Air Canada announced a new program called On My Way today. This program will fix things for you if ever you are delayed by flight, traffic or weather-related delays beyond its control. Here is what is posted on the Air Canada web site."One call gives you around-the-clock access to a dedicated group of specially trained Air Canada customer service agents who will rebook the first available flight, on Air Canada or another airline," and "arrange complimentary hotel accommodations, car rental or other ground transportation and meals," if necessary. All of this for an extra $50 (round trip) for flights of less that 1000 km and $70 (round trip) for flights over 1000 km.
Michael Janigan of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in Ottawa isn't impressed. "It's part and parcel of a continuing effort to try and make the service extended to you when you buy a ticket less and less. The expectation would be that if you paid for a flight, you'd be rebooked on the next available flight. I'm hesitant to figure what's next with the airlines. Maybe washroom privileges (for a fee)? We'll have to wait and see."
Makes you wonder what will happen to the poor schmucks who will dare not to pay the extra fee, will they end up stranded in the airport like the man who has been living in the Charles de Gaulle airport for many years. Seems to me that the service they now want us to pay for should be a normal service in case of delays and imponderables. When there are flight delays like the ones we had here not long ago because of the snow storm, will the people who paid jump to the head for the line ahead of everyone else, leaving everyone else waiting that much longer?
To say the least I am not impressed, who else but an airline could get away with something like that? Much like when the airlines quote a price, then when you come to pay, hike it up because of the fuel supplement, airport tax etc... Hey buy my ticket to Vancouver, it's only $300... ooops forgot to tell you there is a $200 fuel supplement and $100 airport tax.
