Flight pass price increases (2022-23)
Feb 12, 23, 4:32 pm
#61
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: UA, BA, AC in progress
Posts: 2,786
The Halifax regional which was a good deal has also disappeared (there's a maritimes regional at double the price, not sure if that's new).
On the general topic of FP price increases... it is expected that FP prices will roughly track the inflation in point-to-point fares, but it seems some of the increases we're seeing vastly exceed that.
On the general topic of FP price increases... it is expected that FP prices will roughly track the inflation in point-to-point fares, but it seems some of the increases we're seeing vastly exceed that.
Feb 15, 23, 4:52 pm
#62
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E35K, FPC Plat, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 5
Just saw a huge increase in the Western Commuter too. I almost bought one two days ago, now it's up 30-50%. Too bad for me. Anyway with these huge increases, plus the decrease in frequency on these routes, this might seriously push me away from AC. I loved the flight passes for years, but the ones I buy aren't really a deal anymore.
Western Commuter 10 credit Flex was around 2.9k, now 4.1k. Latitude was 4k, now 6.1k!
I don't want to jinx things, but it seems like they are doing this in phases. I think we will see all the passes way up in price in the next 6 months.
Western Commuter 10 credit Flex was around 2.9k, now 4.1k. Latitude was 4k, now 6.1k!
I don't want to jinx things, but it seems like they are doing this in phases. I think we will see all the passes way up in price in the next 6 months.
At this new cost, I won't be getting any more FPs when mine runs out, as the pricing just doesn't make sense.
Feb 15, 23, 5:41 pm
#63
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: 2,287
Yep I'm gonna switch to flair airlines direct flights row 1 for my Western Canada flights. At $400 vs $200 I can justify AC latitude with a stop in YVR. At $600 vs $200 I'm not so sure.
Feb 15, 23, 5:56 pm
#65
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 5,445
Feb 15, 23, 7:02 pm
#66
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, UA Gold, Bonvoy Tit LT Sil, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 42,047
Luckily the passes I use haven't seen big increases. But if it gets to the point that I can buy "last minute" (somewhere between 3 and 14 days out) Comfort for less than a Latitude FP credit, I'm going to have to do some serious thinking.
Feb 15, 23, 7:38 pm
#67
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YUL
Programs: ✈ AC 1MM / S100K - SPG Lifetime Platinum = BONVoY Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,424
The passes are insane now! No point in purchasing them. In many instance they are more expensive or almost equal to flex fare.
I usually have a flex pass and latitude on the go. Just doesn't make any sense to put the 13k out for 6 or seven months of prepaid travel and not get some discount or advantage.
Still hoping for one of you to reach out to the AC crew on twitter or something and get feedback
I usually have a flex pass and latitude on the go. Just doesn't make any sense to put the 13k out for 6 or seven months of prepaid travel and not get some discount or advantage.
Still hoping for one of you to reach out to the AC crew on twitter or something and get feedback
Feb 15, 23, 7:48 pm
#68
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, DL PM, WS Silver, BA Bronze, Marriott Titanium, Hilton/Radisson Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,364
If FPs now price at the same price or a premium to comparable cash fares, as they seem to in many cases, what's the point? Sure, we get a few measly eUps or SQM for buying them, but there's not a whole lot else. The comp up on North America Latitude passes is worth something over a cash Lat fare, but the price increases have been across the board, so that's clearly not the driver of the decision.
It's possible that, as is often the case, FTer thinking is not representative of broader consumer thinking, but on this one, I think it's less likely. I think that FP decisions at some point usually run through some bean-counter who will look at value much the way we do here; I went through that a number of years ago where a business I worked at ditched FPs because the value proposition wasn't there even then.
Perhaps AC thinks customers won't notice or won't care. Perhaps they're overreacting to the very low breakage from the last couple of years. Maybe they were trying to protect themselves from huge inflation. Regardless, I'm struggling to see the rationale, and a couple weeks ago I flew Lynx to YVR and WS back because I just couldn't see the value in buying an FP.
Feb 15, 23, 8:44 pm
#69
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Aeroplan SE 100 IHG Plat Amb Nexus
Posts: 599
One could certainly argue that some of the FPs were underpriced. But they've swung the pendulum so hard in the other direction that I struggle to understand the rationale. Historically, FPs sold at somewhat of a discount to close-in fares to reflect some combination of bulk discount, interest-free financing for AC, and the customer accepting the breakage risk.
If FPs now price at the same price or a premium to comparable cash fares, as they seem to in many cases, what's the point? Sure, we get a few measly eUps or SQM for buying them, but there's not a whole lot else. The comp up on North America Latitude passes is worth something over a cash Lat fare, but the price increases have been across the board, so that's clearly not the driver of the decision.
It's possible that, as is often the case, FTer thinking is not representative of broader consumer thinking, but on this one, I think it's less likely. I think that FP decisions at some point usually run through some bean-counter who will look at value much the way we do here; I went through that a number of years ago where a business I worked at ditched FPs because the value proposition wasn't there even then.
Perhaps AC thinks customers won't notice or won't care. Perhaps they're overreacting to the very low breakage from the last couple of years. Maybe they were trying to protect themselves from huge inflation. Regardless, I'm struggling to see the rationale, and a couple weeks ago I flew Lynx to YVR and WS back because I just couldn't see the value in buying an FP.
If FPs now price at the same price or a premium to comparable cash fares, as they seem to in many cases, what's the point? Sure, we get a few measly eUps or SQM for buying them, but there's not a whole lot else. The comp up on North America Latitude passes is worth something over a cash Lat fare, but the price increases have been across the board, so that's clearly not the driver of the decision.
It's possible that, as is often the case, FTer thinking is not representative of broader consumer thinking, but on this one, I think it's less likely. I think that FP decisions at some point usually run through some bean-counter who will look at value much the way we do here; I went through that a number of years ago where a business I worked at ditched FPs because the value proposition wasn't there even then.
Perhaps AC thinks customers won't notice or won't care. Perhaps they're overreacting to the very low breakage from the last couple of years. Maybe they were trying to protect themselves from huge inflation. Regardless, I'm struggling to see the rationale, and a couple weeks ago I flew Lynx to YVR and WS back because I just couldn't see the value in buying an FP.
Last edited by folkart; Feb 15, 23 at 8:51 pm
Feb 16, 23, 11:32 am
#70
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,310
The passes have simply become uneconomical. With sales and such, it makes more sense to buy flexible fares and pay the fare difference if a change is required.
Feb 16, 23, 12:11 pm
#71
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, UA Gold, Bonvoy Tit LT Sil, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Accor Silver
Posts: 42,047
There are still a lot of passes that are economical.
There's a Y FP for 872 per credit (916 after tax) that covers YYZ-SFO.
The cheapest fare for tomorrow (ignoring availability, just in terms of published fares) is 597+tax, or 730 after tax. And that's Standard.
If you take into account availability, the cheapest fare for tomorrow is Flex M for about $8 less than the Y FP.
A Flex pass would certainly be cheaper than that.
I'll pay $8 for a complimentary upgrade on YYZ-SFO.
There's a Y FP for 872 per credit (916 after tax) that covers YYZ-SFO.
The cheapest fare for tomorrow (ignoring availability, just in terms of published fares) is 597+tax, or 730 after tax. And that's Standard.
If you take into account availability, the cheapest fare for tomorrow is Flex M for about $8 less than the Y FP.
A Flex pass would certainly be cheaper than that.
I'll pay $8 for a complimentary upgrade on YYZ-SFO.
Feb 16, 23, 12:20 pm
#72
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: 2,287
I agree a lot of passes are still reasonable, for now. Hopefully they don't increase everything by 30-50% this year.
Feb 17, 23, 6:13 am
#75
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Air Canada Elite, Continental Gold, IC Royal Ambassador, SPG Gold
Posts: 695
Maritimes regional was a big loss for me. It has gone from ~$500 each way for Latitude to over $800 now. When my covid-extended regional flight pass expired and I saw the new prices, I ended up trying Flair and is was $150 for the return trip. I realize that in IRROPS I'd be hosed on Flair and AC has always taken care of me. I value that a lot for work travel, but for leisure I'm usually fine taking the risk.
