Same day Standby Edmonton to Calgary
Mar 24, 2019, 9:14 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: YYJ
Posts: 4,137
Same day standby is complimentary on this route on anything but a basic fare on AC. Not sure about WestJet.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...in-canada.html
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...in-canada.html
May 19, 2019, 1:14 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Canada
Programs: Marriott Plat; Air Canada E75K; Westjet Platinum
Posts: 1,161
AC standby in the Eastern and Western triangle is only for earlier flight and does not require status. WJ same day confirmed change can be for either earlier or later flight but requires status.
May 23, 2019, 6:38 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,342
YYC-YEG is a busy route and based on my observations, seems to commonly have full flights on AC planes, and probably earns them a decent yield for a short hop Q400 flight. If WS wants to pick up share with business travelers on that route, they need to add same day standby. I've frequently gone standby for earlier AC flights that were full and almost always get on the earlier flight. WS confirmed change policy doesn't help out its frequent flyers when it's a full flight so they won't allow a change, but then end up with no-shows or late cancellations and leave with empty seats.
May 23, 2019, 8:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
YYC-YEG is a busy route and based on my observations, seems to commonly have full flights on AC planes, and probably earns them a decent yield for a short hop Q400 flight. If WS wants to pick up share with business travelers on that route, they need to add same day standby. I've frequently gone standby for earlier AC flights that were full and almost always get on the earlier flight. WS confirmed change policy doesn't help out its frequent flyers when it's a full flight so they won't allow a change, but then end up with no-shows or late cancellations and leave with empty seats.
May 31, 2019, 3:58 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,068
I think WS considers itself to be the leader in these markets but frankly I think AC has more flights on some city pairs like YEG-YVR than Westjet. Another reason to pick AC. Just checked an WS is down to 6 flights on this route vs. AC's 10!!! WS is definitely the laggard!
Jun 1, 2019, 10:28 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Canada
Programs: Marriott Plat; Air Canada E75K; Westjet Platinum
Posts: 1,161
WJ runs the first 2 flights every morning from YEG to YYC using 737-6/7/800 to shuttle passengers into YYC to connect to their banks of mid morning departures to USA or Caribbean/Mexico. 95% of those people are connecting onward. Same thing at the end of the day - last 2 flights of the evening from YYC to YEG are inbound passengers from other destinations landing into YYC from USA or Mexico. This winter an agent showed me the breakdown of the 900 pm inbound destinations and PHX/CUN being the top destinations each with about 30 people. Another obvious sign is all the passengers carry passports in their hands wearing sandals. From my observation, WJ tends to carry more connecting passengers than AC (more pure YEG/YYC) on this route and may be the reason for not offering same day standby.
Jun 2, 2019, 10:24 am
#12
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
WJ runs the first 2 flights every morning from YEG to YYC using 737-6/7/800 to shuttle passengers into YYC to connect to their banks of mid morning departures to USA or Caribbean/Mexico. 95% of those people are connecting onward. Same thing at the end of the day - last 2 flights of the evening from YYC to YEG are inbound passengers from other destinations landing into YYC from USA or Mexico. This winter an agent showed me the breakdown of the 900 pm inbound destinations and PHX/CUN being the top destinations each with about 30 people. Another obvious sign is all the passengers carry passports in their hands wearing sandals. From my observation, WJ tends to carry more connecting passengers than AC (more pure YEG/YYC) on this route and may be the reason for not offering same day standby.
This is what WS offers on the business heavy shuttle routes:
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/book-t...vel/simplicity