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?
Jun 13, 20, 10:03 pm
#92
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
AC228, slightly higher load, 4 in J again, 62 in Y. 3 upgraders cheapened my private J cabin shortly before boarding 
CATSA was incredibly slow and inefficient, even by its very poor standards, at both YYC and YVR. Seems like they have nothing to do, so just do everything very slowly.
At YYC, temperature screening was done at the gate at boarding. At YVR, outside security.
Apparently J lavs are reserved for crew on the 320s, all pax get to go to the back.
CATSA was incredibly slow and inefficient, even by its very poor standards, at both YYC and YVR. Seems like they have nothing to do, so just do everything very slowly.
At YYC, temperature screening was done at the gate at boarding. At YVR, outside security.
Apparently J lavs are reserved for crew on the 320s, all pax get to go to the back.
Jun 14, 20, 1:58 am
#93
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: E50K, *Gold, WS Gold,VIA Premier, VIPorter
Posts: 461
Jun 14, 20, 3:16 am
#94
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
You would expect given the crew are on average involved in more travel, especially international travel that they are a higher risk than the average passengers.
Jun 14, 20, 10:40 am
#95
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: Cowtool $ contributor, AC SE100K, WN CP, F9 50k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,024
Perhaps it is now the crew's duty to help sanitize the lav? If so, the best way to keep it clean/sanitized would be to keep it locked with a non compliant (single language) hand written note blocking it for their own use.
Nevermind the fact that J pax have to walk further and wait at the back of the Y line. Or the already poor lav-to-pax ratios.
Reminds me of the recent KLM flight that had the lav blocked off only in Korean.
Jun 14, 20, 12:44 pm
#96
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE, Bonvoy Tit/LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Enterprise Gold, UA*S, Accor Gold, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,374
Just did a YYJ-YVR-YEG and return trip. Currently onboard AC241 from YEG-YVR.
Interesting notes:
YYJ only had one AC agent outside of security when I arrived for my flight. I had an issue with my mobile BP and was not able to get help in a timely fashion so I missed it.
On the other side I tried to grab a paper BP from YEG, but the super elite check-in area was gone (now just priority) and the lineups had more than 5 people in them, so I used my screenshot of a mobile BP to get through security and board.
Onboard in J I was provided both the cleancare+ kit and a separate bottle of water. In Y (on express) only the cleancare+ kit was offered. The cleancare+ kit on jazz/express had different hand sani than ecological branded sani received in the mainline kits thus far.
YYJ-YVR now has mainline (A319) service. I missed it on the way out but should be on it later today on my return to YYJ.
I rented a car too at YEG, that was different but not relevant to AC.
Cliff notes: If you're checking bags or need help from an agent, get to the airport extra early! Agents are few and far between.
EDIT:
Forgot to mention I had interactions with the concierge call center after I missed my flight. Took three attempts to get through, (first two went into an infinite cycle of ringing then hold music), third attempt involved 10 minutes on hold. It took me a full 1 hr 40 mins at the airport and on the phone with the concierge to get my missed flight rebooked how I wanted it.
Interesting notes:
YYJ only had one AC agent outside of security when I arrived for my flight. I had an issue with my mobile BP and was not able to get help in a timely fashion so I missed it.
On the other side I tried to grab a paper BP from YEG, but the super elite check-in area was gone (now just priority) and the lineups had more than 5 people in them, so I used my screenshot of a mobile BP to get through security and board.
Onboard in J I was provided both the cleancare+ kit and a separate bottle of water. In Y (on express) only the cleancare+ kit was offered. The cleancare+ kit on jazz/express had different hand sani than ecological branded sani received in the mainline kits thus far.
YYJ-YVR now has mainline (A319) service. I missed it on the way out but should be on it later today on my return to YYJ.
I rented a car too at YEG, that was different but not relevant to AC.
Cliff notes: If you're checking bags or need help from an agent, get to the airport extra early! Agents are few and far between.
EDIT:
Forgot to mention I had interactions with the concierge call center after I missed my flight. Took three attempts to get through, (first two went into an infinite cycle of ringing then hold music), third attempt involved 10 minutes on hold. It took me a full 1 hr 40 mins at the airport and on the phone with the concierge to get my missed flight rebooked how I wanted it.
Last edited by Nitehawk; Jun 14, 20 at 12:59 pm
Jun 14, 20, 12:58 pm
#97
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
Both mainline 320s. So I'm not sure whether it's a mainline/Jazz thing or whether it depends on station or just what was available when they put that particular kit together.
The alcohol wipes were also different. So I'm inclined to think it's more a supply issue.
Cliff notes: If you're checking bags or need help from an agent, get to the airport extra early! Agents are few and far between.
Check-in has been relocated to the international desks sort of around the corner and to the right of where AC usually is.
At YYC, it's the usual check-in area.
Staffing was light both places when I went through, but there weren't any pax at the time.
I did get to have a nice (physically distanced) chat with Chris at the YYC Concierge office before my first flight though.
Jun 14, 20, 1:28 pm
#98
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: Cowtool $ contributor, AC SE100K, WN CP, F9 50k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,024
Your same day round trip has me longing for another EYW full of purposeful travel. Perhaps the purpose could be EYW participants flying 50 to 175 segments 3 each to collect that same # of Air Canada Cleancare+ kits to donate to the needy.
Jun 14, 20, 1:28 pm
#99
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: AC 75k
Posts: 698
Need some intel if anyone has it. Is there food currently open in YYZ domestic past security? I arrived 11pm inbound last week so everything was of course shut then.
REading above, how fast is check in and security at YYZ now? Was a breeze back in March, but that was that perfect storm of when everyone stopped flying but they hadn't yet fired everybody.
REading above, how fast is check in and security at YYZ now? Was a breeze back in March, but that was that perfect storm of when everyone stopped flying but they hadn't yet fired everybody.
Jun 14, 20, 1:35 pm
#100
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,745
It's just another iteration of "COVID as an excuse to do whatever we want".
Jun 14, 20, 3:33 pm
#102
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE, Bonvoy Tit/LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Enterprise Gold, UA*S, Accor Gold, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,374
Thanks for the trip report. Glad there was at least enough frequency that you could take a later yyj-yvr.
Your same day round trip has me longing for another EYW full of purposeful travel. Perhaps the purpose could be EYW participants flying 50 to 175 segments 3 each to collect that same # of Air Canada Cleancare+ kits to donate to the needy.
Your same day round trip has me longing for another EYW full of purposeful travel. Perhaps the purpose could be EYW participants flying 50 to 175 segments 3 each to collect that same # of Air Canada Cleancare+ kits to donate to the needy.
Jun 14, 20, 3:51 pm
#103
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: YOW
Programs: Altitude 75K, LT Marriott Platinum
Posts: 257
Need some intel if anyone has it. Is there food currently open in YYZ domestic past security? I arrived 11pm inbound last week so everything was of course shut then.
REading above, how fast is check in and security at YYZ now? Was a breeze back in March, but that was that perfect storm of when everyone stopped flying but they hadn't yet fired everybody.
REading above, how fast is check in and security at YYZ now? Was a breeze back in March, but that was that perfect storm of when everyone stopped flying but they hadn't yet fired everybody.
The Dirty Bird Chicken & Waffles Express
A true Toronto classic, serving delicious fried chicken, sandwiches and their world famous waffles. A great place to eat no matter the time of day.
- Terminal 1 After security (Canada) Near gate D20
- Grab & go available every day from 5:30 am to 9 pm
Jun 14, 20, 4:52 pm
#105
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
Check in was a bit of an issue as there weren't alot of people working but if you use the auto check-in, then it's a breeze. The security is also not a hassle and last time, I was there the Nexus and Priority areas were closed. The following restaurant has been opened while travelling at YYZ recently:
The Dirty Bird Chicken & Waffles Express
A true Toronto classic, serving delicious fried chicken, sandwiches and their world famous waffles. A great place to eat no matter the time of day.
- Terminal 1 After security (Canada) Near gate D20
- Grab & go available every day from 5:30 am to 9 pm
What I will say is these guys are good. At least there downtown location is. assuming the food services company that handles YYZ does not mess things up I would expect this to a good option.
