YQ free TATL options for Canada drying up - No new LX or TP availability
Sep 3, 2019, 4:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 99
YQ free TATL options for Canada drying up - No new LX or TP availability
Been watching Aeroplan availability on YUL-ZRH on LX and YYZ-LIS on TP in both directions for awhile as these were the only seemingly reliable trans-Atlantic routes with no YQ charge. (Yes SN and TK are low YQ but their availability has been very rare for awhile). I've noticed over the past few weeks that these LX & TP routes now also appear to be getting reduced or removed.
LX has been generally releasing space 300 days in advance - this can be seen for various USA routes like JFK and ORD that as of today have departures up to June 30, 2020. The Canadian route YUL-ZRH has been stuck with May 27, 2020 as the furthest future date for some time and ZRH-YUL hasn't moved past June 25, 2020 after stopping adding new dates last week.
TP from US cities has dates into late July 2020 in both directions and releases seats daily 330 days in advance. But YYZ-LIS hasn't had anything past the start of June 2020 and LIS-YYZ has been stuck on July 9, 2020 and nothing released in weeks.
Perhaps route changes are coming, or it's just an odd glitch but for anyone preferring to avoid a US routing and extra legs it's challenging and perhaps not a great sign of things to come.
LX has been generally releasing space 300 days in advance - this can be seen for various USA routes like JFK and ORD that as of today have departures up to June 30, 2020. The Canadian route YUL-ZRH has been stuck with May 27, 2020 as the furthest future date for some time and ZRH-YUL hasn't moved past June 25, 2020 after stopping adding new dates last week.
TP from US cities has dates into late July 2020 in both directions and releases seats daily 330 days in advance. But YYZ-LIS hasn't had anything past the start of June 2020 and LIS-YYZ has been stuck on July 9, 2020 and nothing released in weeks.
Perhaps route changes are coming, or it's just an odd glitch but for anyone preferring to avoid a US routing and extra legs it's challenging and perhaps not a great sign of things to come.
Last edited by opentag; Sep 3, 2019 at 4:28 pm Reason: spelling
Sep 3, 2019, 7:26 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI
Programs: UA 1K, MR Titanium, IHG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 3,841
On many Thursdays/Fridays this summer, I saw LX I inventory on at least 3/4 of YUL/BOS/ORD/EWR-ZRH (also JFK-ZRH, but not very useful for ex-Canada *A award) about a week before departure that stayed open until day of. They release I inventory close to departure if space permits.
The problem with the YUL flight is the awful 16:50 departure time. At least the late flight from BOS gives you a chance at maybe sleeping.
The problem with the YUL flight is the awful 16:50 departure time. At least the late flight from BOS gives you a chance at maybe sleeping.
Sep 4, 2019, 7:51 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 1,548
I noticed a similar pattern for next summer. TK released many seats from BOS & IAD. TP was the same. Nothing on either airline from YYZ. Bit the bullet and paid a $100 scam charge from YYZ to IAD to connect to TK.
Sep 4, 2019, 9:23 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 2,120
While I completely understand the preference for advance booking, they are definitely still releasing seats last minute. Just booked YUL-ZRH about 10 days out ... found a seat, tried to cobble my own itin, but it had an illegal connection. Lost the seat while trying to sort out an alternative. Several days later seat opened again (so I booked separately, my version of Vegas?). And now there's another seat open. All J. So it's like they've opted for a slow trickle of unpurchased seats.
Sep 5, 2019, 4:37 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YOW
Programs: TK*S, SPG Gold
Posts: 714
I'm positing a conspiracy now that AC owns Aeroplan. More AC flights available with high surcharges as opposed to options without them.
Sep 5, 2019, 4:54 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,297
As it is, even with other currencies, these are not available. I doubt AC calls up LX or TK and tells them to ease off in Canada inventory.
It would be much easier to block, errrr, glitch the inventory like They did with LO, TP, CM, AV, ET, etc
Sep 5, 2019, 5:42 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Accor Diamond, AC 35K, National Exec, Hertz Gold
Posts: 376
About 9 days ago all of the YUL-ZRH space in June vanished. Maybe it was luck of when I was searching and setting up alerts or it was a temporary "glitch", but almost half the days in June had YUL-ZRH space. Next day it was all gone.
As you noted, TONS of space ex-USA, but, classically, hardly ever a decent short-haul from YYZ-BOS/EWR/ORD/IAD.
You get a 6am and you get a 6am and you get a 6am!!
As you noted, TONS of space ex-USA, but, classically, hardly ever a decent short-haul from YYZ-BOS/EWR/ORD/IAD.
You get a 6am and you get a 6am and you get a 6am!!
Sep 5, 2019, 5:50 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,803
That might be a side effect of the Max issue. Looks like they have been trying to tailor offer closer to demand on these short-haul to free up planes for longer haul domestic. I had two legs to/from BOS switched to an E75 from an E90 last month.