After 3 hours of delays, they ended up cancelling my flight. And although I could purchase one-way tickets to get to my destination, they would not offer me these flights as compensation for the cancelled flight, and I didn't end up making it home until 13 hours after I was originally supposed to arrive. It made for an extremely strenuous end to an otherwise good trip.
After waiting in the airport from 7am (to make sure we had enough time for security), our flight was continually delayed until it was canceled. They tried to book us on a Delta flight, which we considered and even went to the Delta terminal with our luggage (which was stowed and then available once the flight was canceled (about 15 min away) but were then informed that we would need to retrieve our luggage at LaGuardia and then recheck in to Air Canada in New York, grab our luggage, and then get to the air canada terminal and re-check in. We decided against it, took our luggage into an uber home and then drive the 6.5 hours (one way) to Montreal instead.
Be careful about the bad policy and when purchasing seats
Very disappointed with premier lounge. Food selection very poor, both coffee machines out of order. For the price you charge for an upgrade, the seats don’t fully recline, movie selection is old. Not very good value. Asian airlines are light years ahead at a more affordable price.
Flight late with no explanation why so late boarding. More than made up the time in flight. Woman in seat behind me would not allow me to recline my seat so could not sleep. Slow to clean up after meal so has to leave my tray down. Flight attendants average at best. Premium economy experience was poor. It was a special trip for us, a 70th birthday. We could only book seats that were apart and no efforts could be made to get us together. Just poor all around
Business Class was great with two exceptions: they should board Business Class Only first, then loyalty, then handicapped and families with young children then by zone. With all the loyalty and credit card holders and families with kids, dozens boarded before us and we were in row 3. My only other compliant with Air Canada is they don’t serve drinks and snacks in business class until at a cruising altitude. Transat and Emirates serve prior to takeoff which is especially nice during boarding of big planes and de-icing.
The only good part was what we paid for, we travelled premium economy, good comfort travelling with a baby. Flight with AirCanada was again delayed for more than 4 hours, service level is horrible and they don't care. They deliver the bare minimum for a world class price. If you can avoid canadian air lines, do so, oligopoly does not help them to strive for any service level.
We left over 2 hours late and they didn't even give us a complimentary snack, when getting to the desk I asked if I could be put in a row with only 1 other person or an empt y one I was told the flight was full when the last two rows were empty. All around over it
Again, we were rerouted all the way to Zurich and had a longer journey than expected.
Overall a good experience as this leg I was in Business Class. The Lounge was amazing with a view of the planes. The flight attendant spoke way to quickly when giving the information for take off and landing and it would be of no use to a first time traveler. Overall a great airline to travel on.