Have you noticed a decrease in service on E90s after the 1:50 change??
 

Yes. Ben Smith and I have talked about this, he believes that AC can get it right one day.

But after today's E90 flight and others, YYZ to YYC or whatever, PLH flights, I have the opinion that the E90 service blows because there's only 2 FA's.

What are your thoughts?

Yes, I am referring to business class service

I think you should go work for AC. Read into that as much as you like. :)

Yes, in flight service is compromised. Who would have expected otherwise especially with shorter flights.

Could you elaborate a bit on what real impact it had on you in j?
My experience in J has been fine, it's a small cabin. Y probably suffers.

I have done about 9 E90 flights in November. Either YUL - YYC or YYC - YUL or YOW - YYC etc (you get the idea no short hops).

All in J, Service has been great on all of them. No issues.

Cannot comment on Y.

The FA agreement ratified last week is increasing FAs on specific E90 routes back to 3. But it will only apply to flights of a certain stage length, I can't remember which. It is on the union's website if anyone wants to check.

Definitely a reduction in service on TCONs (e.g. YYC-EWR). Short-haul like LGA-YYZ, no issue.

Well, there are two issues to consider here

1. Quality of service: In itself, I have not notice a significant difference in the quality of service in J on whether this is an E90 or Airbus on PLH or select Rapidair Routes (such as YOW-YYZ).

2. Actual J service (eg: Food): As we know, this is where the real difference is. On PLH flights, the food service is different (with no cookies and Ice cream on PLH flights). E90s are also the primary reason why all YOW-YYZ flights have the fruit plate as a breakfast offering, rather than the old omelette. Given their layout (oven in the back) and with only 2 FAs, it is nearly impossible to do a hot meal service on short-haul flights

Wait, really? I literally just flew YOW YYZ yesterday, the SD gave out the cheese plates and did a round of drinks, and then was in Y for the rest of the flight. I don't blame him at all, and it's understandable, but even on a rapidair I'm like....where did he go? (as in I noticed a difference....)

I have flown YYZ/ORD and YYZ/YOW in J and not noticed any difference. As for Y service on those a/c, ? ;):D

Even with 3 (which will shortly be reinstated on certain flights) the 190 & the placement of a single oven in the rear never was suitable for PLH and the constant relaying of food from aft>front combined with Y BOB requirements. Keeping the SD hovering in J for 9 pax never seemed like a fair distribution of the workload aboard this aircraft. Regardless of the crew complement, most of us would and will assist in Y.

And you wouldn't. The time frame of these flights allows for a quick snack/meal and a drink.

Short haul I can't say I've seen any difference, but I just flew YYZ-YMM on the recently downgauged E90 route, it was fine. Flight was totally full, I got bumped to J (saved myself 15 credits) and outside of not getting my food choice I can't say I had any issues. Didn't get my food choice cuz I passed out while she asked I guess, stupid me. The beef was ok though and maybe because others were sleeping but I got good service and lots of attention. My drink never really went ignored which was the biggest thing for me. Can't stand when on a long-ish flight you get like 2 drinks then they disappear.

I went to check. It's in Appendix A, which of course wasn't posted such that I would find :) . However, there are a number of changes that are certainly interesting. The union got itself a decent contract despite some of the negative comments and there were a lot of improvements and increases.

- I did see that the minimum FA complement has been reduced to 4 from 5 on the AB 321. This received a specific mention in the CA. I suppose it must have been more contentious than the E series changes.
- You do not need to feel sorry for your FA having stiff muscles after any E flights flight because he or she will be now be able to claim an $80 reimbursement per massage subject to a cap of $800.
- Pay attention to the meal offers on all of your flights and be sure to order when you can. As of Jan. 2016 crew meals will be paid, rather than boarded on domestic and cross border. I have a feeling we may see crews scavenging for food if hungry and I wouldn't be surprised if some J pax might miss a meal "by accident" or because they were "sleeping". Missed meal incidents will be more noticeable on the smaller planes like the E90 service since fewer meals will be loaded.

I didn't realize that the CUPE vote was very, very close, split down the middle as the union president says. 50.4 per cent voted yes, compared with 49.6 per cent who voted no. I would expect to see some unhappiness percolate in a few years.

My thoughts are unchanged for the past 6-7 years; The E90 should not be on stage lengths greater than 2.5 hours for the following reasons:
- Worst J seats in the fleet (cause they are the smallest).
- On first delivery no ovens, now one oven the back where J service can be compromised.
- Best Y seats in the fleet. This makes the pax economics of upgrading or paying for J class a poor proposition.
- The E90 has its place in the fleet, routes with little to no paid J demand and routes less than 2 hours. Its great on the transborder, Atlantic Canada, Western Canada routes. Poor cousin for Airbus narrowbody on Transcon and high paid J demand routes.

Service reduction on E90 is also noticeable in Y. There are the times when there is only one FA in the cabin, plus there is a lot more FA prep time to get the J trolleys from the back. This is noticeable by aft cabin Y pax because it takes a long time to get service. On recent YVR-YYC runs; I routinely get drink and snack service at row 33 while looking out the window seeing the lights of Northwest Calgary.