Originally Posted by BOH
Actually (and at the risk of being an AC apologist) the "I" class seems to have got better on the LHR-YYZ routes recently. Not sure whether this is just down to loads or more "I" class actually being opened.
For my flight in just over 2 weeks, "J" is >9 and "I" is showing as >7 for all four LHR-YYZ flights that day. It will be interesting to watch daily (yes I know I need to get out more
) as to how this decreases and then whether there is a dramatic decrease, ie to "I"=0 at the SE7 and E4 day windows.
Obviously LHR is a special route for AC, it has lots of capacity (4 flights a day out of YYZ, more in the summer) and it has pushed hard to attract customers away from BA. This includes Elite status offers, but also a very attractive M fare which can be immediately upgraded to I/J. This fare is lower than the one we pay from this side of the Atlantic. I suspect AC wants to hook as many UK-based customers now, so it can keep them when it upgrades to the new suites, and perhaps raise fares a bit?
It must be remembered that YVR-SYD has a finite number of J seats and AC must maximize their return, and thus balance the upgrade (and other promotional front cabin fares like C) to do this. Again, I contend that space does get opened up on request, and until SE windows open, there is really no need to block out I inventory on any flights.
I envy Minicooperman for having the time to spend checking all these flights. Must be the hours his new baby is keeping him up...