The door is open - will Westjet jump at the chance
Oct 30, 2014, 8:08 am
#91
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,444
Here is what I would like to see WS improve before I consider a status match.
(1) flex fares have complementary standard seat selection.
(2) WS enters into more outbound codeshare arrangements.
(3) hot meals onboard. Even if a buy on board option.
(4) if not entering into a global alliance, then take AS Approach and have reciprocal benefit in a few airlines that include status miles earning on WS.
(1) flex fares have complementary standard seat selection.
(2) WS enters into more outbound codeshare arrangements.
(3) hot meals onboard. Even if a buy on board option.
(4) if not entering into a global alliance, then take AS Approach and have reciprocal benefit in a few airlines that include status miles earning on WS.
Oct 30, 2014, 8:33 am
#92
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE - AB Platinum
Posts: 11
Well I'm a SuperElite who has been flying AC sort of blindly for a while. But I have flown WestJet and I think you're a great airline. The key for me a worldwide traveller in the past has been convenience and consistency with the one airline.
The new devaluations mean I can no longer justify AC on all flights. I understand them and I'm certainly not running away to another partner "because they're not Air Canada), but the incentive to do so for me is not there. I've status matched with a OneWorld airline, will maintain *Gold with AC and have status matched with you too. I'll be seeking value propositions throughout the world and will be mixing my travel up.
I hope that's good for WestJet too, it's liberating to have all these options open.
The new devaluations mean I can no longer justify AC on all flights. I understand them and I'm certainly not running away to another partner "because they're not Air Canada), but the incentive to do so for me is not there. I've status matched with a OneWorld airline, will maintain *Gold with AC and have status matched with you too. I'll be seeking value propositions throughout the world and will be mixing my travel up.
I hope that's good for WestJet too, it's liberating to have all these options open.
Oct 30, 2014, 10:46 am
#94
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: BA Gold, O6*G, WS Gold
Posts: 250
+1
The type of person that flies WestJet may do so because everyone is treated equally. Now that they have introduced statuses and are attracting the AC fliers, let's see if there is any backlash to those that are more equal than others.
The type of person that flies WestJet may do so because everyone is treated equally. Now that they have introduced statuses and are attracting the AC fliers, let's see if there is any backlash to those that are more equal than others.
Oct 30, 2014, 10:58 am
#95
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
Oct 30, 2014, 11:29 am
#96
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Whistler, BC
Programs: SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, WS Gold, Hertz PC, NationalEE, Hyatt Explorist, IHGGold, BW Diamond
Posts: 199
There was an outcry when Plus seats were introduced. Passengers were used to being able to change seats after boarding was complete and were quite upset when told they could not sit in the Plus section without paying the upgrade fee.
Same with the priority boarding for Plus, and the overhead bins are actually reserved for Plus passengers. I've seen a not so happy passenger being told those overhead bins are only for passengers in the Plus section.
What would really be more noticeable though, would be priority lines at check-in. And that is why I do not think we will see those. But I've been wrong before
Same with the priority boarding for Plus, and the overhead bins are actually reserved for Plus passengers. I've seen a not so happy passenger being told those overhead bins are only for passengers in the Plus section.
What would really be more noticeable though, would be priority lines at check-in. And that is why I do not think we will see those. But I've been wrong before
Oct 30, 2014, 12:07 pm
#97
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: BA Gold, O6*G, WS Gold
Posts: 250
There was an outcry when Plus seats were introduced. Passengers were used to being able to change seats after boarding was complete and were quite upset when told they could not sit in the Plus section without paying the upgrade fee.
Same with the priority boarding for Plus, and the overhead bins are actually reserved for Plus passengers. I've seen a not so happy passenger being told those overhead bins are only for passengers in the Plus section.
What would really be more noticeable though, would be priority lines at check-in. And that is why I do not think we will see those. But I've been wrong before
Same with the priority boarding for Plus, and the overhead bins are actually reserved for Plus passengers. I've seen a not so happy passenger being told those overhead bins are only for passengers in the Plus section.
What would really be more noticeable though, would be priority lines at check-in. And that is why I do not think we will see those. But I've been wrong before
Not to mention that eventually they will face the same problems as AC.
Oct 30, 2014, 1:51 pm
#98
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
Now with plus, with priority services, I'm going to guess that WS now has a product that is "close to" taking away AC's businses. WS has something unique here. At the end of the day, a repeat customer who spends $XX,XXX per year should be worth more to them than mom and pop and their baby. I think they started to recognize that and their shareholders demand more profit. A great way to enter this is to bite your own words and to start a two tier system.
We will see what the future holds.^
Oct 30, 2014, 1:57 pm
#99
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YYT
Programs: AC*SE
Posts: 71
Count me out of star alliance
While I sympathize with AC SEs who now want in at WS, your demands for status matches and benefits that don't even exist for long time WS fliers are pretty audacious! WS doesn't have lounges (though offers a deal with Plaza Premium) so if you want lounge access for every trip, buy a Priority Pass or get the regular AmexPlatinum card for the Plaza Premium and Chinook lounges. As for upgrades, it's not like the seats in front on WS are anywhere close to the product AC offers in J...forget about meals and decent wines. Not to knock WS's product...it is what it is and what it is intended to be: a more roomy seat with a couple of free drinks to keep the premium CX, AF, BA feeder traffic happy.
When it comes to a FF program, the "enhancements" you'd want would cost WS too much money and undermine their business plan in this realm. You're not going to get F seats on AF or BA from a WS FF program.
WS has a good product for what it is, and it appeals to a large portion of the Canadian public. But I am not sure it will satisfy many SEs.
When it comes to a FF program, the "enhancements" you'd want would cost WS too much money and undermine their business plan in this realm. You're not going to get F seats on AF or BA from a WS FF program.
WS has a good product for what it is, and it appeals to a large portion of the Canadian public. But I am not sure it will satisfy many SEs.
Nov 1, 2014, 12:30 am
#100
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Calgary
Programs: Altitude E50K, WS Gold (status match)
Posts: 1,211
My hope is that the future is not as dreary as it appears. I think with WS ramping up their FF program, they will offer a perfectly good alternative program to AC's, particularly for domestic flyers but eventually for international travelers as they roll out more international (TPAC/TATL) routes. I am certain too that one day WS will join an alliance. As Canada grows, so will our FF choices 
So penguin, have you made up your mind yet or do you need more time given some of AC's recently announced roll backs?
So penguin, have you made up your mind yet or do you need more time given some of AC's recently announced roll backs?
Nov 1, 2014, 6:18 am
#101
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
Nov 1, 2014, 8:10 am
#102
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: YYG
Programs: airlines and hotels and rental cars - oh my!
Posts: 2,995
Exactly. For years, WS promised no class system, no priority, everyone being equal. That's why I never even blinked to go on WS. If you spend once a year on an airplane, kindly, gtfo. And that's what WS has always catered to.
Now with plus, with priority services, I'm going to guess that WS now has a product that is "close to" taking away AC's businses. WS has something unique here. At the end of the day, a repeat customer who spends $XX,XXX per year should be worth more to them than mom and pop and their baby. I think they started to recognize that and their shareholders demand more profit. A great way to enter this is to bite your own words and to start a two tier system.
We will see what the future holds.^
Now with plus, with priority services, I'm going to guess that WS now has a product that is "close to" taking away AC's businses. WS has something unique here. At the end of the day, a repeat customer who spends $XX,XXX per year should be worth more to them than mom and pop and their baby. I think they started to recognize that and their shareholders demand more profit. A great way to enter this is to bite your own words and to start a two tier system.
We will see what the future holds.^
I believe Westjet has seen its passenger base change over the years, as more and more companies have mandated employees choose the least expensive travel options. At least for domestic travel, the least expensive option is almost always Westjet. I know a number of corporate travelers who haven't set foot on an AC plane in 4 or 5 years because of these policies. So where Westjet may once catered primarily to leisure travelers, because of changing corporate travel policies these days, business travelers might now represent a greater proportion of their overall volumes.
We've seen Westjet respond to this, by improving its service in the YYZ-YUL-YOW triangle, for example, and by implementing additional route/frequency changes. Plus seats, and its new FF program, simply represent the next steps as it continues to adapt to evolving customer demand.
I just hope they don't try to be AC. CP and Canadian went that route, and we all know how that worked out.
Nov 1, 2014, 10:18 am
#103
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
News just in. Official.
You can choose to credit to WS dollars OR AA miles.
NOTE: You must credit to WS dollars in order to retire your $6k quota (aka to hit that limit). If you credit to AA, the money you spend will NOT go towards hitting your $6k quota.
PS - Thanks Darren from WS, you now know who I am in real life
You can choose to credit to WS dollars OR AA miles.
NOTE: You must credit to WS dollars in order to retire your $6k quota (aka to hit that limit). If you credit to AA, the money you spend will NOT go towards hitting your $6k quota.
PS - Thanks Darren from WS, you now know who I am in real life
Last edited by superangrypenguin; Nov 1, 2014 at 2:32 pm
Nov 1, 2014, 2:35 pm
#104
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
My hope is that the future is not as dreary as it appears. I think with WS ramping up their FF program, they will offer a perfectly good alternative program to AC's, particularly for domestic flyers but eventually for international travelers as they roll out more international (TPAC/TATL) routes. I am certain too that one day WS will join an alliance. As Canada grows, so will our FF choices
So penguin, have you made up your mind yet or do you need more time given some of AC's recently announced roll backs?
So penguin, have you made up your mind yet or do you need more time given some of AC's recently announced roll backs?
It was close. Maybe in a few days, or years, WS can entice me some more. A higher WS (currently 5%) redemption with upgrades to Plus and i'm there.
Keep in mind most elites currently already have constant access to Plus (preferred seating), so by going to WS I'd be back at 32", which is a net material loss for me. I do have to applaud WS for their quick response and to Darren for being on here!
PS. If I can get a receipt for a plus seat without it saying "Premium economy", i'd be a game changer. Please let me know if you implement this (imagine the corporate guys like me....I can't have it saying PE on the receipt. If it just says Y or fare bucket, I can get away with it
Nov 1, 2014, 5:33 pm
#105
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Calgary
Programs: Altitude E50K, WS Gold (status match)
Posts: 1,211
Penguin: it is going to take me some time to crunch all the numbers. I honestly have to go back and double check my spend in 2014 to get an idea what my spend will be in 2015. I think I would be above $6,000, but I am not sure.
I had a feeling you would stick with AC and I will likely stick with AC too just because having benefits across the alliance is HUGE. My wife is from Indonesia so having gold benefits on SQ and NH is a HUGE benefit for us.
However, I think I need to try WS again as it was 2006 that I flew them last. Having the gold status will make that much more possible. I may buy an AC eastern/maritimes flight pass and then fly WS to at least Ontario and then segment run on AC via the flight pass (to keep my segments and *A gold). If I do that, then I can test out WS lounge, in-flight experience, etc. I really want to try something new and WS would be something new for me for sure!
I had a feeling you would stick with AC and I will likely stick with AC too just because having benefits across the alliance is HUGE. My wife is from Indonesia so having gold benefits on SQ and NH is a HUGE benefit for us.
However, I think I need to try WS again as it was 2006 that I flew them last. Having the gold status will make that much more possible. I may buy an AC eastern/maritimes flight pass and then fly WS to at least Ontario and then segment run on AC via the flight pass (to keep my segments and *A gold). If I do that, then I can test out WS lounge, in-flight experience, etc. I really want to try something new and WS would be something new for me for sure!