Joroy70

Was international for me YUL-SJO now obviously flights get delayed and im at the gate waiting!

18wheeler_vanrekt

Ah, sorry to hear that as well...

(At least no one's complained about overcrowding in the Signature Suites as a result of the increase in elites!)

SuperCargo

I'm a walking example of how lounge overcrowding can be a catalyst for jumping ship. Until 5 years ago or so I was a loyal and longstanding BA Gold (most of my flying was and still is YYZ/LHR), and the huge BA lounge downgrade in YYZ (shut their own lounge and contracted Plaza Premium) and consequential lounge overcrowding was the straw that broke the camel's back and made me try out AC (which I had previously avoided like the plague due to some epically poor experiences in the 2000s). I've been AC SE ever since and BA has lost almost all of my business. Switching due to lounge overcrowding sounds petty, but travelling for work sucks and every incremental downgrade in the experience is noticed by those of us who travel regularly and adds up. In the end the lounge situation was just one factor in my decision to switch, but if it wasn't for the lounge overcrowding at BA I wouldn't have even given AC a chance.

YVRtoYYZ

Anecdotally, AC34 today has 3 x SMR + 3(?) SEs in the J cabin based on a glance at the meal selection list in the galley.

I wouldn't have expected such a large number of SEs coming back from Australia in the winter, especially with AC36 and AC38 running.

TTC900Rocket

No one is complaining because one has to buy a business class fare JDCPZ or a Flexible Business Class ticket in order to enter the SS.

sameruval

SMR = Special Meal Request?

Adam Smith

S = Super Elite
M = Million Miler
R = premium CC holder

YXU

I would like to add: AC Expects a loss in (Super) Elites in the next few years. I know because many of my SE coworkers that regularly spent $30k+/year on Air Canada have 0 business travel planned as companies shift to a virtual environment. None of my clients want to pay for someone to travel when they can meet over Zoom.
I know some of you will disagree with my sentiment, but I would like to mention that this is a frequent flyer forum and many of us (including myself) make up that travel through personal trips, but the same is not true for many others.

In the end, I think AC is trying to entice loyalty and make it seem "easier" to retain status so that more business travellers try to fly more for leisure (or do more MR's or whatever),

bakersdozen

Totally agree and similar observations. These new elites won’t travel much anyways so they won’t be around all year.

Rundosrun

I used to dislike those dreary mid-winter flights with weather and de-icing delays but now I am looking forward to them in the hopes of less elites.

Wings100

Thanks for the explanation of the SMR. On a recent flight home from Vancouver to Toronto, the in charge had no clue what that meant and asked me why Air Canada would put something like that next to my name. He said that he could tell I was super elite but did not know what the M & R stand for

rankourabu

Priority checkin line this afternoon snakes out the glassed off area around the corner. 3 agents working.
After 2 mins of not moving went to regular checkin kiosks and bag drop. No wait, I guess since everyone is elite nowadays.

YUL_Around_The_World

SMR = Which credit card is accepted as "PREMIUM" ?

ffsim

The expensive ones: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...t-cards.html#/

bakersdozen

which airport?