Introducing Air Canada Basic Economy
Feb 21, 2018, 4:34 pm
#76
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
Corporate policy today is I must book lowest fare for business travel - So today I'm booking Tango.
My prediction is AC will price these "basic" fares same as Tango is priced today - So no loss of revenue, as I'll have to book the Basic fare.
...biggest potential revenue loss is I'll likely just say "Another trip to Halifax in Basic? Naw. I'll just do it by Webex instead."
With zero earnings of anything I'll just not go in the first place - So no ticket purchased at all. Bean-counters will like that even more.
Feb 21, 2018, 4:45 pm
#77
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM; SPG Plat
Posts: 424
Not really.
Corporate policy today is I must book lowest fare for business travel - So today I'm booking Tango.
My prediction is AC will price these "basic" fares same as Tango is priced today - So no loss of revenue, as I'll have to book the Basic fare.
...biggest potential revenue loss is I'll likely just say "Another trip to Halifax in Basic? Naw. I'll just do it by Webex instead."
With zero earnings of anything I'll just not go in the first place - So no ticket purchased at all. Bean-counters will like that even more.
Corporate policy today is I must book lowest fare for business travel - So today I'm booking Tango.
My prediction is AC will price these "basic" fares same as Tango is priced today - So no loss of revenue, as I'll have to book the Basic fare.
...biggest potential revenue loss is I'll likely just say "Another trip to Halifax in Basic? Naw. I'll just do it by Webex instead."
With zero earnings of anything I'll just not go in the first place - So no ticket purchased at all. Bean-counters will like that even more.
Feb 21, 2018, 5:12 pm
#78
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC e75K, *G, SPG/MR PPE
Posts: 315
But I mean, I get my status through segments, like a chump. Forced into basic economy for 50+ segments per year would be enough for me to reconsider my employment relationship
Feb 21, 2018, 6:11 pm
#79
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
By the end of 2019, half of them will be gone. They will be replaced by the CS300s as soon as possible. They are getting rid of them before the CS300 replacements are even ready. I quite like the E-Jets, I'll miss 'em.
Feb 21, 2018, 8:17 pm
#81
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,222
Well that took a lot longer than I thought it would.
I don't really care about it.
And even if I did care about it, I wouldn't care about it.
The Mexican Hat Dance was in part doable because in an effort to extract every last penny from every last passenger airlines made their fare rules and fare structures so complex even they didn't understand them. When airlines started to rationalize fares in the mid-2000s I predicted it would not be long until they started down that road again. It took longer than I thought it would, but it seems they are again on that path. I imagine the more creative and clever will find ways to use this to their advantage.
The only difference is they won't announce it publicly.
I don't really care about it.
And even if I did care about it, I wouldn't care about it.
The Mexican Hat Dance was in part doable because in an effort to extract every last penny from every last passenger airlines made their fare rules and fare structures so complex even they didn't understand them. When airlines started to rationalize fares in the mid-2000s I predicted it would not be long until they started down that road again. It took longer than I thought it would, but it seems they are again on that path. I imagine the more creative and clever will find ways to use this to their advantage.
The only difference is they won't announce it publicly.
Feb 21, 2018, 9:36 pm
#82
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
buy it. Oh okay maybe. If they were to allow offers, I suspect the additional cost would be obscene. I do wonder about legal repercussions, I bought full Tango so I could LMU and then found it was changed so I would have booked BE? Not that waking a that line is something AC steer clear of; EYW wifi anyone?
Firms with beancounters tend to, in my opinion, be shortsighted enough to never advance book travel. Like my friend who flew TATL Y for twice the cost of TATL PY because bean counters wanted ticket bought Jan 2018 instead of Dec 2017. For travel in Jan ‘18.The problem is going to be these passengers are in the last boarding group. Do you want agents trying to process credit card transactions at that point in the process. As a passenger I would rather they get the aircraft door closed and up and away as quickly as possible.
I assume like you it’s Z5 guaranteed.
Or a new zone 6. Or perhaps it’s Z3 if you buy a preferred seat, if you can .. I assume you refer to other airlines policy of charging for baggage at gate, I don’t see any mention of this within BE. There are still unanswered questions here. The mere fact it took the bloggers a day to get a hold of it (VFTW from FT I suspect) indicates it was not a well planned release.
Nor one that went through QC for typos (now fixed) or flawed data, like saying up to 50% for Tango on a page that says Canada only.
In addition, if these fares are available now, then has anyone found one? OMAAT reports “including the ability to select economy seats at no charge.” For status pax. Well that’s wrong no? Even for non preferred seats AC says “Seat selection fees may apply with some fares.”. And only SE get free preferred seats... on Tango.
Is the ability to eUp from Tango with a copay now permanent rather than an offer extended for the 9th time?
Last edited by jc94; Feb 21, 2018 at 9:43 pm
Feb 21, 2018, 9:44 pm
#83
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
Not my beancounters. If you fail to book (Tango) tickets as soon as your trip is confirmed (in order to maximize advance booking discounts) then they'll expect an explanation.
Feb 21, 2018, 9:55 pm
#84
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
His name is X. Go speak to him. There’s a $200 cancellation fee.
Okay I’m being somewhat glib (though the first half of that did happen) and Tango is now often available at short notice if the flight isn’t busy, but I would seriously say this if I was queried. Fortunately I just phone the TA or an EA and give em dates and that I’m not routing around the entire continent to save $50.
Anyhow they book whatever. Hopefully that won’t be BE.
Feb 21, 2018, 10:09 pm
#85
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,494
There are 5 ex-Sky Regional and 5 ex-Republic Q400s, 9 of them have small overhead bins, one (498) has the larger bins.
The ex-Sky Regional planes are 74 seats with dark blue seats morm like tge Dash 8 100/300. The ex-republic planes are 78 seats with a slightly different dark blue seat simalar to the Q400s (no coat hooks on the side though )
The ex-Sky Regional planes are 74 seats with dark blue seats morm like tge Dash 8 100/300. The ex-republic planes are 78 seats with a slightly different dark blue seat simalar to the Q400s (no coat hooks on the side though )
Not really.
Corporate policy today is I must book lowest fare for business travel - So today I'm booking Tango.
My prediction is AC will price these "basic" fares same as Tango is priced today - So no loss of revenue, as I'll have to book the Basic fare.
...biggest potential revenue loss is I'll likely just say "Another trip to Halifax in Basic? Naw. I'll just do it by Webex instead."
With zero earnings of anything I'll just not go in the first place - So no ticket purchased at all. Bean-counters will like that even more.
Corporate policy today is I must book lowest fare for business travel - So today I'm booking Tango.
My prediction is AC will price these "basic" fares same as Tango is priced today - So no loss of revenue, as I'll have to book the Basic fare.
...biggest potential revenue loss is I'll likely just say "Another trip to Halifax in Basic? Naw. I'll just do it by Webex instead."
With zero earnings of anything I'll just not go in the first place - So no ticket purchased at all. Bean-counters will like that even more.
I am sure the next recession will be very hard on Airlines as businesses switch to Web meetings more and more .
Feb 22, 2018, 2:52 am
#86
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
Sounds like you are a Q400 warrior!
I love my webex meetings, as much fun as I enjoyed flying, I am much happier being home with the family as opposed to darting everywhere.
I am sure the next recession will be very hard on Airlines as businesses switch to Web meetings more and more .
I love my webex meetings, as much fun as I enjoyed flying, I am much happier being home with the family as opposed to darting everywhere.
I am sure the next recession will be very hard on Airlines as businesses switch to Web meetings more and more .
Feb 22, 2018, 6:02 am
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 20,550
Cranky Flyer likes Economy Basic.....
Air Canada?s Basic Economy Introduction Shows How a Even a Slightly Smoother Booking Process Makes A Big Difference | Cranky Flier
Air Canada?s Basic Economy Introduction Shows How a Even a Slightly Smoother Booking Process Makes A Big Difference | Cranky Flier
Feb 22, 2018, 6:40 am
#88
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Cranky Flyer likes Economy Basic.....
Air Canada?s Basic Economy Introduction Shows How a Even a Slightly Smoother Booking Process Makes A Big Difference Cranky Flier
Air Canada?s Basic Economy Introduction Shows How a Even a Slightly Smoother Booking Process Makes A Big Difference Cranky Flier
Yeah ACs website is awesome. When it actually works.
Feb 22, 2018, 7:28 am
#89
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
I enjoy the perks that came with business travel - Booking rewards tickets, taking my family into the lounge, boarding in the priority lines.
But if the experience of travel becomes so miserable and those perks disappear, well then I'll just do the webex things.
Feb 22, 2018, 7:53 am
#90
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC e75K, *G, SPG/MR PPE
Posts: 315
Even though my travel was and is 100% economy class, I enjoy travelling for business - I enjoy seeing different cities, meeting different cultures. I enjoy getting caught up on a superhero movie on a transcon that I haven't been able to watch due to family pressures at home. I enjoy meeting clients face-to-face.
I enjoy the perks that came with business travel - Booking rewards tickets, taking my family into the lounge, boarding in the priority lines.
But if the experience of travel becomes so miserable and those perks disappear, well then I'll just do the webex things.
I enjoy the perks that came with business travel - Booking rewards tickets, taking my family into the lounge, boarding in the priority lines.
But if the experience of travel becomes so miserable and those perks disappear, well then I'll just do the webex things.