It can be argued either way as to whether AE is competitive with regard to U/Gs - some would say yes, some would prefer the UA system.

However there is absolutely no arguement with regard to reward seat availability - where Aeroplan is clearly the worst in N America. UA along with all the other major N. American airlines allow even basic members to obtain reward seats where they want, when they want. As an Elite with AC I can't do this.

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Saturday nights should be spent with family.

I am sensing that if AP does not increase the benefits of their program, particularly for status members, many others will be heading for the door like PunishedEdmontonian and myself.

LH values my business, it is obvious from onboard and on the phone treatment.

Quote by AB:
I realize that the airline is facing tough times and had to adapt.

You would think that tough times would bring out the best in customer retention practices,particualy for their top tier fliers.These guys are no marketing geniuses that's for sure.
I didn't really suffer a a SE but thing could have been better.

Parnel: My exact point!

Marketing 101: It takes $10 to attract a new customer but it only takes a $1 to retain a customer.

All I want is a lousy loonie of recognition and service !!!!!!!!!

Some of you guys might be missing the economic reality here. As a transplanted Canadian living in the U.S. I can distinguish the forest from the trees somewhat where AC is concerned.
I agree that the airline's best customers should be treated as such, no question, however, at the end of the day if I were running this airline, I would probably be doing things similarly to what they are doing now.

You simply cannot compare UA and AC. Period. UA is in a very competitive position domestically (with 4-5 other full service domestic airlines and several no-frills domestic carriers).

AC knows full well that business travellers travelling domestically who need the flexibility a full-service airline such as AC provides, (with many non-stop flights each day, along with other perks such as the MLL, business class availability, special check-in, priority baggage, priority boarding, same-day standby, etc.) cannot afford to risk going with Westjet or Jetsgo or elsewhere for domestic travel. Time is by far the most precious commodity to the business traveller and AC wins hands down here for saving time and providing flexibility for changes, etc.

AC knows that its real competition is for international (and transborder)flights and it is here that they are putting their limited resources.

I don't agree that AC is putting its resources into International.... domestic is where all the focus has been new J fares new easy fares TANGO changes Zip etc.
Internation??? just cuts. Also they have done nothing to make SE competitive with UA program for upgrades etc... Aeroplan has been using the CCAA to do nothing, but UA gave its members great perks because of CCAA???

I fear that the above is exactly what AC management thinks, unfortunately a lot of it is no longer true. Aside from J class and lounges WS is quite competitive on a number of routes, especially out west (where the J class part is largely becoming irrelevant).

I think WS has almost the same number of flights as AC/Zippy on the western triangle and certainly there is adequate coverage. WS also provides jet service to places AC does not. Even on transcons WS is making moves. YYC-YYZ is now up to 5 flights on weekdays with more service to YHM. YEG has two daily to YYZ and two to YHM. YVR-YYZ is still weak. The "cancer" will spread.

If AC thinks it can just milk the business flyer it is sadly mistaken - there are few companies left in this city that use AC exclusively, many have switched to WS or Quickair etc..

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Altaflyer:
[B] I Aside from J class and lounges WS is quite competitive on a number of routes, especially out west (where the J class part is largely becoming irrelevant).

Well reading FT it seem to me "J" is important. maybe its irrelevant because WS does not have it...

quote by altaflyer:
If AC thinks it can just milk the business flyer it is sadly mistaken - there are few companies left in this city that use AC exclusively, many have switched to WS or Quickair etc..

Maybe not exclusively but I see many of the business elite and even lawyers on my many YYZ/YEG/YYZ flts and the flts I take around AB on Jazz are always full.Yes, WS has replaced CP as the competitor but AC has the edge here because of int connections, J class, aeroplan and bigger planes on some long haul domestic routes.
I believe they will bring yeg back into balance now that the new terminal is ready and once they have hteir new RJ/ERJ fleet bought, because YEG is the market for those jets.

?? What cuts? International J is much better than it was, with the new meal service and improved pitch etc. Also international Y has just been enhanced.

Fact over fiction....

You misunderstand. AC/Zip/Jazz don't offer J out west except for YYC-YVR and this is gradually being Zipped. I was not referring to J being irrelevant on trans-con.

Gone since last year to UA MP and not planning to come back! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

AC is actually improving their international service with their new J service, etc. So, it's not true that they are only worried about domestic markets. And let's face it, there isn't enough money to be made on their routes, except for the main transcontinental flagship ones.

In fact, I personally have always felt that their international service was / is better than their domestic service. Even the staff seem to be more attentive than domestic ones. Don't know why -- or if that is even true -- but perception is everything, I guess. I always feel good (but jetlagged) getting off the plane at LHR.

As for upgrades, it would be nice to see some SWU upgrades where you can get upgraded from any fare > Q or L. But, I'm just dreaming here... I will agree with Empress, though, that I would prefer the current system of upgrades over the UA system where you're fighting until the last minute to get upgraded at the gate.

Increased award availability for P and E would be nice too...

You kidding me again, right? Have you sat down and counted how many J seats UA have on international flights per day vs. how many AC has? (Take HKG for example, UA currently has over 100 J seats per day while AC only has 29.) If AC can already fill their J cabin with paid J and upgrades from H or higher, why change it? So they should let everyone upgrade from the lowest fare but in reality no one could get it because J cabin is full? Wouldn't that tick more customers off because they could never get it?

No improvements on upgrades? Then how could you have upgraded your HKG trip from H back in May when you could only do so from full Y a year ago?

Cuts on international? How about the new meal service in both Economy and International?

No one is stopping you from UA. Please speak facts and don't make up things.

Exactly. The situation is going to be worse next year. It's simple: More SWUs, a lot lot more 1Ks than this year (because of all those free Q miles they gave away just by faxing your statement in + pay $100 for double Q miles) and everyone trying to get upgraded because they could do so from any fare. The more I look at it, the more I think this is not really an improvement in reality.