WestJet Elevation Lounge YYC

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Oct 14, 2019, 5:20 pm

#31

Frequentlander

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2014

Location: YVR

Programs: WS Nothing, AC Something, AS Gold. Too big for 737Max washrooms

Posts: 893

Quote:

Originally Posted by Symmetre

The only real problem here is that the new lounge is in Calgary. Sorry WS, but I'm not flying across the country just to sit in your new lounge on my way to Europe.

Agreed.
It would be easier to take WSs' claims of wanting to go after business flyers more seriously of they had rolled out an announcement of new lounges at their major hubs, along with opening dates. I fly WS a lot domestically but try to avoid connecting through Calgary of I can......and most of the time, I can.

Symmetre likes this.

Oct 19, 2019, 11:29 pm

#32

llcooljayce

Join Date: Jun 2005

Location: YYC

Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, Accor Diamond, SPG Gold, Fairmont Premier, Club Carlson Gold

Posts: 326

Quote:

Originally Posted by Symmetre

The only real problem here is that the new lounge is in Calgary. Sorry WS, but I'm not flying across the country just to sit in your new lounge on my way to Europe.

You're right. What they should do is uproot all YYC based employees and move their HQ to suit your specific needs. Then the lounge AND the routes to Europe will be perfectly suited to meet your very specific needs.

Good God.

Oct 20, 2019, 8:15 am

#33

YXUFlyboy

Join Date: Jun 2008

Location: YYC, Canada

Programs: AC 35k

Posts: 1,898

Quote:

Originally Posted by Symmetre

The only real problem here is that the new lounge is in Calgary. Sorry WS, but I'm not flying across the country just to sit in your new lounge on my way to Europe.

I don't think the intent here is for YYZ-based fliers. They will launch YYZ-based routes with a lounge in the east in due course. This is for western fliers, and they will be counting on connecting pax from YVR to do this. YVR-YYC makes sense for Europe.

And realistically for fliers like you, WS can't compete. AC is entrenched as the dominant player in YYZ and will not be overcome.

Oct 20, 2019, 8:16 am

#34

YXUFlyboy

Join Date: Jun 2008

Location: YYC, Canada

Programs: AC 35k

Posts: 1,898

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frequentlander

YYC is their largest hub. It's larger than both YYZ and YVR. YVR is the smallest and will likely remain so, and so will get said lounge last.

Oct 20, 2019, 10:03 am

#35

Symmetre

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: YYG

Programs: airlines and hotels and rental cars - oh my!

Posts: 2,993

Quote:

Originally Posted by llcooljayce

Is it really that difficult to open more than one lounge at once? Would it truly require relocating the corporate HQ? Can WS not open two lounges without having to physically relocate staff?

Good God.

Given that YYZ is the busiest airport in Canada and serves a population nearly 10 times that of YYC, I don't think it's entirely unreasonable to expect WS might also open a lounge here too since it's their eastern hub. If they really do want to appeal to J and PY travelers, it's table stakes - especially with AC, AF, KL and BA also offering their own lounges at YYZ serving TATL pax.

Last edited by Symmetre; Oct 20, 2019 at 10:20 am

Oct 20, 2019, 12:01 pm

#36

YXUFlyboy

Join Date: Jun 2008

Location: YYC, Canada

Programs: AC 35k

Posts: 1,898

Quote:

Originally Posted by Symmetre

Given that YYZ is the busiest airport in Canada and serves a population nearly 10 times that of YYC, I don't think it's entirely unreasonable to expect WS might also open a lounge here too since it's their eastern hub. If they really do want to appeal to J and PY travelers, it's table stakes - especially with AC, AF, KL and BA also offering their own lounges at YYZ serving TATL pax.

They absolutely will. Just after YYC. Having a lounge in WS for YYZ isn't going to win them instant new converts. AC owns YYZ. Winning traffic will be WS's long game. The reason WS is picking YYC first is the same reason why AC opened their Signature Suite in YYZ first and nowhere else (yet).

YYCguy, aerobod, cirrusdragoon and 1 others like this.

Oct 21, 2020, 9:23 am

#37

hollywoodcory17

Join Date: Feb 2019

Posts: 426

The other day Ed Sims posted this image on LinkedIn about the "almost" complete lounge and that details were coming soon
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/edwar...88383744-ptWj/

Yesterday WS issued a release about an announcement happening next week. Safe to assume its lounge related given the wording in the media advisory, as I doubt there's a new route being announced.

jimsthe1 likes this.

Oct 21, 2020, 3:55 pm

#38

On Time Reports

Join Date: Jul 2020

Posts: 366

Any idea on when the YYC Chinook Lounge might open?

Oct 21, 2020, 4:01 pm

#39

cirrusdragoon

Join Date: Apr 2019

Location: Copenhagen

Programs: skyteam

Posts: 575

Quote:

Originally Posted by On Time Reports

Any idea on when the YYC Chinook Lounge might open?

I was just looking at this Media Advisory: WestJet to make special announcement in Calgary - Oct 20, 2020, perhaps next week?

Oct 21, 2020, 4:17 pm

#40

On Time Reports

Join Date: Jul 2020

Posts: 366

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirrusdragoon

I was just looking at this Media Advisory: WestJet to make special announcement in Calgary - Oct 20, 2020, perhaps next week?

Pretty sure that has to do with WestJet's new lounge that they are building right now. That is different than the Chinook Lounge.

Oct 21, 2020, 4:21 pm

#41

cirrusdragoon

Join Date: Apr 2019

Location: Copenhagen

Programs: skyteam

Posts: 575

Quote:

Originally Posted by On Time Reports

Pretty sure that has to do with WestJet's new lounge that they are building right now. That is different than the Chinook Lounge.

Thee chinook lounge was closed permanently and will be made redundant once they announce the opening of the new lounge from what I have learnt.

Oct 21, 2020, 4:24 pm

#42

On Time Reports

Join Date: Jul 2020

Posts: 366

So there won't be any Priority Pass eligible lounges for domestic passengers at YYC anymore?

Oct 21, 2020, 4:32 pm

#43

cirrusdragoon

Join Date: Apr 2019

Location: Copenhagen

Programs: skyteam

Posts: 575

Quote:

Originally Posted by On Time Reports

So there won't be any Priority Pass eligible lounges for domestic passengers at YYC anymore?

No I do not believe so.

There will still be the Aspire Trans border and Aspire International lounges I believe that accept priority pass.

Last edited by cirrusdragoon; Oct 21, 2020 at 4:42 pm

Oct 22, 2020, 10:02 am

#44

newfbc

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: YVR

Programs: AC SE, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium, National EE, Sixt Platinum, Hertz PC, AVIS PC

Posts: 1,908

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirrusdragoon

No I do not believe so.

There will still be the Aspire Trans border and Aspire International lounges I believe that accept priority pass.

Has Westjet officially stated that they will not be providing Priority Pass access to their new lounge?

Ron.

Oct 22, 2020, 10:33 am

#45

cirrusdragoon

Join Date: Apr 2019

Location: Copenhagen

Programs: skyteam

Posts: 575

Quote:

Originally Posted by newfbc

Has Westjet officially stated that they will not be providing Priority Pass access to their new lounge?

Ron.

From what I have gathered , no . I have been told by an insider that it has garnished some interest as it would be an additional revenue source , since it would help them cover their cost of running the lounge.

The thought process is they would want to make sure that they’re not cannibalizing the sale of their own lounge memberships by allowing in Priority Pass members; they also want to make sure that crowding from Priority Pass doesn’t diminish the experience to the point that the lounge is no longer relaxing.

I suppose time will tell what they fully decide and I am absolutely anticipating the lounge unveiling next week.

I sincerely hope they , in the next few years obviously, select Toronto for their next lounge site. I only come through there on business sadly.