Westjet Suspending all TB and INTL (commercial) flying
Oct 8, 2020, 11:15 am
#181
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: skyteam
Posts: 573
simple . Traffic right now too low to have warranted running with that. What with virus raging the Uk right now. Besides those were ad hoc slots.
Oct 8, 2020, 11:18 am
#182
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: No single airline or hotel chain is of much use to me anymore.
Posts: 3,278
But the argument that has been made here is that by serving the great crossroads of the world that is LHR a struggling LGW route could come to health thanks to connecting traffic.
Last edited by Error 601; Oct 8, 2020 at 11:24 am Reason: typo
Oct 8, 2020, 11:25 am
#183
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: skyteam
Posts: 573
Oct 8, 2020, 11:33 am
#184
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: No single airline or hotel chain is of much use to me anymore.
Posts: 3,278
That seems counter-intuitive. If a single YYC-LHR flight could accommodate the present demand for LGW as well as CDG, FCO, DUB and other destinations with LHR's abundant potential connections why wouldn't you do that?
Oct 8, 2020, 12:03 pm
#185
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Copenhagen
Programs: skyteam
Posts: 573
At the moment , Westjet has access to Gatwick. There could have been a variety of reasons why Westjet decided not to use the temporary non year round slots. It probably made no sense to utilize the LHR ad hoc slots as currently the costs with setting up the contracts and virtual infrastructure of moving to a new airport probably did not meet an efficient ratio for whomever decides this. Why spend the capital right now is my best guess.
Oct 9, 2020, 12:30 pm
#187
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
Oct 9, 2020, 2:52 pm
#188
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: WS Nothing, AC Something, AS Gold. Too big for 737Max washrooms
Posts: 893
When WS started flying into LGW, it was quite a relief because it meant that now there were more options into the UK that didn't involve LHR, which means for me at least means non work trips. IMHO, there isn't a decent international airport in the UK, but LHR seems to be intent on being at the very bottom of a very large pile in terms of ease of use and general functionality. As people have pointed out upthread, its major/only selling point is that there are multiple ways to get out of it.
Oct 10, 2020, 2:22 pm
#189
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: YYG
Programs: airlines and hotels and rental cars - oh my!
Posts: 2,993
Virtually all of my London trips terminate there. Both LHR and LGW are horrible airports to try and connect through, especially with so many much better options on the continent.
Oct 10, 2020, 3:47 pm
#190
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 423
For at least one hour today, YYC's international terminal wasn't a ghost town. WS resumed flights from YYC to CUN / PVR and SJD. All 4 southbound flights were fairly busy. (North bounds though not so much).
From this week, YYZ-MBJ gets a second weekly with a Sunday departure added. Looking ahead, I believe YYZ-LIR is expected to resume in November.
From this week, YYZ-MBJ gets a second weekly with a Sunday departure added. Looking ahead, I believe YYZ-LIR is expected to resume in November.
Oct 13, 2020, 9:26 am
#191
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Delta, BC
Posts: 1,646
My personal experience (because I'm cheap) was flying YVR - LGW on Westjet (bought with WJ$ and companion fare) and out the next day from LHR - CPH on BA (separate discounted ticket using Avios) after overnighting at a hotel by LHR T4. This was Sep 2019. Obviously, my choice to route this way - and were also meeting up with another traveling party at LHR. Did a similar trip in 2018 where it was supposed to be a connection in Iceland both directions from continental Europe where the in-bound got switched to an overnight connection on BA at LHR (due to very late arising personal circumstances disrupting travel plans). Similar cheap-skate motivations using AS award on Iceland Air. So, what is tolerable depends upon individual criteria.
Oct 13, 2020, 4:46 pm
#193
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
In comparison we have AC operating some cargo only flights. We assume the cargo only flights are profitable otherwise the airlines would pass on them. What is an open question is if WS can secure high yielding cargo on these flights.
Oct 14, 2020, 7:32 am
#194
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Oct 17, 2020, 12:46 pm
#195
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 423
The November schedule is now visible in OAG and should be live in the booking system tonight.
So far, I've found YYZ-FLL & YVR-PVR being added back 1x weekly on Saturdays. I heard something about LIR too, but haven't found it yet in the schedule.
Edit: YYZ-RSW too.
Lot's of increases to Sun destinations popular with Snowbirds. Southbound loads have been pretty good:
YYC-PHX 4x weekly
YYC-PSP 4x weekly
YYC-CUN 3x weekly
YYC-PVR 3x weekly
YYC-SJD 2x weekly
YYZ-CUN 3x weekly
YYC-LAX 3x weekly
YYZ-MBJ 2x weekly
YYZ-KIN 1x weekly
YYZ-LGW 2x weekly
All of the YYC & YYZ-Mexico routes have two departures on Saturdays. PSP only operates Thu / Sun with two flights on each day.
So far, I've found YYZ-FLL & YVR-PVR being added back 1x weekly on Saturdays. I heard something about LIR too, but haven't found it yet in the schedule.
Edit: YYZ-RSW too.
Lot's of increases to Sun destinations popular with Snowbirds. Southbound loads have been pretty good:
YYC-PHX 4x weekly
YYC-PSP 4x weekly
YYC-CUN 3x weekly
YYC-PVR 3x weekly
YYC-SJD 2x weekly
YYZ-CUN 3x weekly
YYC-LAX 3x weekly
YYZ-MBJ 2x weekly
YYZ-KIN 1x weekly
YYZ-LGW 2x weekly
All of the YYC & YYZ-Mexico routes have two departures on Saturdays. PSP only operates Thu / Sun with two flights on each day.
Last edited by hollywoodcory17; Oct 17, 2020 at 1:06 pm