Avoid. Never had so much trouble with any airline. First they "misplaced" my baggage going from Harrisburg, PA into Toronto. With firearms, they had to be rechecked once into Canada. 2 hrs later and after my next scheduled flight already left, I finally got word they found my bags and were delivering them for me to check through customs. Put me over 4 hrs later into final destination and outfitter had to stay in town from the morning to pick me up because of delay.
On way back, last checked my gun at Customs in Toronto. Got to Harrisburg, PA and was told no guns arrived. Filled out missing baggage claim with agent at airport. Called next day to find out it should be a flight into airport today. Missing baggage claim from previous night not on record and what sounded like an overseas agent working in broken English to file a new report.
Airline just called and gun arrived but I have to drive all the way back to the airport now to pickup because they cannot deliver a firearm. Asked to be transferred to someone to talk about charge backs or refunds based on all this BS and told I can only go through their website and file. There is no person to talk to about refunds\claims and I should have receipts to show my inconveniences. What the hell customer service is that?
First time to Canada and probably last as I've travelled internationally a few times and NEVER had an issue.
BTW - I did smash 2 nice spring black bears in B.C. thanks to Liard River Outfitters.

You got the double whammy. Air Canada and Toronto. Aargh! I have two clients already scheduled to go through Toronto on Air Canada this fall and am just keeping my fingers crossed that it is not a goat rope for them.

Mark

If I ever again fly to a Canadian hunt, I will 1. avoid the airport customs BS by driving through customs in northern Vermont on route to airport in Montreal. Very easy customs experience that way, the 5 1/2 hour drive to Montreal is worth it. 2. Fly WestJet. Basically my advice is to avoid AirCanada, and avoid airport customs.

Good gawd, they must have some real morons working Air Canuk!

Another reason I'll never hunt or fish Canada.

quote:

Originally posted by A.J. Hydell:
Good gawd, they must have some real morons working Air Canuk!

Another reason I'll never hunt or fish Canada.

Trolling are we? That has got to be one of the dumbest things I have seen on this site, which has more than its fair share of people who say stupid shit.

Your take on things would be like me saying I will never hunt in the US ever again because American Airlines messed things up for me on a trip. Which they have and continue to do with my hunters on a regular basis.

From personal experience I avoid the Minneapolis airport like the plague. I hate AA as I have never had a good flight with them, much as I despise Air Canada. But problems with a company hardly have anything to do with an entire country and what they have to offer.

Some of my hunters have had grief at customs over the years. Most was going home to the US and dealing with US Customs, not on our side of the border. Most hunters have no problems whatsoever in either directions.

I do not recommend Air Canada and never will. But I will not stop going to hunt in a country just because a particular airline caused me some grief. Hell my last out of Canada hunt was in Hungary and I had an Air Canada flight there and back as they were the only direct flights from Toronto to Budapest.

The flight sucked. Should I now wipe Hungary off the hunting slate because of an Air Canada flight?

Sorry but your post is just bullshit.

Dont worry , Skyline - A.J.Hydell is a recognised expert on matters in other countries.

He is currently setting things right here in New Zealand and we are all in awe of his spectacular observational skills and insightful suggestions.

Not.

Back in July '11 I flew from Co/spgs to JAX on AA.
They shipped my gun case full of guns to Baltimore.
I filed the papers for lost luggage. They found it four days later and sent it to the house I was staying with friends. 70 miles from the JAX airport by special courier.

Yes it delayed us 4 days, I got to see the Jacksonville area with a local, we did a bunch of other things. We didn't have any special dates to be anywhere. His cousin is a fishing guide. What the hell, called and told him we'd be down later in the week. Far as the hog hunt, it was a "just show and go thing when we got there".

On the way home there was no problem of course. I really feel such bullshit doings is caused by anti employee's just fucking us hunters over mostly. They don't care if their company has to pay a courier to deliver your guns the goal is to screw up your plans.
At least that's my opinion.

George

quote:

Dont worry , Skyline - A.J.Hydell is a recognised expert on matters in other countries.

He is currently setting things right here in New Zealand and we are all in awe of his spectacular observation al skills and insightful suggestions.

quote:

Originally posted by hunteratheart:
Avoid. Never had so much trouble with any airline. First they "misplaced" my baggage going from Harrisburg, PA into Toronto. With firearms, they had to be rechecked once into Canada. 2 hrs later and after my next scheduled flight already left, I finally got word they found my bags and were delivering them for me to check through customs. Put me over 4 hrs later into final destination and outfitter had to stay in town from the morning to pick me up because of delay.
On way back, last checked my gun at Customs in Toronto. Got to Harrisburg, PA and was told no guns arrived. Filled out missing baggage claim with agent at airport. Called next day to find out it should be a flight into airport today. Missing baggage claim from previous night not on record and what sounded like an overseas agent working in broken English to file a new report.
Airline just called and gun arrived but I have to drive all the way back to the airport now to pickup because they cannot deliver a firearm. Asked to be transferred to someone to talk about charge backs or refunds based on all this BS and told I can only go through their website and file. There is no person to talk to about refunds\claims and I should have receipts to show my inconveniences. What the hell customer service is that?
First time to Canada and probably last as I've travelled internationally a few times and NEVER had an issue.
BTW - I did smash 2 nice spring black bears in B.C. thanks to Liard River Outfitters.

quote:

Originally posted by groundtender:
If I ever again fly to a Canadian hunt, I will 1. avoid the airport customs BS by driving through customs in northern Vermont on route to airport in Montreal. Very easy customs experience that way, the 5 1/2 hour drive to Montreal is worth it. 2. Fly WestJet. Basically my advice is to avoid AirCanada, and avoid airport customs.

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Back in July '11 I flew from Co/spgs to JAX on AA. They shipped my gun case full of guns to Baltimore. I filed the papers for lost luggage. They found it four days later and sent it to the house I was staying with friends. 70 miles from the JAX airport by special courier.
* * *
I really feel such bullshit doings is caused by anti employee's just fucking us hunters over mostly. They don't care if their company has to pay a courier to deliver your guns the goal is to screw up your plans.

Georgeld:

I think you're correct, but the difference appears to be that whereas anti-hunting/anti-gun airport employees in the U.S. individually free-lance their luggage fuck-ups, in Canada it's like a conspiratorial 'hunter harassment' policy on a national level, or at least one directed at American hunters. Air Canuk is just one problem.

American sportsmen headed north to fish aren't likely as subject to this shitty treatment as hunters, but if you engage in both activities, why give them your fishing business if they won't respect your hunting business?

Word to the wise.

It isn’t just hunters loosing luggage on Air Canada, it’s more of a sport for them I think.

Guillermo del Toro calls out Air Canada for lost luggage

I’ve been on flights where they were delayed leaving gate because a passenger did not check in. We had to wait till his luggage was off flight.

In these days of computers, It’s easy for airlines to ensure both luggage and passengers are on flight.

Im sure the rifles/ anti-gun employees happens too. A few years ago I was headed to Africa and checked in with guns. I was waiting at the gate watching the loading on the tarmac. I was called to the gate desk and told that my guns were missing but it was no problem and they would send them on a later flight when they were found. I raised a bit of holly hell at the gate and accused the gate agent of lying. I asked for a supervisor to come the gate and repeated my belief that the agent was not being truthful. The reason I knew they were lying was that I could see my gun case sitting beside the luggage conveyor belt out the window behind them. I pointed out the window to my gun case and asked the supervisor to explain. After an apology from the supervisor my case was loaded on the plane. I’m sure my guns would not have left that airport otherwise.

In all my years of traveling and working overseas, I have only once had my luggage not show up with me. And that was with Emeriates in 2007.

Now my sister who lives in the Caribbean has a near perfect record of never arriving with her luggage Her husband and kids luggage will arrive no problems, but hers will almost always be a day or two late.

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck32:
It isn’t just hunters loosing luggage on Air Canada, it’s more of a sport for them I think.

Man, you're right. That is awful.

Air Canuk? I think I'd rather take my chances on luggage issues with Air New Zealand.

The Kiwi island has issues, but while the folks there speak the same language as Canuks they seem to have better manners. .... not to mention, NZ national policy seems significantly less "anti-gun/anti-hunter" than our northern neighbor.