Dec 2, 2017, 8:59 pm
Last edit by: canadiancow
As per AC Signature Suite page - July 2, 2021
* Air Canada Signature Class customers travelling on an Air Canada-operated flight (to Europe, Asia and South America) originally booked and ticketed in the following booking classes will be eligible for access to the Air Canada Signature Suite: J, C, D, Z, P. Only Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Flexible Reward or a First Class Flexible Reward in J, C, D, Z, P, I booking classes are eligible for access. All bookings in R class (including, but not limited to, eUpgrades, Last-Minute Upgrades, and AC Bid Upgrades), Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Lowest Reward or a First Class Lowest Reward, Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, Business Class flight rewards booked and ticketed by partner airlines, and I (including Star Alliance Upgrade Awards), as well as bookings made during irregular operations where the customer was not originally booked and confirmed in one of the eligible booking classes, will be excluded. Eligible customers may not invite guests. Access to the Air Canada Signature Suite is not available to customers travelling on promotional tickets or employees.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/premium-services/signature-suite.html
canadiancow's photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/0nui9iIVxRH5nczi1
Video of Signature Suite along with menus and food shots. https://youtu.be/QDdKM735n3k
* Air Canada Signature Class customers travelling on an Air Canada-operated flight (to Europe, Asia and South America) originally booked and ticketed in the following booking classes will be eligible for access to the Air Canada Signature Suite: J, C, D, Z, P. Only Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Flexible Reward or a First Class Flexible Reward in J, C, D, Z, P, I booking classes are eligible for access. All bookings in R class (including, but not limited to, eUpgrades, Last-Minute Upgrades, and AC Bid Upgrades), Aeroplan flight rewards booked as a Business Class Lowest Reward or a First Class Lowest Reward, Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, Business Class flight rewards booked and ticketed by partner airlines, and I (including Star Alliance Upgrade Awards), as well as bookings made during irregular operations where the customer was not originally booked and confirmed in one of the eligible booking classes, will be excluded. Eligible customers may not invite guests. Access to the Air Canada Signature Suite is not available to customers travelling on promotional tickets or employees.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/premium-services/signature-suite.html
canadiancow's photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/0nui9iIVxRH5nczi1
Video of Signature Suite along with menus and food shots. https://youtu.be/QDdKM735n3k
New VIP lounge YYZ int'l: Air Canada Signature Suite
Feb 19, 2018, 4:28 pm
#1066
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OGG, YYC
Programs: AA, AC
Posts: 3,697
It was a mistake fare. I booked three. It's an anomaly in the sense that of the millions of published fares, most aren't like this. But intercontinental J on AC at under 10 US cents per mile is a very regular occurrence. 5 US cents per mile occurs at least annually on routes that are worth my time to book.
But that's exactly my point. AC doesn't even want these fares to exist. They certainly don't want me in the SS on them. But they made their rules simple, so I'm allowed in.
In general, these access requirements do what they want. They're simple to understand ("Buy business class on Air Canada and you have access"), and generally only available on expensive tickets. They're not available on all expensive tickets (full O/Y come to mind), and they're not only available on expensive tickets (see my above example), but it's a SIMPLE way of limiting access.
If they could let in every MM who has spent over 5 million lifetime dollars on AC, I'm sure they would. But that data is hard (or impossible) to get, and hard to communicate.
I've seen more people get turned away from the SS then I've watched enter (bearing in mind I was't standing at the door all day watching - this was just what happened in front of me). But at least it's simple. "You didn't buy business class, you upgraded" or "You didn't buy business class, you used miles" or "You're not flying Air Canada".
I bet if they started allowing SEs in, it would take all of 48 hours before someone came here whining that their guest was not allowed in. "I'm SE I should be allowed a guest".
Here's my proposal: SEs in paid J can guest one person in I class. Probably won't ever make a difference to me, but it solves the "legitimate" issue several have mentioned, where they buy J and fly their spouse on points.
But that's exactly my point. AC doesn't even want these fares to exist. They certainly don't want me in the SS on them. But they made their rules simple, so I'm allowed in.
In general, these access requirements do what they want. They're simple to understand ("Buy business class on Air Canada and you have access"), and generally only available on expensive tickets. They're not available on all expensive tickets (full O/Y come to mind), and they're not only available on expensive tickets (see my above example), but it's a SIMPLE way of limiting access.
If they could let in every MM who has spent over 5 million lifetime dollars on AC, I'm sure they would. But that data is hard (or impossible) to get, and hard to communicate.
I've seen more people get turned away from the SS then I've watched enter (bearing in mind I was't standing at the door all day watching - this was just what happened in front of me). But at least it's simple. "You didn't buy business class, you upgraded" or "You didn't buy business class, you used miles" or "You're not flying Air Canada".
I bet if they started allowing SEs in, it would take all of 48 hours before someone came here whining that their guest was not allowed in. "I'm SE I should be allowed a guest".
Here's my proposal: SEs in paid J can guest one person in I class. Probably won't ever make a difference to me, but it solves the "legitimate" issue several have mentioned, where they buy J and fly their spouse on points.
But you made a spelling error. A rare occurrence for you
Feb 20, 2018, 9:23 am
#1067
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K *G
Posts: 62
Can we all agree that the SS entry policy is driven more by logistical concerns than lifetime customer value. There are probably >10k SEs floating around, any number of which may be flying internationally on a given day. On the other hand, AC knows exactly how many Intl J seats it has flying out each night and how they are distributed time-wise. Thus it's an easy Operations Management 101 problem to solve. While I am sure they value exalted SEMMs very much, letting them into the SS introduces a high degree of variability that makes the problem very much harder to solve. It's probably as simple as that.
Or maybe this is just me rationalizing to myself why awards and upgrades may soon be allowed...
Or maybe this is just me rationalizing to myself why awards and upgrades may soon be allowed...
Feb 20, 2018, 10:51 am
#1068
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
Actually, at its max several years ago, there were roughly 8K SEs... now it is much, much less...
But yes, I agree - and as a SE 2MM right now, I don't have any issue with the SSL entry policy (I don't always buy J - quite often Lat for international).
But yes, I agree - and as a SE 2MM right now, I don't have any issue with the SSL entry policy (I don't always buy J - quite often Lat for international).
Feb 20, 2018, 11:02 am
#1069
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC 50k 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,402
Inquiring minds want to know: how many now (roughly)? And how do you know?
Feb 20, 2018, 11:04 am
#1070
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
Feb 20, 2018, 11:25 am
#1071
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K *G
Posts: 62
How many AP Elite and SuperElite?
Feb 20, 2018, 11:47 am
#1072
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
Indeed. FWIW, I had a quick look through this thread before posting that number.
How many AP Elite and SuperElite?
How many AP Elite and SuperElite?
Feb 20, 2018, 12:01 pm
#1073
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC 50k 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,402
I was also curious if you had a firm data point (even if just the word of a concierge) that the number is way down.
Feb 20, 2018, 4:03 pm
#1074
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,570
On EYW, I'm in position #304 , tied with others, but on page 78 of 10 names each., so around 780th if we count like sane people. Call it 800th. I bought WiFi a few times and selected a particular routing on an otherwise regular trip, but made no effort to fly more during that window. I got no badges from any other partners but AC and GoGo. My natural flying pattern puts me in that window of time, at about the 800th most FF on AC. (obviously this would be higher, people crediting cars and hotels , etc to EYW). Assume everyone ahead of me is an SE (not necessarily true).
(for the record, you need to get to page 2432 before you get to people who did more than just sign up, and 3110 pages of total participants)
I had, in 2017 98k AQM, 143 AQS and 28k AQD. That is weekly RT travel in NA. Lots of opportunity to fly less but further, or shorter and more frequent and hops.
If I'm about average SE, there are about 800 SEs who flew less then me during EYW. This would suggest around 1600 SE's. Assume only half of the SEs bothered to sign up, so 3200 SE's. Further assume that its a slow season (which we know it is, even if I'd otherwise argue SEs are usually not tourist travelers). 6400 SE's. Fudge factor based on these OOMA assumptions, 12,800 SEs, max.
I'd not be surprised if the actual count of SE's was ~6000.
(for the record, you need to get to page 2432 before you get to people who did more than just sign up, and 3110 pages of total participants)
I had, in 2017 98k AQM, 143 AQS and 28k AQD. That is weekly RT travel in NA. Lots of opportunity to fly less but further, or shorter and more frequent and hops.
If I'm about average SE, there are about 800 SEs who flew less then me during EYW. This would suggest around 1600 SE's. Assume only half of the SEs bothered to sign up, so 3200 SE's. Further assume that its a slow season (which we know it is, even if I'd otherwise argue SEs are usually not tourist travelers). 6400 SE's. Fudge factor based on these OOMA assumptions, 12,800 SEs, max.
I'd not be surprised if the actual count of SE's was ~6000.
Feb 25, 2018, 3:03 pm
#1076
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,551
I’m in my way to FRA. Just changed companies so no J TATL for me 
. PE is however very nice . The YYZ INTL MLL was only 30% full. If this is a result of the signature suite, this is a good thing.
. PE is however very nice . The YYZ INTL MLL was only 30% full. If this is a result of the signature suite, this is a good thing.
Feb 25, 2018, 4:22 pm
#1077
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: AC-SEMM, AA-Gold
Posts: 962
I would say that in the last 5 years since the start of that thread the number of SEs has tripled closer to 18-20K. Also,
being a MM is no longer a rare event, there are many million milers and on a recent flight, the service director told me that there were 7
Now, YYZNomad at 2 Million is definitely rarer as is a fellow that works at one of our banks with a lot of Latin American business has been a 3 MM for several years
being a MM is no longer a rare event, there are many million milers and on a recent flight, the service director told me that there were 7
Now, YYZNomad at 2 Million is definitely rarer as is a fellow that works at one of our banks with a lot of Latin American business has been a 3 MM for several years
Feb 25, 2018, 5:37 pm
#1078
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YUL
Programs: ✈ AC 1MM / S100K - SPG Lifetime Platinum = BONVoY Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,496
Time to buy a plane. Lol
Feb 25, 2018, 5:41 pm
#1079
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium Elite, Accor Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 349
I would say that in the last 5 years since the start of that thread the number of SEs has tripled closer to 18-20K. Also,
being a MM is no longer a rare event, there are many million milers and on a recent flight, the service director told me that there were 7
Now, YYZNomad at 2 Million is definitely rarer as is a fellow that works at one of our banks with a lot of Latin American business has been a 3 MM for several years
being a MM is no longer a rare event, there are many million milers and on a recent flight, the service director told me that there were 7
Now, YYZNomad at 2 Million is definitely rarer as is a fellow that works at one of our banks with a lot of Latin American business has been a 3 MM for several years
Feb 25, 2018, 5:53 pm
#1080
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC 50k 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,402
I was told by a concierge several years ago that there were 18k SEs. That was 4 years ago, maybe?
I don't think the majority/consensus number of 10-12k has any more data to support it than the 18k number does.