Air Canada President: Business Class Customers Don’t Like Surprises
Sep 27, 2016, 3:23 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,008
On the connecting international flight, I received a hand-drawn birthday card, signed by the pilot, and a hand decorated birthday fruit platter.
That was with NH. International segment was in F.
It was an AP redemption. I had no status in any *A program.
Sep 27, 2016, 3:23 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC SE100K, Emerald Exec, HHG
Posts: 631
I find the J product on AC very good. I'd like to hear from AC what their plan is to make PY more consistent. Most of my PY experiences start with something resembling legacy J and by the end of the flight deteriorates to Rouge Y
Sep 27, 2016, 3:28 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Sep 27, 2016, 3:43 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
Serious question: why I would care about getting a handwritten note from an employee of a massive corporation who is writing it according to a prescribed form dictated by a corporate policy?
Clean toilets are a rather more interesting feature of CX planes, IMO.
Clean toilets are a rather more interesting feature of CX planes, IMO.
Sep 27, 2016, 3:45 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: AC SE 200K, SPG PLAT, HH DIAMOND
Posts: 232
I seem to recall flying SFO-YVR on a rouge aircraft for quite a long time. In fact, one of the Bens even came on FT and admitted that they had rouged a non-leisure destination.
They said SFO/LAX were the exception, and I know SFO is back on mainline (I am unsure about LAX), but the fact is, they rouged a mainline business route.
They said SFO/LAX were the exception, and I know SFO is back on mainline (I am unsure about LAX), but the fact is, they rouged a mainline business route.
Sep 27, 2016, 4:21 pm
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz/ord
Programs: AC E50 UA1k 2MM AA EXP Royal Ambassador SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,516
Interesting Ben said "clean cabins". 
Next he said the best business class in NA. WOW he must be unaware of Delta new product, or Uniteds!
Or he wanted to say this year AC have the best product, next year when our narrow pods that have no leg room because the table is in the way we will be way behind AA/UA/Delta.
Next he said the best business class in NA. WOW he must be unaware of Delta new product, or Uniteds!
Or he wanted to say this year AC have the best product, next year when our narrow pods that have no leg room because the table is in the way we will be way behind AA/UA/Delta.
Sep 27, 2016, 4:38 pm
#22
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
I'd like to be surprised and actually clear the eUp waitlist so I can fly in J.
To me this is the most interesting part of the article "Air Canada believes its business class seat is so good that the airline doesn’t need first class." - I agree in many ways with this; but this is ONE part of the J service. The other parts are well ... service (incl. food and a pleasant airport experience including a lounge with more than pickles and Z1 boarding) and consistency with said service.
And that's where AC can lack, consistency in many parts of the above.
Except lounges, they seem to consistently be below most other airlines.
To me this is the most interesting part of the article "Air Canada believes its business class seat is so good that the airline doesn’t need first class." - I agree in many ways with this; but this is ONE part of the J service. The other parts are well ... service (incl. food and a pleasant airport experience including a lounge with more than pickles and Z1 boarding) and consistency with said service.
And that's where AC can lack, consistency in many parts of the above.
Except lounges, they seem to consistently be below most other airlines.
Sep 27, 2016, 5:01 pm
#23
Formerly known as jsfrSuperElite
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hong Kong, Montreal
Programs: Air Canada SE100K-1MM, Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 590
I'd like to be surprised and actually clear the eUp waitlist so I can fly in J.
To me this is the most interesting part of the article "Air Canada believes its business class seat is so good that the airline doesn’t need first class." - I agree in many ways with this; but this is ONE part of the J service. The other parts are well ... service (incl. food and a pleasant airport experience including a lounge with more than pickles and Z1 boarding) and consistency with said service.
And that's where AC can lack, consistency in many parts of the above.
Except lounges, they seem to consistently be below most other airlines.
To me this is the most interesting part of the article "Air Canada believes its business class seat is so good that the airline doesn’t need first class." - I agree in many ways with this; but this is ONE part of the J service. The other parts are well ... service (incl. food and a pleasant airport experience including a lounge with more than pickles and Z1 boarding) and consistency with said service.
And that's where AC can lack, consistency in many parts of the above.
Except lounges, they seem to consistently be below most other airlines.
I agree with most comments here, but the fact remains that other North American and foreign carriers are consistently enhancing their business class products to remain competitive.
In a few years, if nothing changes at AC, one has to wonder if they will feel their business class product is still superior compare to competition.
Sep 27, 2016, 5:01 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: YYG
Programs: airlines and hotels and rental cars - oh my!
Posts: 2,993
And LAX? Are you serious?
I can't speak for every city on that list, but to say London is the only one drawing significant business traffic is completely ridiculous.
Sep 27, 2016, 5:08 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: Skymiles Silver Medallion
Posts: 955
Anyway, the topic of this thread is consistency. Even if some of these routes are only 10-15% business travel, how is it in any way "consistent" if you happen to be one of those 10-15% and you end up booking a route that's been Rouged? Or even worse, your route gets Rouged between the time you book and the time you fly, and all you're offered in compensation is the right to cancel and rebook on a competitor?
Sep 27, 2016, 5:45 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,791
There are many city pairs between which there will unavoidably be some business traffic, that are without a direct link. The line has to be drawn somewhere.
At the end of the day we are arguing semantics. Just replace "business route" by "business heavy route," vs. "predominantly leisure."
Sep 27, 2016, 6:18 pm
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
What if it's 5 to 10 %? 2%?
There are many city pairs between which there will unavoidably be some business traffic, that are without a direct link. The line has to be drawn somewhere.
At the end of the day we are arguing semantics. Just replace "business route" by "business heavy route," vs. "predominantly leisure."
There are many city pairs between which there will unavoidably be some business traffic, that are without a direct link. The line has to be drawn somewhere.
At the end of the day we are arguing semantics. Just replace "business route" by "business heavy route," vs. "predominantly leisure."
So the argument that no business routes have been rouged is simply false.
Sep 27, 2016, 6:18 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
I especially like the comment about business class "at an attractive price point". I think we are in different universes.
Sep 27, 2016, 8:09 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,494
Once I get another promotion I will have the pleasure of flying J regularly and I don't think work would enjoy pay the pricing premium of AC J
