I just came back from Cancun, on AC (via Toronto). According to Enroute magazine, there are 9 flights per week to Cancun from Toronto, and 2 flights per week from Montreal.

We went via Toronto last Wed, and came back on Sunday. The 2 flights in both cabins were packed - all additional flights on Sunday were packed (the reason I know is that I was trying to change to another flight, on Sunday, without success - everything was booked solid).

However, the hotels in Cancun, as per the Miami Herald, Cancun edition - were running at about 60% capacity (with deluxe/5 stars at 50% capacity); those in the Mayan Riviera were running at 70% capacity. With all the flights fully booked on AC, and presumably on all other scheduled and charter airlines, from Canada, USA, and elsewhere, I am surprised that the hotels (esp the Cancun Hilton where we stayed) were far from ahieving a total occupancy rate (if I had to guess, I would say that the Hilton would have been less than 40% full).

Does AC increase flights and seating capacity to Cancun during the peak season (whatever that may be)? If not, how do the extra passengers from Canada fly to Cancun during peak season?

The Enroute magazine map had a direct route from Vancouver to Cancun - I could not find a direct route on ITN. I did see a direct flight departure from Cancun to Calgary on AC on the Cancun airport TV screen; I could not see such a flight on ITN.

PS-I guess that the direct flights from Vancouver to Puerta Vallarta introduced last year, no longer are operational (although those from Toronto to Puerta Vallarta are operational).

I tried as well but you can't find them because they are Air Canada Vacations.

My mother in law is taking this from Feb 9 to 16. Her flight routes YYC-YVR-CUN on AC. I think she said her hotel is a 4 1/ stars.

I think she's crazy as the TA she used offered her a J seat for $99 more and she didn't do it Who cares if it is even regular Y service. I can't stop shaking my head over that one. Maybe that's why she doesn't need FF miles and I do

The flights ex-YYC & ex-YVR are charter flights, not scheduled.

AC086 YYC CUN 0955 1615
AC087 CUN YYC 1715 2205
AC094 YVR CUN 0900 1635
AC095 CUN YVR 1330 1800

Operates on Sunday.

I assume that AC Vacations books seats on the regularly scheduled flights from Toronto - as there are 9 AC flights per week, each way, between Toronto and Cancun?

That is correct.

What type of a/c is AC using on the YVR/YYC - CUN charter flights?

A319/A320 for YYC and 767 for YVR.

Is the A-320 Tango or Mainline aircraft?

Also, is AC still operating winter charter flights from YYZ to SXM and AUA, and if so, what a/c are they using?

Just curious

It's usually a mainline aircraft with the option to get a J seat for a small charge.

There're charter flights to AUA on Saturdays. (I can post the flight # and dep/arr time if you want) It's operated with A319/320.

I was contemplating to going to Cancun earlier (from YYZ), and was surprised to fina that there's quite a lot of flights leaving YYZ...

Also surprise to find that the J seats were $2,000 ( a bargain for that class - full J)... and the aircraft was the 763 going (International configured) and 320 coming back...

I dont think these flights were charter...

I took a CP non-stop flight from YYZ to CUN in March 1996, operated by a DC-10. I got to sit in the Club Empress class for something like $100-150 more than the regular economy ticket. If I'm not mistaken, the tickets were sold by Canadian Holidays but I got full AAdvantage miles for the flghts.

It was a nice treat sitting in a big old DC-10 in J class to CUN

Nope. Flights ex-YYZ to CUN are scheduled.

Hi FlyerAl

Yes, Canadi>n Holidays sold the packages on Canadi>n Airlines back in 1996. I was the Canadi>n Holidays Destination Represenative in PSP ( Palm Springs ) California.

We were the best tour Operator in the business and its sad to see the demise of CHL
and Canadi>n Airlines.
Canadi>n Holidays is now part of the Transat Group and is known as World Of Vacations.
all the Destination staff in the USA and Mexico were let go and all have been contracted out to local groundhandlers.

Not that I disagree with you but what made them the best in the business? I don't know much about tour operators so I was just wondering.

Flyeral:

we were the best in the business because we were part of Canadian Airlines and the The Destination Reps were trained by Canadian Holidays to ensure that the passenger had a carefree pleasant vacation , we were trained by the airline on their procedures and we knew how to turn a negative in to a positive.
we were frontline employees that were empowered to right a wrong, issue frequent flier miles on Canadian airlines and we also had a good hotel product. We were available 24 hours in the destination in case a passenger had a problem. Many times during my career I sat with a passenger in the hospital who had a spouse that was dying due to a heart attack, I have also been the liason between the canadian counsalte and the passenger during these matters.
Contract Groundhandlers just do meet and greet.