Tuesday, June 5, 2012
A mini Kafka-esque experience.
I woke up at 4 am, tried to go back to sleep but nothing doing. Then I remembered that I need to check in for my flight to Nashville. So I get my computer out and find the Air Canada website and put in all the information using my reservation number. I get a message saying they can't process my request. So I get a little worried-am I still booked on the flight to Nashville? I double check everything and try again using my Aeroplan number. OK, now the system found me. I am relieved.Somewhere in the beginning, the system told me not to worry if I don't have a printer, I can print my boarding pass at a self check-in kiosk at the airport or I can send it to my mobile device. So I proceed with check in. Soon, I find out that I am not allowed any checked baggage. Or wait, I am allowed if I pay, so I go ahead and pay my $22.50 Can.Next, I have to verify my personal details, then provide the details of the hotel in Nashville. At each step, I have to get out of bed to get my hands on either the credit card, or my passport and now my hotel reservation. Just as I am about to finish inputting all the information about the hotel, the system interrupts me to ask if I need more time. I say yes and discover that all of the detail about the hotel I have just input has disappeared and I have to re-enter it.At one point, I am also given the option of changing my seat so I say yes because I would like an aisle seat. I click on 'change seat' and find out that all the other seats are taken. OK, I'll keep the window seat assigned to me but I realize from the minuscule number of seats showing on the plane schematic that we will be flying on a very tiny plane. From past experience I know there is not much room for hand luggage on these planes, both the overhead compartments and the spaces under the seats tend to be quite small. Now I am worried again "Do I have too much hand luggage? Will it be too bulky for the cabin? Will I have to check a second bag? Will they make me leave it on the tarmac?" When I finally get to the end of the check in process, I fully expect that instead of printing it, I will be able to send my boarding pass to my phone. But, no, the only option available is to print.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Sometimes air travel just doesn't seem worth it! I hope you get to Nashville safely, and that you have a fabulous time when you get there. I went to SLA in Nashville in about 2006? or whenever, with my friend Jeanette from Aus. and she took me to hear live music downtown at some famous bar. It was great. Hope you have a similarly fun time! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI do hope we get to hear some good music. I didn't pre-order any tickets, I wanted to but didn't get around to it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pain in the ass, if I may be so blunt about some donkey's idea of web check that does not work.
ReplyDeleteI had that problem once, I then had to print my boarding pass at the airport.
Have a good flight.
Yes that's what I did. Then had to get a baggage tag from the person at the desk. All this piecemeal getting through the process. Then about 10 people have to check or scan the boarding pass and that's before you ever get to the gate. Ironically, the one time I thought I sent the boarding pass to the mobile, all I got was a link to the airport so it had to be printed anyway.
ReplyDelete