Aug 21, 21, 6:45 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?
Mar 30, 20, 9:05 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: YQT
Programs: AC, US, AA, UA, BA, QF, DL...
Posts: 459
It's not just interprovincial travel now. Anyone coming to northwestern Ontario from elsewhere in the province is being told to self-isolate because of the sustained community spread in Toronto. That includes anyone flying through Toronto on our 2 remaining flights per day (down from 12-ish in the before time, the long long ago).
Mar 30, 20, 9:20 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 2,621
For a slightly different report.....
******
Posted: Mar 27, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn0bbmxkT9o
******
Posted: Mar 27, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn0bbmxkT9o
Haha.
I'm glad I'm not missing out while currently grounded.
May 11, 20, 9:22 pm
#18
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: 5,113
Here's an article from The Washington Post that shows a EWR-SFO flight - presumably from 09 May 2020 - that's pretty packed in the back of the bus.
Does anyone have any recent AC experiences? I find it hard to fathom that Americans are flying enough to pack a plane.
Does anyone have any recent AC experiences? I find it hard to fathom that Americans are flying enough to pack a plane.
May 11, 20, 10:03 pm
#19
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, DL PM, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,083
May 11, 20, 10:18 pm
#20
Posting Legend, Moderator, Manufactured Spending
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,219
From the AC press release in the CleanCare+ thread:
To promote more personal space in Economy Class aboard its aircraft, Air Canada will automatically block the sale of adjacent seats and cap the total number of seats sold for each flight. As a result, no customer in Economy Class will be required to sit immediately adjacent to another, unless they are required to do so to assist another customer with whom they are travelling. This policy will remain in effect until at least June 30, 2020.
So while I don't have firsthand experience AC is seemingly intent on avoiding a full cabin as another airline you indicated had.
To promote more personal space in Economy Class aboard its aircraft, Air Canada will automatically block the sale of adjacent seats and cap the total number of seats sold for each flight. As a result, no customer in Economy Class will be required to sit immediately adjacent to another, unless they are required to do so to assist another customer with whom they are travelling. This policy will remain in effect until at least June 30, 2020.
So while I don't have firsthand experience AC is seemingly intent on avoiding a full cabin as another airline you indicated had.
May 12, 20, 8:22 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
I have the firsthand experience, and the fights are as you'd expect; very lightly loaded, more available rows than passengers on a 320, masks and temp checks required before boarding. There are lots of negatives which are actually positives, assuming you are not a needy/entitled passenger: no terminal noise, no gate lice, no zone boarding, no jetway queues, no jostling, no shortage of bin space, no shared arm rests, no lav lineups, no perceivable stress, no attitude and no need to purchase any fare beyond basic economy.
May 12, 20, 1:03 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 62
I flew from YYZ to YVR on AC about 2 weeks ago. They were flying a dreamliner (both ways) which was about 30% full, so we had a ton of room to space out. The only service for the 4.5 hour flight was a granola bar and a few bottles of water.
A handful of restaurants were open in YYZ and YVR (more in YYZ).
Overall the experience was pleasant.
A handful of restaurants were open in YYZ and YVR (more in YYZ).
Overall the experience was pleasant.
May 13, 20, 9:29 am
#24
Join Date: May 2003
Location: YEG
Programs: AC E50 MM, WJ Gold, Marriott Titanium Elite Lifetime
Posts: 3,080
From the AC press release in the CleanCare+ thread:
To promote more personal space in Economy Class aboard its aircraft, Air Canada will automatically block the sale of adjacent seats and cap the total number of seats sold for each flight. As a result, no customer in Economy Class will be required to sit immediately adjacent to another, unless they are required to do so to assist another customer with whom they are travelling. This policy will remain in effect until at least June 30, 2020.
So while I don't have firsthand experience AC is seemingly intent on avoiding a full cabin as another airline you indicated had.
To promote more personal space in Economy Class aboard its aircraft, Air Canada will automatically block the sale of adjacent seats and cap the total number of seats sold for each flight. As a result, no customer in Economy Class will be required to sit immediately adjacent to another, unless they are required to do so to assist another customer with whom they are travelling. This policy will remain in effect until at least June 30, 2020.
So while I don't have firsthand experience AC is seemingly intent on avoiding a full cabin as another airline you indicated had.
May 15, 20, 9:11 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,850
Wednesday evening there were just over 50 people around the baggage carousel for AC123.(789).
I think the only domestic connection that night was to YYJ.
Add a few people with no luggage. Probably a few international connections.
Yesterday...
my numbers could be off by a bit....
8417 YLW-YVR had 20 pax
8071 YVR-YYJ had 31 pax+3 crew in uniform not operating the flight.
A passengers appeared to be travelling YLW-YVR-YYJ
In the YVR terminal building there was a handful of people with baggage from YWG-YVR.
Looks like they were waiting for the MF flight back to Xiamen.
I think the only domestic connection that night was to YYJ.
Add a few people with no luggage. Probably a few international connections.
Yesterday...
my numbers could be off by a bit....
8417 YLW-YVR had 20 pax
8071 YVR-YYJ had 31 pax+3 crew in uniform not operating the flight.
A passengers appeared to be travelling YLW-YVR-YYJ
In the YVR terminal building there was a handful of people with baggage from YWG-YVR.
Looks like they were waiting for the MF flight back to Xiamen.
May 15, 20, 9:31 pm
#27
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, AA PPro, UA Gold, Bonvoy Tit LT Sil, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 43,485
May 16, 20, 8:31 am
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 91
I have the firsthand experience, and the fights are as you'd expect; very lightly loaded, more available rows than passengers on a 320, masks and temp checks required before boarding. There are lots of negatives which are actually positives, assuming you are not a needy/entitled passenger: no terminal noise, no gate lice, no zone boarding, no jetway queues, no jostling, no shortage of bin space, no shared arm rests, no lav lineups, no perceivable stress, no attitude and no need to purchase any fare beyond basic economy.
May 16, 20, 11:00 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, HH Diamond, National , Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,237
May 15 YYC-YYZ-YOW AC134 & AC7720 - ~60 passengers & ~30 passengers
Temperature check & health questions out of YYC
When boarding one small bottled water provided, zip lock bag with two pairs of gloves, small bottled sanitizer, two moist wipes, one mask & another small bottle of water and one granola bar provided at the beginning of the flight
After flight booked, AC made many changes to seat assignments. Passengers were placed at the windows apart from each other. The first flight was A220 Fin 101 so A,D & F seats used!
Like flying PY or J, lots of room
First officer on AC134 promoted and given his fourth bar became a full Captain on this flight
MLL in YYC & YYZ are closed - All MLL are closed. Many parts of the airports are also closed
Temperature check & health questions out of YYC
When boarding one small bottled water provided, zip lock bag with two pairs of gloves, small bottled sanitizer, two moist wipes, one mask & another small bottle of water and one granola bar provided at the beginning of the flight
After flight booked, AC made many changes to seat assignments. Passengers were placed at the windows apart from each other. The first flight was A220 Fin 101 so A,D & F seats used!
Like flying PY or J, lots of room
First officer on AC134 promoted and given his fourth bar became a full Captain on this flight
MLL in YYC & YYZ are closed - All MLL are closed. Many parts of the airports are also closed
Last edited by HerpaYvr; May 16, 20 at 11:12 am
