Air Canada Expands Regional Services with Luxury Motorcoach Land-Air Connections
Mar 22, 2024, 6:33 pm
#61
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Manitoba
Programs: Aeroplan 25K
Posts: 113
They had to drop the land segment from my booking. One direction kept falling off every couple of days. I was going to Toronto anyway, so I asked, and they agreed to make YYZ my endpoint rather than YHM. The issue seems to be that both are counted as "Toronto" and the system kept flagging them as duplicate segments. Hopefully they can fix it before it causes too many issues.
Mar 23, 2024, 9:21 am
#62
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE 100K MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 1,090
I'll give them credit for the novel concept and I hope it works out for AC + the PAX in those areas. They should probably start the same offering from YOW to YUL given all the complaining on here from our YOW based community members.
That said, based on the schedules posted, this looks like a good proposition if you have nothing to do and all day to do it, but if your time is valuable to you there are much more efficient and reliable (albeit more expensive, but that's kinda how that works) to make the transit to YYZ.
Also wonder why they aren't doing the same from the East end of the GTA (Bowmanville, Oshawa, etc), as there is likely similar demand and the service could be far more predictable/timely given the easy access to Hwy 407.
That said, based on the schedules posted, this looks like a good proposition if you have nothing to do and all day to do it, but if your time is valuable to you there are much more efficient and reliable (albeit more expensive, but that's kinda how that works) to make the transit to YYZ.
Also wonder why they aren't doing the same from the East end of the GTA (Bowmanville, Oshawa, etc), as there is likely similar demand and the service could be far more predictable/timely given the easy access to Hwy 407.
Mar 23, 2024, 6:09 pm
#63
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 123
It’s actually kind of strange that they picked airports to do this from. I don’t actually know the benefit of using YKW instead of a more convenient location. Is it ticketing/luggage services? Those don’t really exist for AC at Waterloo and I can’t imagine it’s that hard to set up. Even something like Fairview Mall where people could take transit and still have ample parking seems like it would make more sense.
Maybe there is hope that one day the bus can be secured and drop off in Toronto can be after security?
Anyway, I could see myself using the bus to the airport because YKW is very convenient to me and I could pick a flight that works well. But I wouldn’t want to rely on it to get home. It’s great that AC will get me on the next bus if my incoming flight is delayed but I’d much rather take care of that myself with a car parked at the airport or even a taxi on demand.
Maybe there is hope that one day the bus can be secured and drop off in Toronto can be after security?
Anyway, I could see myself using the bus to the airport because YKW is very convenient to me and I could pick a flight that works well. But I wouldn’t want to rely on it to get home. It’s great that AC will get me on the next bus if my incoming flight is delayed but I’d much rather take care of that myself with a car parked at the airport or even a taxi on demand.
Mar 23, 2024, 6:14 pm
#64
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Manitoba
Programs: Aeroplan 25K
Posts: 113
It’s actually kind of strange that they picked airports to do this from. I don’t actually know the benefit of using YKW instead of a more convenient location. Is it ticketing/luggage services? Those don’t really exist for AC at Waterloo and I can’t imagine it’s that hard to set up. Even something like Fairview Mall where people could take transit and still have ample parking seems like it would make more sense.
Maybe there is hope that one day the bus can be secured and drop off in Toronto can be after security?
Anyway, I could see myself using the bus to the airport because YKW is very convenient to me and I could pick a flight that works well. But I wouldn’t want to rely on it to get home. It’s great that AC will get me on the next bus if my incoming flight is delayed but I’d much rather take care of that myself with a car parked at the airport or even a taxi on demand.
Maybe there is hope that one day the bus can be secured and drop off in Toronto can be after security?
Anyway, I could see myself using the bus to the airport because YKW is very convenient to me and I could pick a flight that works well. But I wouldn’t want to rely on it to get home. It’s great that AC will get me on the next bus if my incoming flight is delayed but I’d much rather take care of that myself with a car parked at the airport or even a taxi on demand.
Mar 23, 2024, 6:19 pm
#66
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Manitoba
Programs: Aeroplan 25K
Posts: 113
Mar 26, 2024, 7:22 pm
#67
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: YYJ
Posts: 4,137
I wanted to book this, but the pricing is out to lunch.
Segment 1, going from Victoria to Hamilton in the fall.
Standard fare priced identically whether going to YYZ or continuing to YHM.
However, in Premium, it was an extra $150 to continue to YHM. I'll take the GO bus, thanks.
Leaving Hamilton, it's even worse. I'll be heading to Sault Ste Marie. YHM to YAM = $619. Drop the YHM segment and it's $405 for the same YYZ-YAM flight. Both Standard. $214 for a 50 minute bus ride... Where's the value in that?
Segment 1, going from Victoria to Hamilton in the fall.
Standard fare priced identically whether going to YYZ or continuing to YHM.
However, in Premium, it was an extra $150 to continue to YHM. I'll take the GO bus, thanks.
Leaving Hamilton, it's even worse. I'll be heading to Sault Ste Marie. YHM to YAM = $619. Drop the YHM segment and it's $405 for the same YYZ-YAM flight. Both Standard. $214 for a 50 minute bus ride... Where's the value in that?
Mar 27, 2024, 6:43 am
#68
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: GTHA
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 171
I've looked at the prices too and reached the same conclusion. The price is more than what I'd spend on ground transportation services to YYZ that pick me up and drop of off at my door at a time of my choosing instead of going to a regional airport and taking AC's bus from there.
Mar 27, 2024, 12:53 pm
#70
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,675
I wanted to book this, but the pricing is out to lunch.
Segment 1, going from Victoria to Hamilton in the fall.
Standard fare priced identically whether going to YYZ or continuing to YHM.
However, in Premium, it was an extra $150 to continue to YHM. I'll take the GO bus, thanks.
Leaving Hamilton, it's even worse. I'll be heading to Sault Ste Marie. YHM to YAM = $619. Drop the YHM segment and it's $405 for the same YYZ-YAM flight. Both Standard. $214 for a 50 minute bus ride... Where's the value in that?
Segment 1, going from Victoria to Hamilton in the fall.
Standard fare priced identically whether going to YYZ or continuing to YHM.
However, in Premium, it was an extra $150 to continue to YHM. I'll take the GO bus, thanks.
Leaving Hamilton, it's even worse. I'll be heading to Sault Ste Marie. YHM to YAM = $619. Drop the YHM segment and it's $405 for the same YYZ-YAM flight. Both Standard. $214 for a 50 minute bus ride... Where's the value in that?
Mar 27, 2024, 2:39 pm
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,808