Phils to Vancouver to USA

[kev_n_jena 89]

Please allow a rant about our recent trip to the Philippines, United Airlines, and Vancouver International.

We thought we'd save about $400 on airline tickets and fly through Vancouver Canada. We were flying out of Chicago O'hare on United, tranferring to Philippine Airlines in Vancouver and on to Manila. When we arrived in Chicago and tried to check in, two United employees told us my wife was not allowed to fly through Canada. After about 10 minutes of panic with my wife being very close to tears, a woman came up and asked, does she have a green card? We said yes and she just nodded. The other employees had no idea what was going on and claimed that United had been fined for sending passengers to Canada in the past without a visa. After a few more tense moments we got our boading passes.

When we arrived in Vancouver we were told we had to receive our checked baggage and go through customs by Vancouver officials. We went to the carousel and waited and waited. We asked a Vancouver employee and they just said wait. Finally another employee came to us and said our checked baggage was being transferred to Philippine Air but we still had to go through customs for Canada. We were told later by a customs official that we shouldn't have gone through customs. (it was a 5 hour layover)

On our way home we had a 9 hour layover scheduled in Vancouver. The Philippine Air employee told us our baggage would be transferred to United and we would touch it until Chicago. When we arrived in Canada an official was calling my name when we got off the plane. They informed us that we WOULD need to collect our baggage and go through customs.

After customs (and surrendering some canned meat) we sat down for our long wait. I scanned the flight board and saw that our 11 pm flight to Chicago was cancelled. GRRRRR While talking to the United employee I was told there was no flight crew for the flight! They put us up in the airport hotel and gave us 2 food vouchers. I was happy to hear that. We ate in the airport at about 8:30 pm and went to the room to sleep. I woke up with what I think was food poisoning a couple hours later. It was touch and go the whole trip home after that, I couldn't eat or drink anything. (4 hour flight and 4 hour drive)

Sorry for the long rant, I just wanted to let people know in case they chose the same route we did. I hope you have better luck than we did. We will fly through California or Minnesota next time.

Sincerely,

Kev & Jena

[tan&tuyet 15]

United Airlines is the worst airline out there!! They did the same thing when I went to see my wife in Vietnam and I had a passport. They said the I wasn't on the right flight but when I showed them my ticket they looked dumbfounded. Finally I asked to speak to a supervisor and she fixed it all.

[gretchen_darren 67]

my last flight through San Francisco with United was ok. It is the last flight of the night to Phoenix. After being in the air from butuan to manila, then an 8 hour layover in manila... get to San Francisco for what I hoped would be a quick change flight... the flight was delayed.... then delayed even more... it was much much later that i got in.... i am now going to try the Philippine Air Vegas route... closer to home and southwest has many flights a day....just tired of the 8 hour layover in manila.. on the way home....

[Norm and Grace 0]

I have made a few trips over to Korea and to the Philippines and I got to say that the worst flights I had was on North West airlines. The services were terrible and the stewardess were old cranky old ladies. The food sucked and the seats were uncomfortable. They called my name and said they had made a mistake and reassigned me to the back of the airplane. The best airline expirence I had was on Asiana airlilnes. The flight crew was very nice, great service, good food and the flight was very comfortable. Korean airline was great too. Let me suggest Asiana or Korean airlines next time.

[Markieboy 104]

The best airline expirence I had was on Asiana airlilnes. The flight crew was very nice, great service, good food and the flight was very comfortable.

I agree.

[Pinkranger 0]

Of all the trips that I had going to the US, the ones with Asiana were indeed the best. The crew members are very polite and the food is great. And I agree that United Airlines needs a lot of improvement. The interior of the plane needed cleaning, the trolley was rusting, seats are uncomfortable and the FAs were as old as the plane itself.

[A and T 82]

Korean Air FTW , its all i will ever fly again to Asia, Or JAL when its available, both airlines are amazing.

[sojen 0]

I really am sorry about your experience with your flight. It was really awful. Mine only had a few confusions when I went home to the Phils. with a connecting flight in Vancouver BC. Yes, the stewardess was confusing because she told me I have to get my luggage and go through customs in Vancouver BC. I got worried of course since I only have 1.5 hours layover in BC and it was my first time and I was alone. What she didn't tell me is that there is a separate customs for people who only have a connecting flight in BC. When I got off the plane I ask one of the personnel who are getting our luggage (it was a small plane so we didn't go through a tube) I ask them if I have to get luggage in the carousel since I only have a connecting flight. Good thing she told me I don't have to but I have to go through customs. When I get to the customs area, there are very long lines, so I have to ask again one of the airport personnel that I only have a connecting flight to the Philippines, then the lady accompanied me to another floor where there is the immigration officer waiting. There was no line, it was only me.

He did ask for my GC and passport. Asks some questions about my flight, what am doing in the US? What does my husband do? What's my purpose going to the Phils? What's my work and when I told him, Im not working he sadi WHY? ....does he really wanna know?.....Anyway, he stamped my passport and then he let me go.