I'd suggest offering a discount on a Maple Leaf Club membership for AP Prestige members, perhaps as one of the options when you pick out benefits.
I fly short haul almost exclusively, and I make P effortlessly every year, but fall quite short of the 50 segments needed for E (I usually have 35ish Jazz segments annually).
The Maple Leaf Club pass is awesome, and having it cheaper (but not free) would be a "thank you" from Air Canada that actually means something to those of us who can never use the upgrades (no J seats on a CRJ...).
Programs: National E/E, MLL, AC BOTB (back of the bus)
Posts: 134
Offer LMU's on non-revenue (ie award) travel. If the seat is gonna go open, why not let an AP ticket holder pay the extra? Sure it might piss off a status person not getting a freebie op up, but the company is better off with the revenue.
Programs: AC Elite, *A Gold, HH Gold, Marriott Silver, NW World Perks
Posts: 19
Are we so naive...
as to think AC actually pays any attention to this thread?
A number of posts suggest filling middle seats in the elite section last. Such a simple thing for AC to do - costs nothing, requires no special training of staff. Yet today on a flight from Orlando to Toronto, virtually every row had an empty middle seat - except for the first three.
Programs: National E/E, MLL, AC BOTB (back of the bus)
Posts: 134
a nice though, but if you think about it, why *should* they fill it last? They can allow elites to book those rows first, but those are the most popular choices as they are at the front of the plane anyway and people get off quicker, so 24 hours before, be fair and open em to everyone.
Programs: AC *E, PC:PLAT, HH:GOLD, SPG: GOLD, National: EXEC
Posts: 54
Priority Security at YYC
I said this before, but after spending 25 minutes in line this morning, YYC should have a Priority Security Lane. They just updated the A security, and with the new lanes, designating one for Priority should not be an issue at all. If they can do it in small stations like YOW & YEG, certainly they should do in one of their Western hubs...
I have to admit, all that was running through my head as I stood in line was the line from the "Up in the Air" trailer...."Old peoples bodies are littered with metal, and they have no appreciation of how little time they have left"....truer words have never been spoken.
And jazzsax, I can't believe someone hasn't flamed you for your Proletarian views about seat blocking. While I don't share your opinion, I applaud your bravado in voicing the contrary position. But those seats in the priority area should be the last ones filled. It's an easy fix that costs AC nothing, but builds a huge amount of goodwill with their best customers.
Programs: National E/E, MLL, AC BOTB (back of the bus)
Posts: 134
Quote:
Originally Posted by VoodooYYC
And jazzsax, I can't believe someone hasn't flamed you for your Proletarian views about seat blocking. While I don't share your opinion, I applaud your bravado in voicing the contrary position. But those seats in the priority area should be the last ones filled. It's an easy fix that costs AC nothing, but builds a huge amount of goodwill with their best customers.
Still though, if an Elite or someone wants the seats, book em before 24 hours. It's not like it's an "upgrade" where many get waitlisted.
24 hours in, anyone can check-in, so why hold the seats back? That's really my point here.
What's the diff between an Elite wanting a middle seat in the first row, and a NON-Elite paying full fare economy? No reason he shouldn't be allowed the seat.
No reason a mother with a kid shouldn't be allowed the seat.
Economy is economy. Allow them to book it prior to the 24 hours, but once everyone can check in, let it be game on.
Still though, if an Elite or someone wants the seats, book em before 24 hours. It's not like it's an "upgrade" where many get waitlisted.
24 hours in, anyone can check-in, so why hold the seats back? That's really my point here.
What's the diff between an Elite wanting a middle seat in the first row, and a NON-Elite paying full fare economy? No reason he shouldn't be allowed the seat.
No reason a mother with a kid shouldn't be allowed the seat.
Economy is economy. Allow them to book it prior to the 24 hours, but once everyone can check in, let it be game on.
jazzsax -- It may make little or no difference to the person booking the middle seat (back vs front), but it makes a huge difference to the status pax in the window/aisle seat.
--
13F
Programs: National E/E, MLL, AC BOTB (back of the bus)
Posts: 134
yes, so book it before the 24 hours is up. I'm not saying elite's shouldn't have the right to those seats, I'm saying holding it right up until the flight leaves and leaving those seats last filled is retarded. If I was stuck at the back with young baby because a "middlle seat" in the first row was being held "just in case an elite" wanted it last minute, I would be mighty pissed.
Read my suggestion. Elite's can hold the seats, until the 24h OLCI process starts. Look at it similar to LMU's. If the seats haven't been scooped up by then, make them available to everyone. Honestly, if I was paying full fare for a last minute seat, and you said "sorry, you sit in the back" even though there's an open seat in the first row of economy, there would be hell to pay.
Programs: AC *E, PC:PLAT, HH:GOLD, SPG: GOLD, National: EXEC
Posts: 54
Quote:
Originally Posted by jazzsax
yes, so book it before the 24 hours is up. I'm not saying elite's shouldn't have the right to those seats, I'm saying holding it right up until the flight leaves and leaving those seats last filled is retarded. If I was stuck at the back with young baby because a "middlle seat" in the first row was being held "just in case an elite" wanted it last minute, I would be mighty pissed.
Read my suggestion. Elite's can hold the seats, until the 24h OLCI process starts. Look at it similar to LMU's. If the seats haven't been scooped up by then, make them available to everyone. Honestly, if I was paying full fare for a last minute seat, and you said "sorry, you sit in the back" even though there's an open seat in the first row of economy, there would be hell to pay.
But jazzsax, what 13F & I (and probably quite a few others) are saying is that if there's an seat that's going to be left empty on a flight, should it be between Mr. & Mrs. Cletus T. Podunk, who paid $189 for a Tango fare on their once-a-year trip to see the grandkids, or a SE and E, who fly all kinds of miles, and spend all kinds of cash with AC?
It's all well and good to say everyone is equal, but really isn't the point of status to recognize those of us who are loyal to AC, week in and week out? And isn't having an empty seat beside us an easy way for AC to recognize that loyalty?
Calin and the team need to get rid of the rude employees.
Pull the phone calls, they are on a recorded line.
Listen to customer sentiment, if the same employee gets numerous complaints........then listen.
Go to the airport and try and check in,
Go to a gate of a delayed flight
Just try to be a passenger.
Then if you see incompetance, rudeness and deliberate obstinance then please ACT!
It's been 3 months, and YYC and YEG are STILL listed as being open for only 7.5 hrs a day. So much for watching this thread or listening to improve service.
Programs: AC E/*G, Hilton Silver, Hertz 5*, dirt in DL and nearly every hotel program...
Posts: 241
Quote:
Originally Posted by guessaaa
It's been 3 months, and YYC and YEG are STILL listed as being open for only 7.5 hrs a day. So much for watching this thread or listening to improve service.
Er, um, you realize they're actually open until 12:30/12:15 *am*, and the web page itself is in error? In this case, "service" doesn't need improvement, just quality control on their information.
And you think AC is paying attention to this thread? Got my doubts.
It may have been more effective for you to contact AC directly, as I just did (time will tell!):
It shows the Maple Leaf Lounges in Calgary and Edmonton closing at 12:30 and 12:15 respectively, implying 12:30/15 PM since all times are listed in 24-hour clock format.
Since these are both actually open until 12:30/15 *AM*, their closing hours should be listed as 00:30 and 00:15 respectively.
Please correct this on your website to avoid causing confusion.
Programs: AC*E / AMEX AeroplanPlus Platinum / RBC Platinum Avion / ICHG - Plat Royal Ambassador / HH Gold
Posts: 1,119
Let's get rid of this sticky; they don't give a flying toss. It's focus on what we can charge charge charge and strip of benifits. Loosing my bulk head has really cheesed me off as a last straw.
