Originally Posted by CloudsBelow

Late to the game but just wanted to thank you for weighing in here. I know you're a busy guy. It is appreciated.

PS - Re: 77W MTOW increase ....... Is this the increase TO 775K on the back of the 77X work? Or even higher? What an incredible machine.

Originally Posted by danapop

Ben(z),

As a YEGer, I would love to see some direct transboarder routes even on rouge. Westjet has a monopoly in routes like YEG-LAS that are consistently sold out and fares run at a premium. My last WS YEG-LAS fare was $880 return. (On AC in J with a cx in YVR it was only $1100 - but my lovely wife doesn't have the same affection for 'creative' routings that I do.

Second, what is the future of YEG-LHR is the 767s are all supposed to be sent to rouge?

Cheers and thanks for participating.

D

Originally Posted by Ben Lipsey

Aeroplan doesn't buy their redemption tickets on OAL from AC, they buy them from the OAL directly. They are our biggest customer because they buy a lot of redemption tickets directly from us, but the only tickets they buy from us are for flights that we operate.

Originally Posted by kwflyer

Speaking of meals/drinks Ben,

WJ now offers complimentary Beer and Wine on their ever expanding encore routes and open bar on their rapidair and NYC routes.

PD offers complimentary Beer and Wine on all routes (Jackson Triggs VQA is excellent). WG offers complimentary wine with your complimentary meal (domestically) and free champagne to Caribbean destinations (on top of your of the complimentary wine/meal).

We will see AC realigning their beverage policy to match these small offerings to maintain competitive and commercial success?

Also, I understand Molson is now their beer provider in all MLL's and due to realignment reasons had to standardize beverage choice offerings across all lounges. Rickard's products are also owned by Molson and distributed in all markets served by MLL's. What are the chances of getting Rickards products standardized across all MLL's to provide a higher standard of beverage offerings without compromising your existing Molson contract?

Originally Posted by superangrypenguin

Hey Ben,

Love your responses. I'll keep this quick and keep my fingers crossed you'll answer this

We've lost the USAir lounge in CLT as a *G lounge so now there is no lounge in CLT for *G members. Also, the UA lounge for DFW is in a different terminal when going from DFW to YYZ...as an example. Anything you can share?

I'll second the request for meals preorder. I've resorted to instant noodles and the new sushi in Y because the 4 meals...well I get the uneasy feeling now due to the amounts I have consumed as I only fly domestic, haha!

PS thanks for looking into the creamers issue for NLML and VOML! As for priority boarding, my only opinion is that there should be a separation between altitude members....there are a TON of E35K members...little blue tags are everywhere! haha

Originally Posted by LittleYHZ

Something else I'd be curious to ask - because its known that it is going to happen - but when should we expect to find out about new routes re rouge or mainline? / If when it expands to cover southern destinations from other Canadian cities. I'm not going to lie - unlike many around here I'd rather not connect - I love the flying experience - but Ill take a non stop (okay Im 5 9) over a connector any day. (And yes, I will pay more for it...)

Originally Posted by exbayern

While I can appreciate this, the product, combined with the apparently new policy of only permitting J (not C, not D, not Z, as per the other thread) to prebook the single seats means that my revenue has gone elsewhere. As you note, France based flyers have many options (and frankly, they seem to be increasing this year). I have revisited mine, and chosen what works best for me. I do sincerely wish AC luck in increasing revenue on this route, but my revenue wont be contributing to it in future.

Originally Posted by zackery149

Based in YXE, a retiree, who travels to Brasil, I was pleased to see this. Knocks 5 to 6 hours off my travel time.

Any plans to switch this to Rouge? Have bought two business class trips for 2015 so far, would be a customer for more if the route remains with lie-flat J. My back could just not tolerate 10 plus hours.

Also, would love to see a Latitude S. America flight pass.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Ben Smith

I said paid J not J booking class only.

Originally Posted by rehoult

The way it's loaded, only J fare is allowing it. If you try a booking using lowest business on AC.com it'll show them all blocked. Select flexible business and they all open up.

If it's supposed to be all paid business fares and not just J someone should go fix that.

Originally Posted by flybit

Same here after years of getting double status I have just a few months ago bailed from AC. Reality is I gave up on SE status many years ago, but often tossed AC some bones to get 35/50k status.
1K is a far better option. And at 1MM you gift the status you have 1k not gold
someone earlier in this thread asked for 2MM to be improved at Air Canada. YYZPRINCESS, how does UA and AC 2MM compare.
I have also decided to abandon AC even thought I have 800k in lifetime miles. I guess I am going to go for UA 2MM because I am at 1.6MM, amazing because I have at least 8 1k that were all SE's.
Ben you are losing way to many SE customers with all these cuts. If a person is not stuck flying in Canada the other airline programs kill AC SE. The other thing I think AC forgets, every lost SE takes a lot of customers with them.

Originally Posted by theseatbelt

For YYZ luggage claims (domestic), are there anything being done about the slowness of getting luggage on to the baggage claim area? it's one of the worst airports for luggage claims and one reason why I hate checking luggage to YYZ

Also at least in YYC there is a countdown timer estimating the time it will take for luggage to arrive. Can that be implemented in YYZ?

Originally Posted by Ben Lipsey

This is more of a question for the GTAA than AC, but obviously we work closely with them. This is a common issue and we are working on ways to resolve it.

Originally Posted by WR Cage

Let's talk YYC service.

Thanks for your response on YYC-IAH regarding the CRA equip. IIRC the CRA equipment does a V routing YYZ-IAH-YYC and reverse. Therefore is it possible to put Sky regional E75 onto the run. This would comply with the teamsters restrictions regarding IAH. While I like the CRA, I think this aircraft is better fit for the under 2hr routes. Based in reviews from around the office (HQ in YYC and significant offices in IAH and AUS) moving to the Embraer would put AC on more competitive footing.

Also, is there any possibility of getting AC onto the UA hubs out of YYC? Specifically DEN, ORD, and SFO. I would even appreciate rouge service in SFO route. Looking at DEN there is a strong connection between the two cities with many YYC based companies with regional offices in the Denver area (Encana, Agrium, and Suncor come to mind but there are many others). For my little midsize energy services company, our USA headquarters is in Denver. Most people in my office prefer the CRA over the UAX CR7, while I am not advocating replacement of UA mainline service, augmenting the route with CRA would be an improvement and would drive YYC based traffic to AC express over UAX.

For YYC Hawaii flts, when can we expect to see rouge on the run. If I need to do a year end mileage run, premium rouge earn rate to UA is very good, but I would need to see an early (ie July) commitment as to putting rouge 763 onto Hawaii.

AC used to offer once per week service YYC-MBJ and I believe YYC-CUN was operated by the 763. Is there any possibility of getting these services with rouge? Premium rouge with a Sandals all inclusive package through ACV would be a compelling value proposition.

Finally what are the next steps for YYC-FRA? LH tried the run and tanked, but then heard from many people that LH c class was inferior to AC J class. We now have the 77W for the summer. Is there ever a possibility of getting a Double daily option onto the route? Problem i see with double daily is that AC might not have the right aircraft, is the 788 too many seats to go double daily? Double daily 763 is a natural growth from single daily 333 and alternative to 77W if your have the slots, but the 788 is just over 500 seats at double daily.

What is achievable from YYC perspective for enhanced AC services?

Originally Posted by RCyyz

It's AC personnel who unload the bags from the aircraft, then drive them to the belt. It's also AC personnel who load the bags from the bins onto the belt.

GTAA builds and maintains the belts.

So how is this a GTAA issue?