GwailoSIN

Hi, is this flight just temporarily on a 787 or is this permanent? I am planning a trip in August 2017 and need to get from NYC to YVR. Award availability for business class on my desired dates looks dire (esp. for direct flights) and I don’t want to arrive too late in YVR (hence the CX flight is out).

I read somewhere on FT that it is possible to get on the (international level) PE seats on the 787 used on AC 549 route by just booking economy and then paying the usual USD 100 for a preferred seat reservation (just that the reserved seat in this case happens to be a really good ‘real PE’ seat, not just a ‘regular economy exit row’).

This seems like a fantastic deal as I don’t really need J for a day flight. I could either use cash or potentially krisflyer miles to book this (low cost and low cancellation fee on krisflyer).

However, I am a bit worried about the possibility of an equipment swap? I am not really keen on economy on such a transcontinental flight.

Is this a real risk or should I just go for it? Any other options to get to YVR from NYC? Ideally I would like to arrive before 1900 but don’t want to get up at 0600 either

mendy7511

Looking at the past week or two, it is consistently the 788.
The next 10 months or so are scheduled to stay 788.
Your chances are good.

pitz

AC's marketing it as a premium experience from NYC to Asia, with the connection in Vancouver. So while they definitely could sub in a 319, 333, or 767, barring a major economic dislocation, one-off maintenance scheduling, or an incident, it will probably be operated with the 788.

rankourabu

If you're going to be in economy, the last thing you want is the 787

djjaguar64

3 3 3 and uncomfortable seats

yyz_atc_qq

I believe it's for the SYD/BNE connections. The flight arrives too late for Asia

yyz_atc_qq

Booking any flight this far out there is always a risk (and depending on the airline significant risk) of an aircraft swap.

I have a flight from LAX-ORD that I booked back in mid-July for travel in November. The type has changed 3 times. Granted US carriers change more often than I change underwear (not true.... or is it??? you decide) but any airline has schedule changes and almost 1 year out I wouldn't bet my paycheque that it will remain a B787

Wpgjetse

But OP is going to be sitting in the PY sections, which are very good.

YYC009

The route is served by a B787 that normally runs EWR-YVR-BNE/BNE-YVR-EWR. So there would have to be a major change to AC's service to BNE or EWR for this to change to another aircraft as the logic is perfect from a scheduling point of view.

Of course, equipment changes are always possible, so say that happens, the risk is now you fly EWR-YYZ-YVR where EWR-YYZ is just a quick hop and then book any widebody YYZ-YVR to get a premium economy seat for the transcontinental.

krayZpaving

Exactly what YYC009 says. The aircraft comes from Brisbane and goes back there. So yes, sometimes there might be an aircraft swap if something happens on the BNE-YVR leg, but probably much lower chance than normal given the aircraft is only doing a circular route and not through (other) airports that have a lot of weather problems that time of year (e.g., YYZ, LGA, ORD thunderstorms).

yyz_atc_qq

You guys are forgetting (or choosing to ignore) that we are talking about a flight almost 1 year away. I'd be more likely to bet it won't still be operating with a B787 than it will.

GwailoSIN

Thanks mendy7511, pitz, YYC009 and krayZpaving, that's very helpful and gives me some comfort level.

If I use miles to book this, can I still select the seat (by paying extra of course)?
So while the USD 100 seat fee will be gone (I guess that's non-refundable like with SQ?), at least this way I am not fully committed (just in case of random equipment change).

tracon

Useless a/c rotation trivia....

The a/c will almost always route YVR-BNE-YVR-EWR-YVR

After returning to YVR as 549, mixing and matching comes into play.
AC115 & AC897 arrive about 19:00.
From those three arrivals there are three departures
896, 162 & 35.

549 can't operate 896 without 896 incurring a delay.

YEGflyguy_95

As just publish via routes online that AC 548/549 from October 30 - March 31 will be operated with the 787-9
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/268693/air-canada-w16-vancouver-newark-aircraft-changes

YVR72

Same goes for 35/36...