Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Air Canada | Aeroplan
Reload this Page >

Air Canada's 'ancillary' fees for customers add up to big bucks

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Air Canada's 'ancillary' fees for customers add up to big bucks

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 4, 2017, 5:08 am
  #1  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,446
Air Canada's 'ancillary' fees for customers add up to big bucks

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/airl...fees-1.4428464

Global airlines are expected to earn a record $82 billion US this year by charging customers extra for everything from seat assignment to baggage fees to travel commissions.

And Air Canada is among the top ten airlines in the world when it comes to earning this so-called ancillary revenue, racking up nearly $1.18 billion US last year, according to reports from IdeaWorksCompany, a U.S. research company that tracks airline revenue.
tcook052 is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2017, 6:20 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Good to see they list upgrades, not clear it that includes copay along with LMU style ones. Their awesome earphones are oddly missing.
jc94 is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2017, 9:32 am
  #3  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Originally Posted by jc94
Good to see they list upgrades, not clear it that includes copay along with LMU style ones. Their awesome earphones are oddly missing.
Those would be in the minus column, lol. Or maybe they are in the "25% a la carte items" section of the pie chart.
Perhaps AC doesn't pay for them or perhaps there isn't a large number of pax who are willing to pay for them as well.
And of course, there isn't a line item for the collection currently held by one of our famed members.

And I was amused by this part of the CBC article sub-heading "forced to strip frills to compete". lol

Funny thing, I asked this question 3 years ago:

How much does AC earn in ancillary fees?
24left is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2017, 10:30 am
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,301
530 million from Aeroplan.
That is a lot of carrier surcharge, and fake transborder taxes.
rankourabu is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2017, 7:26 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYC
Programs: AC E50K, HHonors Silver, NEXUS/GE, IHG Elite Gold
Posts: 48
Considering AC is likely one of the top 10 airlines in the world it makes sense their "extra fees" are in line with their size. Note in the article $300M for WestJet in 27th place. Anyone boo-hooing over on the WS site re this article? Most people on this forum have status and don't have to normally pay for these charges since we have paid in numerous other ways. Anyway, a big yawn in my opinion. Glad AC got $1B+ in revenue to subsidize my flight passes
YYCJeff is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2017, 8:48 pm
  #6  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz/ord
Programs: AC E50 UA1k 2MM AA EXP Royal Ambassador SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,516
Originally Posted by YYCJeff
Considering AC is likely one of the top 10 airlines in the world it makes sense their "extra fees" are in line with their size. )
Well AC is not on the list of the top 10 airlines in the world and is not even on the list of the top 20. However there are probably a lot if different ways to rate top 10.
https://www.routesonline.com/news/29...etwork-update/

AC does not make it to top 25 on this list, but its 1+ years old
http://atwonline.com/airline-financi...rating-revenue
flybit is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2017, 8:57 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Originally Posted by flybit
Well AC is not on the list of the top 10 airlines in the world and is not even on the list of the top 20. However there are probably a lot if different ways to rate top 10.
https://www.routesonline.com/news/29...etwork-update/

AC does not make it to top 25 on this list, but its 1+ years old
http://atwonline.com/airline-financi...rating-revenue
But it is the #1 Airline in North America.
jc94 is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2017, 9:03 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Never home.
Posts: 2,971
AC is the #5 airline in NA by passenger count and #5 in NA for ancillary fees. Non-story.
winnipegrev is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2017, 9:12 pm
  #9  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz/ord
Programs: AC E50 UA1k 2MM AA EXP Royal Ambassador SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,516
Originally Posted by jc94
But it is the #1 Airline in North America.
only because AC does not consider Atlanta and Delta in America.
flybit is offline  
Old Dec 5, 2017, 12:06 am
  #10  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: YYZ most of the time
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Princess Elite
Posts: 3,921
Originally Posted by jc94
But it is the #1 Airline in North America.
#1 in Northern North America.
yyz_atc_qq is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 10:46 am
  #11  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,446
https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/air-...t-it-1.4599179

MONTREAL -- All those checked bags, seating upgrades and onboard snacks you pay for on Air Canada flights are starting to add up for the company.

While the country's biggest airline lags behind other global carriers in revenue from passenger fees, it is poised to catch up after its recent purchase of the Aeroplan rewards program, a new report says.

Air Canada took in US$1.45 billion in so-called ancillary revenue last year, or about US$28.54 per passenger, according to the report Tuesday from airline consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany.
tcook052 is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 10:53 am
  #12  
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: 44,323
I'm shocked at that number.

Though I also want to know the definition of "passenger" here.

Because if a SFO-YVR-YYZ booking counts me as two passengers, but I'm only paying one checked bag fee, then... I'm even more shocked at that number.
canadiancow is online now  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 11:19 am
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,301
Originally Posted by canadiancow
I'm shocked at that number.

Though I also want to know the definition of "passenger" here.

Because if a SFO-YVR-YYZ booking counts me as two passengers, but I'm only paying one checked bag fee, then... I'm even more shocked at that number.
I am not. Thats below a cost of a single checked bag. If a family of 4 wants to sit together on AC - fork over $200+. An average of only $28 actually surprises me that its that low, given the broad scope of what extras it includes.

I think we tend to forget that like 95% of AC pax have no status to get free bags/free seats. I guess if your example counts as 2pax - its a bit less shocking that it's so low.

Have you ever tried to price out a basic Y ticket without status on AC - its obscene what the extra charges are.


I am actually shocked that the increase is only 250 million over 2 years. I guess we've come to the point where its becoming harder to squeeze more money per pax.
rankourabu is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 11:42 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Montreal & Nashville
Programs: Aeroplan SE100K, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium Elite, BW Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 391
With Aeroplan under their wing (see what I did there), won't AC puts in their book revenue for some Aeroplan rewards even though on a cash basis it's not getting them money?

e g. if you use points for bags checked or upgrades instead of buying on Amazon through Aeroplan, they would calculate this as $?

Last edited by theBeachBoy; Sep 19, 2019 at 12:47 pm
theBeachBoy is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2019, 11:52 am
  #15  
Marriott Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
Originally Posted by rankourabu
I am not. Thats below a cost of a single checked bag. If a family of 4 wants to sit together on AC - fork over $200+. An average of only $28 actually surprises me that its that low, given the broad scope of what extras it includes.

I think we tend to forget that like 95% of AC pax have no status to get free bags/free seats. I guess if your example counts as 2pax - its a bit less shocking that it's so low.

Have you ever tried to price out a basic Y ticket without status on AC - its obscene what the extra charges are.


I am actually shocked that the increase is only 250 million over 2 years. I guess we've come to the point where its becoming harder to squeeze more money per pax.
I usually just book standard and let the AC gods place me where they may (they're usually nice). I'm taking a trip next month where the funding organization reimburses seat assignments. It's $44 for a preferred seat on a tcon, and ~$25 for a standard. That adds up fast
rankourabu and tcook052 like this.
pewpew is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.