Perhaps things are not so bad after all

[buns]

I have just disembarked from an Air Canada flight between London and Montreal.

I know many V Flyers have become disenchanted with VS in recent times as the bean counters have exercised their influence, but having had the chance to take stock with the AC offering:

No seat booking available
No pre dinner drinks ( this was a mid flight service)
Only two meal choices - announced over the PA
If you asked for a soft drink, you had only the cup, not the can


Given my employer has paid £1,200 for the return, makes you want to stop and think

buns

VS has its flaws, perhaps not once what it was, but every time I try another competitor I just come running back

If VS had maintained/expanded it's route network, recognised my daughter's "loyalty" with FC miles - then things might, probably would have been, different.

It's not just elements of the service (including ease of booking) that drove my decision, it's the entire package and to what extent each element of the overall package is important to individual circumstances.

There is no doubt in my mind, that some of the most enjoyable and pleasant flights I have had have been with VS, and they will remain very fond memories indeed, but the airline as a whole no longer meets my families requirements.

UC is unique, PE is still one of the best offerings in it's class and some of the staff are superb. Trouble is, my experience shows that you cannot ....rely... on that being consistent.

So, things are not that bad? In terms of likely service, you are certainly right, but as a full airline proposition? Works for some, not for others.

With my best wishes,

I keep on hearing and reading bad things about Air Canada, they are on my no fly list
VS still stays my airline of choice, whenever and wherever I can fly them.
I've recently discovered Lufthansa's offerings on a brand new 748 and had a total ball, when most of the LH frequent flyers aren't happy with them.
I think bottom line is times have changed and things have moved. There's always good bits in everything.
I consider myself privileged to fly business class on long-haul when so many companies don't allow their employees to do so.
We should always try to put things into perspective, this is very much a first world problem.
By the way, flying back from India next week on Austrian, another experience and I'm really looking forward to it !

It also depends on your first experience, at least in my case.

I well remember my very first flight with AA, which was dreadful, and really colloured my opinions - no matter how good the crew on my next flight with AA, and it was at least 10 years later, my memory of that first flight still influenced my opinion.

That said, it won't affect the underlying service offering which was Buns main point.

We fly to Montreal every February and gave up on Air Canada 3 years ago as they were getting so bad. Would have given VS a try but they don't fly there, so we now go with BA and I must say they make upgrading to CW so easy with Avios that even if VS did fly there we would stick with BA and the ease with which to upgrade rather than tackle the VS on-line system :-(
Sadly we still have to use AC's Jazz flights internally as we fly into a Canadian Air Force base once there and believe me those little prop planes do leave a lot to be desired but its only an hour flight thank God.

If you read Business Traveller forum or many FlyerTalk posts, people are scathing of British Airways.

I tend to take opinions with a pinch of salt and go with my own experience* and have no reason to switch from VS if I fly long haul.


* unless it's about Air Canada when I can't remember seeing a good trip report.