So Empress, does this mean that flights selling "Tango" fares will carry two flight numbers, ie. as cslusarc has suggested -- the AC mainline number and a 6000 Tango series number?

Perhaps this means that "Tango" class will be the same AC-mainline flight, but with a lower fare, no free advance seat assignment, and no Aeroplan status miles.

The irony behind it is that if these "Tango class" pax don't have a seat assignment and the flight is oversold, they will be first to receive J boarding passes!

Well that's a relief. I read this thread and announcement a dozen times and I still couldn't make sense of it. But with Empress' explanation, it all becomes clear.

This says a lot doesn't it!

I wonder if...
... these tango pax on double-coded flights will be provided with meals? Without using the manifest, how do the cabin crew distinguish whether you don't eat as a tango pax and eat as a "mainline" pax?
... these tango pax on double-coded flights will be provided with complementary (non-alcoholic) beverages too?
... AC will seat tango pax in a special zone? ie the last few rows in the plane.
...

That is correct. If I recall correctly when I read about this; the fares will be sold on aircanada.com as 'FLASH' fares. This means the miles that you earn will be qualifying miles.

Everyone will be given a meal (if there is one). They are trying to call these 'Tango style' fares. The rest will be the same as if you're flying mainline. You will also need to pay for seat assignment if you're booking on Tango's website.

As for meals; when they were talking about this - they kept on saying how the selling meals on mainline concept has been pretty successful so far. So don't be surprised if Oct 1 becomes that date that the selling meals thing expands to all domestic flights. [I am not saying it will, just that it is possible given how they are raving about how successful it has been so far.]

http://makeashorterlink.com/?U24031C95

I'd say this represents the ultimate success of TANGO. At the same time, with the further downsizing of mainline [fewer aircraft], it makes less and less sense to be operating a separate airline-within-an-airline, particularly after AC has adopted TANGO-like pricing across the domestic system as well. Putting the lowest priced fares onto all flights provides customers with more travel time options, integrates airport operations -- remember, part of the rationale for a separate brand and operations was because the unions did not want their mainline work rules to be affected, no longer needed since these rules have now been brought down to the TANGO level -- and sets the stage for expansion beyond Canada of the low fare brand and service.

Fine tuning to meet appropriate scale of operations. There is nothing deceitfrul about that. It is smart business practice. The point is that the customer now associates TANGO with cheap, no frills fares and they can now find these on AC. The interim step of the AC web fares, was a bit confusing and overwhelming, so making the lowest fares TANGO, makes it easy, now that customers know what to expect from TANGO.

While the new Bay A Meal service may be expanded, it is likely to be so for the rest of the system -- remember it is just for flights into/out of YYZ for the moment -- and I still doubt transcons will be included, particularly YVR-YYZ as it carries so many connecting international customers. And would AC dare alienate Albertans one more time and cut meals on YYC and YEG routes?

TANGO a flop: no. It firmly established a brand image and standard of low cost service for AC. That is must now be extended to all routes suggests more than Hospitality Class is the one who's time is limited. In another few years, AC's back cabin will be TANGO, and higher fares in the back only available for those who want to play upgrade roulette.

To finish off that thought, AC still has Tango as a brand to remind the unions they can operate it as a stand alone should they wish to.

If I read correctly. Tango's dead, it is now just a booking class on mainline AC and the AE miles will remain non status mile.

So I booked a R/T YYZ-YOW for a Saturday in November. Great deal ($145 inc tax)
AC6120 7.10-8.10am
Return AC6133 19.00-20.02pm
According to the Tango Website. Both flights are operated by a 320
Now if I check AC website and plug in the same dates. AC has AC 440 7.10-8.11am YYZ-YOW operated by a 767 and AC 465 19.00-20.05PM YOW-YYZ operated by another 767.
So will I fly 767 or 320?
I did not paid the extra $ to get a seat assignment. But what if I had and the plane turns out to be a different one. Would I get a refund?

Any idea on when they’ll update their website to reflect the proper planes.
By the way, my booking class in N. So an N class on AC6120 is non-status but an N class on AC440 is. And both flights are the same. We now have Air Canada code-shared with Tango.
What a mess!

It'll be whatever mainline is operating (767 in your case).

Here's what AC has said about paid seat selection on those flights:

Will paid seat selection continued to be offered on Tango fares?

- During our transition period, August 15th and October 1st, seat selection will be offered on a complimentary basis.

- Effective October 1st, paid seat selection on Tango fares will be available on flytango.com.

About miles:

- Tango fares will accumulate miles at 50% of miles flown with a minimum of 250. (Miles are not status miles and therefore do not count towards higher tier status)

Tango fares will still be available through flytango.com. Effective Oct. 1, customers can also book the Tango fares through aircanada.com.

Effective Oct. 1, Call Centre agents will not be able to sell the new Tango fare. It will be a web-only fare, booked by the customer, similar to Fun, Latitude and Flash fares currently on aircanada.com. The Tango
fare will be available for customers to book on the web at aircanada.com and flytango.com. If a customer needs to make a change to their reservation, they can either make it online, or by calling AC general reservations.

The Tango website at www.flytango.com will stay active , even once the fares are also available on aircanada.com. The fares and conditions available at both sites will be the same.

Tango fares will continue to offer 50 per cent Aeroplan Miles for a minimum of 250 Miles, and will be eligible for mileage accrual for booking online.

Paid seat selection will be available on aircanada.com effective Oct. 1.

After Oct. 1, customers on Tango fares be allowed to interline bags.

Good Lord!

Is this the "new simplified fare structure" that AC was touting only a little while ago?
.
.

[This message has been edited by IJK (edited 08-19-2003).]

Holy cow...I go away for a few days and man they manage to confuse even those that have a fairly decent understanding of how this business operates. Incredible. If there are only 9 one class planes in the fleet, wouldn't it make more sense to run these on leisure/leisure charter routes than Ottawa services where there is likely to be more J demand? I still don't fully understand this. I think the bottom line is that Tango is dead and its all AC from now on. When is Zip zapped?