Why is AC domestic J so bloody expensive?
Apr 19, 2017, 2:37 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 2,648
Funny. I just looked up;
YYC to YYZ on April 26 at 10 am. AC J fare is $1876
LAX to NYC on April 26 at 10 am. UA J fare is $3513.(CDN)
I know the UA flight is longer, but not $1637 longer. Also, operating airlines in the US is a lot cheaper. Lower fuel taxes and US government subsidies their airports.
Please explain why AC J fares are a lot higher?
YYC to YYZ on April 26 at 10 am. AC J fare is $1876
LAX to NYC on April 26 at 10 am. UA J fare is $3513.(CDN)
I know the UA flight is longer, but not $1637 longer. Also, operating airlines in the US is a lot cheaper. Lower fuel taxes and US government subsidies their airports.
Please explain why AC J fares are a lot higher?
1) ~$1800 CAD YYC-YYZ is usually B767 lie flat seat, ~$1500 CAD is the usual for an A321/A320 on that route
2) I've certainly had even cheaper widebody lie-flat flights on UA for that ~3.5h length flight as well (i.e DEN-EWR), under $1000 CAD
Apr 19, 2017, 2:39 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 2,648
People are willing to pay an often $1000+ premium over a Tango fare to have a bigger/flatter/fatter seat and meal/booze.
Apr 19, 2017, 2:40 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YEG
Programs: AC Lifetime SE100K, 3MM, SPG Lifetime Plat, Hertz PC, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,901
Apr 19, 2017, 2:42 pm
#35
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 2,648
I fly off-peak hours, and have noticed the upgraded list is quite a bit longer. So I think it does depend on the flight.
Apr 19, 2017, 2:50 pm
#36
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YEG
Programs: AC Lifetime SE100K, 3MM, SPG Lifetime Plat, Hertz PC, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,901
Apr 19, 2017, 4:19 pm
#37
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,222
Funny. I just looked up;
YYC to YYZ on April 26 at 10 am. AC J fare is $1876
LAX to NYC on April 26 at 10 am. UA J fare is $3513.(CDN)
I know the UA flight is longer, but not $1637 longer. Also, operating airlines in the US is a lot cheaper. Lower fuel taxes and US government subsidies their airports.
Please explain why AC J fares are a lot higher?
YYC to YYZ on April 26 at 10 am. AC J fare is $1876
LAX to NYC on April 26 at 10 am. UA J fare is $3513.(CDN)
I know the UA flight is longer, but not $1637 longer. Also, operating airlines in the US is a lot cheaper. Lower fuel taxes and US government subsidies their airports.
Please explain why AC J fares are a lot higher?
This JetBLue "J":
Oh, and the UA LAX-EWR J fare one-way non-stop fare? CAD $875.67.
Apr 19, 2017, 4:44 pm
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE*2MM. SPG Plat life
Posts: 4,644
Apr 19, 2017, 5:20 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Toronto - YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan/Hilton Gold/Marriott Bonvoy Titanium/Accor/Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 5,899
And on the 21st of April fares range between $1200 - $1500 US one way. Supply and demand "101".
Apr 19, 2017, 5:46 pm
#40
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: AC
Posts: 2,167
Surprised this has gone on for so long. The US market is competitive for the premium cabins. It simply is not the case in Canada.
As long as AC has no competitor for this business, AC can charge whatever it wants as long as the cabins remain full of high paying passengers or passengers who have amassed enough spend to eupgrade for these routes.
As long as AC has no competitor for this business, AC can charge whatever it wants as long as the cabins remain full of high paying passengers or passengers who have amassed enough spend to eupgrade for these routes.
Apr 19, 2017, 6:07 pm
#41
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Air Canada Super Elite 2+ Million Miles
Posts: 2,478
Surprised this has gone on for so long. The US market is competitive for the premium cabins. It simply is not the case in Canada.
As long as AC has no competitor for this business, AC can charge whatever it wants as long as the cabins remain full of high paying passengers or passengers who have amassed enough spend to eupgrade for these routes.
As long as AC has no competitor for this business, AC can charge whatever it wants as long as the cabins remain full of high paying passengers or passengers who have amassed enough spend to eupgrade for these routes.
Apr 19, 2017, 6:07 pm
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
It probably depends on the flight. I know on a recent YYC-YYZ transcon I flew, 1/3 of the seats were empty in J 48 hours before the flight. When the flight boarded, J was full. Guessing most of those were upgrades. But I suspect you guys will know more than I would.
Apr 19, 2017, 6:17 pm
#43
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Domestic there's no other option and most people I meet domestic AC J are gov't employees or consulting/hired by the government on their dime so they can charge what they want.
DL has tons of $550-$600 R/T fare YYC-SEA/SLC/MSP-LAX and the cheapest I see with AC is always $1850 R/T Non stop or through YVR.
AC transboarder out of YYC in J is always more expensive for me than any other carrier. AA/UA is around the same with AS usually being slightly cheaper and DL for some reason has had the cheapest J fares out of YYC for a while now.
DL has tons of $550-$600 R/T fare YYC-SEA/SLC/MSP-LAX and the cheapest I see with AC is always $1850 R/T Non stop or through YVR.
AC transboarder out of YYC in J is always more expensive for me than any other carrier. AA/UA is around the same with AS usually being slightly cheaper and DL for some reason has had the cheapest J fares out of YYC for a while now.
Apr 19, 2017, 6:18 pm
#44
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,397
As far as YYC/YYZ route goes, I am with you. My bet is that J/C/Z accounts for +/- 25% of the cabin. I don't pay a lot of attention to other routes, so I won't speculate. But I see very similar consumption patterns. And a high percentage of my flights on this route over the last couple months have been R>0 up to day of departure.
Apr 19, 2017, 6:20 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,397
DL has tons of $550-$600 R/T fare YYC-SEA/SLC/MSP-LAX and the cheapest I see with AC is always $1850 R/T Non stop or through YVR.
AC transboarder out of YYC in J is always more expensive for me than any other carrier. AA/UA is around the same with AS usually being slightly cheaper and DL for some reason has had the cheapest J fares out of YYC for a while now.
AC transboarder out of YYC in J is always more expensive for me than any other carrier. AA/UA is around the same with AS usually being slightly cheaper and DL for some reason has had the cheapest J fares out of YYC for a while now.