Vancouver
Nothing unites people like the holidays. And united Vancouver holiday travellers were this past week - united in their rage against long queues, flight chaos and seemingly uncaring airlines.
Air Canada, already known for one of the worst customer-service reputations in Canada, did little to redeem itself as heavy snowfalls gripped Vancouver and much of the rest of the country.
Dozens of cancelled flights and queues of hundreds of passengers left many with little to do but vent their anger. Irate travellers became minor celebrities as news crews sought out the most visibly agitated to feature on the nightly news.
One hapless soldier, spending his last Christmas at home before being shipped out to Afghanistan, had his route tracked with graphics by one television station as he tried to make it from the Canadian prairies to his family on the east coast, an arduous journey that involved multiple stops.
Other passengers gave regular updates to the public via mobile phone, with some travellers stuck in planes for hours as runways were cleared of snow and ice.
'We realise everybody is trying to get home for the holidays,' said Vancouver International Airport vice-president of operations Don Ehrenholz. 'Airport authority staff are working extra long hours to make sure the airport is fully functional.'