Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 21-10-12 18:58:59
Quote:
Originally posted by Gappi
I agreed that giving the seat to another Indian or not is in it self not racism, but what Air Canada staff said was racist (racism definition: 1. a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race, 2. racial prejudice or discrimination, from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary). It is important to understand the context: the AC staff offered my family a seat after two days from Toronto, suggesting that they were on their way to India anyway and they could go after two days since it didn’t matter. The reality was my family was on their way to Europe for professional purposes and was not going near India! My family told them that it was very important for them to go and return to Canada, after that they finally arranged a seat on other airline. The racism is about not allowing equal opportunities for everyone, AC staff made a judgment about my family without asking or knowing the details and as a result my family has suffered a setback because of Air Canada’s negligence.
Once again, why is it racism if AC idiotically assumed your family is traveling to India?
Did they still insist on a 2 day late departure even after your family's clarification? if so, then yes, your family was not provided adequate alternate arrangements and you can certainly complain about that.
As San Hugo said, anyone can conclude racism as the root cause because it's an easy way out.
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Dimple2001
**It is important to understand the context: the AC staff offered my family a seat after two days from Toronto,
NOT RACIST
** suggesting that they were on their way to India anyway
NOT RACIST
**and they could go after two days since it didn’t matter.
hmmm. still NOT RACIST but yes bad assumption because they got wrong impression about the travel plans. The staff is dealing with thousands of Indians traveling that side to eventually reach India. This was inadvertent mistake not racism. I see it as a failed attempt to HELP and thats going to be their official version.
**The reality was my family was on their way to Europe for professional purposes and was not going near India! My family told them that it was very important for them to go and return to Canada, after that they finally arranged a seat on other airline.
NOT RACIST
**The racism is about not allowing equal opportunities for everyone, AC staff made a judgment about my family without asking or knowing the details and as a result my family has suffered a setback because of Air Canada’s negligence.
NOT RACIST. They could not provide equal opportunity because they had no option to do so, was there anybody else ( of superior race huh? like an Indian like me :-) ) standing next to you who was given privilege which u missed?. Truth is seat was not there ! their suggestion was wrong but intention to help was there. Nothing Racist here !
Just vent it out on some game or take a walk . just too bad it happened.
To OP,
I have had similar experience, but best thing is just forget about it.
My parents were coming from mumbai to toronto for first time through Jet airways. On the first day due to some technical problem, flight was cancelled and they got stuck for 24 hrs until next flight.
On the next day, they got confirmed ticket for mumbai london paris toronto route. But on london airport they denied boarding of flight to paris, after issuing boarding pass from mumbai, because their own staff made a mistake of confirming london paris flight on business class rather than economy class. After one day waste, that was so frustrating on London airport to see this. My parents said its not our fault, and even we are ready to pay difference. But they denied boarding on the ground that for ongoing ticket, it can not be two different class!!
So they shifted to another flight later which wasted one more day to reach here.
I am not sure about your family member, but my parents are aged and not in good health condition, even though they suffer this incident.
After reaching here, we wrote complain letter to Jet. After few follow ups they agreed on giving two free tickets of domestic flights (which later they never gave).
So moral of the story is, its not racism, it is inconvinience or negligence which bothers you. But best remedy is suck it up and move forward.
