Air Canada or Air india to Paris
 

Any comments on whether to use Air Canada or Air India to Paris? It doesn't look like you can pick your seats on Air India and there are 3 of us and we would like to sit together.

Air Canada would be my choice.

Carolena

AC, you can pick your seats

Where are you flying from? Have you considered Air France (out of Toronto and Montreal) or Zoom, as well? (Zoom is a discount carrier. It also offers a premium economy-type product for about the same price as regular economy on Air Canada.) You might also check the price of Lufthansa, connecting in Frankfurt. We booked LH last year at Christmas when our BA flight was cancelled, and we found the prices much more reasonable than the direct AF and AC flights.

I've flown AC Toronto-Paris about half a dozen times and it's reasonably comfortable (for economy) - decent legroom.

We are flying out of Atlanta which limits the discount airfare available. It's strange to me, the busiest airport in the world and you can't get a cheap flight to Europe.

I would rather row a boat to Paris than fly Air India. Not that I have strong feelings about this or anything.

Baz

I agree with you entirely Baz. I'd certainly rather not go than fly with Air India.

Carolena

I personally like Air Canada. I find that they have the cheapest fares everytime I look. They also have more choice in choosing which flight you want.

Theresa
www.nomadwannabe.com

Thanks, those replys certainly cleared that up for me. No Air India

fly Air Canada. Would you trust pilots who believe in reincarnation?

I was considering Air India because its fares are 100-150 bucks lower than others.

For people vote against AI, is it possible that you list why you dislick it? Thanks.

Johnnydread1: What an obnoxious comment, even if you meant it as a joke. Grow up.

I haven't flown Air India, but I have flown Air Canada a lot (in Y and J class) on transcontinental, trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes. So my vote for AC was based on the fact that AC on longhaul is a good, reasonably comfortable and reliable product in Y, relative to BA, Air France and Virgin. (I think a recent trip I had on Lufthansa was a little better in one direction, because we had a very new plane.)

As for Air India, hx88, I have no experience with it and I suspect that many of the people criticising it are, quite frankly, prejudiced.

So perhaps the best thing for you to do is to look for customer reviews from people who have flown Air India. I found this one on e-opinions. It's a little old (2003) but quite detailed, and there are a number of comments on the review, so that might give you a better sense of what to expect: http://www.epinions.com/content_115057200772

I have flown Air India several times. Nothing wrong with it at all. Great food. Good service. I'm curious to know the basis on which the posters who have so vehemently opposed the idea of flying that airline?

I have flown Air India once and have to say it was a fine flight. The flight attendants were very polite & professional. My only trouble was the fact that I don't like curry so I had a very difficult time, but it's really not the airline's problem since most passengers had no problem with the smell.

A reply from a vehement opposer, who, in fact, likes Indian food and Indian culture.

The first time I flew Air India Newark to Paris - no problem. The plane was old and worn in places, but the leg we did was fine. The people who flew from India, however, were not allowed to leave the plane during the two hour layover in Paris. I do not know if this is standard practice, but I felt bad for them because the plane was so hot they had to open the doors just to let air in. - I can't imagine sitting for two hours in that heat. The flight attendants were really suffering.

This November I booked a flight/hotel package through Expedia, opting for Air India. I wanted to save money and decided I wouldn't mind a plane that showed wear, and Indian plane food which I think is better than American plane "food".

Air India cancelled our flight three times, insisting that we had to change our dates to unreasonable dates, including travelling on the day before Thanksgiving, and then on Thanksgiving itself. They ended up cancelling three flights, according to Expedia, giving no reason. Since it was to be over Thanksgiving weekend, it was impossible to get flights or hotel changes at the last minute. Air India would not refund our money totally (we ended up having to cancel the trip - something we have never done before), wanting us to "eat" the penalty - $150 per ticket.

During the course of hearing from Air India about flight cancellations and changes, I was hung up on three times. I am not an angry or demanding person on the phone during such conversations, but if I asked a question more than once for clarification - the conversation ended. They said I agreed to travel on Thanksgiving itself, which I did not - since it would mean spending only one day in Paris.

The whole experience was infuriating. I turned it over to Expedia who got us a full refund, and called Air India's schedule changes "unreasonable".

That's why I would rather row a boat to Paris than fly Air India. I believe it would be more reliable, and the service would be better.

I am leaving this week for that trip to Paris which I had to postpone until Spring. I am not mad at Air India anymore, but I will never use them again. I think it is wrong to jump to a conclusion that a poster is prejudiced just because they have strong feelings about an airline. I just don't like being jerked around, by anyone.

Baz

I'd opt for Air Canada, but do check whether it's non-stop from ATL to CDG o(or ORY) or you have a stop in Toronto or Montreal before heading across the ocean; same on the return.

Kate: thanks for ensuring we have a healthy forum.

Bazonia: thanks for the detailed story. You know, it would have been great if you had mentioend it in your first post.

Hx88,

Your welcome. I had posted about this before, and don't want to become a gasbag about this subject all the time. Next time I think I will just keep mum.

Baz

I should also clarified that I only flew a short(one hour) flight into Singapore. Our plane was newish, but still I can never fly Air India again because the smell was too strong and nauseating even on their newer plane. I can't imagine flying in their older planes.