Prologue:

Sometimes things do not go as planned and this flight was the perfect example. I was planning to start this report with perhaps a visit to a lounge followed by a comprehensive pictorial report from check in to arrival but alas this was not meant to be.

On Friday morning we were supposed to fly Air Canada from SFO-Montreal on our way to Paris and due to an "error" for a transit permit for my mom she was not allowed to check in per Canadian Immigration despite verifying that her permit was not expired.

What happened next was a series of "coincidences" that culminated in us being able to take this flight and arrive in Paris as planned. Do you believe in miracles?

I will present you the following facts:

- Because my mom was not allowed to check in we were taken off from this flight and our seats cancelled. For the next 2 days everything to Europe was full and agent told us to go back to Expedia where we purchased the tkts and plead the case with them. AC couldn't protect us on another airline because it was not an error caused on their side which I completely understand.

- Check in closes 1 hr. before dept. for AC flights. It was around 7:15 (flight leaves @ 8A).

- My sister got on the app and submitted a new visa for my mom. Meanwhile I tried to communicate with my other sister in Atlanta and update her on what happened.

- At 7:30 the application was approved and I went to the Priority counter (I'm *A Gold so I have the privilege to check in at the First/Business counters thank God) and advised the agent that the visa is in order now.

- We were reinstated and agents frantically made calls to the gate advising them that we were on our way with boarding passes in hand.

- My mom is elderly and she needed a wheelchair. The one we requested was cancelled. We had to run with her and only had - 20 min- to go through security and get to the gate. It sounded like an impossible task.

First coincidence - I saw an empty wheelchair on our way with an agent and I ask the lady if my mom could take it. She told me that her assigned customer never showed up and that she was OK.

The security line was long. My mom was on a wheelchair and she had priority. I had TSA Pre-check and could also get priority but my sister didn't and she was told by the security line person to make the regular line. I explained that our flight was leaving shortly and she was accompanying my mom but she said those were the rules.

Second coincidence - the wheelchair agent told the line person that my mom needed assistance and insisted that my sister was her companion. The line checker just shrugged her shoulders and let my sister accompany my mom.

Third coincidence - the flight was leaving from the first gate after security check. When I talked to the flight attendant later she said that they had to park all the way at the end the other day and was surprised that today the gate assigned was so convenient.

Fourth coincidence - our seats were cancelled and we initially had the first row of economy with more legroom. Now we were seated separately in two middle seats and a window in different rows. We were the last ones to board and the last row was empty with 3 seats together. The FA told us that we were welcome to take the whole row. My mother doesn't speak English and I was worried to leave her sitting by herself.

Because we boarded the plane 10 min. before departure there was no more spaces in the overhead bin and we were forced to check them at the gate before we got on. There was no time put locks and the bags were sent like that. When we arrived in Paris fearing for the worst the bags arrived without anything missing.

It all started well with a smiling welcome and some friendly chatting. Then things went downhill when the agent tried to check in one of us.

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I can't believe that it took us 10 min. to go through security on the busiest travel period of the year. Even more to find a whole row for ourselves when we were issued seat assignments separately and all over the place.

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Bye SFO.

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BOB was free for us since we were traveling on a Premium Economy fare.

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Hot breakfast sandwich.

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Beverage service.

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Nice to receive a full can of soda.

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Arriving in YUL. I did not have a window seat and this is the best I could manage taking this shot from the aisle. :P

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========== San Francisco Intl Arpt (SFO) - ==========



Security/Immigration efficiency: 10/10
Access and parking: 9/10
Services and activities: 9/10
General cleanliness: 10/10

========== Air Canada - Airline ==========



Cabine comfort: 10/10
Crew: 10/10
Entertainment: 8/10
On-time performance: 10/10
Appetizer: 0/10
Starter: 0/10
Main Meal: 9/10
Main Meal-2: 0/10
Cheese: 0/10
Desserts: 0/10
Alcohols: 0/10
Mid-flight snack: 0/10
Breakfast or light meal before arrival: 0/10

========== Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl Arpt (YUL) - ==========



Security/Immigration efficiency: 9/10
Access and parking: 9/10
Services and activities: 10/10
General cleanliness: 10/10

Summary:

I felt like a rode a roller coaster with this flight experience. Whew!

In the end things worked out. The staff aboard AC was one of the friendliest and most engaging that I have encountered.

13 Comments

  • Thomas


    What a pain ! Still you've made it. Thanks Panda for this TR ! By reading you I felt I was ther with you !

    Reply
    Vendredi13
    Ouaf ! Yep !!
    So thrilling;))
    jetsetpanda
    Hi Thomas,

    What a way to start pumping your adrenaline at the beginning of a trip. :P
  • GG_007


    Thanks for sharing this TR

    It's almost a miracle that everything went right after such a beginning

    I always told you that you are a lucky panda and that's another proof

    Why didn't you visit at least one lounge ? :p

    See you soon for the next flight

    Reply
    jetsetpanda
    Hi GG,

    It was a miracle flight indeed!

    The only lounge that I had access to as *A was the UA Club at the intl side and I don't think the breakfast there is that compelling. ;)

    See you.
  • Emile


    From Panda to Lucky ;P
    Thanks for the entertaining report. Glad you were able to fly.

    Reply
    jetsetpanda
    Hi Emile,

    Amazing how things can change in a matter of minutes. :)

  • Casper


    Short and Sweet ! I still wonder why you need a visa if you are just transiting ?
    Gracias Amigo.
    Casper

    Reply
    jetsetpanda
    Hi Casper,

    US citizens don't need a visa but my mother did because she was using a non US passport even though she's a resident. It's complicated. :)
  • Capoune


    Hello Adan!

    What a story my friend! Initially all the elements are against you but finally everything ends well.
    I'm glad it ended like this, so we had a great time together on Sunday.

    Thank you for sharing Adan.

    See you soon.

    Reply
    jetsetpanda
    Hi Seb,

    I can tell you that in all my years of travel I had never experienced a more intense flight in my life. I am also glad that we were able to get together and spend some time. I was a pleasure.

    Until the next TR.
  • Vendredi13


    Ouaf ! JetSet' !

    So exciting ! Written as a thriller ! Reading this TR is a pleasure !
    If you had known the script before...
    "BOB was free for us since we were traveling on a Premium Economy fare."... I hate bob.

    Thanks Adan for sharing this story !

    Reply
    jetsetpanda
    Oauf!
    '
    Life can be a drama :P

    At least we were able to get food from the menu for free. The FA even suggested some snacks to accompany them. :)

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