I value your constructive criticism and wish to offer an explanation; Keep in mind that when I fly AC it is mostly the ICN/TYO and sometimes via FRA hubs, and I have some of my best experiences with AC on these routes. Aside from some hiccups, I get off those flights satisfied with my experience. However, in respect to BKK where AC is pricing the route in the $7000 range (for J) I don't think it unreasonable that the quality be reflective of the premium price.

In respect to the cabin crew requirements, the Canadian Labour code and Transport Canada does allow for the hiring of crews on a short term contract. My suggestion had been to use the redundant TG crews as there were thousands laid off during TG's restructuring. If you were to say that the AC collective agreement does not allow for such an action, then that's the end of it, case closed, my suggestion doesn't work. I do wonder if the management even considered this.

In respect to the meal service. I was much more restrained in my final draft than in earlier versions, because the meals were a massive step back in quality and were lamentable. Had it been a restaurant, the food would have been sent back. I get it that it's an airplane, and not a Michelin rated restaurant, but AC shouldn't mislead and offer such grandiose descriptions of what is now not much different than frozen entrees from the supermarket. The wine selection was limited. The musli wasn't the usual musli, but was a glop of a congealed white substance with the musli pressed into it. The fruit was cardboard like and without flavour or substance, The beef stir fry was a dried out minced utility grade texture. How can they get a tuna fish sandwich so wrong? There obviously was no supervision of the catering. It is unacceptable that Air Canada give no consideration to the catering. I get it that there were weather issues during the week, but surely that should not affect the catering of an aircraft. There was no thought put into the menu. NONE. That's what was infuriating. The SVP of AC had the temerity, the arrogance to blow a lot of hot air about their much touted service to BKK, when the reality was that it treated as no more than a nicer version of an Air Canada vacations charter to Santa Banana. That's really the guy I have an issue with. I would have taken the meals and put them in front of him at his press conference and asked him if he considered the travesty acceptable. Just once, I wish a travel reporter did that. Air Canada has been getting away with an erosion of service for the past year, never accepting responsibility for its terrible on time performance, inadequate bagggage handling, lack of customer service and outright cutback of Signature Service under the guise of "difficult times".

You are right, the loads are high on the route, impressive too, and that's most likely because these pax were typically routed via the mainland China hubs. I desperately want this route to be viable and also the potential SIN route, but AC management has to put some effort into this. It's a fantastic opportunity for the airline, to keep revenue, and for the union to maintain staffing levels, because it is unlikely that customers will accept being rerouted through mainland China again. If AC can't make the route work, then I expect it will lose a part of its Asia business. The future growth for AC is Asia Pacific and the routes to Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore are the most lucrative for the coming years.