Excessive number of cancellations for AC Jazz flights within Ontario
Aug 20, 2019, 9:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: YYT
Programs: M-Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Aeroplan 50K, DragonPass, AMEX MR, NEXUS
Posts: 1,715
Excessive number of cancellations for AC Jazz flights within Ontario
I was supposed to fly YYZ-YZR tonight, but my flight was cancelled due to mechanical issues with the DH1. It seems that a lot of the short flights around Ontario get cancelled very frequently! Tonight alone, the flights to Kingston, Windsor, and Sarnia were all cancelled. Reliability on these flights seems absurdly low given the frequency of cancellations!
Does anybody have a clue as to why this occurs so frequently? Could it be problems with the ageing DH1s and DH3s?
Thankfully in my case, I ended up getting on a flight to YXU instead, so no overnighting at Pearson!
Does anybody have a clue as to why this occurs so frequently? Could it be problems with the ageing DH1s and DH3s?
Thankfully in my case, I ended up getting on a flight to YXU instead, so no overnighting at Pearson!
Aug 20, 2019, 10:55 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 492
I was supposed to fly YYZ-YZR tonight, but my flight was cancelled due to mechanical issues with the DH1. It seems that a lot of the short flights around Ontario get cancelled very frequently! Tonight alone, the flights to Kingston, Windsor, and Sarnia were all cancelled. Reliability on these flights seems absurdly low given the frequency of cancellations!
Does anybody have a clue as to why this occurs so frequently? Could it be problems with the ageing DH1s and DH3s?
Thankfully in my case, I ended up getting on a flight to YXU instead, so no overnighting at Pearson!
Does anybody have a clue as to why this occurs so frequently? Could it be problems with the ageing DH1s and DH3s?
Thankfully in my case, I ended up getting on a flight to YXU instead, so no overnighting at Pearson!
It may not be true.
Aug 21, 2019, 7:43 am
#3
Join Date: May 2014
Location: YYJ/YYT
Programs: AC 75K (*G), NEXUS
Posts: 652
After my last experience flying in/out of YGK, I vowed to always take the train/ fly into YUL/YOW instead. This seemed to be the attitude of most locals and Queens students.
I'm confused as to how the intra Ontario commuter flights have historically been so unreliable whereas flying AC Express within BC is relatively dependable, unless you're flying into YCG "Cancelgar"!!
I'm confused as to how the intra Ontario commuter flights have historically been so unreliable whereas flying AC Express within BC is relatively dependable, unless you're flying into YCG "Cancelgar"!!
Aug 21, 2019, 8:17 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: YYT
Programs: M-Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Aeroplan 50K, DragonPass, AMEX MR, NEXUS
Posts: 1,715
Of course, the flight to Sarnia this morning was delayed also! I am just hoping that my flight on the way back is not delayed or my segment run will be at risk! Just need to get to YYZ...
Aug 21, 2019, 10:10 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YHZ | YYZ | YHM
Programs: AC 50K (*G), Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 636
While I haven't noticed an excessive number of cancelled flights myself, If you were trying to fly within Southern Ontario last night, major thunderstorms were an issue depending on the time. That would most likely explain cancellations for Windsor and Sarnia, and London. The storm moved through those areas around 10-11pm last night.
Aug 21, 2019, 10:38 am
#6
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 492
While I haven't noticed an excessive number of cancelled flights myself, If you were trying to fly within Southern Ontario last night, major thunderstorms were an issue depending on the time. That would most likely explain cancellations for Windsor and Sarnia, and London. The storm moved through those areas around 10-11pm last night.
Aug 21, 2019, 12:10 pm
#7
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: 44,347
After my last experience flying in/out of YGK, I vowed to always take the train/ fly into YUL/YOW instead. This seemed to be the attitude of most locals and Queens students.
I'm confused as to how the intra Ontario commuter flights have historically been so unreliable whereas flying AC Express within BC is relatively dependable, unless you're flying into YCG "Cancelgar"!!
I'm confused as to how the intra Ontario commuter flights have historically been so unreliable whereas flying AC Express within BC is relatively dependable, unless you're flying into YCG "Cancelgar"!!
Aug 21, 2019, 12:28 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 492
Flying is the best for sure if the plane isn’t hours delayed or cancelled. With YGK current on time rate, frequent cancellations and terrible schedule ( some days out is 5.45 or 14.30) most folk have given up at least on outbound and take a more reliable form of transport (unless it doesn’t matter / lots of alternatives if misconnect) as far as I can tell. Inbound - well, haven’t had less than an hour delay or cancellation all year but I personally still take the plane if it actually goes.
Aug 21, 2019, 1:02 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,827
This is the same reason I connect in YYZ 90% of the time and YUL 10% ... too many YOW-YUL flights are on DH1/3/4s and you've got a) mechanical issues with the ageing DH1/3s and b) small planes being the first ones to be cut when there are slot restrictions due to IRROPS (well, and c) better frequency YOW-YYZ, which is not really relevant to this discussion). As a percentage of flights, YOW-YUL is cancelled way more often than YOW-YYZ, which is all E190/A320/767.
I'm typing this on the train from YUL to YOW, FWIW ;-)
I'm typing this on the train from YUL to YOW, FWIW ;-)
Aug 21, 2019, 1:32 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: MSP/ORD
Programs: UA 1MM/GS, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 318
YGK just revamped their airport and runway at great cost though why escapes me given cancellations most days and so moving probably 120 passengers a day. Given the number travelling (with Queens and RM. etc) seems likely virtually everyone goes to YUL, YOW or SYR , drives to YYZ.
It may not be true.
It may not be true.
Aug 21, 2019, 3:44 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YOW
Programs: TK*S, SPG Gold
Posts: 714
I have been told they are old, planned for going out of service, lots of mechanical issues and when a mechanical those airports with alternate transportation available are lowest on the list when there is rescheduling. YGK just revamped their airport and runway at great cost though why escapes me given cancellations most days and so moving probably 120 passengers a day. Given the number travelling (with Queens and RM. etc) seems likely virtually everyone goes to YUL, YOW or SYR , drives to YYZ.
It may not be true.
It may not be true.
Aug 21, 2019, 3:56 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: YYT
Programs: M-Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Aeroplan 50K, DragonPass, AMEX MR, NEXUS
Posts: 1,715
While I haven't noticed an excessive number of cancelled flights myself, If you were trying to fly within Southern Ontario last night, major thunderstorms were an issue depending on the time. That would most likely explain cancellations for Windsor and Sarnia, and London. The storm moved through those areas around 10-11pm last night.
Aug 21, 2019, 3:58 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: YYT
Programs: M-Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Aeroplan 50K, DragonPass, AMEX MR, NEXUS
Posts: 1,715
This is the same reason I connect in YYZ 90% of the time and YUL 10% ... too many YOW-YUL flights are on DH1/3/4s and you've got a) mechanical issues with the ageing DH1/3s and b) small planes being the first ones to be cut when there are slot restrictions due to IRROPS (well, and c) better frequency YOW-YYZ, which is not really relevant to this discussion). As a percentage of flights, YOW-YUL is cancelled way more often than YOW-YYZ, which is all E190/A320/767.
I'm typing this on the train from YUL to YOW, FWIW ;-)
I'm typing this on the train from YUL to YOW, FWIW ;-)
Aug 21, 2019, 4:00 pm
#14
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: 44,347
Cheapest SFO-YYZ base fares are 326 / 731 / 855 CAD, one way, for Y/PY/J.
Cheapest SFO-YGK base fares are 472 / N/A / 1324 (no PY fares at all).
So in Y, it's debatable whether a flight, UPX, and VIA are worth it, given the hassle. But maybe. For J, you could probably take a limo for that difference.
And this fare difference is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than I expected, given what it was last time I looked it up (I seem to recall them not even having a published fare for SFO-YGK at one point, meaning you'd have to combine).
Aug 21, 2019, 4:19 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YOW
Programs: TK*S, SPG Gold
Posts: 714
Given fares I've seen on YGK compared to YYZ, I can appreciate that. I've only ever flown on flight passes and Aeroplan.
Cheapest SFO-YYZ base fares are 326 / 731 / 855 CAD, one way, for Y/PY/J.
Cheapest SFO-YGK base fares are 472 / N/A / 1324 (no PY fares at all).
So in Y, it's debatable whether a flight, UPX, and VIA are worth it, given the hassle. But maybe. For J, you could probably take a limo for that difference.
And this fare difference is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than I expected, given what it was last time I looked it up (I seem to recall them not even having a published fare for SFO-YGK at one point, meaning you'd have to combine).
Cheapest SFO-YYZ base fares are 326 / 731 / 855 CAD, one way, for Y/PY/J.
Cheapest SFO-YGK base fares are 472 / N/A / 1324 (no PY fares at all).
So in Y, it's debatable whether a flight, UPX, and VIA are worth it, given the hassle. But maybe. For J, you could probably take a limo for that difference.
And this fare difference is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than I expected, given what it was last time I looked it up (I seem to recall them not even having a published fare for SFO-YGK at one point, meaning you'd have to combine).