chaptwo

I'd ask that this not be flamed or used as target practice.

I'm curious about something.

Even as a lowly E50K until March makes me an E75, I was surprised on Monday (27) that my upgrade didn't clear. I've had a pretty good track record in the last 24 months.

My reason for being surprised was that the lounge was pretty much empty the entire night, yet Business Class was completely full. Usually if it's teeming with people, it's a good barometer. Not this time.

The passenger load in Y was the lowest I've ever seen on this or any other AC flight in the last three or four years. I counted about 50 people - no stretch in numbers - and that was it.

I'm wondering if on this route, considered 'upgradeable' by many, was simply loaded with many who are burning miles and getting reward tickets at the lower level before the new levels, surcharges and totals are in. Didn't see a lot of SE100K's on suitcases as I usually do.

Thanks for your thoughts.

YYZFlyboy

Who knows nowadays with AC. Maybe an executive AC staff convention in Paris and they took up the J cabin......

I was on AC849 this week and it had 12 empty J seats - and quite a few that were in J were clearly AC staff on a shopping spree (deduced by the interaction with crew and ground staff at YYZ)

I've kinda given up looking for any form of consistency. Currently looking for a latitude fare in April on a specific flight (YYZ-LHR) - J is empty - and no R space.......?

It seems they are doing everything in their power to make me go somewhere else.

SYM

Didn't want to be the first to start with random speculation but now that someone else has - advance teams headed to Sochi?

J cabins to Beijing were filled with athletes and team members in the weeks before the 08 games - not sure if these were courtesy upgrades or a formal policy.

dinotoon

Just came back on 883... J cabin only had 12 and my upgrade cleared at t-7. Thank goodness because my tv stopped working after an hour so I just switched to another pod.
Y cabin only had 80 according to SD.

ACYYZ/SD

It's just one of those rare periods typical for this time in January. J/C is
heavy > full while the back is light > near empty. Enjoy the space while you can, it's only short lived.

YYZFlyboy

Possibly - or maybe people are starting to wake up to AC's shenanigans......

hydrogen

If AC could fill their premium cabin, wouldn't they be happy? That is, if they didn't fill it with non-revs.

If AC filled the entire J cabin and had an Y cabin empty, they'd still probably make money on that flight.

ACYYZ/SD

Uh huh. It's simply 3rd week of January syndrome.

ACYYZ/SD

Uh huh. It's simply 3rd week of January syndrome. Probably why AF, LH and others cut frequency.

chaptwo

It's a good call. I am a bit of CBC TV Zombie and I didn't see anyone noticeable. They could be producers. I heard Andi Petrillo quoting a YYZ-AMS-DME airport run there, and DME-CDG-YYZ on her return from Sochi when she was on radio in Toronto last week.

yyznomad

Heck, maybe they are all last second nominees of SEs burning up some eUps? Could be a zillion reasons.

DaveTO

I remember that they gave all participants in the Vancouver Olympics and Paraolympics Elite status (back when it meant something).

chaptwo

Appreciate all the answers. Managed to clear my upgrade for my return.

todd-r

And here I thought that when I was on flight that both Syd the Kid and Alex Bilodeau were also on, that AC UG'd them for their Gold Medal achievement.