Originally Posted by
jarusoba
But someone flying YYZ-YVR-SYD on AC33 might get a headstart on someone flying YVR-SYD for that YVR-SYD segment.
That's a little more complicated.
R space on the three different AC33 services:
YYZ-YVR nonstop
YYZ-SYD direct (with stop)
YVR-SYD nonstop
is of course correlated (there is a finite number of seats, after all) but is managed with some degree of independence, too. It is possible to have R0 on the YYZ-SYD direct when there is R space on both YYZ-YVR and YVR-SYD, for example. And the same goes for all other permutations.
Strictly speaking, a YYZ-SYD traveler will not get priority over a YVR-SYD traveller, since they are not on the same flight (they are merely on the same plane going to the same place.)