MasterGeek

Sarcasm or serious ‽

I am debating changing my Australia award from 2-stop (TK+TK+SQ) to 1-stop (AC+AC) to have a shorter overall flight duration, but YQ on AC is killing me and there is skepticism about AC's soft product qualify as well.

You think I can have an SE friend call Aeroplan on my behalf to change the award to AC flights and get the YQ waived ?

Jumper Jack

Give Ben Smith a call , and I am sure he would open up I space for you

MasterGeek

Jumper Jack

Srsly man, I flame AC all the time, BUT... 500 surcharge is not exactly unfair for a oceanic route.
Just place a value on your time per hour, then see if the length * hourly rate is > YQ surcharge difference.

24left

I found the same for BNE, but equally the other ex-YVR TPACs that I fly - NRT, HKG and TPE. I've flown with a few of the same crews and one SD in particular on NRT, HKG and BNE, as well las a few FAs.


THIS. Absolutely this.
.

Commie

lol, very similar to our experience this past Dec. Except for the Marriott, we were at the Autograph Collection. Bad choice, I much prefer the Marriott, which we stayed later on in our trip.

One thing I would add to the AC33 flight discussion. Although we were in J, and the service was fine, I found this flight to be very 'tough', can't imagine for the folks in Y. I guess part of the reason was we started the flight in YYZ, and this December was terrible for weather delays. We were delayed getting out of YYZ by 2 hours. By the time we landed in YVR, it was 11pm PDT, and the YVR-SYD was further delayed. We didn't take off till well past 1am PDT. Now my EST body was already 4am. Not sure if it wants to sleep or wake up, and now have a heavy meal to digest. lol

I understand there is no getting around a Oceanic flight like this. But even if my flights weren't delayed, the scheduled departure of the YVR-SYD for the EST folks is already past midnight. I wonder if the next time I go back to Australia, and I will; love it there, if its better to do some connections first to get to Australia, maybe a lesser extend, fly YYZ-YVR the day before to get adjusted to time, or think about a YYZ to HKG, and stop for a couple of days, then onwards to SYD/MEL.

24left

Others here who fly to Australia more often might have some different advice. Still, I fly the northern Pacific routes frequently enough to have a method that works for me.

My own choices for my BNE flight were to fly YYZ-YVR on the early morning flight and I booked a room at the Fairmont. Since the BNE and SYD flights depart at similar times, I found the break in YVR to be really nice and it worked for me. I am not sure if others can do it. Similarly, when I flew AA LAX-AKL, their flight departs after 11pm, so I flew out to LAX a day ahead and that worked out perfectly.

In terms of meals, on both these Pacific trips, I advised the crew I would be sleeping first and asked that my meal be held until I woke and I also mentioned that I may or may not eat the hot main portion but that I would give them plenty of time to heat it up. I find (oddly) some crews think that we expect the hot meal right away.

For AC to BNE, having flown with the SD on a few other TPACs, he actually asked me if I prefer to sleep first, which was impressive as he remembered the other flights.

I would add that every person who flies across Atlantic or Pacific time zones has their own managing process. None of us are alike and clearly, what works well for some, may not work well for others.

Happy Travels.

lcohen999

I generally skip the main meal, salad, something sweet plus a glass of wine or 3 and I am out cold.

I have been happy enough mostly with the mid meal snack over the years that I don't worry about the hot portion and just grab that option.

As for going earlier, I generally, with a young family don't get that option. So it is 33 all the way. Plus I usually eUpgrade from PE. So starting off in YYZ gives me a better chance of clearing than from YVR.

Put those together, I do the 20 hours at once.

The 4am local departure is tough when that happens, hence the wine...

Adam Smith

No, that's not how it works.

AC's FAs are generally fine. I've had very few negative experiences, especially in long-haul international J. In fact, none stand out in my mind.

That being said, approach them with a pissy, over-entitled attitude and the response will likely be less than positive, the same as any other front-line customer service position.

RatherBeInYOW

I like to complain about AC as much as anyone but this is certainly true. The FAs on long-haul flights tend to be great, and my experience AC33/AC34 was especially stellar. Next time I have to go to Australia (which isn't too often) I'll do it that way again.

flybit

joke added.
AC serves excellent food.

fin 645

The huge advantage of AC 33 is the morning arrival. Forget what has gone before, go through the day in a relatively normal fashion, collapse into bed early evening, and you are good. Yes, it's a long haul, but remember that the night/early morning departure from YYZ/YVR is afternoon/early evening in Sydney. So you have dinner(s) in accordance with destination time, snack mid flight as needed, have breakfast at an actual breakfast time, and it will all work.

AC 34 is a different story - breakfast before arrival in YVR, breakfast en route to YYZ - and suddenly its nighttime. Never works.

yyznomad

Following on @Jumper Jack's suggestion, you can call Ben Smith to have the scam charges removed for you.

lcohen999

34...especially with catering is not great. That said. It used to be worse. On the int' portion you can get a lunch/dinner on the brunch/breakfast and then the omelette special on the domestic (ugg).

Once, in my 30+ times doing 33/34 were we delayed in YVR that they actually served lunch on 34 (domestic). It was wonderful (in context). The pasta on the bunch has been a good compromise.

Getting in at 4pm though is tough. Especially because the gang always wants to hit the Keg upon my return from a TPAC

FlyerTalker70

Quick question : Thinking of booking my pops on AC J from YYZ to SYD using my Aeropesos before they become actual pesos! Is it worth flying on AC in Executive Class or is UA Polaris still the better? Who has the better hard product (pun intended on deflategate)?

Safe Travels,

James