Things that may not be surprising to you but sure were to me:

-Even though you bag has a huge ass tag that says its going to Toronto it can land up in Orlando, Florida

-When you arrive at Terminal C or B at Chicago Airport they only have Departure and Arrival screen information for United Flights! What the hell happened to the Star Alliance?

-When you do get to Terminal 1 or 2 they have screens that look like shit and provide a user interface that just plain sucks

-It’s a given that Star Alliance planes are normally 2 to 3 hours late (Why, why did I try and run on a torn ACL???)

-The Star Alliance does not have one 1-800/1-866 number that you can reach to re-book or re-schedule your flight

-Star Alliance partners do not book your gate pass and or confirm your seat on partners within the Star Alliance (i.e. the United desk could not confirm or book my Air Canada connecting flight)

-Anyone who wants their baggage and flights to not get lost and/or get into some serious flight delays should fly out of any airport other that Chicago!

-The Star Alliance from y observance is put in place to make the airlines life easier not YOURS

-If Air Canada looses your baggage they will not compensate you (i.e. Additional Aeroplan points, airfare discounts, etc…) if you live at the destination you arrived at and have a permanent address in that location

-Air Canada uses a courier service that calls you at 2 in the afternoon to tell you they have your bag and will arrive to deliver it anywhere from the next hour to 12 midnight that same day

Have any surprising information you would like to share about your Star Alliance trip leave me a message.

Mr. Lobo

So here’s the Air Canada story I promised way back when and could not say much because I was so damn mad at Air Canada.

Overview:I’m on my way back from Denver, Colorado after a great week-end with my cousins (Sunday afternoon is my flight out) and all is going well till I get to the auto-check-in counter.

- When I get to the counter the system tells me that the flight is an hour late and I’m fly Air Canada as they are part of the Star Alliance with United

- It’s not a big deal and I have lunch with my cousins to pass the time and leisurely find myself at the designated lounge area about half hour before the plan is to leave

- Fast forward to me on the plane and all is going great. The plane looks good and I don’t have anyone sitting at the side of me, SCORE!

- We taxi towards the run way and stop before we take off. Multiple plans seem to start passing by us and that seems odd!

- The pilot comes on the intercom and announces that we are having minor wheel/brake problems and need to go back to the gate. He says that it wont take very long before we leave for Toronto.

- Once again nobody is too alarmed or worried. Then we see Fire engines, EMS teams and the police escorting us back. The pilot comes back on and says that it’s standard procedure.

- Once again no problem we trust the pilot. Then dudes in silver heat suites get out from the Fire engine and start checking the wheels and under carriage of the plane with heat sensor guns.

- Now most if not all the passengers and a little unnerved. The pilot comes back on and informs us that we have brake problems and that it will take about 15 minutes to fix, he then comes on another 10 minutes later to tell us that the plan is grounded and we will be met by a Air Canada representative outside for alternative flight arrangements and hotel stay if needed. He tells us to sit and wait till the person who has to meet us outside is at his/her desk.

- Then we get off the plane and guess what! Yup, there is nobody waiting for us outside. The Unite Rep who is there planning the next flight tells us that we need to connect directly with Air Canada as he knows nothing – So much for the Star Alliance (Alliance being key!)

- They then point in the general direction of the United Customer Service counter and leave us on our own. Oh! I should point out that All business class and above travelers where auto-booked on the next flight out and the captain even mentions this as we get ready to leave.

- Thankfully a woman walking out with me had an eTicket with the Air Canada 1-800 number. I called it as I was walking out and was put on the next flight out which was late as well (that’s another story). I had to pay CA $30 for the time it took me to stay on my cell booking another flight with Air Canada.

- I reached Toronto on Monday morning at 4:00 a.m. What did Air Canada or United do for me
– NOTHING – I’d like to thank the Star Alliance for real shitty service… Thank you folks much appreciated.