AC Changed My Itinerary from Domestic Mainline J to Premium Rouge, What Should I Do?
Aug 13, 2019, 7:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: SQ *Gold
Posts: 871
AC Changed My Itinerary from Domestic Mainline J to Premium Rouge, What Should I Do?
I'm booked on a domestic business class flight from YEG-YUL-EWR in December. I received a notice of change of itinerary today. At first I thought it was just a slight change of timings, as is usual for these notices, but then I noticed that my YEG-YUL flight has been changed to Air Canada Rouge and I'm seated in Premium Rouge (its an A319). I've never flown Air Canada Rouge and don't have any experience of the Premium Rouge product. On the A319/20/21 series of aircraft is premium rouge comparable to domestic business class? Should I call Air Canada and try to get on a different routing with mainline business class? What are my options here and what would you suggest?
Aug 13, 2019, 7:40 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,561
You can hunt the threads here which go from saying that Domestic Premium Rouge is literally worse than being waterboarded to my opinion that its not any more different than the difference between ML J in a 320 vs an E170 (except for the arguably better iPad). The food & drink is identical.
Ignore the people who try to compare ACr J to Emirates first class bungalows. I expect them to show up anytime.
It is a significant enough change you could get it changed. If YEG-YUL was pods, I would get it changed.
Recliner to recliner, I'd not waste the phone call.
Ignore the people who try to compare ACr J to Emirates first class bungalows. I expect them to show up anytime.
It is a significant enough change you could get it changed. If YEG-YUL was pods, I would get it changed.
Recliner to recliner, I'd not waste the phone call.
Aug 13, 2019, 8:00 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: SQ *Gold
Posts: 871
Thanks @RangerNS for the thoughts.
I've never had to change a ticket due to an itinerary change and there is a roughly comparable (time-wise) AC mainline routing going through YYZ instead of YUL. Would AC change my ticket to that for free or are my only options to stick with the Premium Rouge via YUL or cancel and book with another carrier/re-book with AC?
EDIT:
The YEG-YYZ flight would be mainline A321 which seems to have pitch and width of 37", 21" according to the website. A319 rouge seems to have pitch and width of 36" and 21". So it seems like mainline would get me an extra inch of seat pitch plus the built-in screen on the seat.
I've never had to change a ticket due to an itinerary change and there is a roughly comparable (time-wise) AC mainline routing going through YYZ instead of YUL. Would AC change my ticket to that for free or are my only options to stick with the Premium Rouge via YUL or cancel and book with another carrier/re-book with AC?
EDIT:
The YEG-YYZ flight would be mainline A321 which seems to have pitch and width of 37", 21" according to the website. A319 rouge seems to have pitch and width of 36" and 21". So it seems like mainline would get me an extra inch of seat pitch plus the built-in screen on the seat.
Aug 13, 2019, 8:08 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,561
Thanks @RangerNS for the thoughts.
I've never had to change a ticket due to an itinerary change and there is a roughly comparable (time-wise) AC mainline routing going through YYZ instead of YUL. Would AC change my ticket to that for free or are my only options to stick with the Premium Rouge via YUL or cancel and book with another carrier/re-book with AC?
I've never had to change a ticket due to an itinerary change and there is a roughly comparable (time-wise) AC mainline routing going through YYZ instead of YUL. Would AC change my ticket to that for free or are my only options to stick with the Premium Rouge via YUL or cancel and book with another carrier/re-book with AC?
Unless you care about the extra ~160 miles, routing through YYZ would be marginally superior. I'd probably call in that case, but it would be a 5 minute call to the SE desk for me.
Aug 13, 2019, 8:24 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,821
Aug 13, 2019, 8:28 am
#7
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Posts: 871
I've never transferred through YUL (only O/D travel a long time ago). Are the YYZ and YUL US/Transborder MLLs comparable? Also, is the US immigration process comparable between the two airports?
Aug 13, 2019, 8:46 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,561
Lounges? YUL TB is smaller, but I've not been to it packed. Same selection. Or at least, not wildly different in the slight inconsistencies you have in any DOM or TB lounge.
I transit both frequently. Security/customs/lounge play 0 factor in which I choose.
Aug 13, 2019, 8:52 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Posts: 871
Thanks everyone for the feedback. Sounds like its all broadly comparable and only relatively minor differences. I'm leaning towards just sticking with the Premium Rouge routing via YUL as it gets me into EWR 45 minutes earlier and this way I get to try something new by transiting through YUL (been through YYZ many times).
Aug 13, 2019, 9:02 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,821
YYZ is a bit better going DOM-US because I find the Global Entry process better in YYZ - the YYZ US immigration agents take your form and wave you through, the YUL ones tend to like to play 20 questions with you even though you have Global Entry / Nexus. YUL is better going US-DOM because the OSS process is better with Nexus machines and no bus; you can be at your domestic gate in 10 minutes max with no waiting around.
You've made the same choice I would have.
Aug 13, 2019, 9:52 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,821
I actually flew that exact route once a couple of years ago, going from customer to customer, but I spent the night before in the YEG in-airport hotel so the early departure was less of a shock. The upside besides a life-flat on the 788 is that in the winter EWR can be a mess (also in the summer if there are thunderstorms, but anyway...) and I had a meeting there I could not miss so I decided YVR-EWR was a safer bet in terms of slot priority being a wide body on a longer flight. YMMV ;-)
Aug 14, 2019, 10:15 am
#15
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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