On My Way: Air Canada Finds Another Way to Make Money
Posted May 10, 2008 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under News
This has certainly been a lucrative week for Air Canada.
First they announce new reduced baggage allowances wherein you’ll pay $25 a leg to take that second bag if you’re flying in steerage.
Yesterday they announced a fuel surcharge that will cost you up to $120 more per round-trip flight.
And, in the middle of all that, I found an email from Air Canada that introduces their new insurance plan, called On My Way.
For just $25 on short-haul flights (1,000 kms or less) and $35 for long-haul flights, (one-way) you’ll enjoy the peace of mind knowing that if your flight is delayed or disrupted due to weather, airport or air traffic delays, Air Canada’s new travel assistance service will help you arrange complimentary hotel accommodations, car rental or other ground transportation, and meals.
Better yet, you will get automatic flight information updates sent to you by SMS and email. Woohoo!
Hmmm… you might think that means that they won’t fork over the cost of a hotel anymore when their flight arrives late and you miss your connection.. unless of course you spend $50 to $70 more per ticket.
But if you read the On My Way benefit chart, you’ll see that they DO offer limited hotel, ground transportation and meal assistance for overnight delays (within North Amercia) without the need to purchase On My Way.
Air Canada specifically states that “On My Way is not a replacement for travel insurance or the services your travel agent may provide” and that the service is “uniquely designed to minimize your worries”.
In the almost 5 decades that I’ve been travelling on commercial flights, I’ve only been stranded overnight once (in Edmonton) and Air Canada handled all the hotel, ground transportation and meals quite nicely, thank you.
Ergo, I’m NOT worried and I’m NOT buying it.
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