AC Presence on FT
May 22, 2014, 7:22 pm
#706
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Plat, Aeroplan dDiamond
Posts: 364
In YYZ - I regularly go to lounge and grab a drink in MLL before going down to baggage hall as I know what to expect (with priority tag).
And in both stations AC is first point of contact re: baggage handling. So how is this strictly an AC issue? Plus YYC has a countdown timer (i.e. X mins till bags delivered) which frankly should be norm - AC doesn't run that.
May 22, 2014, 7:27 pm
#707
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,130
FWIW, this issue is being picked up by international outlets - and not in a good way: "If you can manage, do not check luggage when you do fly into Toronto, as it can take 20 to 30 minutes to get your bags.
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/201...and-hockey-mix
As an aside, thanks for taking the time to respond to these queries. ^
May 22, 2014, 7:38 pm
#708
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
Hi Ben and Ben,
I'll understand if you can't answer this, but I thought I would ask anyway just in case. Would it be fair of me to presume if I book into Premium Economy that at last as far as fare class is concerned, I would have a better chance for u/g that if I booked into Y or B?
I'll understand if you can't answer this, but I thought I would ask anyway just in case. Would it be fair of me to presume if I book into Premium Economy that at last as far as fare class is concerned, I would have a better chance for u/g that if I booked into Y or B?
O > Y > B > N > E > M etc...
With Flexible PE giving you a better chance than Y/B, but Lowest PE coming in after Latitude.
I know AC has indicated they can't share full upgrade details, but can you confirm that an SE in Y would get an upgrade over E50K in PE? There have been some reports that PE upgrades are cleared first, discounting status.
May 22, 2014, 7:57 pm
#709
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
You sell J on MCOYYZ. Any chance you could please make lounge arrangements now that AC and UA are not airside of the same security checkpoint? The Delta lounge is contracted by LH and listed by the *A lounge finder, but they won't accept Altitude *G. I could live with airside connector transport but that seems less practical than contracting access.
May 22, 2014, 8:04 pm
#710
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mississauga Ontario
Posts: 4,105
So, if this happens, can we presume your presence here means, "uh-oh"?
May 22, 2014, 8:05 pm
#711
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 252
I know my perspective is different from many on this board as AC is not my primary airline. However, as someone who buys a few TATL full J fares on AC but is not an SE it is frustrating:
1. having no phone/email method to contact the concierges when I need to
2. being treated by disdain by some concierges as a non-SE J passenger
3. not getting my meal choice having paid for a full J fare (as upgraded SEs are served first)
I realise most SEs on this board are quite happy with the status quo but given your comments on AC aspiring to a "premium product" I would be interested in thoughts from the 2 Bens on these 3 points?
1. having no phone/email method to contact the concierges when I need to
2. being treated by disdain by some concierges as a non-SE J passenger
3. not getting my meal choice having paid for a full J fare (as upgraded SEs are served first)
I realise most SEs on this board are quite happy with the status quo but given your comments on AC aspiring to a "premium product" I would be interested in thoughts from the 2 Bens on these 3 points?
May 22, 2014, 8:06 pm
#712
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC 100k, BA
Posts: 47
Thank you for looking into this. I can only reiterate how frustrating it (and tiring) it is to sit waiting for a flight as one or two earlier flights leave for YYJ with empty seats when completing a TATL or TPAC trip. Minimum connection times and common sense mean leaving a connection buffer but more often than not flights arrive on time and we are left sitting at YVR or paying a SDC fee.
May 22, 2014, 8:44 pm
#713
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
Really frustrating pain point if one of the Ben's can look into it. In my personal travels, i've run into this. Let's say I have a $1500 flight credit, and I can squeeze a latitude fair outbound and a flex fare inbound online, i'm right at $1500 (as an example). Once I call into the call center, I get quoted twice or 3x as much as the same B fare for latitude. Then I'll spend 45 minutes to an hour as the agent works with the resources desk, to then finally be able to "honor" the online fare. The main issue is that the B fares online and called in are different $, and the agent, and the customer ends up frustrated as the agent goes...what the heck? 
Please help us with this! Thanks!
Please help us with this! Thanks!
May 22, 2014, 8:45 pm
#714
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: YYZ/YHM/BUF
Programs: AA Plat, HH Gold, MR Plat
Posts: 4,212
There are several additional Caribbean/sun type routes currently flown by mainline that will convert to rouge later this year and then the majority of all new rouge routes will be new growth missions. There will also continue to be new mainline growth missions announcements.
May 22, 2014, 8:48 pm
#715
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
Let's take $ out of it. Anyone who flies a ton (i'm guilty of this as I do only domestic travel at 77000 miles a year), has to "survive" on airplanes. The only feeling I have with point 3 above is "pity" for a SE for the travel. Let them eat what they want....i'll shut up now
May 22, 2014, 9:05 pm
#716
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,918
Assuming competitive pricing are you saying our superior schedule, premium ground products and premium in-flight options hold no value? Plus free movies, in seat power and USB ports)
Our year-round schedules vs WS in the markets you mentioned are far superior plus we offer international configured flights in all 3 of the markets you mentioned.
Our year-round schedules vs WS in the markets you mentioned are far superior plus we offer international configured flights in all 3 of the markets you mentioned.
And when my status lapses next February I'll have even less reason to look at AC first.
Last edited by Sopwith; May 22, 2014 at 9:11 pm
May 22, 2014, 9:19 pm
#717
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,521
I was delighted to have one of my bags come down the belt first. Then there were no bags for 7.5 mins! (Yes, I timed it.) What could possibly have been happening in the mysterious luggage hole for 7.5 mins since the bags were obviously there? Anyhow, my second bag never showed up, so had to wait for all the bags to offload before I could file a lost baggage claim. I can't win even when my bag comes off first.
May 22, 2014, 9:39 pm
#718
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,706
Why:
1) It's a real value for the frequent travellers, and those are the ones most likely to buy Flex fares.
2) If they said only with no checked luggage, it would eliminate the cost and concern of doing a stand-by
3) It would actually help reduce the number of seats on later flights, opening up seats for flights that misconnect, reducing costs for AC with VDB.
I actually think this change, if done systemwide, would actually reduce AC's SG&A, not increase it (point 3). It would also be a HUGE benefit and warmly welcome by frequent flyers.
May 22, 2014, 9:57 pm
#719
Flying Blue Director
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: CDG/AMS
Posts: 1,864
They don't buy through AC, but they ticket through us (as they don't have ticketing rights not being an IATA carrier).
May 22, 2014, 11:20 pm
#720
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YYJ - Victoria
Programs: E50K
Posts: 453
Thank you for looking into this. I can only reiterate how frustrating it (and tiring) it is to sit waiting for a flight as one or two earlier flights leave for YYJ with empty seats when completing a TATL or TPAC trip. Minimum connection times and common sense mean leaving a connection buffer but more often than not flights arrive on time and we are left sitting at YVR or paying a SDC fee.