Flights
#31
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2016
Location: Munich, Germany
Posts: 189
Re: Flights
Thanks for that tip. I did look into it shortly after and the information I found seemed to suggest that the flight delay compensation only applied if the airline was based in an EU country, which Air Transat are not. But if you were able to get compensation for a delay with Air Canada flight then I might have been misinformed previously. Will look into it again.
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 86
Re: Flights
This is helpful and hopeful though... if I get anything back I owe a few drinks at the next Toronto meetup.
#33
Re: Flights
Thanks for that tip. I did look into it shortly after and the information I found seemed to suggest that the flight delay compensation only applied if the airline was based in an EU country, which Air Transat are not. But if you were able to get compensation for a delay with Air Canada flight then I might have been misinformed previously. Will look into it again.
#34
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Flights
It is not always the airline! Imagine dealing with some of the issues staff and crews have to deal with on a daily basis.
I recall having to return to the airport, we had multiple bird strikes just as we were rotating, only one way we could go, up. One engine very bad, one not doing so well. As we only had two, this was not panning out too well. Lost the airspeed indicator, so speed was a guess, overloaded, had to dump fuel. Cabin shaking due to impeller damage in one engine, pax a little upset. All ends well, we get on the ground no injuries, only to be berated for not going around the birds (a few thousand of them) and who was going to feed the cats back home because they were supposed to be home that night.
Unreasonable pax behavior happens somewhere, on a daily basis.
I recall having to return to the airport, we had multiple bird strikes just as we were rotating, only one way we could go, up. One engine very bad, one not doing so well. As we only had two, this was not panning out too well. Lost the airspeed indicator, so speed was a guess, overloaded, had to dump fuel. Cabin shaking due to impeller damage in one engine, pax a little upset. All ends well, we get on the ground no injuries, only to be berated for not going around the birds (a few thousand of them) and who was going to feed the cats back home because they were supposed to be home that night.
Unreasonable pax behavior happens somewhere, on a daily basis.
#35
Every day's a school day
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Was Calgary back in Edmonton again !!
Posts: 2,667
Re: Flights
Also check travel insurance mine had compensation for delays of more than 90 mins and also for a delay that resulted in a missed connection etc.
#36
Re: Flights
It is not always the airline! Imagine dealing with some of the issues staff and crews have to deal with on a daily basis.
I recall having to return to the airport, we had multiple bird strikes just as we were rotating, only one way we could go, up. One engine very bad, one not doing so well. As we only had two, this was not panning out too well. Lost the airspeed indicator, so speed was a guess, overloaded, had to dump fuel. Cabin shaking due to impeller damage in one engine, pax a little upset. All ends well, we get on the ground no injuries, only to be berated for not going around the birds (a few thousand of them) and who was going to feed the cats back home because they were supposed to be home that night.
Unreasonable pax behavior happens somewhere, on a daily basis.
I recall having to return to the airport, we had multiple bird strikes just as we were rotating, only one way we could go, up. One engine very bad, one not doing so well. As we only had two, this was not panning out too well. Lost the airspeed indicator, so speed was a guess, overloaded, had to dump fuel. Cabin shaking due to impeller damage in one engine, pax a little upset. All ends well, we get on the ground no injuries, only to be berated for not going around the birds (a few thousand of them) and who was going to feed the cats back home because they were supposed to be home that night.
Unreasonable pax behavior happens somewhere, on a daily basis.
Wow! Pretty high pucker factor on that one then!!!!
Of course you just had to take it and couldn't say 'do you have the remotest idea how lucky we are to be having this conversation!'
I recall the sharp intakes of breath and a few stifled screams when a 737 I was on did a simple go-around (probably coz someone was a bit slow in clearing the runway)!
Last edited by Hurlabrick; Mar 30th 2017 at 10:10 am.
#37
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2016
Location: Munich, Germany
Posts: 189
Re: Flights
The initial five hour delay was due to a late inbound flight, which was, according to Air Transat, due to weather conditions in Canada. The second five hour delay was a mechanical problem with the aircraft.
This is helpful and hopeful though... if I get anything back I owe a few drinks at the next Toronto meetup.
This is helpful and hopeful though... if I get anything back I owe a few drinks at the next Toronto meetup.
Look on Moneysavingexpert.com and look at their letter templates for claiming compensation. Amend one and send it off recorded to Air Transat.
Otherwise, PM me your email address and I will send you a copy of the letter we used. We got the full compensation available (as you should for a 5 hour delay) which is 600 euros per passenger.
Whilst I don't really like the compensation culture and believe the airlines are trying their best, the 14 hours on the aircraft on a flight to Toronto was pretty painful with a child about to turn two years old, so I didn't feel too bad claiming.
#38
Re: Flights
We flew Air Canada from Heathrow to Montreal last year on our recce trip, and it was pretty good. I was expecting it to be painful - we went with a three year old and 10 month old twins - but it was fine. Staff were really helpful, price was the cheapest we saw anywhere, everything was on time, luggage allowance was decent.
#40
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 172
Re: Flights
Spoke to Air Transat airline direct (on the 0207.... UK number) about the flight/plane and if i needed to upgrade to Club Class for legroom/comfy seats etc
they advised to travel from LGW instead as the planes are larger than those leaving Manchester which means that i wouldn't have to upgrade. Also said that larger planes have individual entertainment screens
#41
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 172
Re: Flights
We flew Air Canada from Heathrow to Montreal last year on our recce trip, and it was pretty good. I was expecting it to be painful - we went with a three year old and 10 month old twins - but it was fine. Staff were really helpful, price was the cheapest we saw anywhere, everything was on time, luggage allowance was decent.
Was it what you expected?
#42
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 172
Re: Flights
Just back using Air Transat flights. Awful, awful, awful. Hideously uncomfortable seats. Food was a heated up sub, same menu served for both meals. Very few liquids provided s make sure you take water and food on with you. My gluten free food was inedible. They have "mood" lighting which means just as you are falling asleep the light colours change and so you wake. There are only ceiling mounted tv screens. No choice of movie and no subtitles available.
The staff are friendly and helpful but don't really have much opportunity to help.
I'll never willingly fly with them again
The staff are friendly and helpful but don't really have much opportunity to help.
I'll never willingly fly with them again
fingers crossed that they will have got their act together for my flight over the summer.
when you say just back, do you mean to Canada? if so, how do you find the gluten free food in Canada?
I am wheat/gluten intolerant but it seems that my intolerance is to British wheat (apparently they use something called 'round up' to make the wheat look better, bigger etc! i can eat wheat abroad generally no problem; e.g french and turkish wheat)
#43
Re: Flights
air canada isn't exactly known for its high quality gluten free food. My celiac brother was mildly disgusted at the fish in tomato sauce that they served him for breakfast!
#44
Re: Flights
i booked my Air Transat flight just over a week ago - paid £696 return for whole of UK summer holidays.
Spoke to Air Transat airline direct (on the 0207.... UK number) about the flight/plane and if i needed to upgrade to Club Class for legroom/comfy seats etc
they advised to travel from LGW instead as the planes are larger than those leaving Manchester which means that i wouldn't have to upgrade. Also said that larger planes have individual entertainment screens
Spoke to Air Transat airline direct (on the 0207.... UK number) about the flight/plane and if i needed to upgrade to Club Class for legroom/comfy seats etc
they advised to travel from LGW instead as the planes are larger than those leaving Manchester which means that i wouldn't have to upgrade. Also said that larger planes have individual entertainment screens
The configurations on whichever Airbus you choose is 2:2:2 versus 3:3:3. Sadly that says it all. TBH Bat's comments don't surprise me - we have had family travel on Club Class as well as Economy and their comment on the latter was "never again"
Update on Terminal 3- Snoop has suggested, the worst Western European airport terminal that she has visited and for once I think she is spot on!
Last edited by Stinkypup; Mar 30th 2017 at 8:18 pm.
#45
Re: Flights
not that it matters when it comes to airline food
Never expect quality food or beverages or the point 'hey I paid for this as part of the travel, so I'm going to consume it', then, either whinge about how bad it was or get food poisoning'
For the longest time taking flights to anywhere, I have always brown bagged it, snacks in the under the seat carry-on.
Do not partake of anything the airline offers. Just put me in my seat, blindfold on & wake me up when we get to the destination. That from a direct 13 hour flight I was on from Seoul, Korea to Toronto in 1996 - never took the airline food since then.
Never expect quality food or beverages or the point 'hey I paid for this as part of the travel, so I'm going to consume it', then, either whinge about how bad it was or get food poisoning'
For the longest time taking flights to anywhere, I have always brown bagged it, snacks in the under the seat carry-on.
Do not partake of anything the airline offers. Just put me in my seat, blindfold on & wake me up when we get to the destination. That from a direct 13 hour flight I was on from Seoul, Korea to Toronto in 1996 - never took the airline food since then.