# Air Canada is the worst carrier ever **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 10, 2021, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350 "2021-08-10T01:17:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/121 "2024-08-25T01:10:25Z")
While Air Canada does indeed suck, WestJet is distinguishing themselves in a a bad way by announcing my flight to Toronto is leaving 3 hours late, while waiting at the gate. I’ll be home by 3:30am if I am lucky… ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/122 "2024-08-25T04:28:37Z")
My flight that was delayed for 3 hours was delayed another jour before being canceled. Go WestJet! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/123 "2024-08-25T05:46:17Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > My flight that was delayed for 3 hours was delayed another jour before being canceled. ‘four’ or ‘hour’ (not that it matters)? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/124 "2024-08-25T05:57:42Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > While Air Canada does indeed suck, WestJet is distinguishing themselves in a a bad way by announcing my flight to Toronto is leaving 3 hours late, while waiting at the gate. I’ll be home by 3:30am if I am lucky… Westjet is headquartered in Calgary, famous for their occasional hailstorms. There was one recently that caused a lot of damage to the Westjet fleet that took a lot of their planes out of service. Some direct or side effect of that storm is probably the cause of your problem. Airline operations are so tightly intertwined that any problem anywhere can cause cascade effects downstream. Of course it’s also possible that Westjet sucks, but I’m just offering an alternative explanation that may be a bit more consistent with actual facts. ---
**Author:** ![Strenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Strenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strenger)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/125 "2024-08-25T10:21:28Z")
Judas Christ, I’m not flying again. Not if there’s any possible way to help it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/126 "2024-08-25T12:49:26Z")
I read 98% of Air Canada pilots just voted to consider going on strike. I haven’t had problems with Air Canada but this hardly seems helpful, even though largely a negotiation tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/127 "2024-08-25T16:50:28Z")
1. I do not understand why restaurants and stores in major U.S. airports like O’Hare close before midnight. It’s an international airport. There are going to be people there looking for food at all hours! 2. British Airways no longer includes a checked bag in the ticket for cross-Atlantic flights. Who the fuck is traveling between continents with a backpack? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/128 "2024-08-25T16:54:43Z")
It was another hour. I ended up spending 4 hours at the airport. 4 hours is roughly the length of the flight… ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/129 "2024-08-25T16:59:50Z")
We usually manage with just carry-ons for flights to the UK (since we’re staying with people who have washing machines). My book habit usually means checking a bag on the return trip. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/130 "2024-08-25T17:14:42Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Who the fuck is traveling between continents with a backpack? I took the family to Italy last spring for 10 days, we each had a wheeled carry on and a back pack. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/131 "2024-08-25T17:15:40Z")
So you had two carry on bags each, which is why the overhead bins are always full. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/132 "2024-08-25T17:27:39Z")
Nope, we had a carry on bag in the overhead and a personal item under the seat. The airline makes the rules, it’s not my fault if I follow them. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/133 "2024-08-25T17:33:30Z")
Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/134 "2024-08-26T16:20:24Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I do not understand why restaurants and stores in major U.S. airports like O’Hare close before midnight. Likely due to staffing problems. It’s not easy to hire waitstaff and paying them largely through tips during slow times. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/135 "2024-08-26T16:42:05Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > British Airways no longer includes a checked bag in the ticket for cross-Atlantic flights. Who the fuck is traveling between continents with a backpack? I have a soft suitcase with backpack straps (a “Borneo Bag” touted by Rick Steves in his early days). It’s traveled everywhere as my only bag… …And sure, I have to lay out everything I _want_ to take and then do ruthless triage to fit the necessities, but I rarely regret packing light. I’m in my 70s, so I appreciate not lugging heavy luggage. Oh, and I just love walking through an airport with my hands free! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/136 "2024-08-26T17:24:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > I do not understand why restaurants and stores in major U.S. airports like O’Hare close before midnight. > > Likely due to staffing problems. It’s not easy to hire waitstaff and paying them largely through tips during slow times. Are layovers at O’Hare shorter during overnight hours? ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/137 "2024-08-26T20:34:05Z")
There’s this (gift) article from the Washington Post in 2022, about someone who spent the night at O’Hare (they loved it). [https://wapo.st/4fXpoBJ](https://wapo.st/4fXpoBJ) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/138 "2024-08-26T20:47:43Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > Nope, we had a carry on bag in the overhead and a personal item under the seat. I always have a personal item under the seat…part of my person, specifically my feet. Half the time my knees are touching the seatback in front of me. When they start allocating reasonable space between rows then I’ll put a personal item under the seat but until then it’s height discrimination. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/139 "2024-08-27T00:38:39Z")
I wear a backpack identical to this when flying. [![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xA4AAOSwkYRmvVW4/s-l1200.jpg) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xA4AAOSwkYRmvVW4/s-l1200.jpg) [![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LhAAAOSwteFmvVWy/s-l1200.jpg) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LhAAAOSwteFmvVWy/s-l1200.jpg) Besides looking cool (I think so at least), the shield is hard plastic. I can fit a good amount of stuff in it, and then it easily slides under the seat in front of me, and then I put my feet on it. The hard plastic protects me from crushing anything inside. And then my hands are free when I’m in the airport. I never have to use the overhead bins. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350/140 "2024-08-27T05:00:28Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > And then my hands are free when I’m in the airport. And also, I imagine you can crush steel beams with your bare hands. Very useful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-canada-is-the-worst-carrier-ever/948350.md?page=8)