Question: Feedback on your Rapidair experiences
May 28, 2009 | 7:08 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: P.E.C., ON
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Gold Elite
Posts: 572
Completely agree on getting rid of the change fee. Porter now allows passengers to switch to the flight immediately before and immediately after the original flight booked for no charge regardless of fare type. I think if this was offered to E/SE passengers, it would go a long way to get me back on the AC flights.
May 28, 2009 | 10:03 pm
#17
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: YWG
Programs: UA 1K, AC E, *G x2, BMI Silver, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, PC Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,260
Question for Andrew
Why do I get a snack with the beverage service in Economy (nuts or such) on Rapidair flights, but not 2.5 hour YYZ - YWG or YUL - YWG flights?
May 28, 2009 | 10:14 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM, Asia Miles, SPG Gold (life), HH Gold, Golden Circle Jade
Posts: 1,068
Completely agree on getting rid of the change fee. Porter now allows passengers to switch to the flight immediately before and immediately after the original flight booked for no charge regardless of fare type. I think if this was offered to E/SE passengers, it would go a long way to get me back on the AC flights.
May 28, 2009 | 10:27 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,279
Andrew I suggest you take a flight or two on PORTER to get some ideas why passengers are flocking away from AC on these "Rapidair" routes.
Here's my thoughts...
1) AC should be more consistent with pricing on these routes because they are all over the place.
2) AC should also be more consistent with schedules. You probably won't admit it but from a passengers perspective I've often seen flights canceled only to be combined with another. (My guess is low loads)
3) AC could be a bit more generous in offering something more than nuts to ALL passengers.
Here's my thoughts...
1) AC should be more consistent with pricing on these routes because they are all over the place.
2) AC should also be more consistent with schedules. You probably won't admit it but from a passengers perspective I've often seen flights canceled only to be combined with another. (My guess is low loads)
3) AC could be a bit more generous in offering something more than nuts to ALL passengers.
May 29, 2009 | 8:17 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E
Posts: 347
OT, I went and saw the comedienne Pam Ann last night, and she did a wonderful routine on local airlines. BOB (the acronym) came in for special mention (she is outrageous at the best of times so BOB was a natural).
May 29, 2009 | 9:44 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K 2MM * DL MM * HH Diamond * Marriott Lifetime Titanium * Queen's '92
Posts: 5,957
The plan of where that aircraft is going to be and where it needs to go next (not to mention the crews on it) is planned and set weeks in advance. If it doesn't go where it needs to, it has many upstream impacts.
But I guess if one keeps repeating the same thing over and over again, it must be true...
Simon
May 29, 2009 | 11:33 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM, Asia Miles, SPG Gold (life), HH Gold, Golden Circle Jade
Posts: 1,068
This "low load" thing is an utter and complete myth.
The plan of where that aircraft is going to be and where it needs to go next (not to mention the crews on it) is planned and set weeks in advance. If it doesn't go where it needs to, it has many upstream impacts.
But I guess if one keeps repeating the same thing over and over again, it must be true...
The plan of where that aircraft is going to be and where it needs to go next (not to mention the crews on it) is planned and set weeks in advance. If it doesn't go where it needs to, it has many upstream impacts.
But I guess if one keeps repeating the same thing over and over again, it must be true...
May 29, 2009 | 12:33 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,279
As I said... from a passengers perspective that's the way it looks. Especially if aircraft is doing yyz > yul > yyz.
upstream impacts vs. money saved by consolidating two flights...
upstream impacts vs. money saved by consolidating two flights...
May 29, 2009 | 12:51 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YTZ
Programs: AC SE, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Gold, Priority Club Gold
Posts: 487
I have to go with the myth one here.
I'm sure it happens, but I suspect it's more often a result of delays elsewhere in the system, or the plane being needed elsewhere.
But to be fair, having the rapidair flights chosen as the first ones to be dropped to make up for weather or maintenance does diminish the "rapidair brand"
I'm sure it happens, but I suspect it's more often a result of delays elsewhere in the system, or the plane being needed elsewhere.
But to be fair, having the rapidair flights chosen as the first ones to be dropped to make up for weather or maintenance does diminish the "rapidair brand"
May 29, 2009 | 12:56 pm
#26
Original Poster
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,215
May 29, 2009 | 12:59 pm
#27
Original Poster
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,215
Thanks for your suggestions, to address your #2:
I've posted this numerous times, we don't cancel flights purely due to low loads on day of departure. Not sure what your definition of 'often' is, I just looked at the whole month of May and we barely had 10 cancellations on the YYZ/YUL market out of almost 1200 flights that we operated on this market and they were all due to mechanical. So there really isn't anything to admit when it's not true?
I've posted this numerous times, we don't cancel flights purely due to low loads on day of departure. Not sure what your definition of 'often' is, I just looked at the whole month of May and we barely had 10 cancellations on the YYZ/YUL market out of almost 1200 flights that we operated on this market and they were all due to mechanical. So there really isn't anything to admit when it's not true?
May 29, 2009 | 1:04 pm
#28
Original Poster
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,215
It's probably not quite the same situation as what you're thinking when it comes to rapidair flights. An E90 YYZ-YUL-YYZ that has light load in both directions could easily be dropped without impacting the schedule. I don't disagree with what you said in the common case, but it's certainly possible to "refine" the schedule for these short turns I think.
May 29, 2009 | 1:10 pm
#29
Original Poster
Company Representative - Air Canada
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 24,215
Without going into the complicated details of aircraft scheduling - often in weather situation, each airline has to reduce certain # of flights, so in AC's case, Rapidair has the most number of frequencies hence the customer impact is less than on a route with fewer frequencies because passengers can be easily reprotected on earlier/later flights. (i.e. it doesn't make sense to cancel YYZ-LHR or YYZ-LAS or LAX etc) Rapidair flights are often tied into a line of other flying throughout the day (they're not dedicated aircrafts), so when an aircraft goes mechanical elsewhere in the system, unfortunately it's going to have downline effect.
May 29, 2009 | 1:32 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K 2MM * DL MM * HH Diamond * Marriott Lifetime Titanium * Queen's '92
Posts: 5,957
From the passenger's perspective, they should pay $50 r/t and get rare roast beef with horseradish carved at their seat, but I digress.
...which doesn't happen.
Simon
upstream impacts vs. money saved by consolidating two flights...
Simon