I currently work for a multinational. It is a for profit company. Even though I have a senior title and no one questions my travel expenses, our firm, like most other firms, except for non profits, financial institutions, firms who charge back their expenses to the client or public, and parapublic entities, has some tough travel expense guidelines that I voluntarily comply with. On short haul flights as I am in Y, I pick the best option which means Porter or West Jet sometimes. On longer flights, I pay the upgrade myself. There isn't much of a difference between the domestic airlines, so schedule and price is the determining factor. On my long hauls to Asia, I am usually paying for the trips myself and there is absolutely no justification for the $1500 - $2500+ more expensive fare with AC when compared to Swiss, EVA, or AF/KLM etc.

I have been an Aeroplan member for 20+ years. I have never been Super Elite. I started out working for a multinational and back in my youth I was flying around the world in first class and SkyTeam was my preferred carrier. It was an awesome alliance back in the day, Delta had an incredible RTW fare with SwissAir, Malaysian, and Singapore airlines participating. I will qualify as *A Gold on AC this year, despite having flown more often on AF/KLM.

I too have flown on many airlines and that's why I never valued Air Canada. Mind you, Air Canada never valued me as a customer, so it worked out. Oh yes indeed, AC went through some rough patches. That's when it lost my loyalty. It treated me and tens of thousands of other loyal customers like crap. It took us for granted and it had to be dragged kicking and screaming into some ethical business practices. Remember the fuss the airline put up over the pricing of airfares? Oh, how it tried to hang on to advertising $100 airfares that no one could find, or that somewhow doubled and tripled in cost. Oh, how AC has resisted the implementation of basic consumer protection laws for air travelers.

The AC business class product is not great. At best it is midmarket with a heavy flavour of mediocrity. I have come to loathe the cramped pods that do not allow one to move one's legs once sealed in the coffin like container. AC J certainly meets some people's needs and desires. There are also the people who don't mind 1 ply toilet tissue, who eat pigs knuckles and who really like Miracle Whip. As I have flown on other airlines, I appreciate the provision of a seat mattress, or a clean sheet to sleep on. It's even more appreciated when the attendant makes my bed for me. I don't think anyone would tolerate checking into a hotel and being given a room with a mattress without linens that several hundred people had sweated/drooled/dripped/leaked on. And yet, some will accept paying $5000+ to sit on a seat that has had such a treatment.

It's wonderful that you are satisfied by the AC product. You are the customer AC wants. For those of us who understand the concept of value and who appreciate quality, Air Canada lost the plot long ago.