tyberius

Passengers did not demand them. And Air Canada is not offering lower fares as a result of this.

Air Canada's shareholders demanded more margin and AC is making what is basically a stealth product switch. Customers will react later after they have had experience with the product, or those of us who inform ourselves in advance will (and have) reacted in advance by staying off of them.

As long as AC has their market dominance guaranteed in Canada they can pretty much do whatever they want to the customers because there are just not any options for some people.

I am lucky that I can drive over the border and fly with Delta for 1/3 of the cost on what will be a similar product to somewhere like Las Vegas.

So please don't say this is about AC offering a better price, the price is ridiculous compared to the carriers that they're trying to emulate now for service, and the difference will go to their bottom line.

At the moment they have a great reputation because the product has been superior to other carriers in North America, now that they are going the same sardine can route that will likely change. So for the moment they'll surf on the reputation of a better product than what they will be delivering.

YYZFlyboy

Sorry if I confused you, but my point has NEVER been that most people have the same buying habits as me and has always been that there is definitely a segment of FF (like myself) that does not buy the cheapest Y fares and could, therefore, be subjected by HD seating - how big that segment is, I guess, is the question. Also since this segment is more cabin savvy than the masses they will, I think, avoid HD like the plague.

I hope the HD experiment backfires big time, time will tell.

CloudsBelow

You're playing games. PAX didn't "demand" them - OK - they refused to pay unit fares inline with a (comfortable) 349-seat 777 to Paris. The new aircraft configs don't allow AC to offer lower fares, they allow AC to turn money losing routes into money makers with current fares

More margin??!?? AC had ZERO profitable years between 2005-2012. ZERO

Why not fly DL ex Canada? AC has a higher cost structure than DL. Not only does AC have to compete with lower cost airlines ex Canada, they also lose passengers to bordertown USA


I don't know what this means


I know I come across as an AC apologist/defender. I'm not. I hate all Corp Exec compensation and AC is as gross as the rest. I found their OTP disgusting. There are lots of reasons to dislike AC. I just think they have a right to do what is necessary to return value to their shareholders - as crude as Rouge and 460-seat 777s might be.

Dorian

I guess that is why we are seeing the business class race in the US now...lie flats and suites transcontinental!

yqtyyz

Regardless of its density or capacity, anytime AC gets new aircraft is a special moment (777HD, not so much for FTers).

I'll probably have flown on a UA, LOT, or ANA Dreamliner by then, but it'll still be exciting to see it in AC colours.

1Newflyer

How do these differ? 788 vs 789, one has more seats ?

1Newflyer

Do you attribute this to AC charging less than others and/or that the service was too good and therefore too expensive?

rehoult

789 is bigger with more seats.

InTheAirGuy

On the Toronto Airport Logs site, they’ve got details for AC’s 787’s showing up. First one in March! http://www.yyznews.com/787.html

Tractor Boy

Given that we already know AC is going for the sardine can 17" wide seats in Y a few questions do remain:
1) what will the new J seat look like? - I'm still hoping for something like the CX seat
2) how many J seats will there be? - I'd bet less than in the 767s
3) will the Y seat pitch be cut to 31"? (as in the 77HDs)
4) how many PE seats will there be?
5) based on their success with the 77HDs will AC do away with washrooms completely?

ACYYZ/SD

Or you may just be pleasantly surprised

CloudsBelow

Impossible!!! I read here all the 77W were being retrofitted to HD config .... And the 787s were coming w/ 30" pitch ....... And 787 J was going to be reduced to a dozen seats ........ And they're adding aux tanks on CRJ200s and using them TATL to save costs ......... LOL.

The one poster who actually has insight has hinted at a nice config on the 787 yet the HD theories keep coming. And if AC 787 arrives spec'd out closely to LAN and their 9 wide by 32" Y pitch, all the whining here will subside (for a day or two)

Stranger

I certainly hope the 787s come up with a reasonable configuration..

But no matter what, mixing different products such as the sardine cans and more decent configurations under the same product description ends up in a very confusing marketing message. Likely a price to pay.

At the very least the sardine cans ought to be sold as Rouge.

gcashin

Any word on when they'll be announcing the 787 configuration and initial routes? If they're going to be receiving them in the first half of 2014 (which I think is the latest timing), I'd expect we should see something soon?

rehoult

Rumor at SMD5 seemed to be late-Dec/early January. They'll also be announcing a 777 retrofit program at or near the same time. Though probably not for the 5 HD ones.

I have no idea what's coming, but the AC staff that knew were decidedly proud of what they are rolling out.