Trip Reports - YYZ-BOS-YYZ on AC

05-MAY-00 YYZ-BOS
AC834 16:30 18:03 Y Class
I arrived at the transboarder Executive/Elite check-in line at Toronto's terminal two to find a very small line (1 person in front of me) for a Friday afternoon. Check-in was fine, except that the agent tried to charge me for the extra piece of checked luggage (I had three in total). I slapped down the Elite card and was told that I should present it every time regardless of the fact that my ff number is on the reservation already.

I made my way through US customs and immigration with no trouble. Arrived at the Maple Leaf Lounge at about 15:15. For some reason I never get asked for proof of age when I am at the transboarder MLL, but frequently at the domestic. I am 20, so I'm perfectly legal, but I am told that I look a bit young http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif Found a seat in my favorite area near the TV at the far end of the lounge. I began with my usual selection of cheese, and then a trip to the bar to pour a glass of (non-Canadian) red wine. Well, the lounge this day, despite having less than a 50% "load factor", was in bad shape. I got the last wine glass at any of the bars, and to my surprise, the only red wine that was out was a selection for the Niagara region of Ontario. Not good.

I departed the lounge at about 16:05 for my 16:30 flight, and it was just a short stroll to gate 92G where the Airbus A320 was parked. I decided to try my luck on an upgrade even though my ticket was a student fare Z class booking. No luck! I parked myself in seat 15F as assigned. The flight pushed back on time and we were off. This flight was listed as "snack" by AC's service guide. Well, I guess "snack" now means a bag of chips with about 9 chips in it. I was not impressed, and frankly this is not sufficient on a 16:30 to 18:03 flight. The 1/2 sandwhich and salad must have fallem victim to the Miltonian menu choppers. But this wasn't the worst of it. The return flight was even more of a shame.

09-MAY-00 BOS-YYZ
AC831 21:55 23:40 Y Class upgraded to J
Arrived at BOS at about 20:55 for my 21:55 flight to YYZ. Again an A320. I presented my ticket and Elite card to the agent who was neither friendly nor rude. She existed... that is about all I can say about her. She seemed to have trouble grasping the idea of the Elite four checked bags policy. She finally decided that since one of them was golf clubs, she would "let it go this time". I really was in no mood to get into a big thing about it. Again I asked about an upgrade. No dice.

I proceeded upstairs to the gate and decided to try my luck on the upgrade once again. BOS staff have always been great to me. The A320 had a load of 13. 2J 11Y. I told the agent that I knew that my fare was not upgradable, but that I wondered if I could pay a bit extra and be able to use a NA Elite cert. At once she said that the plane was quite empty, and that it was no problem. She assigned seat 5A and took a NA Elite cert. A very positive AC experiance.

Boarded the flight at about 21:35 and took my seat. The rest of the pax boarded. Then about 5 mins after I boarded, a rather odd looking man in is late 20s emerged from the Y cabin and took seat 6F. I didn't think he belonged, as I had heard him say "First class... wow" as he boarded. Sure enough, the incharge FA approached with the manifest and asked him to see his boarding pass. The guy played dumb, and then took his seat in the back. However, no before asking "does it really matter where I sit". The FAs dealt with the situation quite well. For the first time in a long while, I actually had one of the FAs come up to me and make an effort to ask how I was doing. We had a nice little chat.

Take-off was normal, and shortly after leveling off, I ordered a class of Australian Shiraz. It was so-so. Then the food service... A bag of chips. Now I can understand that it was a 10pm to midnight flight, but on a run that is just under 2 hours, I expect to be able to get a bit of real food if I desire. It is Executive Class afterall. What if I was paying the CAD$1700 that a J class ticket runs? Would I really think a bag of chips that likely costs less than 25 cents is reasonable. NOT AT ALL. They should at least have a cold plate available. AC really must begin to once again work with me, not against me! (I should make a note that the Y class and J class chips were different. J class gets a normal size bag with about 20 chips, versus the 9 or so that is given in Y.

Landing was spectacular, as there was an awsome display of thunderstorms and lightning for about the last 30 mins of the flight. I do believe that we were struck on final approach into YYZ.

All said, I had a great trip, with some very nice AC staff, but the service onboard has almost evaporated. I am not impressed.

That food service is every bit as bad as the the infamous United Sh*ttle. Air Canada is still a good airline, but with their increased marketshare in Canada, I doubt we've seen the last of service cuts.

Hey Fisch:

Thanks for the interesting (and very detailed) info on your trip to Boston. Two points, though: Although I haven't been to BOS yet this year, I somehow doubt that a J-class return tkt YYZ-BOS costs $1,700!

Also, how does a 20-year-old student become an Aeroplan Elite member? Hell, I remember struggling through school. :-(

I just checked with the AC Personal Ticket Office software, and the fare YYZ-BOS-YYZ in J class is CAD$1717.68. I guess we are all under a bit of a state of sticker shock over that one.

As for my AC Elite status: Very careful planning, a contract as the Queen's University liason between the Canadian campus and our International Study Centre in Herstmonceux, England, and parents who would rather I spend the extra money to fly from Kingston to Toronto than take the train and risk being de-railed (Via Rail's safety record is not very good at all), has given me the chance to become an AC Elite member. I once was an AC Elite and CP Gold member at the same time, but travel patterns have changed, and this is not possible any longer.

I take great pleasure in meeting and seeing friends and family around North America during the year. I find it keeps me sane, and prevents the small town, Kingston, Ontario culture from setting in. I have noting against such a culture, it's just not for me. A very large portion of my spending goes towards airline tickets, and hotel stays. I have always loved to travel. Eisting in a state of wishing I would do something, but not doing it never worked for me. I decided early on that in order to be happy, I needed to travel. Aside from the actual human beings that make up my friends and family, travel is #2. I have to say that my school work has become #3, and this has not always been helpful. I'm still working through my life-plans and trying to assign the proper priorities to the various elements that define who I am. Travel is, and always will be a very strong part of my existance.

[This message has been edited by Fisch (edited 05-10-2000).]

Thanks Fisch for the sad report!

I flew Boston to Toronto about four years ago as a college freshman and was impressed with AC service. Then I always made AC my preferred carrier. I always flew the 5pm flight back and forth because it is a snack flight.

They used to serve a mini-snack box to everyone. They used to have two half-sandwiches (one mini-bagel with seafood salad, and one mini-croissant with ham), one pasta or lentil salad, and a cookie bar. It was very nice.

I flew the same route senior year... The food is the same except there is only one mini-croissant with ham and cheese, one pasta salad, and one cereal bar.

It was sad to hear that it became a flight with a pack of chips.

I guess AC will never be the same and I urge you to write a letter to Milton. This level of service is unacceptable. Lack of competition (CP used to fly this route, and DL too) means they can cut back service. That is simply wrong.

Anyway, thanks for letting us know that AC is truly going downhill.

Thanks,
Carfield

It is indeed time to write. Remember March of last year when AC said ( http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum5/HTML/000121.html ) they were instituting a hot meal policy for N. America. You should ask for a copy of that policy.

Originally posted by Carfield:
Lack of competition (CP used to fly this route, and DL too) means they can cut back service.

I though American serves this route with American Eagle. 4-5 times daily, I think.

FISCH: I humbly apologize.
That monopolistic airline which you are an Elite member of does charge $779.00 EACH WAY in "J" class from YYZ-BOS. Add an assortment of taxes, and you get a total fare of $1,717.68. Yikes!

You know, it is experiences like that which make me think that the curtain just isn't enough...we need a locking door! http://216.167.74.240/forum/wink.gif

Don't forget, that's 1717 CAD. In NUC's its only 1168.

AA is implementing Eagle service on this route effective 6/1 or 7/1.

As such, I'm really looking forward to my BOS-YYZ return flights this Thursday and Saturday.

Oddly, I tried to book on the CP codeshare to get AA miles... but AC is not extending their existing corporate discount structure to CP codeshare. So, the same plane, the same company -- difference of about US$200 on the fare.