Atlantic Xpat

I know we all love to hate AC, but I have to say, the check in at LHR T3 is a breeze compared to other airlines/airports. Maybe the YYT (or YHZ) flights aren't as busy as others but in all my flights through T3, I've never had to queue for more than 2 mins to drop off my bags. Contrasts mightily with the huge lineups for Thai or whoever it is opposite. Oh yes, and last Thursday no-one asked to see my PR card either.

Also a thumbs up for the arrival lounge at T3, which can be booked from cattle class when you book your ticket for some bucks. Nice facility to freshen up if you are heading straight to work.

lmartin999

I fly a lot and AC, on the whole, is a pretty good airline. Spend some time flying CO or UA or even some of the European airlines shorthaul and you realise the difference.

The arrivals lounge is great. Skip breakfast on the plane, head there and have a hot shower and a couple of the excellent bacon butties. Lovely.

dbd33

I continue to loath AC. And have vast experience of flying with less officious carriers.

Still, we had a bit of luck last week. Arriving at Halifax from London, we had the option of waiting six or seven hours in the airport for our connection or shelling out $150 for an earlier flight. When we arrived at Toronto we found that both flights arrived at the same time; we got away with just paying the fee to check the carry on (allowed across the Atlantic but not domestically, I'd forgotten about that bollocks). I would not have liked paying $150 for nothing.

JamesM

You are just happy your illegal residing here can continue

Jingsamichty

I agree that Air Canada T3 check-in is efficient. I don't use the lounge at Heathrow as I prefer to go to the pub and have a final pint or two of London Pride.

The flight service itself is usually fine, but it would certainly be easier on the eye to see even just a couple of non-union trolley dollies (i.e under the age of 50!)

Atlantic Xpat

Flying the the cheap seats means that the lounge is not an option, but I too, prefer that last pint of Pride in the T3 pub. I washed down a full english with it, as an alternative to AC's inflight catering.

Souvy

I usually zip through the check-in process and then stay landside for as long as possible. There is a pub and I am a smoker. I have to to the nasty bit outside, obviously.

mandymoochops

Well t's not about the check in procedure but I like Air Canada for the care they took of my daughter when she came over for a visit as an unnacompanied minor.

Would highly reccomend them

Coffeepot

Flown twice with AC apart from escorting some very rude people of the plane which delayed the flight they were great, I actually like the older staff makes a nice change,

dbd33

This often happens, we were two hours late for the same reason. AFAIK, AC is the only major airline to need bouncers, I assume this has to do with the grannies enraging the customes.

Atlantic Xpat

My last trip to Europe involved AC, Cityflyer (KLM/Airfrance), FlyBE and BA. The BA flight from Aberdeen to LHR was interesting as it was on an Airbus 320 and so a bigger aircraft than the 319 that flies between YYT and LHR. It also had no seatback TV's, which of course AC does on all of its Airbus flights. The CityHopper stewardesses were the nicest, and the steward the campest. Aircraft was a bit old and tatty though. I have no memory of FlyBE so it must have been the blandest of experiences.

I'll actually choose AC over WJ for internal / US flights. WJ are OK but funny staff do not a complete experience make. Never flown Porter but the Mrs likes 'em. And the spoons from their lounges are just the right size for feeding toddlers. So we, ahem, acquired some.

Souvy

Older female attendants and screamingly gay male attendants are the best.

Souvy

Porter is triffic. A bit less triffic than in the very early days but still the only way between Ottawa and TO, as far as I am concerned.

dbd33

Same here. That's what I want, just to be delivered, not robbed on the way, not lectured and hectored, just delivered approximately on time and with my luggage. I liked FlyBE because that airline left no lasting impression, I felt no need to choke the staff in multiple languages.

NoreenC

Yes, I've always found that T3 is very efficient and the staff at Halifax have always been friendly. I had to change my next trip back to the UK from January to this month, as my daughter is ill with leukaemia and is going into hospital for a bone marrow transplant. I phoned AC to ask for a flight change, explaining why I needed it, and the agent that answered my call didn't charge me for the change, which I appreciated.