Comments on: Air Canada Offering Protection From Weather Delays (For a Fee) http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:20:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: View from the Wing » Blog Archive » Air Canada’s Irregular Operations Insurance: A Clever Gimmick and a Bad Deal http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35595 View from the Wing » Blog Archive » Air Canada’s Irregular Operations Insurance: A Clever Gimmick and a Bad Deal Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:57:36 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35595 [...] CrankyFlier gives a gold star to a new Air Canada program where passengers can pay in advance with their ticket to have weather-related irregular operations treated the same as events within the airline’s control — entitled to transportation on other carriers, hotels and meals, etc. [...] [...] CrankyFlier gives a gold star to a new Air Canada program where passengers can pay in advance with their ticket to have weather-related irregular operations treated the same as events within the airline’s control — entitled to transportation on other carriers, hotels and meals, etc. [...]

]]> By: Chris M. Dickson http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35569 Chris M. Dickson Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:15:35 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35569 Like everyone else said, this is really, really good. I hope it becomes best practice and spreads across the industry. There's no reason why it shouldn't, and there could be some entertaining viewing, watching the odds on offer fluctuate over time. I worry about the low-cost airlines driving the full-service airlines out, or at least down to low-cost practices, simply because it's reassuring to have the knowledge that the full-service airlines are big enough to be able to be flexible should mishap occur. I'm much less concerned about the existence of <i>à la carte</i> service offerings when this is one of the services on offer. Fingers crossed that the low-cost airlines follow suit; at least Ryanair has a senior employee who is known to be famously gambly, and they have kicked around the in-air gambling concept in the past, so letting people back against themselves delivering the goods ought to appeal to their sense of fun. Like everyone else said, this is really, really good. I hope it becomes best practice and spreads across the industry. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t, and there could be some entertaining viewing, watching the odds on offer fluctuate over time.

I worry about the low-cost airlines driving the full-service airlines out, or at least down to low-cost practices, simply because it’s reassuring to have the knowledge that the full-service airlines are big enough to be able to be flexible should mishap occur. I’m much less concerned about the existence of à la carte service offerings when this is one of the services on offer. Fingers crossed that the low-cost airlines follow suit; at least Ryanair has a senior employee who is known to be famously gambly, and they have kicked around the in-air gambling concept in the past, so letting people back against themselves delivering the goods ought to appeal to their sense of fun.

]]> By: Mark http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35568 Mark Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:06:07 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35568 CF has this one spot on. As opposed to the consumer blogs and Boing Boing. They are all ridiculing this move. Typical. What they are not saying, is no airline (that I know of) has ever reimbursed, re-booked or done anything for the average traveler in the case of UNCONTROLLABLE delays. They (the blogs) just don't get the difference (or refuse to get the difference) between uncontrollable and controllable delays. Air Canada is becoming a world-class airline ala Singapore, Emirates etc. This is just more proof that they think out of the box and for their customers. CF has this one spot on. As opposed to the consumer blogs and Boing Boing. They are all ridiculing this move. Typical.

What they are not saying, is no airline (that I know of) has ever reimbursed, re-booked or done anything for the average traveler in the case of UNCONTROLLABLE delays. They (the blogs) just don’t get the difference (or refuse to get the difference) between uncontrollable and controllable delays.

Air Canada is becoming a world-class airline ala Singapore, Emirates etc. This is just more proof that they think out of the box and for their customers.

]]> By: Nicholas Barnard http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35510 Nicholas Barnard Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:00:36 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35510 Hmm... I wonder how they skirt this so they're not going to tangle with the insurance regulators.. Because really that is what this is.. Hmm… I wonder how they skirt this so they’re not going to tangle with the insurance regulators.. Because really that is what this is..

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35483 CF Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:05:23 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35483 Anon - That would definitely be ideal for the customer, but then it's going to be a losing proposition for the airline. They need to be able to make money on this as well or it won't work. Anon – That would definitely be ideal for the customer, but then it’s going to be a losing proposition for the airline. They need to be able to make money on this as well or it won’t work.

]]> By: Anon Coward http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35472 Anon Coward Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:34:42 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35472 Interesting gamble, I think I might do it if I was flying someplace where weather would be an issue, or I was on a very tight timeline, otherwise not. They should not force people to do it ahead of time but should offer it at the time of the weather delay. "You can wait for our next flight Tuesday, or for an additional 50 bucks now we will send you over to US Airways" or whatever. But you get your 50 bucks back if US Airways doesn't fly. Interesting gamble, I think I might do it if I was flying someplace where weather would be an issue, or I was on a very tight timeline, otherwise not. They should not force people to do it ahead of time but should offer it at the time of the weather delay. “You can wait for our next flight Tuesday, or for an additional 50 bucks now we will send you over to US Airways” or whatever. But you get your 50 bucks back if US Airways doesn’t fly.

]]> By: Rory http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35459 Rory Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:11:24 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35459 This really is a winning idea, and how often can we say that about airline innovations these days. Not everybody needs this kind of service, but having the option could be lifesaver. As Nick mentioned, it's nice to see airlines adding additional services for once, instead of charging for existing ones. If this works out practically, I can certainly see it catching on. This really is a winning idea, and how often can we say that about airline innovations these days. Not everybody needs this kind of service, but having the option could be lifesaver.

As Nick mentioned, it’s nice to see airlines adding additional services for once, instead of charging for existing ones. If this works out practically, I can certainly see it catching on.

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35434 CF Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:01:34 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35434 Nicholas - It's always a possibility. I'm not sure what AC has up their sleeves for this, but since it is happening over the phone, maybe vouchers will disappear. Nicholas – It’s always a possibility. I’m not sure what AC has up their sleeves for this, but since it is happening over the phone, maybe vouchers will disappear.

]]> By: Nicholas Barnard http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35433 Nicholas Barnard Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:59:17 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35433 Cranky, Hmm, what about the prepaid, we make your reservation system precludes using the low-negotiated rates? I'm only saying they could get rid of the voucher and just drop a prepaid reservation into the hotel's system. I only added car rentals in because Air Canada mentions them.. I'd expect there would be some sort of credit card backup on the car rental system.. Cranky,
Hmm, what about the prepaid, we make your reservation system precludes using the low-negotiated rates? I’m only saying they could get rid of the voucher and just drop a prepaid reservation into the hotel’s system.

I only added car rentals in because Air Canada mentions them.. I’d expect there would be some sort of credit card backup on the car rental system..

]]> By: CF http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/comment-page-1/#comment-35432 CF Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:52:38 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/2008/04/03/air-canada-on-my-way/#comment-35432 That would be a better program, Nicholas, but it would be more costly by far. Airlines have special low negotiated rates with hotels, so they're going to want to use them. And I believe car rentals are generally left out due to liability issues. That would be a better program, Nicholas, but it would be more costly by far. Airlines have special low negotiated rates with hotels, so they’re going to want to use them. And I believe car rentals are generally left out due to liability issues.

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