Funny that AA disagrees with you and is launching Western Canada service to LAX complete with a F/J product, along with unlimited complimentary upgrades (for its top tier members).

Never mind that IME, Rouge N. America inflight service has consisted of the following:

1. FA's not taken meals by status/using proper names in the ''premium' cabin (thus ensuring Elites don't get their first choice meal). Front to back is the norm. And the elites are always at the back of the Premium Cabin (but at least I don't get the guaranteed middle seat on mainline which is the new E50K Altitude privilege; waiting for Landry's official enhancement notice on that!)

2. No nuts with drink service (was given the option of purchasing nuts from the back, think whichever AC exec thinks this is good marketing is nuts themselves)


3. No vegetarian option (on my YYC-LAX flight recently, the FA/SD said: ''its ''chicken'' or ''beef'' er ''I think its beef, they don't really tell us, I'm new!'',), so one elite had to pay for veggie snacks from the back (I'll give you that you never cease to find ways to shake Elites down for a quarter).


4. Stained pillows (upon boarding), where the FA's just sigh and say: ''not again'' grab them and put them in the overhead bins, leaving little to no pillows to use in the premium cabin


5. Inconsistent menu delivery - when they are there, you have them nicely crammed in the middle seats so when one looks at them (if you can find them), they're all nice and crinkled.

The best is when there are no menus, FA's come around (prior to pushback) and ask ''what for dinner/breakie today?'' with having no clue what the offering is. And then being told ''chicken or beef'' while they stand there with a smile from ear to ear, eager to write something down on their mickey mouse pad (one time it was donald duck) as if the keesh is just waiting to explode in the oven and our rapid response is necessary to avert disaster. This is of course if you're non status as by the time they get to Altitude members, the decision will have already been made for you.

6. Waiting 45-60 mins after takeoff (for safety reasons) to deliver Ipads. And collecting them 45-60mins (again for utmost safety) prior to landing

7. Allowing a constant stream of Y pax to use the premium cabin washroom and have them line the aisles of the premium cabin while they watch everyone eat (whatever meal is left, again that no meal choice is great) and loudly exclaim why do they get bangers and mash up here?

8. Being told that for safety/security reasons overhead lighting is to remain on at all times (even on night flight YYC-LAX) including taxi/takeoff/landing. As a gesture of goodwill they did reduce the lighting by 5% (one time) to maximize sleeping opportunities for the premium cabin (so very kind).

But keep the rouge coloured glasses on (perhaps a Justin Timberlake Hat to go with it). Short term revenue for your transborder operation may be in sight, but a famous econ prof at UWO once told me: ''if you reduce the quality, you must reduce the price, otherwise you will cause (long term) problems''. The wheel may be spinning but the hamster is dead.

But I digress, who needs any of this when we have Hats? And cheesy inflight annoucements (''this is your home for the next 4 hours.. welcome home!'') to distract us from this market leading, competitive product.

PS - Keep Howlett away from a microphone. If this is the top talent in the C suite, I can see lots of places to reduce expenses (by $50 million+). No need to screw the end product/user.