Question: Why is there more upgrade space on YWG-YVR flight vs YOW-YWG fligtht - Feb 11.
Feb 9, 2010, 5:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Why is there more upgrade space on YWG-YVR flight vs YOW-YWG fligtht - Feb 11.
The 3 of us are going to YVR from YOW via YVR. I booked this route, because it was the cheapest available (in terms of tango plus fares) on Jan 1The opening Olympic ceremonies are on Feb 12.
At the 1 week SE window of upgradeability: the AC 1103 (E75 jet) (first segment) had J4C4D4Z4 and R1 space, while AC 299 (E90 jet) (second segment) had J5C5D5Z5 and R4 space. Today, the respective flights have J3COD0ZORO space, and the second flight has J1C1D1Z1R1 space. From expertflyer.com, I see availability with K booking codes and higher on the first flight, and H booking codes on the second flight (ie according to my calculations, the second flight has fewer percentage of unbooked economy class seats, than the first flight).
With all of the above information, I would have thought that the route controller would have allowed for more upgrade availability on the first flight, compared to the second flight. In fact, we see the reverse situation, in terms of upgrade availability.
At the 1 week SE window of upgradeability: the AC 1103 (E75 jet) (first segment) had J4C4D4Z4 and R1 space, while AC 299 (E90 jet) (second segment) had J5C5D5Z5 and R4 space. Today, the respective flights have J3COD0ZORO space, and the second flight has J1C1D1Z1R1 space. From expertflyer.com, I see availability with K booking codes and higher on the first flight, and H booking codes on the second flight (ie according to my calculations, the second flight has fewer percentage of unbooked economy class seats, than the first flight).
With all of the above information, I would have thought that the route controller would have allowed for more upgrade availability on the first flight, compared to the second flight. In fact, we see the reverse situation, in terms of upgrade availability.
Feb 9, 2010, 8:53 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,936
The "route controller" works full-time trying to defeat those booking the cheapest fares & upgrading. And in this case, wins!
I wouldn't expect the algorithm used to be transparent, even when inspecting seatcounter or other availability tools.
I wouldn't expect the algorithm used to be transparent, even when inspecting seatcounter or other availability tools.
Feb 9, 2010, 9:18 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YXU/BOS
Programs: AC SEMM
Posts: 940
But that doesn't make it any less interesting as a puzzle. Might the algorithm also take into account the total number of seats to those destinations that day? Lots of extra flights into YVR that day (from various origins); business as usual into YEG that day - so if a big spender or dignitary needs a J ticket to YVR from points east, AC will have an easier time to accommodate them, thereby justifying increasing R on this flight? Just guessing.
Feb 11, 2010, 7:08 am
#4
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,215
Hmm.. YOW-YWG and YWG-YVR are two completely different markets (in terms of demand, type of pax, fare types pax usually purchase); so one cannot just make assumptions like the OP. Otherwise, we'll just need 1 route controller to manage our entire system?
Feb 11, 2010, 7:49 am
#5
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Perhaps, the second flight usually tends to have a lower demand for business class seats than the first flight - as you have implied above. However, as tomorrow is the first day of the Olympics, I am not suprised that the incoming flight to YVR would have all business class seats all taken - by people with revenue or upgraded tickets (and perhaps award tickets as well).
But I guess that you are saying that a different route controller likely managed each of the 2 flights; it was each's call as to how to individually assign "R" space - perhaps if one route controller had dealt with both flights, the "R" space would have been assigned differently.
Feb 11, 2010, 10:31 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,936
My point being, that taking account the Olympics tomorrow - the YWG-YVR flight would have a higher demand for the business class cabin, compared to the YOW-YWG flight. I believe I am right - the YWG-YVR is all zeroed out in terms of business class (as of 1 minute ago); the YOW-YWG flight shows J2C1D1Z1R1 as of 1 minute ago.
Perhaps, the second flight usually tends to have a lower demand for business class seats than the first flight - as you have implied above. However, as tomorrow is the first day of the Olympics, I am not suprised that the incoming flight to YVR would have all business class seats all taken - by people with revenue or upgraded tickets (and perhaps award tickets as well).
But I guess that you are saying that a different route controller likely managed each of the 2 flights; it was each's call as to how to individually assign "R" space - perhaps if one route controller had dealt with both flights, the "R" space would have been assigned differently.
Perhaps, the second flight usually tends to have a lower demand for business class seats than the first flight - as you have implied above. However, as tomorrow is the first day of the Olympics, I am not suprised that the incoming flight to YVR would have all business class seats all taken - by people with revenue or upgraded tickets (and perhaps award tickets as well).
But I guess that you are saying that a different route controller likely managed each of the 2 flights; it was each's call as to how to individually assign "R" space - perhaps if one route controller had dealt with both flights, the "R" space would have been assigned differently.