Rant: Air bloody Canada

[Andem]

With the odd exception of easyJet and Air Berlin every now and then, I always fly Star Alliance (Air Canada, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, etc) and currently at the frequent flyer level of Star Alliance Gold (Air Canada: Super Elite).

I'm looking for a low-priced fare at which I'd be able to use my upgrade certificates to get into Business Class for free, being a loyal customer who's been given upgrade certificates as such.

So here's how it goes:
(Note: The agent is speaking in ebonics)

1-888-247-2262

*ring* *ring* *Welcome to Air Canada, pour le service en français, appuyez 2*

agent: "Welcome to Air Canada [no name mentioned].. how can I help you?"

me: "Hello, I'm a Super Elite member and I'd like to know the cost of a flight from Berlin TXL to Toronto YYZ on 10.12. and coming back on 29.12 using upgrade certificates."

agent: "Yes, sir you'd have to book in lattitude class to be able to use your certificates"

me: "Yes, sir, I realise that, which is why I asked how much it costs, not about the booking class."

agent: "You're being arrogant, sir!"

me: "I'd like to book a flight from Berlin to Toronto, please tell me the price so I can get this booked."

From that point on it was a dead line. He'd hung up on me. I called back and spoke to Kim. She had told me the price and we booked it. I let her know what had happened 2 minutes previous. She asked who it was and I said I had no idea as he'd given no name. She mentioned it could have been at one of the Canadian call centres as she was in the US.

This poses another question: Why are Air Canada bookings through their 1-888 number routed to the US? They've been given subsidies from the gov't of Canada and they're giving perfectly tenable jobs to US-Americans? Atleast with Lufthansa I can communicate with their ground- and telephone agents in German. God forbid I should try to communicate with Heathrow or Pearson staff in English let alone Ebonics!

 

[shadowshiv]

It is probably cheaper for them to do it that way. I don't think they care if it costs someone in Canada a job or not.

And that guy was a jerk for hanging up on you!:angryfire:

 

[darkbeaver]

I'm glad I can't afford to fly, that was a rude encounter, I was going to wonder about what makes people assholes, but I'v been here long enough to know, it's as simple as oportunity. I'v never heard you be arrogant here with us peasants.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

I used to fly a lot for my business a few years ago, I don’t fly that much these days. In those days, the Belgian airline, SABENA was well known for its lousy service and rude staff, most people I knew would avoid flying SABENA if at all they could avoid it.

The standing joke in my circle was, SABENA stands for ‘Such A Bloody Experience, Never Again.’

 

[Nuggler]

We who take the bus, salute you.

8O

 

[scratch]

or WestJet at least....

 

[TenPenny]

Couldn't have been the Saint John NB AC call center, I've always found them to be very polite and friendly when I've called them.

Mind you, I book all my flights on line these days.