I flew for business with a major Canadian airline. This was my first trip with them and unfortunately not likely the last. I was moving away from Vancouver British Columbia to a small town up north. Since I was moving, I had shipped most of my stuff to where I was going with a moving company and kept some stuff to bring up with me, and my cat. I called the airline multiple times to register the cat, inquire about luggage, prices for overweight and over sized and other travel information such as "how overweight can luggage be" and "maximum oversize" etc etc . I was assured that you can bring as many luggage as you want, oversize them to a certain maximum and basically overweight them as much as you want since after a certain weight, you pay by the pound. I registered the cat over the phone for check in (he is extremely noisy, so no cabin for him since I don't want to disturb other people). I was told it's 100$ for his ticket. No problem. How's the temperature? Same as cabin. Perfect.
A few weeks later, I showed up at 6am for the 8am flight and got to the check in luggage booth after waiting for what seemed like forever. When I got there, I gave my name and all the info that I was asked and was about to check the cat and the 4 luggage before I was told that the cat wasn't registered and the ticket would be 200$. I said, "woaaa, ok, that's not what I was told on the phone when I registered the cat". Nothing I can do now. So she said she needs to inquire about the temperature of the cargo hold. I told her I was told twice on the phone that the temperature was same as cabin. Before I could check in my luggage, she said she needed to inquire anyways. So I patiently waited, looking at my watch every so often, wondering what was taking so long. She came back almost an hour later. Time is running out greatly now. I have 40 minutes left before the plane leaves and nothing is checked, I'm not even through security. GREAT.
She tells me I have to sign a waiver as the temperature would be around 0 degrees in cargo, if not, I need to purchase a soft carrier for cabin carry. I said, I was told twice on the phone, the temperature was going to be fine for an animal... Nothing. So I was about to do just that, buy a soft carrier because there is no way I can let the cat at 0 degrees for a 2 hour flight. Right before I left to go purchase just that, she asked me if my cat had received his international vaccination and I said "international vaccine? Why does he need that, I'm flying within British Columbia?". No she says, you're flying to Munich. I said "Excuse me, I think I know where I'm going, and we are certainly NOT going to Munich". She then says "Is your name ------?". I say "No. I'm not"
"Oh I'm sorry, I got the wrong file". So I have 35 minutes left before the plane is leaving, boarding starts in 15 minutes and I have the cat and all my luggage to check. I get to the scale, and I'm told that anything over 32kg cannot be loaded on the small bi-engine plane. There is no "air cargo" options on those planes. Gotta make the cut or get rid of the luggage. GREAT! Scrambling like crazy, I cannot miss the flight. I have a car rental to get to, a new apartment to go sign for, a moving company to meet in the afternoon. So I scramble to get rid of some stuff in the boxes so they meet the all-of-a-sudden new criteria that nobody told me over the phone, or over the internet. I sign this, name the cat, repack that, tape this, cut that... check everything and literally start running to the gate where I need to board. And of course, the gate is #31 which is the last one and the end of the farther gate A I think.
I get there at 7:58. I obviously see the baggage handler unloading the cat, and all my luggage onto a cart. The girl at the desk asks me if I am the missing person. She says they are done unloading my stuff from the plane and they will most likely leave without me. I tried to explain the story and she would have none of it. She goes out and the all-not-smiling baggage handler just starts throwing all my stuff back into the plane. And I mean throwing..., a computer and a cat with a "live animal" sticker on it. Thrown. I barely make the flight and I'm asked if I purchased a last-minute ticket...
In any case. I asked around at work and was told many many horror stories with this airline, stuff you wouldn't believe. But believe me, as soon as those "other" airlines are offering business there, I'm on. Never was treated that way with any other company. And I should have known, I was told how arrogant and unprofessional this specific airline was. I never learn.
At least the service in the plane was OK got a handful of peanuts and a few coffees. Nothing more. The flight attendant were very nice and got to chat with some people on the plane, I was asked if I purchased a last minute ticket. I said no, I lost almost 2 hours because, apparently, I was flying to Munich with a cat.
