Hunters beware of Air Canada!
General Topic
Just a head's up to everyone flying Air Canada-their customer service sucks! I just returned from an awesome black bear hunt with TSI. Upon arrival, Air Canada lost my bow/arrows for a full day and I nearly missed my hunt. They also cut off my TSA approved lock and hazardously stuffed my longbow and wood arrows back into the case. Luckily, nothing appeared to be damaged and the equipment arrived 1 hour before the hunt.
The real problem was the return flight. My case is an airline approved 3000lb crush proof PVC cased lined with felt/padding and covered with black Codura Nylon. The case had only been used a couple of times inside my truck, so it was it perfect condition. Well, after waiting for a jam in the conveyor belt, my case came down and was definitely beat up, but it didn't appear to be anything other than normal wear and tear the airlines normally inflict. I didn't bother to unpack because I had to travel for work the next day. Well, when I returned home a week later and had time to unpack I had a huge surprise. All of my arrows were broken and my JD Berry longbow had a definite crush mark on it. I pulled the outer skin off the case and discovered a crease going across the PVC pipe (3000lb crush proof BTW). Not sure if it was driven over or pinched in the conveyor belt, but there is a definite crease in the pipe not visible on the outside of the case. After HOURS of being on hold and also HOURS on the Air Canada chat room, I was told that because it was past their 24 hour window that I had no claim. I also made 2 trips to the airport where I was told they don't have any baggage claim customer service and I had to call the "service department". BTW, their "customer service" department is outsourced--I had to SPELL bow and arrows to the person I finally spoke to after multiple calls and hours of being on hold. So, the integrity of my case is now compromised, my custom wood arrows are all broken, and the JD Berry longbow wait is nearly a year, so the bow is basically irreplaceable.
Moral of the story, learn from my mistake and make sure you inspect your equipment immediately upon returning from a flight.
Wow, what a mess for sure! sorry about all that! People Suck!
I've heard similar stories about Air Canada.
Recently had great service thru Canada using West Jet!
I'd fly Westjet over Air Canada whenever possible......or drive if you have the time.
Sorry that happened! We had intentional damage to a scope years ago by the airlines. It was actually crushed with no damage to anything else. Definitely an ARA. Lesson here for all of us....inspect your gear when it comes off the conveyor!
Yep...old news and have a list of "accidents " from missed days on hunts to broken sight pins while in a hard case.
They are not the best and their call center is in Montreal which doesn't help. When I had a trip scheduled for northern Alberta last year where the whole town of Ft. Mac was almost burnt down they had no idea there were even fires up there and that no travel to the area was possible. The rep had to google it?
West Jet seems to be better.
Thats why i use terraglide luggage. No problems.
This thread sucks. I am flying with them In one month. Now I am extra worried. Is it best to have arrows in a tube with checked bag or in the same case as the bow?
Good question Turbo. Maybe the terraglide that Pete mentioned would be the way to go. It wasn't an option for me with a 1 piece longbow. Now I'm shopping for a takedown...
I will never use Air Canada again. I flew out of Pittsburgh and my friend flew out of Columbus on May 12 2017. Not trusting A.C. we flew into Grande Prairie AB a day earlier than we had to in case they screwed up on getting our bags and bows to AB on time with us. We flew into Toronto on separate flights then onto Calgary then Grande Prairie together. Our bow case were SKB I SERIES mine showed up a day late and my friends showed up 2 days late. We spent an extra day in a hotel thinking AC would screw up but we waited 2 extra days for a bow to show up. Same thing happened when we came home they delivered my bow to the house 2 days later. When you ask for assistance they give you an 800 number to call which are Indians you cannot understand. AC has you try to correct your problems which they are responsible for. So much for customer service. Both of our cases were missing TSA locks. This is not the first time having problems with AC avoid any connecting flights through Toronto if at all possible it is my belief they are anti hunting.
Air Canada truly sucks for all passengers. But they do seem to make a special effort for hunters.
Any big airport is going to be in a big city. And big city is a hotbed anti hunters. Anti's employed at Toronto know that a bow or rifle coming through in the spring is going to be used to kill a bear. They know that bears are endangered. And you are probably going to shoot a mom and leave her children to die a slow lonely death.
All just so you don't need Viagra!!
As a Canadian, I can assure you that many of us refuse to use Air Canada whenever possible. Just a horrible airline overcome with a pervasive snotty attitude throughout all their employees. Anti-hunting bias, yes. Seemingly cruel and malicious intent in all customer service actions....
As another Canadian, I have not flown Air Canada since 1989. I felt we were treated very poorly on a trip home from Caribou hunting in northern Quebec. Air Canada's motto should be " At Air Canada, we're not happy until your not happy!" I fly West Jet lots and am happy with the service they have provided.
Boy!....AC must be horrible when some Canadians refuse to fly on it.
One thought on the TSA locks being cut. Does the Canadian Air Ministry follow the same airline luggage regs as in the U.S.? That is....do they have the keys for TSA approved locks that are used in the U.S.? Different country - different rules? If they have different rules, then maybe they are not required to have U.S. TSA keys. Therefore they will cut the lock to get inside your case???
Back in 2010-ish, I had the TSA bubbas at Baltimore (BWI) get into my gun case on a trip to Kodiak, pull the secured gun out, then just lay it back in the case unsecured. I get to Kodiak and open up the case and see the rifle loose and flopping around inside the case. Grrrr....:-/....I could have lit a wet candle I was so hot and PO'd.
Ya I'm also Canadian and try my best to avoid air Canada when ever possible.
There you have it guys! AVOID!
As I said above I had great results with West Jet and went thru Toronto to Saskatoon and back. There can be bad employees who may harm hunters cases but only if the Senior Mgt. allows it.
They are in a foreign country you cant get them and they know it.
Didn't they merge or get purchased by United Airlines a few years back? That should tell it all
Read BigPizzaMan's thread on hunting Australia. Terraglide didn't help him. It seems if they want to break your stuff, they WILL break your stuff.
Didn't you see that Air Canada is the top North American airline? http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-skytrax-best-airline-1.4169313
This is particularly troubling, especially since I'm flying Air Canada next week.
Most up here with Air Canada experience avoid Air Canada. Others will gain experience in the future and join the rest of us.
Man I can't agree with you more Air Canada really really sux but I have no other options for the next couple of hunts
A bowsiter I hunted with several times in Alberta used a Terra glide and had no problems. But he didn't go through Toronto. If your bow fits I believe the Terra glide is a better option.
Isn't their slogan "Air Canada, We're Sorry."?
