I've never had seat-back on YOW-LHR 767s. The one I took YYZ-LHR earlier this year was a tarted-up 767 and did have seat-back.

Just confirm the original nature of this post, my girlfriend and I turned up 2hrs 45 mins early and were told by the lady helping us with the automated check-in system that we were 'lucky to have a seat' due to oversubscription of the Halifax-Heathrow flights. She suggested confirming the seat upon booking for an extra 15 or so dollars, outrageous really when you consider the time and money which goes into booking these flights in the 1st place! The plane was good, however, with seat-back screens etc etc. AC good for us, just be careful!

If you get 'bumped' volunteer or not, usual compensation is $100 cash or $300 travel voucher and a seat on the next flight with space. The airlines decide on who gets bumped by the order of check-in. Last in first off.

If you have a return ticket and are on the return leg, airlines should provide accommodation, meals and transport to and from hotel. This is only for passengers away from home.

We use commercial airlines regularly, as passengers and for freight. Due to problems we have had we no longer use Air Canada, in fact we have told our suppliers we will not accept any shipments sent with Air Canada. British Airways (our 1st choice) & Lufthansa (2nd choice) have been far more reliable and accommodating. The only reason we use BA first is that they are able to get our product (perishable) into Vancouver at a time that suits our schedule for clearing & pick-up.

The only times we have used Air Canada, the ground staff have been rude, unhelpful and the airline unreliable. We had shipments coming from Europe marked 'perishable, must fly' and they were still bumped, taking 4 days to get out of Toronto. They were not kept in a cooler as was indicated on the cartons either.

At Vancouver, my mother in law was traveling back to the UK with assistance and waiting at the check in desk. The clerk finished serving the person ahead of her, then walked off and went on break without a word, leaving MIL sitting there waiting. I only found out she went on break after trying to find someone to help (unsuccessfully).

What about Zoom? They fly Toronto/Halifax/Paris but not sure for the return trip.

Just a quick follow up to say we got on the flight Sunday night and were upgraded to business. The plane was awful, even in business there were no seat back screens and the food was awful, but not complaining because at least we got on the flight. When they called our names out and asked us to go up to the desk I was convinced they were going to say we weren't on the flight, but they said they wanted to make amends for treating us badly on Friday. Interestingly enough, picked up a copy of the Saturday Telegraph at my sister's yesterday, and there is a big article in there on airlines and how badly they treat people. Interesting reading.

Air Canada are on a par with Air Nigeria, Eritrea Air and Azerbaijan Airlines. Trust me, I've flown all of them. The only real difference between the above 4 is that Air Canada staff are much more surly.

It's probably a little unusual to defend Air Canada staff (ground and cabin) but they are not all surly. I have flown AC more times than I can remember. What I have noticed is that the staff don't take any crap and do not like being treated like servants, which is an attitude many travellers adopt. If you are rude or aggressive towards them, it'll come back in spades. If you are polite and friendly, they will generally behave in the same manner.

I fly AC every time I go to Canada as I have friends who work for AC and my motivation is that I have been bumped up a few times when said friends can pull a few strings. My experience is that the fleet is old and not up to the standards of some, but the staff are competent and professional.

The problem is that Canada Air was merged with Air Canada and there is residual bad feeling post event, and the work/pay conditions are less than satisfactory making very unhappy staff, although it is probably necessary as the airline struggles to survive post 9/11 when many airlines suffered huge losses, some going belly up.

The experience of OP however is unacceptable and she must make her displeasure known to the powers in Montreal.

Rob.

Some years ago I had a particularly shite AC flight from Vancouver to London. Just about everything that could go wrong, short of crashing, went wrong. When I gotback in the office I fired off a complaint fax to AC's manager in Heathrow. He was on the phone, grovelling, by the time I got back to my desk.

Amazing what you can do with Canadian High Commission letterhead.

Nice. I presume you kept several sheets for future use?

Excellent

Plse can I have a page of the letter-heading to photocopy?

Nah. The bloke did crap himself, though. Offered me all sorts of upgrade promises that I had to decline (we were not allowed to accept freebies; we couldn't even use airline loyalty cards).

I had my Canadian government hat on when I sent the fax. It needed to be pointed out to AC that the 747 I was on was full of tourists (it was August). Their last memory of Canada, the one that would stick in their minds, was the shit treatment at Vancouver airport - you need more than two check-in clerks to load a Jumbo - and the piss-poor performance of the cabin crew. One hag berated me for not putting my seat back up when ordered. She continued even after I pointed out out that the sodding thing was broken and wouldn't stay up. I think it was he same pustule who later tried to make me feel honoured to receive a business class meal. Like it's my fault they ran out of cattle-class meals? She was probably the same troll who broke the audio visual system and managed to make a pot of tea/coffee. And got pissed off when someone pointed it out. No wonder the cabin crew were arguing amongst each other for the duration.

Would that have been Calvin (Kelvin?) of BBC's "Airport" fame?! Anyone remember him? He was chief groveller and panderer with Canadian and somehow didn't get sacked in the acquisition and was mincing around the Air Canada desk at T3 LHR last I saw of him.

He was marginally less annoying than that Aeroflot Jeremy, but I hope you gave him a good slapping all the same

Can't remember his name. Mind you, it was ten years ago.