Question 9

From Shareholder: with the changes to the 319/320, the "preferred seats" now have less pitch than the ones further back. What opportunity to change this, or at least stop identifying them as "preferred" ?

There was a question as well around E+ and the fact that there is no middle seat blocking for E/SE.

AC's current reservation system does not allow it. It has been looked at several times, but costs were prohibitive. They agree they "should be able to" provide this service.

Part of the problem is that the emergency row seats have to stay as they are, so real option was taking out a row in J and increasing pitch in the back, taking out a row in Y (not likely) or leaving as is.

It seemed we were going to vote on that, but it never took place.

The new economy seats will be "slimline".

Overall, within NA, the domestic load factor ranges between 60%-70%, and on some routes i.e., YUL-YYZ, it is much higher.

Similarly, the Y load factors to Europe have been ~ 93% -- so the models that have been run for E+ have all failed profitability-wise so far.

The "club class" product was also discussed -- it will apparently have a Y tray but a larger amount of food.

My notes are a bit sketchy on this, but I believe that we also heard that there are 4 more NA configured 763s and perhaps 2 new ones that are going to be converted to SJ.

One thing of interest which I didn't get a chance to raise -- in this month's in-flight magazine, 762s are shown as having "SJ". Ken might have a view on that one

Question 10
Inconsistency of stand-by policies: sometimes agents will allow it, othertimes there is a small charge, othertimes they will say "not even for $1000".

Having a standardized charge for this is not possible on some international flights due to local rules.

Domestically, the group did seem to agree that if a pax was standing there, there was a seat open on the plane, they should be allowed to go standby on it.

Question 11
Fare rules -- gross, ugly abbreviations on the website

No apparent solution to this one. IATA rules, but we have the shorthand.

Question 12
Punished Edmontonian steps to the plate

What plans for YEG, especially as YYC is awful for making connections. We also got to hear about the carrousel in YYC again

The Calgary Airport Authority is basically a PITA to deal with. They are talking with them on an ongoing basis to try to get something done.

With the advents of the Embraers and new CRJs, there will be better frequencies out of YEG to places like YYZ, YUL, YQR, etc. No mention of transborder.

Some of the folks in attendace weren't as familiar with the new EMB as some of the rest of us -- the Embraer seat pitch will be > a 320.

The 321 type seats will NOT be sticking around ^ ^ ^