Air travel is a nightmare. It has been for the longest time. Is it even worth it?
Flight cancellations are up 15% in 2024 over 2023. CANCELLATIONS. Not delays. Your flight is a no go. You are now to find another way to get to your destination. Sending passengers frantically grasping their laptops and smartphones in a hope to find another flight or even a rental car over short jaunts.
The airlines blame weather mostly. But it’s usually a garbage excuse. Especially when flying out of smaller markets like ours. For instance, my wife and I were set to fly to New York a couple of years back via Toronto. The night before our early morning flight we received and automated call from our airline saying the flight was cancelled and we would be placed on another flight that would essentially cut our vacation in half. Not having any of that, I called the airline asking for another solution. They placed us on a red eye out of Calgary to Toronto that would land at the same time as the original flight. Here’s the kicker. Our flight out of Regina had been cancelled due to expected inclement weather in Toronto upon landing. However, a plane out of Calgary could land in those same exact conditions without a problem. That’s one hell of a plane. Oh, by the way. The “inclement weather” was drizzle. Slight drizzle. The fact of the matter is, the flight out of Regina was undersold and the airline saw rain in the forecast and used it as an excuse to blame weather.
I’ve heard so many horror stories about the airlines. Complaints are up 20% in 2024 over 2023. But I’m not sure the airlines care. People don’t even file complaints anymore because they feel it won’t be resolved anyway. I don’t blame them. I had a recent flight cancelled to the US and was left stranded overnight in Calgary. I was told I’d get a hotel voucher. I did. The next morning. Useless at that point. When I argued they should reimburse me for costs out of pocket, I was denied saying they offered a voucher. Yes, THE NEXT DAY. My blood is boiling just thinking about it.
I’m of the mindset now that if I can drive there in 10 hours or less, it’s just easier to hit the road. The only delay I’ll have to deal with at that point will be my overactive bladder.
-Chad