Aug 21, 2021, 5:45 pm
Last edit by: Adam Smith
This thread originally contained any and all information relating to flying with AC in the times of COVID. As travel has picked up, much of the discussion has been moved to dedicated threads to make topics easier to follow. Threads that may be of particular interest to those travelling during COVID:
Meal threads:
Schedule changes/refunds - temporary COVID-related policies:
The above threads are in the process of winding down as AC moves away from temporary COVID-related policies. Most questions on schedule changes/refunds should be directed to the thread on AC's new permanent schedule change policies
Other AC-related threads:
Pre-travel e-mails:
Information on immigration rules and procedures, and other government requirements, from the Canada forum:
Airport-related threads containing information that may be relevant to AC passengers, but that are not specific to AC (there are many others in the Canada forum; these are a few that have come up frequently):
(Other threads with immigration/government-related questions not specific to AC can be found on the Canada forum, and experiences and questions on those topics should be posted there)
Meal threads:
- Air Canada Meals (Jul 2021 - ???) - Business Class - North America
- Air Canada Meals (Jul 2021 - ???) - Premium Economy - North America
- Air Canada Meals (Jul 2021 - ???) - Economy - North America
- Air Canada Meals (Jul 2021 - ???) - Business Class - International
Schedule changes/refunds - temporary COVID-related policies:
- Master thread COVID-19/Coronavirus; travel waivers, route changes, AC impacts
- Master thread Air Canada Refunds vs credits; Class action lawsuit filed
The above threads are in the process of winding down as AC moves away from temporary COVID-related policies. Most questions on schedule changes/refunds should be directed to the thread on AC's new permanent schedule change policies
Other AC-related threads:
- Air Canada Clean Care+ program
- MLLs in the time of COVID - re-openings, food, distancing, etc
- Upload your COVID documents online (trial)
Pre-travel e-mails:
Information on immigration rules and procedures, and other government requirements, from the Canada forum:
- Canada entry rules changing; fully vaccinated air travelers allowed
- Canada Will Require Negative COVID-19 Test 72 Hours Before Arrival
- Federal government to require vaccinations for all air and train passengers
Airport-related threads containing information that may be relevant to AC passengers, but that are not specific to AC (there are many others in the Canada forum; these are a few that have come up frequently):
- Flying through YYC 2021 Q3/Q4 (security, connections, construction impact, etc)
- YYZ International Arrivals
- Recent/Current YYZ-USA Preclearance Weekday morning times
(Other threads with immigration/government-related questions not specific to AC can be found on the Canada forum, and experiences and questions on those topics should be posted there)
Is anyone actually flying AC domestic or international in these Covid-filled days?
Jul 12, 2020, 7:23 pm
#257
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YYC
Posts: 2,074
AC224 YVR-YYC looked at least 85% full on a 319. J had 2 empty seats.
I was not going to post any pics from my recent travels but I think I'll do a little trip report while I'm in isolation. The differences between airlines are stunning.
I was not going to post any pics from my recent travels but I think I'll do a little trip report while I'm in isolation. The differences between airlines are stunning.
Jul 12, 2020, 9:30 pm
#258
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,772
Are you referring to the Ecological sanitizer? Which uses some sort of chemical rather than alcohol as Its active ingredient?
Jul 13, 2020, 1:49 am
#259
Join Date: May 2018
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE100K
Posts: 53
My only recent experience from YYZ-CDG:
AC488 YYZ-YUL Jun 30 - 4-5 J pax, rest maybe 10-15% full on 789
AC870 YUL-CDG Jun 30 - 8 J pax, whole flight maybe 30-35% full it seemed
AC871 CDG-YUL booked for Jul 19 - currently the only passenger in J.. unsure about the rest of the flight
AC488 YYZ-YUL Jun 30 - 4-5 J pax, rest maybe 10-15% full on 789
AC870 YUL-CDG Jun 30 - 8 J pax, whole flight maybe 30-35% full it seemed
AC871 CDG-YUL booked for Jul 19 - currently the only passenger in J.. unsure about the rest of the flight
Jul 13, 2020, 12:24 pm
#260
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
Programs: UA 50K, refugee from AC E50K, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 5,132
I'm about to fly this weekend domestically on AC. Should be interesting - will post back here on the results.
At the airports (specifically at YYZ T1 domestic) is anything open? I'm assuming both the MLL and Plaza Premium lounges are still closed. What about the regular restaurants - Timmies etc? Are they open these days?
At the airports (specifically at YYZ T1 domestic) is anything open? I'm assuming both the MLL and Plaza Premium lounges are still closed. What about the regular restaurants - Timmies etc? Are they open these days?
Jul 13, 2020, 12:40 pm
#261
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 302
I'm about to fly this weekend domestically on AC. Should be interesting - will post back here on the results.
At the airports (specifically at YYZ T1 domestic) is anything open? I'm assuming both the MLL and Plaza Premium lounges are still closed. What about the regular restaurants - Timmies etc? Are they open these days?
At the airports (specifically at YYZ T1 domestic) is anything open? I'm assuming both the MLL and Plaza Premium lounges are still closed. What about the regular restaurants - Timmies etc? Are they open these days?
Jul 13, 2020, 5:28 pm
#262
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
I'm about to fly this weekend domestically on AC. Should be interesting - will post back here on the results.
At the airports (specifically at YYZ T1 domestic) is anything open? I'm assuming both the MLL and Plaza Premium lounges are still closed. What about the regular restaurants - Timmies etc? Are they open these days?
At the airports (specifically at YYZ T1 domestic) is anything open? I'm assuming both the MLL and Plaza Premium lounges are still closed. What about the regular restaurants - Timmies etc? Are they open these days?
Seriously, really showed how much I've relied on lounges for a drink and a snack over the years!
Jul 13, 2020, 6:24 pm
#263
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
I am wondering if I should travel in 2.5 weeks (with wife and 24 yr old daughter) from YOW to YVR (via YYZ) -stop (and see relatives including father is 93 with some medical problems). After 5 days, I go to YYC for 48 hours (and stay in Banff Springs Hotel. Then come back from YYC to YOW (via YYZ transit).
I am in the mid 60s - and have some medical problems - although well controlled.
The question is the risk of getting covid 19 sufficiently low for me and my family flying with me and other family members based in Vancouver (from me) to fly, or too high to risk it without a pre-boarding rapid covid 19 test,
here are links to some references for AC flights with at least 1 passenger testing positive COVID 19 passenger
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba...ghts-1.5006039
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-expos...uver-1.5022413
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...sure-1.5635164
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-...ncouver-flight
Want to get your opinion
I am in the mid 60s - and have some medical problems - although well controlled.
The question is the risk of getting covid 19 sufficiently low for me and my family flying with me and other family members based in Vancouver (from me) to fly, or too high to risk it without a pre-boarding rapid covid 19 test,
here are links to some references for AC flights with at least 1 passenger testing positive COVID 19 passenger
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba...ghts-1.5006039
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-expos...uver-1.5022413
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...sure-1.5635164
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-...ncouver-flight
Want to get your opinion
Last edited by tcook052; Jul 13, 2020 at 7:21 pm Reason: cross-posting
Jul 13, 2020, 6:51 pm
#264
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
Flew last week YYC-YYZ on a 789/788 return. Both were 30-40% full tops. Saw a whole family in J on the return, guess someone had a lot of miles to burn! Both airports were pretty dead. Besides the fact that the crew all looked over 60 (seniority at work there) their biggest job was to policy mask wearing and occasionally give out water bottles.
Jul 13, 2020, 7:11 pm
#265
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BGI (ex-YYC, YYZ)
Programs: AC*G-E100K (once again)
Posts: 1,701
I am wondering if I should travel in 2.5 weeks (with wife and 24 yr old daughter) from YOW to YVR (via YYZ) -stop (and see relatives including father is 93 with some medical problems). After 5 days, I go to YYC for 48 hours (and stay in Banff Springs Hotel. Then come back from YYC to YOW (via YYZ transit).
I am in the mid 60s - and have some medical problems - although well controlled.
The question is the risk of getting covid 19 sufficiently low for me and my family flying with me and other family members based in Vancouver (from me) to fly, or too high to risk it without a pre-boarding rapid covid 19 test,
here are links to some references for AC flights with at least 1 passenger testing positive COVID 19 passenger
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba...ghts-1.5006039
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-expos...uver-1.5022413
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...sure-1.5635164
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-...ncouver-flight
Want to get your opinion?
I am in the mid 60s - and have some medical problems - although well controlled.
The question is the risk of getting covid 19 sufficiently low for me and my family flying with me and other family members based in Vancouver (from me) to fly, or too high to risk it without a pre-boarding rapid covid 19 test,
here are links to some references for AC flights with at least 1 passenger testing positive COVID 19 passenger
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba...ghts-1.5006039
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-expos...uver-1.5022413
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...sure-1.5635164
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-...ncouver-flight
Want to get your opinion?
Last edited by tcook052; Jul 14, 2020 at 6:55 pm Reason: edit content
Jul 13, 2020, 8:01 pm
#266
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,438
So far I've managed to never sit beside anyone, usually at the front of the aircraft and board last/disembark first. There is certainly a lot more risk than staying at home, but for me so far I've felt my personal risk to be reasonable. That said I havent seen my parents (65+, and 2 of 3 of them with health issues) since I've started flying.
Jul 14, 2020, 4:36 am
#267
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YYC
Posts: 2,074
I've posted the first of 3 parts in the trip report forum 
Canada to Czechia - June/July 2020 - AC & LH J
/edit: all parts posted now. Thanks jet lag
Canada to Czechia - June/July 2020 - AC & LH J
/edit: all parts posted now. Thanks jet lag
Last edited by YYCCL3; Jul 14, 2020 at 6:48 am
Jul 14, 2020, 10:08 am
#268
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYT, YVR, BNE, LON
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold
Posts: 320
I flew YHZ-YYT on Sunday; upon arrival at YYT, they ("police cadets" on the back of their tshirts with a full uniformed police officer overseeing) were handing out forms to complete and you had to show two pieces of ID to prove you were a resident of Atlantic Canada. While the flight was wholly within the Atlantic Canadian bubble, I guess people could have connected to YHZ from outside the bubble and still have been on that flight, say YUL-YHZ-YYT. They were quite efficient and polite; the form is also available online to print out if you don't want to spend the additional couple minutes filling it out upon landing.
Jul 14, 2020, 12:02 pm
#269
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: ARN
Programs: AC, SK, Marriott
Posts: 1,150
I did YYZ-YOW and back on the weekend. YYZ was pretty empty but there was a place to get a beer by the A&W. YOW just had a Hudson open for bottled drinks. Both times on a E175 I sat alone in a preferred Y seat. J was pretty empty too. A few people had seatmates but most did not.
Jul 14, 2020, 2:08 pm
#270
Join Date: May 2012
Location: YYZ-YYC
Programs: AC50K, OZ*G
Posts: 280
Did YYZ-YYC a few weeks back. Original schedule was 787-9, a week before to A321, and then day before A319. The flight was basically full. Sitting in the preferred seats, lucked out with the middle seat open.