Air Canada Positive Experience

[Cognac]

So, I posted recently in another thread about Qantas ballsing up our connection in Sydney to get to Vancouver. There were several components that contributed to what was a fairly stressful trip, and Qantas wasn't really helpful at any step.

Long story short, Qantas cancelled our originally booked domestic connection to Sydney. They didn't provide our requested meals on the rebooked domestic flight (one of which was diabetic) and then flat refused to assist with getting the meal request with Air Canada for the international leg.

On arrival to check in before AC34 we spoke to one of the staff there (it was a B-name, maybe Bronwyn but I can't recall) and she explained that they normally needed at least 24 hours notice, and that for irrops this should have been something that came from Qantas. But she could try to call the catering company to see if they could still accommodate the request. While Bronwyn wasn't able to get through while we were completing the check in process, she promised to call me once there was confirmation either way. 45 minutes later (90 minutes prior to scheduled departure) I had a phone call saying that they'd been able to get our meal request in and it would be on the flight. So massive props to Bronwyn for both a) making the effort to assist passengers that had been disrupted, and b) following through on the call-back to let me know the outcome.

One other thing that is worth noting for anyone who is flying into Canada - if you have an onward domestic connection and you're flying with Air Canada you DO NOT need to pick up your luggage in Vancouver. Air Canada can check your luggage all the way to your final destination. We initially were going to be spending the night in Vancouver and flying out the following day at lunch, but with the delay ended up just missing out on that one-night stay. Bronwyn, our champion assistant, connected our two bookings (even though one was an irrops rebooking from QF with an 081 ticket number and the other was a direct booking with AC with a 014 ticket number) and explained that on arrival we just had to go through immigration and could immediately walk to the connected domestic terminal without going through security. And we did. Very easy. Once we got off the second AC flight at the other end, lo' and behold, there were our bags.

So, based on our experience (and I realise that this is just one anecdote), those who are flying to Canada from Australia should consider Air Canada.

 

[RooFlyer]

I used to use AC a lot 2010-2018 SYD-xVYR-YYC; occasionally coming up from LAX to YYC and yes, they were usually 'on the ball' with irrops - they have to be, given the amount of weather (snow) irrops they have . No problem checking right through to HBA from YYC on the way back, but I think my TA worked some of those wonders. Main downside with AC is that their Maple Leaf Lounges are a bit suckky (bar YYZ and YUL), if you have access.

I recall some odd things happening at YVR wrt bags, but outbound, I think - you had to view your bags on a screen to confirm them as yours. But I think I always had to clear customs at YVR. Where did you clear customs - and, assuming this was a domestic flight, how did they separate you from the domestic pax?

 

[luxury-lizard]

I fly AC quite a bit in J (SYD-YVR_xx_) and sometimes to/from Europe and have always been pretty "happy" - sometime the meals have been pretty awful bit I've found that on all airlines. Generally the Canadian staff are very friendly and helpful. Compared to the one time I flew QF to YVR (also in J) AC wins hand down. Unfortunately AC paid fares ex-OZ are not always competitive. The AC FF scheme is probably the best *A program from my view point with many non-*A partners (e.g. VA, EY, and soon EK).

If it works for your itinerary flying via YVR to the USA can be very painless with pre-departure US customs and immigration in YVR making your arrival in the US domestic.

 

[Cognac]

But I think I always had to clear customs at YVR. Where did you clear customs - and, assuming this was a domestic flight, how did they separate you from the domestic pax?

We cleared immigration in Vancouver. But it was a separate channel to the regular international arrivals at YVR. Basically if you're continuing on Air Canada they separate you before you go to the main immigration hall, and you walk down a long glass corridor which simply exits into Terminal C.

We did our CBSA declaration online through the ArriveCan app, and I think the immigration officer basically just checked that against our passports when we went through, but we weren't asked any questions about it.

 

[Quickstatus]

Maybe a mod can change the title of this thread to “Air Canada positive experience”

My experience years ago of AC was not good. Your post is very informative and with my friend’s positive experience with UA has now given me a few potential options other than the local offering

 

[trooper]

Still curious about where you cleared "Customs"...

 

[albatross710]

Unfortunately AC paid fares ex-OZ are not always competitive.

I recently picked up a BNE-YVR-xx_ fare on AC for $2,050. Equivalent QF fare to the same destination was $3.450

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I have an upcoming multi-city booking this month, departing SYD-YVR-DEN, returning LAS-YVR-SYD.

I booked in April and paid $2,600 return AUD in premium economy on the SYD-YVR-SYD sectors and the system put me in full-fare economy that allowed me to choose any preferred seat on the trans-border flights as there's no premium economy on those aircraft.

Those prices have certainly gone up, but I still have seen AC competitive on a number of other future trips I've been looking at, and QF consistently prices Y more than AC premium Y.

I've also noticed through AC's upgrade bidding system that anything above ~$1,500 AUD on the trans-pacific sectors has tipped me into the light green "even better" category for an upgrade to J. If that goes through, I'd consider that pretty solid value at least with fares where they've been in J to North America this year.

Will report back after my trip.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Re: above --

I saw an instant buy-up today for just $150 more than I'd bid on the SYD-YVR sector next week, and with only one good window seat left in J showing on Expert Flyer, I decided I'd fork out a bit more and have the peace of mind of knowing I have the seat and one I want. Perhaps I could have gotten away with less had I waited, but I'm fine with this. $1,650 on top of a very cheap fare in PY strikes me as a bargain given return trips to North America are well over $10,000 AUD this winter.

Will see how the return goes.

Of note - once you've submitted a bid, the instant buy-up option doesn't appear to show. I only noticed because I hadn't bid on the YVR-DEN sector which did show the instant buy-up. Suspecting the bid doesn't also allow the instant option to show, I cancelled the original bid and lo and behold the instant buy-up option appeared (for well below the maximum suggested bid offer, I might add).

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Just got off SYD-YVR and wow, that was a letdown.

The nicest word that one could use for the service is "brisk."

No pre-departure beverage. It was a beautiful afternoon out of Sydney, but crew dimmed the windows to pitch darkness before we'd even passed over Manly. The food did not match the menu, which isn't really the end of the world, except the crew never mentioned anything and when I asked if the main I received that didn't resemble the menu at all was in fact my main, the crew picked it up off the table without a word and after a moment in the galley came back, plopped it back down, and said, "Nope, it's right." He then poured the wine and showed me the bottle, which was a nice touch, except when I said, "ah, nice one, I haven't had a Canadian wine in---", he was gone before I'd finished the sentence.

I went out of my way to try to be polite and make friendly conversation, but the crew wasn't having any of it. At one point I heard the Aussie man behind me say, "well okey dokey then" as another member of the crew walked past me. My fellow pax had clearly also been mid-sentence when he realised he was suddenly talking to himself.

Similar interactions (or rather, lack thereof) at breakfast.

As we approached Vancouver (it's a beautiful morning), the pilot came on to explain the views outside, but the crew still had the windows fully dimmed. Knowing the fjords and scenery below we were missing, I finally got up and asked one of the crew who wasn't doing anything in the galley if she would "please mind un-dimming the windows if it's not too much trouble," to which she said, "my colleague will do it when he's finished with the announcements."

The announcements continued in English and French for a solid 3-5 minutes. The windows then became clear after we'd passed the main fjords and beaches.

Not a single "thank you" or "goodbye" on de-planing. My "thank you, have a good day" wasn't acknowledged either.

Of note: the crew must have made half a dozen announcements about wearing masks and the seatbelt sign came on (with accompanying announcements) at every bump, and was left on WITH strict enforcement for upwards of two hours at one point after the turbulence had ended.

Luxury problems, but together with a perfectly-good-but-nothing-special seat that I found a little uncomfortable, I won't be rushing to pay for the available upgrade on the way home.

I lived in Canada for 6 years and have to say that while no one really expects AC to be truly extraordinary, this really felt poor.

We'll see how the next sector goes and if the crew is a bit more up to scratch on a shorter flight, for which they're likely better rested.

 

[Cognac]

Still curious about where you cleared "Customs"...

There was no Customs, per se. At least, not for us in person. The CBSA declaration was pretty much it: Submit your customs and immigration information before flying into Canada

Not sure if they're doing screening of the luggage as it comes off the plane or not. But it didn't bother us - not having to wait in line for an hour to say "nope, got nothing" worked for us just fine.

 

[Cognac]

Just got off SYD-YVR and wow, that was a letdown.

The nicest word that one could use for the service is "brisk."

No pre-departure beverage. It was a beautiful afternoon out of Sydney, but crew dimmed the windows to pitch darkness before we'd even passed over Manly. The food did not match the menu, which isn't really the end of the world, except the crew never mentioned anything and when I asked if the main I received that didn't resemble the menu at all was in fact my main, the crew picked it up off the table without a word and after a moment in the galley came back, plopped it back down, and said, "Nope, it's right." He then poured the wine and showed me the bottle, which was a nice touch, except when I said, "ah, nice one, I haven't had a Canadian wine in---", he was gone before I'd finished the sentence.

I went out of my way to try to be polite and make friendly conversation, but the crew wasn't having any of it. At one point I heard the Aussie man behind me say, "well okey dokey then" as another member of the crew walked past me. My fellow pax had clearly also been mid-sentence when he realised he was suddenly talking to himself.

Similar interactions (or rather, lack thereof) at breakfast.

As we approached Vancouver (it's a beautiful morning), the pilot came on to explain the views outside, but the crew still had the windows fully dimmed. Knowing the fjords and scenery below we were missing, I finally got up and asked one of the crew who wasn't doing anything in the galley if she would "please mind un-dimming the windows if it's not too much trouble," to which she said, "my colleague will do it when he's finished with the announcements."

The announcements continued in English and French for a solid 3-5 minutes. The windows then became clear after we'd passed the main fjords and beaches.

Not a single "thank you" or "goodbye" on de-planing. My "thank you, have a good day" wasn't acknowledged either.

Of note: the crew must have made half a dozen announcements about wearing masks and the seatbelt sign came on (with accompanying announcements) at every bump, and was left on WITH strict enforcement for upwards of two hours at one point after the turbulence had ended.

Luxury problems, but together with a perfectly-good-but-nothing-special seat that I found a little uncomfortable, I won't be rushing to pay for the available upgrade on the way home.

I lived in Canada for 6 years and have to say that while no one really expects AC to be truly extraordinary, this really felt poor.

We'll see how the next sector goes and if the crew is a bit more up to scratch on a shorter flight, for which they're likely better rested.

Yeah, I flew with them quite a bit in the 4 years I lived there as well. It was fairly par-for-the-course as I recall, but I never encountered a disruption while flying with them. At least, not one that wasn't snowfall related while sitting on the runway

Hopefully your onward connections are a bit more to your liking, that sounds like a fairly rubbish experience.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Yeah, I flew with them quite a bit in the 4 years I lived there as well. It was fairly par-for-the-course as I recall, but I never encountered a disruption while flying with them. At least, not one that wasn't snowfall related while sitting on the runway

Hopefully your onward connections are a bit more to your liking, that sounds like a fairly rubbish experience.

Thanks, and fair point! Even in the snow, they typically managed better than most. I booked AC for this trip about 6 months ago as their operations were still looking much better than the US carriers. Oops.

The YVR-DEN was better, and I was mindful that they provide a more comprehensive service on a flight of that length than say Alaska would just across the border. It was my first time on the 737 Max but perfectly pleasant and I didn't even consciously think about it until after I'd arrived. That's just J, though.

I won't bother with the upgrade bid on LAS-YVR as I'm on an A321 and a preferred seat with a missing seat in front of me. The lowest permissible bid from YVR back to SYD is $990 (currently 10 open seats in J). That seems awfully low, so I'm tempted to offer $995 just for the heck of it and if I get it, go in with very low expectations for the service but at least have a lie-flat overnight.

 

[albatross710]

The lowest permissible bid from YVR back to SYD is $990 (currently 10 open seats in J). That seems awfully low, so I'm tempted to offer $995 just for the heck of it and if I get it, go in with very low expectations for the service but at least have a lie-flat overnight.

is the $995 from Premium to Signature? I'm a month out from YVR-BNE with the lowest bid being about $2,100 to J. I'm wanting to understand of the bid prices decrease over time.

Also, I did read somewhere on the AC site that a bid precludes that sector from the "Instant Upgrade" which only kick in 10 days prior to departure.

So, I'm thinking to re-assess at the 10 day mark and check the value then.

Do you see bid and upgrade prices change as departures approach?

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

is the $995 from Premium to Signature? I'm a month out from YVR-BNE with the lowest bid being about $2,100 to J. I'm wanting to understand of the bid prices decrease over time.

Also, I did read somewhere on the AC site that a bid precludes that sector from the "Instant Upgrade" which only kick in 10 days prior to departure.

So, I'm thinking to re-assess at the 10 day mark and check the value then.

Do you see bid and upgrade prices change as departures approach?

Yep, and took a similar approach to watch and wait. A few observations/tips:

1) The YVR-SYD sector has consistently shown a lower minimum bid than the SYD-YVR sector ever did (seemed weird given YVR-SYD leaves late in the evening): SYD-YVR at $1350, YVR-SYD at $990. Very different minimums on my trans-border sectors too. YVR-DEN at $200, LAS-YVR at $360.

2) Minimum bids of all four of my flights fluctuated but never more than about $150 so far, so at least in my case, timing hasn't made a material difference.

3) The instant upgrade for SYD-YVR was $2300. Minimum $1350, I succeeded at $1650.

For YVR-DEN instant was $550. Minimum $200, I paid $250.

For LAS-YVR instant is $760. Minimum $360, I'm not bidding.

For YVR-SYD instant is $1900. Minimum $990, I'm bidding $995. I have ~30 hours to modify. Expert Flyer still shows 10 empty seats.

4) If you submit a bid, you will NOT see the instant option, so if you're curious what that is, don't submit a bid beforehand. I only noticed because I hadn't yet bid on YVR-DEN when the flight came within the 10-day window and the instant option for that showed along with the bid option. Suspecting my bid on SYD-YVR was preventing visibility of the instant option, I cancelled the bid and it immediately appeared. I then resubmitted my bid.

Of potential note: I've ended up by accident flying both ways on days that AC is operating two flights between SYD and YVR. Not sure to what extent that increase in capacity helped me, or whether AC had correctly predicted higher demand on those days to balance it out.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Ah, sorry, forgot to add: yes, all above is upgrade to J. PY to J on the trans-pac sectors obviously and Y to J on the trans-border flights as PY isn't offered.

 

[albatross710]

thanks for that. I'll hold fire on bidding until 10 days. seems still lots of J availability on my flights, so fingers crossed.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I am as surprised as anyone else must be but I woke up to find my lame bid of $995 was accepted for YVR-SYD. Great for me; probably not great for AC's yields.

I was excited for the flight over and let down by the lacklustre service, but I'll just roll with it on the way back with no expectations, especially at this price. At least I'll get a better nap.

 

[antycbr]

Sitting in the YOW Maple Leaf Lounge before flying to YHZ. Decent set of wraps, soup including French Canadian pea soup, and that traditional Canadian wine, Lindeman’s Pinot Grigio…

All for 20k velocity points, which also avoids ACs checked bag fees in Y.

This airport is QUIET in the middle of the day. Just like CBR.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Sitting in the YOW Maple Leaf Lounge before flying to YHZ. Decent set of wraps, soup including French Canadian pea soup, and that traditional Canadian wine, Lindeman’s Pinot Grigio…

All for 20k velocity points, which also avoids ACs checked bag fees in Y.

This airport is QUIET in the middle of the day. Just like CBR.

YOW is defo CBR. Very quiet, and feels very oversized.

As for Halifax, I must have said "this is Hobart" to myself a hundred times during my time there.