08/10/2026
✈️ Flying with Air Canada… 😤
We just returned from one of the most amazing trips we’ve ever taken, visiting Yellowknife. The experience itself was incredible, and we came home with some amazing memories.
But there’s a part of the trip you didn’t see…
Our experience getting there, and getting home, with Air Canada was an absolute nightmare.
This wasn’t a last-minute trip. I made our reservations back in May, including booking Business Class because we wanted to make the journey as comfortable as possible.
We left Petawawa early afternoon on August 1st, headed to Ottawa for our evening flight to Yellowknife, connecting through Toronto. The plan was simple: arrive in Yellowknife around 10 p.m. that same evening.
Reality had other plans.
Before we even left Ottawa, we were delayed because of airport limitations and aircraft maintenance, two phrases we would become VERY familiar with over the next couple of days.
To be fair, the Air Canada agent in Ottawa did what she could. Because of the delay, she rebooked us on a completely different itinerary:
Ottawa → Toronto → Vancouver → Yellowknife
Instead of arriving in Yellowknife that night, we were now looking at arriving the following evening.
And our Business Class booking, Gone!
Again, I understand that delays and cancellations happen. Aircraft have mechanical issues. Airports have limitations. Things go wrong.
What became frustrating was how everything was handled afterward.
Once we finally left Ottawa, I immediately tried to arrange the hotel in Vancouver using the voucher we had been given.
No luck.
I kept getting told by different agents that it would be sorted out, that it would be taken care of in Vancouver, and that we shouldn’t worry.
Well…
It never got sorted out.
When we arrived in Vancouver, Tina and I ended up spending the night, and most of the following day, on the airport floor.
And then things got even better. 😳
We were instructed to leave airport security in Vancouver to collect our luggage.
Except our luggage never showed up.
We eventually made it to Yellowknife, but our bags didn’t.
It took approximately 24 hours before we were finally reunited with our luggage.
At that point, we were exhausted, frustrated, and honestly just happy to finally be in Yellowknife.
Thankfully, what happened next made it all worthwhile.
Yellowknife was absolutely incredible. ❤️
The people, the scenery, the adventures, the fishing, the hiking, and most importantly, the time spent with Marcus and Liv made it one of the best trips we’ve ever taken.
But unfortunately, the Air Canada experience wasn’t over.
I won’t get into all the details of the return journey right now, but as I write this, 18 hours after arriving back in Petawawa, we are STILL waiting for our luggage.
So yes, things happen. Travel can be unpredictable. Delays happen. Mechanical problems happen.
But how you handle those problems matters.
And unfortunately, our experience with Air Canada on this trip left a lot to be desired.
We’ll remember Yellowknife for all the right reasons.
Our experience getting there and getting home with Air Canada? That’s a different story.
✈️😤
