New Roots Air fares simply awesome
Mar 14, 2001, 10:45 am
#1
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 46,817
New Roots Air fares simply awesome
- Two new promotional fares launched today by Roots Air will give customers an opportunity to sample their premium Gold and Silver Class service on the airline's startup routes.
"This offers our customers tremendous value considering our regular Gold and Silver fares are already roughly 25 per cent less than our competition," said Ted Shetzen, Roots Air executive vice president and chief commercial officer.
The "Awesome" (Gold Class) and "Windfall" (Silver Class) return fares are available on the Toronto-Calgary and Vancouver-Toronto routes between March 26 and April 30, 2001. The Awesome and Windfall fares between Toronto and Calgary are $909 and $709, respectively. Comparable fares between Vancouver-Toronto are $999 and $799.
http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/010314/root...omo_fares.html
"This offers our customers tremendous value considering our regular Gold and Silver fares are already roughly 25 per cent less than our competition," said Ted Shetzen, Roots Air executive vice president and chief commercial officer.
The "Awesome" (Gold Class) and "Windfall" (Silver Class) return fares are available on the Toronto-Calgary and Vancouver-Toronto routes between March 26 and April 30, 2001. The Awesome and Windfall fares between Toronto and Calgary are $909 and $709, respectively. Comparable fares between Vancouver-Toronto are $999 and $799.
http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/010314/root...omo_fares.html
Mar 23, 2001, 7:09 am
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 46,817
Me too! 
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AC alienated an entire nation since they seized "virtual" control of Canada's skies. They raised fares, reduced service, humiliated travelers and tried to intimidate potential new competitors.
But Roots Air, the new full-service carrier, is due to launch scheduled flights Monday, on two of Canada's most critical routes, Toronto-Vancouver and Toronto Calgary. "It's been bully-boy city. AC has been trying to kill us," says Roots Air president Russell Payson. "But we can find a niche by appealing to price-conscious business travelers. We'll charge less and do a lot better for the frequent flyer."
Essentially a joint venture between Skyservice, a charter operator, & Roots, the hip Canadian clothing retailer, Roots Air flights will offer 3 classes of service (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) on AA320 jets. Prices are to be approximately 30% below AC's current unrestricted fares. Gold Class "premium business" service features seats with 45 inches of legroom, complimentary bar &a choice of 3 entrees.
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AC alienated an entire nation since they seized "virtual" control of Canada's skies. They raised fares, reduced service, humiliated travelers and tried to intimidate potential new competitors.
But Roots Air, the new full-service carrier, is due to launch scheduled flights Monday, on two of Canada's most critical routes, Toronto-Vancouver and Toronto Calgary. "It's been bully-boy city. AC has been trying to kill us," says Roots Air president Russell Payson. "But we can find a niche by appealing to price-conscious business travelers. We'll charge less and do a lot better for the frequent flyer."
Essentially a joint venture between Skyservice, a charter operator, & Roots, the hip Canadian clothing retailer, Roots Air flights will offer 3 classes of service (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) on AA320 jets. Prices are to be approximately 30% below AC's current unrestricted fares. Gold Class "premium business" service features seats with 45 inches of legroom, complimentary bar &a choice of 3 entrees.
Mar 23, 2001, 7:28 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
You cannot earn AAdvantage or WorldPerks Q-miles on RootsAir, just on Alaska's program which means you are starting from scratch with a FF program unless you're from the west and have had a membership in their program. You can cash in for awards on AA and NW, but you are not putting these miles into your current accounts with those carriers.
What these fares suggest is that the market has really softened and RootsAir cannot fill its planes, even at their previously advertised prices. The fares given are equivilent to AC's upgradeable V-fare, which only gets you into Silver. The Gold fare is $100 more each direction. It means RootsAir is teasing us by giving us the upgrade without using certificates. Is the RootsAir ticket fully flexible, or are you locked in? What is the advance purchase requirement? If you are locked in, the MHD may still be more flexible. Of course, hardly matters with only a couple of flights a day.
What these fares suggest is that the market has really softened and RootsAir cannot fill its planes, even at their previously advertised prices. The fares given are equivilent to AC's upgradeable V-fare, which only gets you into Silver. The Gold fare is $100 more each direction. It means RootsAir is teasing us by giving us the upgrade without using certificates. Is the RootsAir ticket fully flexible, or are you locked in? What is the advance purchase requirement? If you are locked in, the MHD may still be more flexible. Of course, hardly matters with only a couple of flights a day.
Mar 23, 2001, 10:07 am
#8
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,215
Is the RootsAir ticket fully flexible, or are you locked in? What is the advance purchase requirement?
It's a 7 days advance purchase ticket. From the wording of the rules, it seems like you could make changes:
2-REBOOKING PERMITTED PROVIDED/ A-THERE ARE NO CHANGES IN ORIGIN / DEST/ STOPOVER POINTS/ B-THE CHANGE MEETS THE RESERVATION/ TICKETING FIRST/ LAST TRAVEL DATE PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINAL FARE/ C-APPLICABLE INVENTORY FOR THE FARE TICKETED MUST BE AVAILABLE D-SUCH TRANSACTION MUST BE MADE NOT LATER THAN THE DAY OF THE FLIGHT BEING CHANGED - -.
"It's been bully-boy city. AC has been trying to kill us," says Roots Air president Russell Payson. "But we can find a niche by appealing to price-conscious business travelers. We'll charge less and do a lot better for the frequent flyer."
Just how is AC killing them???
It's a 7 days advance purchase ticket. From the wording of the rules, it seems like you could make changes:
2-REBOOKING PERMITTED PROVIDED/ A-THERE ARE NO CHANGES IN ORIGIN / DEST/ STOPOVER POINTS/ B-THE CHANGE MEETS THE RESERVATION/ TICKETING FIRST/ LAST TRAVEL DATE PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINAL FARE/ C-APPLICABLE INVENTORY FOR THE FARE TICKETED MUST BE AVAILABLE D-SUCH TRANSACTION MUST BE MADE NOT LATER THAN THE DAY OF THE FLIGHT BEING CHANGED - -.
"It's been bully-boy city. AC has been trying to kill us," says Roots Air president Russell Payson. "But we can find a niche by appealing to price-conscious business travelers. We'll charge less and do a lot better for the frequent flyer."
Just how is AC killing them???
Mar 23, 2001, 2:11 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Kingston, Ont, the limestone city
Posts: 975
AC gave them hard time to be part of Aeroplan and forced them to join Alaska Air?
They made a big deal out of this on media before they annouced partnership with Alasaka Air .
[This message has been edited by MoreMiles (edited 03-23-2001).]
They made a big deal out of this on media before they annouced partnership with Alasaka Air .
[This message has been edited by MoreMiles (edited 03-23-2001).]
Mar 23, 2001, 8:19 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Guelph, ON. Canada AC Elite, Latin Pass, BA,
Posts: 431
I think most of you are missing the point.
For years now AC has given us all fancy titles, and told us how special we were to them.
However when the rubber met the road we were treated like red headed step children forced
to grovel for upgrades when J Class seats were going empty or filled by AC Employees!
I don't care about a Fancy Title.
I don't really care about accumulating miles on an Air Line that looks at me as a bother that is part of doing business.
I want respect, and if Roots is going to give it then I say I will give them the chance, wheather I gain a fancy title or not!
For the money I save flying Roots I can buy my own reward with the savings!
For years now AC has given us all fancy titles, and told us how special we were to them.
However when the rubber met the road we were treated like red headed step children forced
to grovel for upgrades when J Class seats were going empty or filled by AC Employees!
I don't care about a Fancy Title.
I don't really care about accumulating miles on an Air Line that looks at me as a bother that is part of doing business.
I want respect, and if Roots is going to give it then I say I will give them the chance, wheather I gain a fancy title or not!
For the money I save flying Roots I can buy my own reward with the savings!
Mar 24, 2001, 3:37 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Programs: BA GGL, FPC Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Amb
Posts: 3,372
Oh, come on Canadian...Grovel for upgrades?!?
I know you have a genuine complaint about AC, but get real. Upgrades are perks, not entitlements. Nobody forces you to grovel for anything. You can sit in the seat you paid for.
Now, with Roots, I can upgrade any cheap seat to Silver. With AC I can upgrade a somewhat more expensive seat to Executive class.
There's no comparison. Even a domestic configured 767 will have Roots Silver beat hands down. The only situation in which Roots would offer me something I don't have is an upgrade from Q/L/N fare. For 3 extra inches of legroom, is it worth spreading my $$$?
Nope.
I know you have a genuine complaint about AC, but get real. Upgrades are perks, not entitlements. Nobody forces you to grovel for anything. You can sit in the seat you paid for.
Now, with Roots, I can upgrade any cheap seat to Silver. With AC I can upgrade a somewhat more expensive seat to Executive class.
There's no comparison. Even a domestic configured 767 will have Roots Silver beat hands down. The only situation in which Roots would offer me something I don't have is an upgrade from Q/L/N fare. For 3 extra inches of legroom, is it worth spreading my $$$?
Nope.
Mar 24, 2001, 6:45 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OGG, YYC
Programs: AA, AC
Posts: 3,697
Originally posted by Canadian:
However when the rubber met the road we were treated like red headed step children forced to grovel for upgrades when J Class seats were going empty or filled by AC Employees!
However when the rubber met the road we were treated like red headed step children forced to grovel for upgrades when J Class seats were going empty or filled by AC Employees!
Mar 24, 2001, 6:56 am
#15
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, SPG; IC Pl/A; AA; DL
Posts: 14,332
As someone who has had 100% upgrade success, even as last minute standby (even when I was Elite), I too find this lacking credibility. Being denied once or twice does not create a pattern.