EmpressOfCanada

A well written, and fair IMO, blog comparing three of Canada's airlines:

http://ibackpackcanada.com/air-canad...ne-comparison/

Thought i would share

Jenbel

Thanks for sharing - but a bit off topic for this forum. I think I'll move this over to the AC forum for more discussion

Jenbel
Co-moderator, Communitybuzz!

hazcaddy

Interesting and fairly honest evaluation of our three choices. I did fly WS last year YHM return to YWG and found the following reasons not to repeat the experience:
- while I was waiting, a YHM - YEG flight that a bunch of passengers were waiting for was cancelled (this was at 5 p.m.) and no choices were offered other than "come back tomorrow";
- the IFE screen was continually showing commercials if you didn't want to watch "entertainment";
- the seat / sound / IFE controls were on top of the armrest, exactly where your wrist lies (and bugged the heck outta me); and
- a heavy dose of Ma and Pa Kettle passenger content (okay, so I'm a snob but you don't get them on Porter or too much on AC).

fromYYZ_flyer

The Hamilton catchment area has many more "rural" communities compared to YYZ and YTZ. Although, I can't say I see too many bumpkin types on scheduled airline services. On the $300 vacation charters and the Greyhound (when I used to take it) is another story.

Jasper2009

So true!! The very few times I�ve flown WJ there were plenty of pax who ranged from "inexperienced" (nothing wrong about that) to "extremely obnoxious and inexperienced, but pretending to know the ins-and-outs" I think I prefer the dozen gate lice who manage to board the plane in less than a minute.

Also, when regularly travelling for 24h I don�t need FAs who constantly make silly jokes. A friendly, professional FA who provides good service is much more desirable IMO.

Other than that the article provided a fair comparison IMO. But funny, how AC�s business class and top tier program (the main reason many pax book AC) weren�t mentioned.

The Blue-Eyed Sheikh

Well, to be fair, if the domain name of the website is anything to go on, they probably aren't flying J on a regular basis, or collecting enough miles to qualify for Top Tier.

TB-ES

ByrdluvsAWACO

I'm really looking forward to trying Porter one of these days.

TheGreatestX

I find it actually takes longer to load an AC plane vs a WS plane. AC charges for the first bag on transborder, so everyone is trying to find room overhead, whereas it's free to check on WestJet leading to a quicker board.

speaker

I agree. There might also be other reasons, in my opinion:

-With no upgrades to clear at the gate, gate agents are ready their boarding procedure starts 30mins prior to sched departure almost like clockwork

-The heavy dose of kettle content (to borrow fromYYZ_flyer's phrase) also means that these pax travel heavy. Having checked-in their overpacked trunk/hockeybag, rollerboards as carryon aren't as prevalent, freeing up overhead bin space.

Back to the original topic, I do take issue with the following analogy:
In my experience, you DON'T know what your are getting every time: I've had my best domestic flight on AC... and also my worst (and by "flight" I include interaction with the ground staff pre-departure and post-arrival). On the other hand, flying WS is predictably bland, uninspiring... but predictable nonetheless.

I'm also a bit perplexed that the lack of meals in Y is used as a "con" against AC, but is absent in the WS section (where there aren't meals in Y).

They could have also added "widebodies on select domestic AC flights" to the list, which personally I find to be a huge "pro" in favour of AC.

payam81

How's Porter comparison to AC and WS 'fair'? QK, yes, but AC and WJ are much bigger airlines. I suspect if Porter were to grow as big, they wouldn't be so immune to the quirks and problems AC and WJ face.]

Anyway, can't expect much more given where/by whom this comparison is done.

Sopwith

The kettle factor is definitely higher on WS.

Last month I boarded a WS flight and found myself beside a father and a ~3 year old kid. The kid did NOT want to leave his Mom, and put up a tantrum of the first order during and after boarding. I have never seen anything like it. After 30 minutes of non-stop kicking and SCREAMING, neither Pop nor the FAs could get the kid settled and belted. They finally opened the door and turfed them both. I must say that the FAs and the Captain handled it very professionally, though. In the end, they really had no choice but to offload.

Jagboi

Interestingly on my last LHR flight it was the AC crew making stupid jokes. I know the announcements are for the entire plane, but I thought it really cheapened the J experience. I think it was the oldest AC crew I've ever seen too, and unfortunately the service wasn't great. One of the cabin crew was a cross between a bad drag queen and Spitting Image's puppet of Margaret Thatcher. I couldn't help snickering, it was a dead ringer, except she had bigger hair than the puppet.

Jasper2009

I don�t think I�ve met this particular FA yet.

I�ve rarely encountered AC FAs making jokes over the PA, instead some AC seem to want to test my patience by making announcements in four - five languages (during my last FRA-YYZ flight the announcement was "we are proud to make all announcements in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian" and three different FAs came on each time to make the same announcement)

Symmetre

Having flown all three, I generally stick to AC - lounges, upgrades and rewards are definitely a part of it, but it's mostly because they go where I need to be and usually have the best schedule options.

Porter does offer very good service, but they don't go everywhere. And for me, living in the suburbs, getting to and from Billy Bishop airport is a major pain in the butt.

As for WS, I can handle the IFF "kettle factor" (love that term) but not the stupid jokes ("So let's get everyone strapped in so we can get this Boeing going" ... argh!!). That and the fact customer service consistently vaporizes with IRROPS (I can't "come back tomorow").

HerpaYvr

Yes what is this new fad where each F/A has to show off that they can speak more than two languages. I flew yesterday on Jazz YUL-YOW and he was a nice man, but four languages, really! Do they not know that this stops the IFE and most of us simply dont care! flying UA its one language, few interuptions.

I do want to try porter, they sound like a good company and I dont hear anything negative about them. They keep AC honest with lower fares so I do want to try them out!