Air Canada Rouge. My upgrade shame.

[RooFlyer]

Thought I might split out this part of my current trip as a point of reference. I have so far managed to avoid the embrace of Air Canada 'Rouge' (AKA Rogue) but this was the chariot the client selected to get e YYC to LAX, so here I go. (Actually the only sensible flight.)

I haven't figured Rouge out yet. It was established as a "LCC" for Air Canada, but its much more closely integrated with the main airline than, say, Jetstar and Qantas. It's a 'leisure' carrier, part of "Air Canada Vacations" yet all of Air Canada's YYC-LAX flights have been 'Rouged'.

The booking was in whY (horrors! :shock: ) but I managed to get a confirmed upgrade 6 days prior via my Air Canada 75K 'Elite' status (sort of Plat in their scheme) and 6 'eUp' certificates. I have 80 every year, so its a cheap upgrade. Like I said, upgrade status is confirmed instantly.

Check in at YYC at usual Air Canada counters was the usual shambles. A queue for 100K 'Elite' (P1 equivalent) ; a queue for 35/50/75K Elite (sort of Plat and Gold) and then the regular pleb queue.

And as usual, every bloody time I check in at the 75K queue, the Economy lines are shorter because of the $&*?!!* oafs who think priority check-in is the place where they plan their trips. "What about if I go here? ... can I go via here? ...." Both 'priority queues' are always stuck behind DYKWIA types and the economy check in people NEVER ask the priority pax to come forward. I eventually walk over and join the pleb queue and get checked in before the original guy in my queue had finished. Again.

Then to US immigration 'pre clearance, which is a breeze. 5 mins!

Then - oh, GAWD! security at YYC. Its ALWAYS disgraceful. Don't get me started. 45 mins. They have no freak'n idea.

Anyway, there's the plane. Big deal; there's no lounge, so I gaze at the plane.



And here's the lady with 4 carry-ons seeing if they will fit:





Boarding was scheduled for 11:00 am for an 11:35 departure. At 11:00 the pilots arrive; at 11:10 the FAs arrive. At 11:20 they begin pre-boarding of pax with kids, elderly etc. None of these folk had done their USA citizens ex Canada paperwork :evil: so pre boarding didn't start to a bit after 11:27. For an 11:35 departure. Hmm...

Priority boarding is called. As usual, I am hovering near the scan point with the other DYKWIAs to get in front of the ladies with 4 carry-on pieces. OK, we are on. BEEEEEP! "Sorry Sir, you are zone 2. Please wait until you are called." :shock: splutter ... "Business ??" "Sorry sir, we are boarding Zone 1 - Super Elite 100K, military, business... " "Yes" I say, "Business!" "Sorry Sir you are zone 2. It goes on the basis of fare paid. Its been like this for several months. Please look at your boarding pass and board when Zone 2 is called."



Business Zone 2. Sprung as a eUP up-grader! Oh, the shame!



Who would have guessed that the 'leisure airline' had the tightest PB going! I slunk off to the side.

Zone 2 is called and I sheepishly present my BP and on I go. I'm in 3A and the last business pax to board. I feel the eyes on me. Zone 2 up-grader!

OJ to start. The A320 cabin is 3 rows of 3-3, but the middle seat is closed off, so effectively 2-2. Pretty good.

Menus handed out. That's un-expected.

 

[defurax]

"Sorry Sir you are zone 2. It goes on the basis of fare paid. Its been like this for several months. Please look at your boarding pass and board when Zone 2 is called."

This is hilarious. Maybe they will introduce PB done by fare bucket....With argument at the gate between a "cheap" corporate "Y" fare and a full "Y" fare PAX

 

[Buzzard]

I can feel a trip report coming on.

 

[Major]

That menu has an amazing choice for a so called LCC

 

[Pushka]

I like that they don't allow those zones to board unless called. Unless you've been upgraded of course.

 

[TomVexille]

Maybe they can come train the QF staff :shock:

 

[docjames]

Making me feel good about taking the AA via DFW option rather than Rouge direct......

 

[RooFlyer]

First came a warm towel - a nice, hot, good sized fluffy hand-towel! Then the warm nuts of course (actually scalding hot!) and my G&T. Doing pretty good so far.




For lunch, I had the salmon. Presented well, smelled good. I had to grab one of the FAs for another drink.




Uh-oh; the salmon was quite raw inside. No biggie for me; the edges were nice and moist and with the rest of the dish I was OK. I had the QF F lounge coming up in a few hours!




So far I'm impressed with Rouge (walk of shame boarding and raw salmon aside). After the lunch tray was collected, unfortunately the curtain was drawn, and stayed drawn, with nary a sole emerging until we started descending except once to check seat belts done, and another time to collect trash.

 

[RooFlyer]

There was complimentary streaming wi-fi IFE, with iPads offered (or you could get it on your own iPad or lap-top). couldn't find anything to my interest, but found out some more about Rouge:





Its all a bit out of date, but what the heck.

Oh, oh. QF96 is boarding. To be continued, but still a thumbs up from me. Low expectations exceeded!

 

[RooFlyer]

So you saw the LCC rouge menu. Here's the Qantas business menu QF96 tonight. A photocopy.

 

[RooFlyer]

I guess I can use it for toilet paper afterwards.

 

[opusman]

Business Zone 2. Sprung as a eUP up-grader! Oh, the shame!

Kind of like the shame you get as an ODU upgrader on Qantas, sitting there with your peanuts and drink while everyone else gets first pick of the Thai beef salad, provolone sandwich or cheese plates

 

[love_the_life]

........

For lunch, I had the salmon. Presented well, smelled good. I had to grab one of the FAs for another drink



Uh-oh; the salmon was quite raw inside. No biggie for me; the edges were nice and moist and with the rest of the dish I was OK. I had the QF F lounge coming up in a few hours!

View attachment 42458

That's because the salmon was 'seared' Mr LtL has learned to read the menus carefully after he ordered a seared fish dish on a flight to SIN once. He doesn't do raw fish/meat at all. As he wasn't that hungry anyway he just mushed it up a bit and pushed it around the plate. Then...he swapped plates with me. When the FA came to clean up, he asked, "Was there anything wrong with your meal Mrs LtL?" LOL.

 

[RooFlyer]

A few snaps to finish with Rouge. Mono Lake, California (think Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon) and the Sierra Nevadas; Yosemite National Park.



Overall, Rouge's business class was a lot better than I thought. The three hour flight passed quickly; the only glaring failure was the hiding of the crew behind the curtain after the meal service. Oh, and of course their failure to recognise my DYKWIA status with zone 2 boarding. .