According to a recent survey of more than 12 million air travellers around the world, Air Canada was ranked the #1 airline in North America. That’s nice to hear. Knowing that we’re on the right track as far as our customers are concerned is nice, too, and we’d like to thank all of you for your continued support, as well as this latest encouragement.
This annual survey was conducted between June 2004 and May 2005 by Skytrax, an independent research firm. The survey focused on 35 different aspects of passenger satisfaction such as the user-friendliness of the Internet site, cabin service and comfort, and the friendliness, attentiveness and language skills of the staff. Air Canada came out on top, and we’re proud that our website, our staff and the flying experience we offer are so, well, nice.
We have other ‘nice’ things in store for you, like our new simple one-way fare options, our easy-to-use booking engine, or our convenient and economical Flight Passes. You’ll be sure to find something that puts a smile on your face, too.
SQuared From Canada, joined May 2005, 385 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 11 months 6 days ago) and read 4006 times:
This was a while back, and only now has AC put it up on their website. Nevertheless, it's still a great achievement for an airline, who a year ago was in bankruptcy protection. Now all I'm waiting for is the much-anticipated cabin upgrades set to begin this autumn. That should give AC an incredible boost.
C172 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 3662 times:
I flew an Air Canada 767-200 from Dublin-Shannon-Toronto and was appalled. The interior had to have been the same interior from when the aircraft was delivered the in 80's. Shabby, beat-up, and smelly. That describes the general condition of the airplane. How about the bad service? I'm getting to that.
We get on the plane at Dublin and notice that it's dirty. Turns out the plane had flown across the atlantic, the passengers disembarked, and we got on the plane without it being cleaned. "Sorry, ladies and gentlemen, we will be cleaning the aircraft after we land in Shannon." Fantastic, I have to sit in some other guy's filth for an hour.
Service during the 7 hour flight was poor, with mostly inattentive fa's and one who was actually very rude when I asked for a drink that was never delivered.
After that, never again on Air Canada. I vote it the worst.
Arrow From Canada, joined Jun 2002, 2588 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3489 times:
Quoting Caribb (Reply 8): Yep it's always best to make a assessment of an intercontinental airline by judging them on one bad flight.
Bingo. I've had a trip like C172 described on almost every carrier I've flown, and that includes a lot of US carriers. Alaska and United were the worst -- yet Alaska in particular has a good reputation and United has won some service awards lately.
My experience with AC over many years has been mostly first class, with one or two exceptions. If I vowed "never again" to fly an airline that gave me a bad trip, I'd be taking the train.
Congrats to AC. It has been a rough few years, but they've weathered it much better than their colleagues down south.
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
DFORCE1 From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 492 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 3389 times:
I agree, don't judge an airline on one flight. There are always going to be those bad seed employees on every airline and you can't label a whole airline on the account of a couple of sour grapes. I too have mostly had nothing but first class service from Air Canada and this new ranking does nothing but confirm Air Canada's excellence in the North American skies. I'll admit AC wasn't always great but now they are really great!
Also, please keep in mind Air Canada generally excels on the transborder/domestic service. They aren't by any means a high standard if you compare them to the international service of airlines from Asia. However, they are aiming in that direction. Let's get our new Boeings, new livery, new interior and new PTV's and AC will be on it's way to the 4 star airline category.
C172, I hope you're willing to give Air Canada a second chance. And if you really were that unhappy with the flight, write them a letter, they'll probably give you some extra Aeroplan points
Hrhf1 From Canada, joined May 2005, 105 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3239 times:
I must say I'm wondering where perennial Milton hater YYZ717 is on this thread. Surely he's got some excuse as to why such a horrendously run airline would get this award?
In all fairness to him, AC still has lots to work on and replacing those 762's that C172 spoke of certainly ranks near the top of that list. That pilot situation needs to get solved so AC can move to the next level of customer service with efficient, comfortable aircraft.
That being said, I'm glad their hard work is paying off. I'm proud to have my country's flagship carrier regarded so.
CDNpax From Canada, joined Dec 2004, 45 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3212 times:
Let's hear it for the oft-maligned employees of AC! The AC staff often take (an unjustified) beating in this forum. I, on the other hand, have always had the best of experiences flying with them. The employees of AC have been through some rough times and have handled it with grace compared to many other airlines employees (NWA for example). As the new equipment comes online and the new long-haul fleet is ordered AC will only continue to improve.
MyOthrCarsA777 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 54 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3201 times:
I haven't flown AC in about five years, after having had so many bad experiences with them that I vowed to never fly them again. (Usually flew them on the YYZ-YQT route - back when AC used to service YQT - but I've also been to YWG, YYC, YXD, YEG, YVR, YOW, YHZ, LAX, MSP, and BOS with AC.) I found them having generally poor on-time performance, the flight attendants very rude, and the airline as a whole very unaccomodating when your travel plans went awry due to mistakes they made. BUT - I haven't flown them in five years, and that's a long time.
Have they turned things around as a company? Or do the AC supporters believe that AC has been a great airline all along?
ViveLeYHZ From Canada, joined Dec 2004, 194 posts, RR: 10 Reply 15, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3160 times:
Good Job AC !
I have always thought highly of AC (especially the its employees, and while I respect Mr. Milton, I cannot say I like the guy).
I especially like their FF program, Aeroplan. Thanks to aeroplan, I am flying to Indy next week, first class for only $110. Gotta love that.
DFORCE1
Quoting DFORCE1 (Reply 10): And if you really were that unhappy with the flight, write them a letter, they'll probably give you some extra Aeroplan points
I didn't have to do anything ! I missed my connection from YYZ to IND last Christmas, and it was the last flight of the day. I didn't blame them for that, there had been a snow storm the day before, and things were missed up. At any rate, they couldn't find me a seat to IND on any other airline, and rebooked me for a flight the next day, and an extra 500 Aeroplan miles !!!
ZRH From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5544 posts, RR: 40 Reply 17, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3151 times:
I am really glad to hear this, as AC upgrades here in Zurich and make it to kind a minihub. As Swiss is joining Star Alliance we will have more opportunities to fly AC (from here to Toronto and Delhi).
ChrisA330 From Canada, joined Oct 1999, 618 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3116 times:
Quoting MyOthrCarsA777 (Reply 14): Have they turned things around as a company? Or do the AC supporters believe that AC has been a great airline all along?
I don't think 5 years ago many people would disagree with your statements about ACs service.
But in the last 12-18 months, they have turned themselves around quite nicely. They're not perfect, and they still have a few bad apples - like all other airlines. However in general, their service - in flight and on the ground is very good. With their new North American fleet, B767 cabin refits, and IFE coming, I can only see great things from them.
TRVYYZ From Canada, joined Oct 2004, 1319 posts, RR: 11 Reply 20, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3002 times:
I have been on AC's transatlantic flights and would definitely say it is one of the best airline. I was even impressed by the 763 for their LHR-YYZ flight. Very professional and excellent service.
DeltaGuy767 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 634 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days ago) and read 2986 times:
Congrats to AC. I flew on them last summer from BDL-YYZ-Calgary-YYZ-BDL on Jazz to YYZ and mainline on their A320 to Calgary and back to YYZ and Jazz back to BDL and I thought they had a really good product. Nice and attentive staff, bags got there alright, and best of all, no delays. I wish my air.line DL could be as good but they will get better I hope.
Budyboy From United States of America, joined May 2005, 64 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (7 years 11 months 5 days ago) and read 2952 times:
I have been 'bumped' by AC twice in two years after have confirmed seats for two months before the flights. I always thought it was cuz I was a Yank. Anyway, getting stuck in the middle after confirming an aisle seat on the Toronto/San Fran flight fails to impress.
DFORCE1 From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 492 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (7 years 11 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 2885 times:
Quoting ViveLeYHZ (Reply 15): I didn't have to do anything ! I missed my connection from YYZ to IND last Christmas, and it was the last flight of the day. I didn't blame them for that, there had been a snow storm the day before, and things were missed up. At any rate, they couldn't find me a seat to IND on any other airline, and rebooked me for a flight the next day, and an extra 500 Aeroplan miles !!!
Again...another living testimony that not all the AC staff are bad apples. Great to hear ViveLeYHZ! My experience involved my flight time being rescheduled and the flight number changing without the AC Agent in YYJ not even advising me of the change. My flight arrived an hour later than my itinerary stated and my family could not figure out my status because my flight number had changed. The good news of the experience was that instead of flying on the B763, I got the A343. And I wrote a letter to AC expressing my disappointment and they wrote a very kind response and gave me 5,000 Aeroplan miles! I was very happy!
Quoting MyOthrCarsA777 (Reply 14): Have they turned things around as a company? Or do the AC supporters believe that AC has been a great airline all along?
You're absolutely right, 5 years ago AC was pretty bad in terms of customer service. But in the last year, they have definitely turned things around I assure you. ChrisA330 summed it up the best - there's a few bad apples left but they're heading in the right direction. They even serve ice cream now for dessert on their trans atlantic flights and it is YUMMY!
25 C172: Boo AC! Hahaha. Just playin. True it was ONE bad flight and I've had good flights with AC before. But, the condition of the airplane on the inside (ho
26 DFORCE1: I'll agree our Boeing 767's leave a lot to be desired and they do need a lot of work which is why I wish AC would get this Boeing deal off the ground
Sponsor Message: 
From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 335 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Poland, joined Jan 2005, 866 posts, 
From St. Lucia, joined Jun 2005, 207 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5544 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
but they will get better I hope. 
Printer friendly format 
