AC changes to North American fares: introduces Comfort, renames Tango to Standard
Apr 4, 2018, 7:19 am
#76
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 2,648
Yes.
short haul domestic
long haul domestic
transborder
TPAC
TATL
I don't see comfort fares either.
Apr 4, 2018, 7:25 am
#77
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
Apr 4, 2018, 7:27 am
#78
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 2,648
Tango is showing up as standard fares.
Soft launch with a hard landing?
Effective April 4, 2018, Air Canada will introduce comfort fares, positioned between Flex and Latitude, to its suite of economy fare brands available on North American markets. The introduction of this new fare brand follows the launch of Economy Basic on February 20, 2018, and will allow Air Canada to expand its suite of Fare Brands to offer its customers products that best meet their individual travel needs.
Soft launch with a hard landing?
Apr 4, 2018, 7:29 am
#79
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,361
On a random check of a few routes, I don't even see fares filed with the "CO" suffix to indicate Comfort.
The details have been added to this page for both Canada and US.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...in-canada.html
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...to-the-us.html
The details have been added to this page for both Canada and US.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...in-canada.html
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...to-the-us.html
Last edited by ChrisA330; Apr 4, 2018 at 7:35 am
Apr 4, 2018, 8:24 am
#80
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,302
Does anyone remember when some people *cough* were like, oh no, they will never have tango fares on 'business' US routes and transatlantics.
Apr 4, 2018, 9:18 am
#82
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM; SPG Plat
Posts: 424
So Comfort is more or less the old (well, not very old) high flex with a few extra aeroplan points. Looking at a flight I will be booking for May, YWG-YVR, it looks like for me the only change of substance is the upgrade features that (as someone speculated above) have been split out; looks like the flex fare no longer allows an option to pick a higher flex fare and not have to pay the co-pay. So from my perspective the end result of what they've done over the last year (or so?) by adding co-pay and now adding comfort is make it so those of us who are allowed to book flex by our employers either sit in Y or pay out of pocket in addition to using credits. Would much rather AC had added a new fare class below flex that had the co-pay!
I wonder how this will affect flex flight passes, which used to book into high flex and not require the co-pay for upgrades. Will they book into Comfort? Or will they now require co-pay? If the latter, what about existing FPs, will they be grandfathered?
I wonder how this will affect flex flight passes, which used to book into high flex and not require the co-pay for upgrades. Will they book into Comfort? Or will they now require co-pay? If the latter, what about existing FPs, will they be grandfathered?
Apr 4, 2018, 10:15 am
#84
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: 44,324
"Free premium beverage"
Also, I'm seeing a ~$40 USD surcharge for Comfort over Flex on SFO-YYZ. And of course, as someone with status, most of the perks don't apply to me.
Also, I'm seeing a ~$40 USD surcharge for Comfort over Flex on SFO-YYZ. And of course, as someone with status, most of the perks don't apply to me.
Apr 4, 2018, 10:53 am
#85
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: YOW
Programs: AC*SEMM, *G, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 897
So Comfort is more or less the old (well, not very old) high flex with a few extra aeroplan points. Looking at a flight I will be booking for May, YWG-YVR, it looks like for me the only change of substance is the upgrade features that (as someone speculated above) have been split out; looks like the flex fare no longer allows an option to pick a higher flex fare and not have to pay the co-pay. So from my perspective the end result of what they've done over the last year (or so?) by adding co-pay and now adding comfort is make it so those of us who are allowed to book flex by our employers either sit in Y or pay out of pocket in addition to using credits. Would much rather AC had added a new fare class below flex that had the co-pay!
I wonder how this will affect flex flight passes, which used to book into high flex and not require the co-pay for upgrades. Will they book into Comfort? Or will they now require co-pay? If the latter, what about existing FPs, will they be grandfathered?
I wonder how this will affect flex flight passes, which used to book into high flex and not require the co-pay for upgrades. Will they book into Comfort? Or will they now require co-pay? If the latter, what about existing FPs, will they be grandfathered?
Apr 4, 2018, 10:54 am
#86
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: YHZ/YQM
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 1,618
I priced out a 1 way YHZ-YUL in mid May and found this:
Standard Fare: $169
Standard Fare + Checked Bag + Regular Seat Selection (Pseudo Flex): $211
Standard Fare + Checked Bag + Preferred Seat Selection (Pseudo Comfort A): $229
Flex Fare: $204
Flex Fare + Preferred Seat Selection (Pseudo Comfort B): $233
Comfort Fare: $277
When I travel, I know my dates and I know they won't change, so actual flexibility on the ticket means nothing to me. Neither do AP points. So if I compare the features of the ticket that have nothing to do with flexibility or Aeroplan points this is what I find. If I need a checked bag and want to be able to pick my seat, Flex is better than standard + upgrades. If I need a checked bag and want a preferred seat, then Standard + upgrades is the way to go. If I don't need a checked bag, then Standard is the way to go, whether or not I want to preselect any kind of seat. In this case Comfort is rather overpriced.
Caveats:
I only looked at one flight on one day, so my conclusion can't be expanded to the general case.
My flying patterns are very much for FOTSG leisure travellers. My needs are thus very different from most people on this board.
I chose a flight that I am actually considering, thus the seemingly arbitrary date and time of May 16, 19:20 to YUL. I actually priced it as the first half of a round trip if that matters.
Standard Fare: $169
Standard Fare + Checked Bag + Regular Seat Selection (Pseudo Flex): $211
Standard Fare + Checked Bag + Preferred Seat Selection (Pseudo Comfort A): $229
Flex Fare: $204
Flex Fare + Preferred Seat Selection (Pseudo Comfort B): $233
Comfort Fare: $277
When I travel, I know my dates and I know they won't change, so actual flexibility on the ticket means nothing to me. Neither do AP points. So if I compare the features of the ticket that have nothing to do with flexibility or Aeroplan points this is what I find. If I need a checked bag and want to be able to pick my seat, Flex is better than standard + upgrades. If I need a checked bag and want a preferred seat, then Standard + upgrades is the way to go. If I don't need a checked bag, then Standard is the way to go, whether or not I want to preselect any kind of seat. In this case Comfort is rather overpriced.
Caveats:
I only looked at one flight on one day, so my conclusion can't be expanded to the general case.
My flying patterns are very much for FOTSG leisure travellers. My needs are thus very different from most people on this board.
I chose a flight that I am actually considering, thus the seemingly arbitrary date and time of May 16, 19:20 to YUL. I actually priced it as the first half of a round trip if that matters.
Apr 4, 2018, 12:00 pm
#87
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,422
$230 more for Flex to Comfort. Does not seem like good value. Unless you really value the same day change ($75 cost), free drink and 115% AQM, it may be cheaper to buy flex and pay for a preferred seat. What is the point of being able to change upto 61 days out ? Most changes would be required closer to the date.
Apr 4, 2018, 12:08 pm
#88
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,361
$230 more for Flex to Comfort. Does not seem like good value. Unless you really value the same day change ($75 cost), free drink and 115% AQM, it may be cheaper to buy flex and pay for a preferred seat. What is the point of being able to change upto 61 days out ? Most changes would be required closer to the date.
Apr 4, 2018, 12:41 pm
#90
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Unless there is a significant eUp type saving I don’t seem many advantages for those with status. FOTSG Tangerines like me... well I’d be grabbing the calculator as I nearly always check a bag and preferred seat, but don’t tend to BoB (food or drink beyond water).