August/Sept. 2026 trip to Europe

Did you have trip insurance for your delayed trip expenses? I only use Delta & their partners, so I can’t give any advice for your experience with those airlines. I’ve had delays but not a lack of help from the airlines.

”I am not political at all, but I felt a definite chill in the air from the Canadian, French, Swiss and even the Italians! It's more pronounced than I have ever experienced. At one of my hotels, I was given a sermon on immigration.”

I’ve been in Italy for several weeks for the past 10 years, including a recent trip in May. I have never experienced “a chill in the air”, in fact, the Italian people I have encountered have continued to be very gracious & kind. People typically respond in kind to what they’re experiencing from guests to their country.

Sorry for your experience. We were in Scotland and Germany this year so we went thru Heathrow, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Berlin airports. Even with the situation with EES we felt the airport and airline employees were very helpful and found most everyone in the countries we visited to be very friendly.

I sometimes wonder when first time posters come on here to merely vent, what their real agenda might be.

Here's another who spent 3 weeks in 3 countries just a month ago, and did not experience any chilliness or unkindness or poor customer service at all. Everyone was so extraordinarily friendly. They really are gems over there and I was so appreciative of their kindness.

This year I was in Italy for a month in May, then in Sweden and Finland in July for 3 weeks. Nothing but kind and friendly as usual for all my Europe travel.
I speak a functional but limited Italian. No need to speak any language but English in Sweden or English. I loved Finland BTW.
As far as "new normal " for airlines, customer service for airlines is often limited to the customer handling the cancelations and changes.
I've been lucky so far but I never book more than one connection to my destination which increases the likelihood of getting to my destination.

Much has changed during the last couple of years in so many ways.
However, I had a completely positive experience with Air Canada’s customer service just a few months ago when
I overslept on the morning of my Air Canada flight to Montreal from San Diego.

After grabbing my carry-on, arriving at the airport and getting through Pre-Check, I realized right before going through the security checkpoint that I had oversized tools and oversized liquid items inadvertently left in my carry-on. With only minutes remaining before the flight’s final call, I realized that any delay sorting things out with TSA at the screening machines would cause me to miss my flight.

This would be the first time in my life that I would miss a flight entirely because of my mistakes.

Resigned to this, I made my way out of the security zone and sat down inside the terminal for a moment.

My cell phone rang. It was an Air Canada employee at the gate asking me where I was. After explaining the situation, they were very conciliatory and the call concluded. Feeling exhausted, and resigned to the depressing realization that all the plans I had made for Montreal were now not going to happen—I called for a friend to pick me up so I could return home.

When my ride arrived. I threw my baggage in the trunk and climbed inside the car before it pulled away from the curb.

Then, my cell phone rang.

It was the same Air Canada employee I spoke with earlier, except this time the question was: “At no charge, would you be interested in taking the Air Canada flight to Montreal leaving this afternoon or the direct flight departing tomorrow morning?”

I was stunned.

I am so grateful to Air Canada and to the team that works so hard to keep them flying.

I am not political at all, but I felt a definite chill in the air from the Canadian, French, Swiss and even the Italians! It's more pronounced than I have ever experienced. At one of my hotels, I was given a sermon on immigration.

We're recently back from a seven week stay in Italy, France, and London. We had a wonderful time, and were greeted and treated warmly everywhere.

It has been my experience that people tend to find what they expect - or fear- to. I have noticed this with family members, as well as fellow tour mates.

I've never had a good experience with Air Canada, cant help you there.

I was in Italy a few weeks ago and didn't feel anything in the air. But I believe your feelings were real.

I live in Hungary, they could care less about where you are from, just about how you behave in their land.

Just returned from Montenegro and Albania. I talked politics with people I knew and strangers and ... well Montenegro was neutral to positive about America and Americans. Albania was positive and better about America and Americans. Both have fairly recent historical context for their attitudes. Tgen one guys trip and a dozen conversations means nothing.

So go East if they dont want you in the West.

Sorry you had such horrible experiences. I hope your travel insurance comes through for you.

It's too bad that your first posting here is so negative. I hope your previous 5 trips that you haven't shared with us were wonderful.

Kenko, that’s a wonderful story!

I sometimes wonder when first time posters come on here to merely
vent, what their real agenda might be.

I was wondering the same thing. If I had to rank airlines based on my experience with customer service Air Canada would be in my top 3. KLM, WestJet and Air Canada. For an American flavour, I'd add Delta far above the other US airlines. As for experiencing a consistently chilly reception, sometimes it's important to consider the vibe one may be putting out themselves before judging everyone else.

We also had some reservations through booking.com and they were even
more unhelpful.

Sorry that you experienced difficulties with your trip. I am just guessing that by "unhelpful" you meant that booking.com refused to refund/change your reservations? I am also just guessing that the reservations you booked through the site were non-refundable? If that's the case, they weren't being deliberately unhelpful: they were following the booking policy that you agreed to: non-refundable and non-changeable.

We use that site a lot and almost never book the non-refundable rate unless it's, say, the rare, very near future 1-nighter we afford to eat if we have to. As you unfortunately found out, expect the unexpected!