PPRuNe Forums - Comments from passengers out of Cairo

Good Afternoon All:

Although the comments below show gratitude towards Air Canada with the two recent rescue flights out of Cairo. The flights were chartered by the Canadian Government one was a B-777 and the other I believe was an A-330.

Before making any pedestrian gratuitous comments please consider this. What would you be feeling if you were in a Middle Eastern country such as Egypt with no communications and no access to money or a way out.

"I was on the first Air Canada flight out of Cairo last week. I want to thank you for the wonderful job that your crew did to come to Cairo and take us out of a very stressful and scary situation. I know in talking with some of the crew members that they volunteered for duty on that flight and they are to be commended for what they did. My wife and I and the group we were with were never so happy to see that big Air Canada maple leaf. The whole scene was pretty tense as I am sure you have heard. The plane was dead quiet until the wheels left the tarmac and then there was a huge cheer and a few tears knowing that we were on our way out and back home. Thanks so much to you, your company and your terrific crew. "

"I was one of the passengers leaving Cairo on the charter flight. I know that the crew of our plane volunteered and waited for us for many hours in Cairo. Once we were on the plane, they were kind to us and made sure we made it through. Ollie (I believe it was his name) took extra effort to make us feel relaxed (after such a harrowing experience) and even made a special vegetarian meal for myself and a friend so that we could eat as food was scarce in the Cairo Terminal. Leaving Cairo was chaotic, stressful and scary. But because of this crew, we felt like it was going to be ok.

"I also wanted to commend Air Canada customer service and ticketing in Frankfurt, for helping us find a connecting flight. There are no words for the kindness people show when you are in a state of confusion, and mentally exhausted. Please pass on my thanks as I wouldn't have made it home to my family without them."

"We would like to express our sincere thanks to Air Canada for their wonderful treatment of our daughter. She was one of the first evacuees from Cairo that day and fled with the clothes on her back and one backpack. They were unable to access their accounts in Cairo and only had whatever room they had on their credit card to pay for flights. We were unable to contact them as they all carried Egyptian cells that were still being blocked. Thank you to Air Canada and all the wonderful people who assisted them. We will be forever grateful to all of you."

"I was one of the Australians who was lucky enough to be allowed to evacuate Cairo, Egypt with Air Canada on Monday, January 31st. I wanted to extend my utmost gratitude to all of the staff and crew and anyone else who had any involvement in the evacuation to Frankfurt. I don't think that Air Canada is aware of the appreciation that myself and my fellow Australian travellers have for everything you did for us. Words cannot express how grateful I am."

"My 82 year-old mother was trapped in Alexandria, Egypt and I could find no way to get her out. She was evacuated to Amman, Jordan and I had the grueling task of trying to get her to my home in the US. No one would allow me to purchase a one way ticket out of Jordan on short notice due to security issues. After five hours of searching, I was in tears and at my wit’s end. I remembered that Mother was a frequent flyer with Air Canada. I gave it a shot...I was fortunate to get Kim in reservations in Tampa. She dropped everything and went to work on getting Mom out. She assured me that the handwritten number I had would be all Mother would need to travel. Kim was caring and careful to make sure I had everything I needed to bring her home. Through Jordan, Frankfurt, Toronto and all the way to Nashville she made every connection. She arrived ON TIME with her luggage. I could not be any more grateful. I would like to thank Air Canada (and especially Kim) for bringing Mother home safe last night. I now know why Mom insists on flying Air Canada whenever possible. "