Limo service at YYZ for domestic to international transfers
Aug 17, 2015, 1:32 pm
#136
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,768
I was flying YYC-YYZ-AMS, P fare + traveling companion, also S100K and P fare. Flight was 1h+ delayed from YYC but still had 2h in YYZ.
At the gate there was a concierge waiting with signboard.
... but not for us. Ugh! Waiting for another S100K with his wife (50K). BTW there were no other SEs on the flight.
BUT - they walked anyways - so in that case I would have preferred being alone in any case. Only nice thing was they got waved into the lounge while we were waiting in a LONG line-up... That was really, really lame. (and before anyone says - they had enough time to go to the lounge and did not miss their original flight)
Typical AC - not uniform and the way they do it is super annoying.
At the gate there was a concierge waiting with signboard.
... but not for us. Ugh! Waiting for another S100K with his wife (50K). BTW there were no other SEs on the flight.
BUT - they walked anyways - so in that case I would have preferred being alone in any case. Only nice thing was they got waved into the lounge while we were waiting in a LONG line-up... That was really, really lame. (and before anyone says - they had enough time to go to the lounge and did not miss their original flight)
Typical AC - not uniform and the way they do it is super annoying.
Aug 17, 2015, 1:49 pm
#137
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: AC SE 2MM, too many others
Posts: 1,408
You know, it is a nice thing (though I suppose we can all have views about who gets picked for it), but I actually find it a bit embarrassing. Not sure I would do it if I was with a work colleague and even my family would make fun of me.
Aug 17, 2015, 10:26 pm
#138
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 94
So I got this service a couple weeks ago flying YVR-YYZ-FRA, I had no idea what was going on (hadn't read this thread before). It was exactly like everyone described, getting off the plane from YVR, concierge waiting with an iPad with my name on it, walked down to the tarmac area where they drive the luggage around, got in a BMW and was driven to international, then escorted straight into the lounge past the lineup. Was a very pleasant and surprising experience.
A couple of more details:
- When I told the Concierge that 2 of my colleagues were also on the flight so she agreed to bring them along as well. She pointed out they weren't listed as travelling with me, but agreed to it anyways. I thought that was pretty cool.
- We asked if this was a service you could pay for (not that we would, but we were curious), and she told us no. It can't be booked in advance, it's by AC invitation only.
- I asked why was I chosen (I'm only E50K), and she said they when they do offer it, they pick a high-value customer, and I was one for that flight. I asked what 'value' meant, did that mean $$$ or something else. In an roundabout way, she basically said I(or more accurately, my employer) paid a lot for my ticket. This made sense, since my ticket had been purchased last minute, and only the *very* expensive J seats were left.
So it seems to me, from what the concierge said and my own details (only E50K this year, nothing the year before, and only E35K in the past) that this service is picked primarily based on what you paid for your tickets on that flight alone.
It was a nice experience, but before you get too jealous
, when I got to FRA, I found out my luggage (and both my colleagues') didn't make it out of YYZ... 
A couple of more details:
- When I told the Concierge that 2 of my colleagues were also on the flight so she agreed to bring them along as well. She pointed out they weren't listed as travelling with me, but agreed to it anyways. I thought that was pretty cool.
- We asked if this was a service you could pay for (not that we would, but we were curious), and she told us no. It can't be booked in advance, it's by AC invitation only.
- I asked why was I chosen (I'm only E50K), and she said they when they do offer it, they pick a high-value customer, and I was one for that flight. I asked what 'value' meant, did that mean $$$ or something else. In an roundabout way, she basically said I(or more accurately, my employer) paid a lot for my ticket. This made sense, since my ticket had been purchased last minute, and only the *very* expensive J seats were left.
So it seems to me, from what the concierge said and my own details (only E50K this year, nothing the year before, and only E35K in the past) that this service is picked primarily based on what you paid for your tickets on that flight alone.
It was a nice experience, but before you get too jealous
, when I got to FRA, I found out my luggage (and both my colleagues') didn't make it out of YYZ...
Aug 17, 2015, 10:53 pm
#139
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,354
Aug 18, 2015, 9:54 am
#140
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
.....I asked why was I chosen (I'm only E50K), and she said they when they do offer it, they pick a high-value customer, and I was one for that flight. I asked what 'value' meant, did that mean $$$ or something else. In an roundabout way, she basically said I(or more accurately, my employer) paid a lot for my ticket. This made sense, since my ticket had been purchased last minute, and only the *very* expensive J seats were left.
......It was a nice experience, but before you get too jealous, when I got to FRA, I found out my luggage (and both my colleagues') didn't make it out of YYZ...
......It was a nice experience, but before you get too jealous
, when I got to FRA, I found out my luggage (and both my colleagues') didn't make it out of YYZ... 1. Lucky you and your colleagues
2. Not so lucky you and your colleagues
Given how much your employer paid for your seat (s), I imagine, along with you getting to your destination, there was also the expectation that all of your luggage would arrive with you.
So how are the words "high-value customer", "last-minute most expensive J fares" and "luggage did not make it" viewed from a customer experience standpoint?
.
Last edited by 24left; Aug 18, 2015 at 12:01 pm Reason: grammar
Aug 21, 2015, 4:11 am
#143
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: sqrt(-united states of apologist)
Programs: *$ Green
Posts: 5,403
Aug 21, 2015, 4:19 am
#144
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mississauga Ontario
Posts: 4,105
I can't wait for the "I got offerred the ride, but my 7 travelling companions were not invited on; is Air Canada run by humans or robots" comment thread...
Aug 21, 2015, 5:29 am
#145
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ, MNL, WAW
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Lifetime Plat, (now an AC nobody)
Posts: 1,978
Aug 21, 2015, 6:14 am
#146
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: sqrt(-united states of apologist)
Programs: *$ Green
Posts: 5,403
I got offered the ride, but my 7 travelling companions were not invited on; is Air Canada run by humans or robots?
Aug 21, 2015, 9:27 am
#147
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E50K, NEXUS
Posts: 645
Mine's not a 'vert. It's a manual coupe. Similar to this.
Aug 21, 2015, 1:21 pm
#148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
I was flying YYC-YYZ-AMS, P fare + traveling companion, also S100K and P fare. Flight was 1h+ delayed from YYC but still had 2h in YYZ.
At the gate there was a concierge waiting with signboard.
... but not for us. Ugh! Waiting for another S100K with his wife (50K). BTW there were no other SEs on the flight.
BUT - they walked anyways - so in that case I would have preferred being alone in any case. Only nice thing was they got waved into the lounge while we were waiting in a LONG line-up... That was really, really lame. (and before anyone says - they had enough time to go to the lounge and did not miss their original flight)
Typical AC - not uniform and the way they do it is super annoying.
At the gate there was a concierge waiting with signboard.
... but not for us. Ugh! Waiting for another S100K with his wife (50K). BTW there were no other SEs on the flight.
BUT - they walked anyways - so in that case I would have preferred being alone in any case. Only nice thing was they got waved into the lounge while we were waiting in a LONG line-up... That was really, really lame. (and before anyone says - they had enough time to go to the lounge and did not miss their original flight)
Typical AC - not uniform and the way they do it is super annoying.
The reality, this is geared towards VIPs only... and not to pump your tires, but I would consider you a VIP... but then again, the treatment that Mr. Perlman got upon arrival at YYZ tells me that they think Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian is VIP over him.
(that is my opinion and my opinion only)I can see why they don't do this service for SEs in general (maybe at least 3 Million Milers could be accommodated?) as it will probably be abused to heck aside from the lack of resources to shuttle every SE from domestic to international.
(I probably get nothing for my honest POV assessment of AC here. The AC lurkers know who I am - I continue to give AC my business because I am fine with them - but I will definitely give criticism where I believe it is warranted, and I will give 10 out of 10s when I believe it is warranted.)
Last edited by tcook052; Aug 21, 2015 at 3:50 pm Reason: merge separate posts
Nov 22, 2015, 7:59 pm
#149
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SEMM; AA,DL, Hyatt and Starwood. Ex-status:SQ PPS,CSA,Hilton,AA,UA
Posts: 743
New YYZ dom-intl concierge "valet car service"?
Anyone else experienced this yet?
As usual, got off in YYZ from YOW, ready to schlep over to the intl gates. Found a (fairly new) concierge waiting for me with a sign with my name on it, that as a SE MM was "randomly selected" for a new valet car service dom-intl. Got driven in a car on the tarmac straight to the Intl MLL lounge, skipping the long walk, the doorways, and the various ticket checks en route. Took about 5 mins total.
Concierge said they would be ramping it up over time, and that SE (or maybe SE MMs, not sure) would be "randomly selected" for it, i.e. sometimes one might find a concierge waiting for you to make it happen, but not something you can ask for.
Seems to be taking a page out of Lufthansa's book. Vaguely pleasant, and saved a bit of time. However to be worthwhile or affect my loyalty would have to become regular and fairly dependable, or at least available on demand when one has a tight connection.
Nevertheless an indication that AC is experimenting with various things to make SEs feel special.
As usual, got off in YYZ from YOW, ready to schlep over to the intl gates. Found a (fairly new) concierge waiting for me with a sign with my name on it, that as a SE MM was "randomly selected" for a new valet car service dom-intl. Got driven in a car on the tarmac straight to the Intl MLL lounge, skipping the long walk, the doorways, and the various ticket checks en route. Took about 5 mins total.
Concierge said they would be ramping it up over time, and that SE (or maybe SE MMs, not sure) would be "randomly selected" for it, i.e. sometimes one might find a concierge waiting for you to make it happen, but not something you can ask for.
Seems to be taking a page out of Lufthansa's book. Vaguely pleasant, and saved a bit of time. However to be worthwhile or affect my loyalty would have to become regular and fairly dependable, or at least available on demand when one has a tight connection.
Nevertheless an indication that AC is experimenting with various things to make SEs feel special.
Nov 22, 2015, 8:11 pm
#150
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
Anyone else experienced this yet?
As usual, got off in YYZ from YOW, ready to schlep over to the intl gates. Found a (fairly new) concierge waiting for me with a sign with my name on it, that as a SE MM was "randomly selected" for a new valet car service dom-intl. Got driven in a car on the tarmac straight to the Intl MLL lounge, skipping the long walk, the doorways, and the various ticket checks en route. Took about 5 mins total.
Concierge said they would be ramping it up over time, and that SE (or maybe SE MMs, not sure) would be "randomly selected" for it, i.e. sometimes one might find a concierge waiting for you to make it happen, but not something you can ask for.
Seems to be taking a page out of Lufthansa's book. Vaguely pleasant, and saved a bit of time. However to be worthwhile or affect my loyalty would have to become regular and fairly dependable, or at least available on demand when one has a tight connection.
Nevertheless an indication that AC is experimenting with various things to make SEs feel special.
As usual, got off in YYZ from YOW, ready to schlep over to the intl gates. Found a (fairly new) concierge waiting for me with a sign with my name on it, that as a SE MM was "randomly selected" for a new valet car service dom-intl. Got driven in a car on the tarmac straight to the Intl MLL lounge, skipping the long walk, the doorways, and the various ticket checks en route. Took about 5 mins total.
Concierge said they would be ramping it up over time, and that SE (or maybe SE MMs, not sure) would be "randomly selected" for it, i.e. sometimes one might find a concierge waiting for you to make it happen, but not something you can ask for.
Seems to be taking a page out of Lufthansa's book. Vaguely pleasant, and saved a bit of time. However to be worthwhile or affect my loyalty would have to become regular and fairly dependable, or at least available on demand when one has a tight connection.
Nevertheless an indication that AC is experimenting with various things to make SEs feel special.