jakenda

I'm still confused. If I look for YYC-YWG on ExpertFlyer, I see the following routings:

1. YYC-YEA-YXE-YQR-YWG
2. YYC-YXE-YQR-YWG
3. YYC-YEA-YQR-YXE-YWG
4. YYC-YQR-YXE-YWG

When I search on AC's website, however, I see connections through both YVR and YEG. I don't see YVR or YEG as a valid connection for any of the fares. What am I missing?

nave888

I'd do the moncton one- more segments, without having to go through customs and having to explain why it is that you're flying such a strange route....I once checked in for YVR-YYC-YEG and had the agent ask "Would you rather just go on the direct flight?"....imagine the look on her face when I said "no thanks, I'll take the flight with a two hour layover in Calgary".....

I usually make status off segments and am always surprised how quickly I can jump levels with segments- this year, I'm going from qualifying for prestige (25) to elite lite (35) within a month (One YEG-YYC-YVR return, one YEG-YYC-YLW return, and one YEG-YYC return).....Just funny that 3 trips is all its taking to go from prestige to getting lounge access, prioirty services, etc.

YQMer

I call in to book things that don't show up on ac.com I would reserve something like YYC-YWG, make sure the fare class you want is available on the additional segments you're looking to add and then call to have them make the change.

Max Power

Klove:

Jeepers, the airline ought to give you a gilt-edged SuperElite card and a Purple Heart if you earn SE by segments rather than by miles.

I've already re-qualified for SE this year - with 17 segments flown, all in J. That's about 17 more airplane trips than I would voluntarily fly (on any airline) if I had any control over my business travel.

YQMer

102 segments so far this year, likely around 130 by years end. Wish I could carry forward the extra

j_the_p

What's even more curious to me is that you were given a YXE-YQR segment. AC doesn't fly this route.

fin 645

I think I have posted before that SE by segments is really quite straightforward - 2 segments a week, every week, is 104 - that leaves almost 5 weeks off. But of course if it is all on AC Express between stations with no MLL and no J, SE is somewhat useless.

PhotoJim

AC used to. The Toronto flights would fly YXE-YQR-YYZ, YYZ-YXE-YQR and vice versa. However, this stopped a few years ago when Air Canada shifted the route to then-Jazz. It's since gone back to mainline for most flights but on E75 and E90 craft. The odd 319 flies either route but does not add the other Saskatchewan city to the route.

United flies it as part of YXE-YQR-ORD, ORD-YQR-YXE but while it's listed in Air Canada's timetable, tickets cannot be purchased for the YQR-YXE and vice versa routes.

laurenceYYZ

I'm 6 segments short of Elite - any ideas for a cheap run to make early recognition from YYZ/YTZ?

YQMer

YQM can be had on an L fare for $500 a/i return YTZ-YUL-YHZ-YQM-YHZ-YUL-YTZ. 15% codes are fairly easy to come by now with Delta running a promo and this would bring it down to $450 a/i

Kodeslinger

Hi I'm new here, first 3 months in a travel-intensive job, but short-haul so far, so trying to make E*75 on segments, gonna come up about 9 short so interested in this YTZ-YQM run.

My question is where are you booking to get this price? AC.com only shows the 2 segment (YTZ-YUL-YQM) run, with a higher price (unless you're booking tango), and expedia/orbitz, etc only seem to show this run in Tango (P and E class?)

Thanks!

YQMer

First of all, welcome to FT!! (and all of our madness and rantings...)

OK, so I looked online and I can find an L fare return for: $523.47 ($517.82 through YTZ). If you get a discount code from Delta Hotels (you need to stay with them), you can get another 15% off the base fare. Sample, bookable itin through ac.com is:

AC408
Toronto, Pearson Int'l (YYZ)
Terminal 1
Montreal, Trudeau (YUL)
Thu Nov-15 11:00 12:09 5hr40 E90 Tango Plus, L
AC75141
Montreal, Trudeau (YUL)
Moncton (YQM)
Thu Nov-15 15:10 17:40 DH4 Tango Plus, L
AC75271
Moncton (YQM)
Montreal, Trudeau (YUL)
Thu Nov-15 18:10 18:47 5hr05 DH4 Tango Plus, L
AC429
Montreal, Trudeau (YUL)
Toronto, Pearson Int'l (YYZ)
Terminal 1
Thu Nov-15 21:00 22:15 320 Tango Plus, L

So once you find the fare on the date you want, you have to use Expertflyer or KVS or another similar program to find a 3- leg intinerary where L>0 on all of the flights you really want that day, i.e. YTZ-YUL-YHZ-YQM-YHZ-YUL-YTZ.

Then call Air Canada and have them switch the flights to the ones you want (which they should do for free)... just say that the routing you want wasn't available online.

Kodeslinger

Thanks a lot!

wildflower

I'm a lowly P looking to earn my way up to 'a higher Altitude' on segments. I have a YUL-SFO trip coming up and am considering a 5 segment routing, with what seems like decent connections, not too much time on uncomfortable planes (CRJ, DH3; I like E90s), and enough time at YVR for US border crossing.

My question for all you experts is: does this look okay or is there something ridiculous about this that that I'm not seeing? Travel date is late October, so I'm hoping weather is not likely a big problem (if it is, all bets are off!). Also, I will have to check a bag (definitely too much for carry on). Any observations or suggestions welcome! Thanks.

AC8987 YUL-YOW 06:05 - 06:44 CRJ
AC193 YOW-YEG 07:55 - 10:12 E90
AC8141 YEG-YYC 11:00 - 11:52 DH3
AC215 YYC-YVR 13:15 - 13:45 E90
AC562 YVR-SFO 15:45 - 18:00 E90

WhiteYUL

It'll make for a long day, but hats off for the trek. Connection times seem okay, in case off IRROPs you may find yourself re-routed on a more direct route, like YUL-SFO (!).

I assume you are getting a reasonable fare and if you can book it, great, IMO. You may even want to try YUL-YOW-YYZ-YEG-YYC-YVR-SFO if you can make it work. ITA is not being helpful this evening, so I can't say how possible it is.

In the end, you get your status on miles, if you keep routings like this!

Cheers,

Whitey in YUL