink

I guess we will have two tier assistance from Air Canada with those who do NOT pay up will get second class service when problems arise -like in public health care if you provide tier 1 service to those who can pay, those who do not will be worse off as the resources will go to those who have paid first!

oliver's picture
oliver on April 4, 2008 - 00:17 Permalink

Didn’t Apple Care go the same way?

Andrew MacPherson's picture
Andrew MacPherson on April 4, 2008 - 17:25 Permalink

My wife had an experience with Air Canada a couple of months ago about seats. Her Calgary to Edmonton flight was oversold and because she didn’t pay the extra $15 dollars for seat selection when booking her flight she had to wait for the next one. As there are many of these each day it only meant a hour or two delay but it is this same maddening principal of two tier service.

Pilot's picture
Pilot on April 4, 2008 - 19:29 Permalink

Because it is completely Air Canada’s fault that a flight was cancelled or delayed during bad weather. Gotta love the people who blame the airlines for bad weather. Makes you think they are too important to sit around in an airport and wait for the weather to get better.

In the future Air Canada should put these people on their own plane and let them fly it during the dangerous conditions. See how far they make it.