FREE Early Standby for the Edmonton-Calgary-Vancouver Triangle!
Jun 21, 2014, 6:18 pm
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
To me J doesn't really matter on a 1h35-40 minute flight and could be a bad use of eUG (depending on status level and whether or not subject to eUG copay on international.)
Jun 24, 2014, 10:47 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
Bens,
Could you please have someone update your website to announce this change in policy? The fare options page makes no reference of this update (still states Rapidair routes only).
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/oneway/index.html
Could you please have someone update your website to announce this change in policy? The fare options page makes no reference of this update (still states Rapidair routes only).
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/oneway/index.html
Jun 25, 2014, 12:30 pm
#63
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,438
I always have eups expire so I have a policy of always requesting an upgrade if my fare allows it. I usually fly on M fares or higher so its not a lot of credits.
Jun 25, 2014, 2:39 pm
#64
Flying Blue Director
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: CDG/AMS
Posts: 1,864
Bens,
Could you please have someone update your website to announce this change in policy? The fare options page makes no reference of this update (still states Rapidair routes only).
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/oneway/index.html
Could you please have someone update your website to announce this change in policy? The fare options page makes no reference of this update (still states Rapidair routes only).
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/oneway/index.html
Jun 25, 2014, 7:50 pm
#65
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: YYC
Programs: AC*SE100K
Posts: 243
It may not be disclosed on the site but the priority check-in staff at YVR know about the policy change. I successfully caught AC222 (5pm) rather than AC224 (6:30pm) after my meeting let out 45 mins early from YVR-YYC and the AC staff were helpful in getting me changed.
They couldn`t confirm at the check-in counter but put us on standby and we got it at the gate. Apparently it is going to become popular because at least 4 others didn`t make the 5pm (it was only an E90).
So ^ to AC on that policy change.
But, perhaps make the 5pm a 320 or don`t have a 1.5 hour wait to the 630. I can see 222 being the hot ticket on a Friday evening...
They couldn`t confirm at the check-in counter but put us on standby and we got it at the gate. Apparently it is going to become popular because at least 4 others didn`t make the 5pm (it was only an E90).
So ^ to AC on that policy change.
But, perhaps make the 5pm a 320 or don`t have a 1.5 hour wait to the 630. I can see 222 being the hot ticket on a Friday evening...
Jul 1, 2014, 3:42 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
Bens,
Could you please have someone update your website to announce this change in policy? The fare options page makes no reference of this update (still states Rapidair routes only).
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/oneway/index.html
Could you please have someone update your website to announce this change in policy? The fare options page makes no reference of this update (still states Rapidair routes only).
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/oneway/index.html
Jul 11, 2014, 12:41 pm
#67
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
I had my first experience with this yesterday and things did not run smoothly at all...
After this announcement was made, I booked a trip to YVR for several of my colleagues. I specifically put them on AC in Flex knowing that if our meetings ended early we'd be able to standby for free for an earlier flight. There were WS flights available for approximately the same time for the same price as AC's Tango fare.
Our meetings ended early and I dropped my colleagues off at YVR. They are not experienced travellers so I loaded the AC fare options webpage (the one now showing that AC Flex gets free same-day standby between YEG/YYC/YVR). My colleagues went to check-in, and the agent insisted that there is a $75 fee, even after being shown the AC website. Wanting to get home early (and figuring I was mistaken), my colleagues paid the $75 fee and got home earlier. They phoned me to tell me what happened; I wasn't impressed.
A short while later I returned to YVR to catch my flight to YYC. I checked in via OLCI and figured I'd asked to be put on standby at the lounge. The agent said I couldn't be put on stand-by because the flight was oversold. I replied that I was looking for stand-by, not a confirmed same day change. Both lounge agents insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, they eventually found an "exception" somewhere in the system confirming that I was right. By this time a 3rd agent was there and all 3 were astonished that such a change would be made without being communicated internally. They all thanked me for letting them know about this and added me to the standby list.
I got to the gate, the flight was oversold so I asked to be transferred to the next flight. By this time I was joined by another colleague trying to get on the same flight. The gate agent also insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, but that did no good - plus she said that even though the website indicates its allowed, it doesn't say that it is complimentary (she did have a point there).
So, off I went to the customer service desk. Same story, neither of them had a clue about this and said it couldn't be done. I showed the website; the agent asked me to bring it up on her own phone for CYA purposes in case she did this and got in trouble. The customer service desk agents couldn't locate the change (looked for it in something called ac-pedia?).
I went back to the gate to ask the agent a question, and before I said anything she thanked me for letting her know about the change; that she was finally able to find the information about stand-by and added me to the list. She printed off the note to show others and stated that she had been hoping for such a change for a long time. She too was astonished that there was no internal bulletin sent out informing agents of such a big change.
After failing to get on the 1st flight (I also found out that the 2nd flight was oversold as well), I decided not to use the Concierge to get on the stand-by list. I knew I was only going to make the 3rd flight (my original booked flight) and was treating this as an experiment to see if what happened to my colleagues was a one-off incident, or if it was a widespread issue. Clearly, after our experiences this is not an issue of one or two agents not knowing of this change.
Bens, can you please do something to improve knowledge about this?
After this announcement was made, I booked a trip to YVR for several of my colleagues. I specifically put them on AC in Flex knowing that if our meetings ended early we'd be able to standby for free for an earlier flight. There were WS flights available for approximately the same time for the same price as AC's Tango fare.
Our meetings ended early and I dropped my colleagues off at YVR. They are not experienced travellers so I loaded the AC fare options webpage (the one now showing that AC Flex gets free same-day standby between YEG/YYC/YVR). My colleagues went to check-in, and the agent insisted that there is a $75 fee, even after being shown the AC website. Wanting to get home early (and figuring I was mistaken), my colleagues paid the $75 fee and got home earlier. They phoned me to tell me what happened; I wasn't impressed.
A short while later I returned to YVR to catch my flight to YYC. I checked in via OLCI and figured I'd asked to be put on standby at the lounge. The agent said I couldn't be put on stand-by because the flight was oversold. I replied that I was looking for stand-by, not a confirmed same day change. Both lounge agents insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, they eventually found an "exception" somewhere in the system confirming that I was right. By this time a 3rd agent was there and all 3 were astonished that such a change would be made without being communicated internally. They all thanked me for letting them know about this and added me to the standby list.
I got to the gate, the flight was oversold so I asked to be transferred to the next flight. By this time I was joined by another colleague trying to get on the same flight. The gate agent also insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, but that did no good - plus she said that even though the website indicates its allowed, it doesn't say that it is complimentary (she did have a point there).
So, off I went to the customer service desk. Same story, neither of them had a clue about this and said it couldn't be done. I showed the website; the agent asked me to bring it up on her own phone for CYA purposes in case she did this and got in trouble. The customer service desk agents couldn't locate the change (looked for it in something called ac-pedia?).
I went back to the gate to ask the agent a question, and before I said anything she thanked me for letting her know about the change; that she was finally able to find the information about stand-by and added me to the list. She printed off the note to show others and stated that she had been hoping for such a change for a long time. She too was astonished that there was no internal bulletin sent out informing agents of such a big change.
After failing to get on the 1st flight (I also found out that the 2nd flight was oversold as well), I decided not to use the Concierge to get on the stand-by list. I knew I was only going to make the 3rd flight (my original booked flight) and was treating this as an experiment to see if what happened to my colleagues was a one-off incident, or if it was a widespread issue. Clearly, after our experiences this is not an issue of one or two agents not knowing of this change.
Bens, can you please do something to improve knowledge about this?
Jul 11, 2014, 1:17 pm
#68
Flying Blue Director
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: CDG/AMS
Posts: 1,864
I had my first experience with this yesterday and things did not run smoothly at all...
After this announcement was made, I booked a trip to YVR for several of my colleagues. I specifically put them on AC in Flex knowing that if our meetings ended early we'd be able to standby for free for an earlier flight. There were WS flights available for approximately the same time for the same price as AC's Tango fare.
Our meetings ended early and I dropped my colleagues off at YVR. They are not experienced travellers so I loaded the AC fare options webpage (the one now showing that AC Flex gets free same-day standby between YEG/YYC/YVR). My colleagues went to check-in, and the agent insisted that there is a $75 fee, even after being shown the AC website. Wanting to get home early (and figuring I was mistaken), my colleagues paid the $75 fee and got home earlier. They phoned me to tell me what happened; I wasn't impressed.
A short while later I returned to YVR to catch my flight to YYC. I checked in via OLCI and figured I'd asked to be put on standby at the lounge. The agent said I couldn't be put on stand-by because the flight was oversold. I replied that I was looking for stand-by, not a confirmed same day change. Both lounge agents insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, they eventually found an "exception" somewhere in the system confirming that I was right. By this time a 3rd agent was there and all 3 were astonished that such a change would be made without being communicated internally. They all thanked me for letting them know about this and added me to the standby list.
I got to the gate, the flight was oversold so I asked to be transferred to the next flight. By this time I was joined by another colleague trying to get on the same flight. The gate agent also insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, but that did no good - plus she said that even though the website indicates its allowed, it doesn't say that it is complimentary (she did have a point there).
So, off I went to the customer service desk. Same story, neither of them had a clue about this and said it couldn't be done. I showed the website; the agent asked me to bring it up on her own phone for CYA purposes in case she did this and got in trouble. The customer service desk agents couldn't locate the change (looked for it in something called ac-pedia?).
I went back to the gate to ask the agent a question, and before I said anything she thanked me for letting her know about the change; that she was finally able to find the information about stand-by and added me to the list. She printed off the note to show others and stated that she had been hoping for such a change for a long time. She too was astonished that there was no internal bulletin sent out informing agents of such a big change.
After failing to get on the 1st flight (I also found out that the 2nd flight was oversold as well), I decided not to use the Concierge to get on the stand-by list. I knew I was only going to make the 3rd flight (my original booked flight) and was treating this as an experiment to see if what happened to my colleagues was a one-off incident, or if it was a widespread issue. Clearly, after our experiences this is not an issue of one or two agents not knowing of this change.
Bens, can you please do something to improve knowledge about this?
After this announcement was made, I booked a trip to YVR for several of my colleagues. I specifically put them on AC in Flex knowing that if our meetings ended early we'd be able to standby for free for an earlier flight. There were WS flights available for approximately the same time for the same price as AC's Tango fare.
Our meetings ended early and I dropped my colleagues off at YVR. They are not experienced travellers so I loaded the AC fare options webpage (the one now showing that AC Flex gets free same-day standby between YEG/YYC/YVR). My colleagues went to check-in, and the agent insisted that there is a $75 fee, even after being shown the AC website. Wanting to get home early (and figuring I was mistaken), my colleagues paid the $75 fee and got home earlier. They phoned me to tell me what happened; I wasn't impressed.
A short while later I returned to YVR to catch my flight to YYC. I checked in via OLCI and figured I'd asked to be put on standby at the lounge. The agent said I couldn't be put on stand-by because the flight was oversold. I replied that I was looking for stand-by, not a confirmed same day change. Both lounge agents insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, they eventually found an "exception" somewhere in the system confirming that I was right. By this time a 3rd agent was there and all 3 were astonished that such a change would be made without being communicated internally. They all thanked me for letting them know about this and added me to the standby list.
I got to the gate, the flight was oversold so I asked to be transferred to the next flight. By this time I was joined by another colleague trying to get on the same flight. The gate agent also insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, but that did no good - plus she said that even though the website indicates its allowed, it doesn't say that it is complimentary (she did have a point there).
So, off I went to the customer service desk. Same story, neither of them had a clue about this and said it couldn't be done. I showed the website; the agent asked me to bring it up on her own phone for CYA purposes in case she did this and got in trouble. The customer service desk agents couldn't locate the change (looked for it in something called ac-pedia?).
I went back to the gate to ask the agent a question, and before I said anything she thanked me for letting her know about the change; that she was finally able to find the information about stand-by and added me to the list. She printed off the note to show others and stated that she had been hoping for such a change for a long time. She too was astonished that there was no internal bulletin sent out informing agents of such a big change.
After failing to get on the 1st flight (I also found out that the 2nd flight was oversold as well), I decided not to use the Concierge to get on the stand-by list. I knew I was only going to make the 3rd flight (my original booked flight) and was treating this as an experiment to see if what happened to my colleagues was a one-off incident, or if it was a widespread issue. Clearly, after our experiences this is not an issue of one or two agents not knowing of this change.
Bens, can you please do something to improve knowledge about this?
Jul 11, 2014, 2:10 pm
#69
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
Thank you for this account; I really am sorry for the inconvenience you experienced when trying to take advantage of this new change. I will raise it internally and ensure it is communicated. I will just say that the website does say "free of charge" if you click/hover over the question mark bubble next to "Same-day airport standby."
Customers travelling on a Business Class (flexible), Premium Economy (flexible) or Latitude fare may stand by free of charge.
I understand how the chart is supposed to be read, but it can be interpreted differently by others.
Jul 11, 2014, 2:15 pm
#70
Flying Blue Director
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: CDG/AMS
Posts: 1,864
Ah, good point! I'll ask to have that amended.
Jul 15, 2014, 4:54 pm
#71
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: AC*SE/MM; AA/DL*Nobody; SPG Plat; Marriott Rewards Gold
Posts: 14
I had my first experience with this yesterday and things did not run smoothly at all...
After this announcement was made, I booked a trip to YVR for several of my colleagues. I specifically put them on AC in Flex knowing that if our meetings ended early we'd be able to standby for free for an earlier flight. There were WS flights available for approximately the same time for the same price as AC's Tango fare.
Our meetings ended early and I dropped my colleagues off at YVR. They are not experienced travellers so I loaded the AC fare options webpage (the one now showing that AC Flex gets free same-day standby between YEG/YYC/YVR). My colleagues went to check-in, and the agent insisted that there is a $75 fee, even after being shown the AC website. Wanting to get home early (and figuring I was mistaken), my colleagues paid the $75 fee and got home earlier. They phoned me to tell me what happened; I wasn't impressed.
A short while later I returned to YVR to catch my flight to YYC. I checked in via OLCI and figured I'd asked to be put on standby at the lounge. The agent said I couldn't be put on stand-by because the flight was oversold. I replied that I was looking for stand-by, not a confirmed same day change. Both lounge agents insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, they eventually found an "exception" somewhere in the system confirming that I was right. By this time a 3rd agent was there and all 3 were astonished that such a change would be made without being communicated internally. They all thanked me for letting them know about this and added me to the standby list.
I got to the gate, the flight was oversold so I asked to be transferred to the next flight. By this time I was joined by another colleague trying to get on the same flight. The gate agent also insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, but that did no good - plus she said that even though the website indicates its allowed, it doesn't say that it is complimentary (she did have a point there).
So, off I went to the customer service desk. Same story, neither of them had a clue about this and said it couldn't be done. I showed the website; the agent asked me to bring it up on her own phone for CYA purposes in case she did this and got in trouble. The customer service desk agents couldn't locate the change (looked for it in something called ac-pedia?).
I went back to the gate to ask the agent a question, and before I said anything she thanked me for letting her know about the change; that she was finally able to find the information about stand-by and added me to the list. She printed off the note to show others and stated that she had been hoping for such a change for a long time. She too was astonished that there was no internal bulletin sent out informing agents of such a big change.
After failing to get on the 1st flight (I also found out that the 2nd flight was oversold as well), I decided not to use the Concierge to get on the stand-by list. I knew I was only going to make the 3rd flight (my original booked flight) and was treating this as an experiment to see if what happened to my colleagues was a one-off incident, or if it was a widespread issue. Clearly, after our experiences this is not an issue of one or two agents not knowing of this change.
Bens, can you please do something to improve knowledge about this?
After this announcement was made, I booked a trip to YVR for several of my colleagues. I specifically put them on AC in Flex knowing that if our meetings ended early we'd be able to standby for free for an earlier flight. There were WS flights available for approximately the same time for the same price as AC's Tango fare.
Our meetings ended early and I dropped my colleagues off at YVR. They are not experienced travellers so I loaded the AC fare options webpage (the one now showing that AC Flex gets free same-day standby between YEG/YYC/YVR). My colleagues went to check-in, and the agent insisted that there is a $75 fee, even after being shown the AC website. Wanting to get home early (and figuring I was mistaken), my colleagues paid the $75 fee and got home earlier. They phoned me to tell me what happened; I wasn't impressed.
A short while later I returned to YVR to catch my flight to YYC. I checked in via OLCI and figured I'd asked to be put on standby at the lounge. The agent said I couldn't be put on stand-by because the flight was oversold. I replied that I was looking for stand-by, not a confirmed same day change. Both lounge agents insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, they eventually found an "exception" somewhere in the system confirming that I was right. By this time a 3rd agent was there and all 3 were astonished that such a change would be made without being communicated internally. They all thanked me for letting them know about this and added me to the standby list.
I got to the gate, the flight was oversold so I asked to be transferred to the next flight. By this time I was joined by another colleague trying to get on the same flight. The gate agent also insisted that there was no such thing as stand-by for a Flex fare. I showed the website, but that did no good - plus she said that even though the website indicates its allowed, it doesn't say that it is complimentary (she did have a point there).
So, off I went to the customer service desk. Same story, neither of them had a clue about this and said it couldn't be done. I showed the website; the agent asked me to bring it up on her own phone for CYA purposes in case she did this and got in trouble. The customer service desk agents couldn't locate the change (looked for it in something called ac-pedia?).
I went back to the gate to ask the agent a question, and before I said anything she thanked me for letting her know about the change; that she was finally able to find the information about stand-by and added me to the list. She printed off the note to show others and stated that she had been hoping for such a change for a long time. She too was astonished that there was no internal bulletin sent out informing agents of such a big change.
After failing to get on the 1st flight (I also found out that the 2nd flight was oversold as well), I decided not to use the Concierge to get on the stand-by list. I knew I was only going to make the 3rd flight (my original booked flight) and was treating this as an experiment to see if what happened to my colleagues was a one-off incident, or if it was a widespread issue. Clearly, after our experiences this is not an issue of one or two agents not knowing of this change.
Bens, can you please do something to improve knowledge about this?
Nov 17, 2014, 10:46 am
#72
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,342
Just to let you know, the fare rules on the booking confirmation page on aircanada.com (i.e. the confirmation page after the flight is booked) don't reflect the addition of same day standby in the Western triangle. Wording on the booking confirmation page still reflects the old rules:
Same-day standby is available only to passengers travelling on a flight between Toronto and Montreal or Ottawa (connecting flights excluded), as well as to passengers travelling between Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark (EWR) airports.
Same-day standby is available only to passengers travelling on a flight between Toronto and Montreal or Ottawa (connecting flights excluded), as well as to passengers travelling between Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark (EWR) airports.
Nov 17, 2014, 10:56 am
#73
Flying Blue Director
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: CDG/AMS
Posts: 1,864
Just to let you know, the fare rules on the booking confirmation page on aircanada.com (i.e. the confirmation page after the flight is booked) don't reflect the addition of same day standby in the Western triangle. Wording on the booking confirmation page still reflects the old rules:
Same-day standby is available only to passengers travelling on a flight between Toronto and Montreal or Ottawa (connecting flights excluded), as well as to passengers travelling between Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark (EWR) airports.
Same-day standby is available only to passengers travelling on a flight between Toronto and Montreal or Ottawa (connecting flights excluded), as well as to passengers travelling between Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark (EWR) airports.
May 20, 2015, 10:29 am
#74
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: YEGmonton
Programs: AC SEMM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 213
Twice in the last week I sought the earlier flight YEG to YYC. Same agent both times and while successful, I was told that she, "shouldn't be doing this because I'm on a flight pass." I stated that my "M-fare stacks at the top of Flex fares." She politely commented that it had nothing to do with fares it was because I was on a flight pass.
This clearly doesn't align with logic. I will move on, but it is frustrating to still suffer inconsistency in its use. While AC and the Ben's got a major thumbs up from me after instituting my one and only request they really failed to communicate it internally/externally. Even the web page remains unclear today.
This clearly doesn't align with logic. I will move on, but it is frustrating to still suffer inconsistency in its use. While AC and the Ben's got a major thumbs up from me after instituting my one and only request they really failed to communicate it internally/externally. Even the web page remains unclear today.
May 20, 2015, 10:37 am
#75
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 546
I admit I haven't done this in the last few months, but towards the end of last year there definitely was no issue or remarks on using an M flight pass to do this. GA did have to go to some different screen or different menu though to be able to process, which often triggered a comment of "ah, this is a FP". Never in the negative sense of not being allowed.