I arrived for my flight later than I would have liked to, but still 40 minutes before departure (it was very early morning). I had already checked in via online and just needed to check my bag. I tried using the self-serve computer they have to print my baggage sticker but it wouldn't allow me to. I proceeded to an attendant who said "when does your flight leave? okay you need to be 45 minutes early so you've missed your flight. You can stand-by for free for the next flight, and you have no chance of getting on that flight, or you can purchase a new flight".
But I am only five minutes late? I understand there are time lines and rules for a reason but surely me being 5 minutes past the cut off time doesn't mean I need to buy a new ticket? I stood around for fifteen minutes, called my mom, my boyfriend, decided if I should maybe just drive to my destination (a ten hour car ride alone). I made have had a few tears fall as I was quite upset. The flight doesn't leave for another 40 minutes yet I cannot get on it? This makes no sense. I end my phone calls and the Air Canada employee has a change of heart, he decides that he will look up my flight and see. Keep in mind he didn't know my name nor had he even looked up my flight information, he denied me based on what I had told him. What if I didn't know my exact flight time? Could this employee be anymore unprofessional?
He looked up my information, said "well our policy is that your luggage must be checked in half an hour before your flight, so I cannot guarantee that it will meet you at your final destination". BUT I was here 40 minutes ago, it isn't my fault you made me stand around for 15 minutes and now I only have 25 minutes to get my luggage through. This is your fault. This is Air Canada's fault. So I told him to hurry up and get it through, and look at that. I made it to the gate before they even started to board. What a joke! Are they trying to get a last minute sales push here, getting innocent people to buy new flights when it is completely unnecessary?
So I posted on Air Canada's Facebook page, and their response was "glad to hear you made it". How lovely is that? They couldn't demonstrate their lack of customer service any better. Disgusting to have "Canada" in their name.
How dare Air Canada start my holiday off with worry and panic and almost an extra $500 in fees for a new flight. How dare they treat people like that FOR NO REASON. I just keep thinking, what if I had gone home and driven ten hours alone, FOR NO REASON. Be persistent if you're even in that situation with them.
