Article: Air Canada’s Interesting Domestic Premium Cabin Pricing

[AFF Editor]

Air Canada’s Interesting Domestic Premium Cabin Pricing is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Air Canada's Interesting Domestic Premium Cabin Pricing

Recognising the clear difference between Business Class on different aircraft types, Air Canada prices its domestic airfares accordingly.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Hum - read this and the comments about award flights not differentiating between J on wide-body and narrow-body isn't quite right. If booking using AC points I have found big differences due to AC's dynamic pricing BUT I have also found many cases where PE on wide-body is fewer points than Y on domestic routes - something to consider when travelling in Canada if you have AC points.

 

[AFF Editor]

Hum - read this and the comments about award flights not differentiating between J on wide-body and narrow-body isn't quite right. If booking using AC points I have found big differences due to AC's dynamic pricing BUT I have also found many cases where PE on wide-body is fewer points than Y on domestic routes - something to consider when travelling in Canada if you have AC points.

It is true that Aeroplan awards are priced dynamically, but I haven't seen a clear correlation between price and aircraft type - it seems a bit more random. When redeeming points with other frequent flyer programs though, the pricing is fixed.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Yes Aeroplan awards on their own metal is definitely dynamic - from a base rate (ie these are Saver awards and will be available to other programs) to outrageous. Domestic pricing varies by time of day, type of aircraft and non-stop vs itineraries which have one or more stops/flight changes. (I'm no exert - just a causal user of Air Canada and their program).

 

[V1213]

The ultimate expression of this concept is arguably WestJet, which always sells all of its narrow body front-of-plane-all-inclusive-class as Premium Economy. It directly competes with Air Canada's narrow body Business Class and is usually the same price. When WestJet operates their 787s domestically is the only time they sell a domestic Business Class product, offering lie flat seats et al.

Besides making for a clear and consistent product offering that's easy to understand, it also avoids the Premium Economy domestic downgrade when travelling on intercontinental itineraries. Where other airlines will sell a Premium Economy seat on the long leg with an Economy seat for domestic leg, WestJet will sell both legs in Premium Economy.

 

[SYD]

The ultimate expression of this concept is arguably WestJet, which always sells all of its narrow body front-of-plane-all-inclusive-class as Premium Economy. It directly competes with Air Canada's narrow body Business Class and is usually the same price. When WestJet operates their 787s domestically is the only time they sell a domestic Business Class product, offering lie flat seats et al.

Besides making for a clear and consistent product offering that's easy to understand, it also avoids the Premium Economy domestic downgrade when travelling on intercontinental itineraries. Where other airlines will sell a Premium Economy seat on the long leg with an Economy seat for domestic leg, WestJet will sell both legs in Premium Economy.

Oh, I just looked at that via qantas.com. Yep, you can buy whY+ from Oz to Calgary (for example) via YVR or LAX and pick up the QF codeshare in whY+.

Booking in J you get the warning that YVR-YYC-LAX is in whY+. So technically they downgrade J PAX! Actually “simpler and fairer“ (TM) in a good way.

 

[Sprucegoose]

An alternative view.

A contemporary pricing and service example is say SYD-PER in J between QF and VA on 11/1 around the same time, QF uses the 332 (lie flat) and VA uses 738 (no lie flat)
QF645 J 11/1 $3271
VA555 J 11/1 $1775

Therefore, using that example, you would pay $1496 more for a QF lie flat than VA.

Most of us have price points, some imposed others self-imposed. The QF fare is therefore $654/hr., VA is $355/hr. - $299/hr. difference.

Someone I know who recently few QF F say SYD-SIN and paid around $7.5k return - or roughly $460/hr.

You can slice and dice the math a few ways - your call!

 

[Mattg]

An alternative view.

A contemporary pricing and service example is say SYD-PER in J between QF and VA on 11/1 around the same time, QF uses the 332 (lie flat) and VA uses 738 (no lie flat)
QF645 J 11/1 $3271
VA555 J 11/1 $1775

Therefore, using that example, you would pay $1496 more for a QF lie flat than VA.

Most of us have price points, some imposed others self-imposed. The QF fare is therefore $654/hr., VA is $355/hr. - $299/hr. difference.

Someone I know who recently few QF F say SYD-SIN and paid around $7.5k return - or roughly $460/hr.

You can slice and dice the math a few ways - your call!

You'd be pretty annoyed though if you chose to pay $3271 for QF in order to get the lie-flat bed, then Qantas changed the aircraft to a 737-800 and still kept that full amount. (Which is exactly what does happen on a regular basis, since QF doesn't adjust its pricing based on aircraft/seat type.)

 

[Sprucegoose]

You'd be pretty annoyed though if you chose to pay $3271 for QF in order to get the lie-flat bed, then Qantas changed the aircraft to a 737-800 and still kept that full amount. (Which is exactly what does happen on a regular basis, since QF doesn't adjust its pricing based on aircraft/seat type.)

Absolutely! there is (presently) no safety floor in the local network and due to a lack of competitive forces there probably won't be foreseeably.

Has QF9 ever been subbed on the MEL-PER sector?

The (baby) elephant in the room, has VA considered increasing their premium capacity?

 

[Mattg]

Has QF9 ever been subbed on the MEL-PER sector?

It's rare, but this flight has occasionally been subbed in the past for an A330 or (rarely) 737 when there was an operational issue or the 787 coming off LHR-PER was needed to turn back around immediately to LHR for whatever reason.

 

[pangwen]

Absolutely! there is (presently) no safety floor in the local network and due to competitive forces probably won't be foreseeably.

Has QF9 ever been subbed on the MEL-PER sector?

A (baby) the elephant in the room, has VA considered increasing their premium capacity?

Yes, it has happened recently on a couple of days in fact - Qantas Delays/Cancellations

Looks like the MEL-PER sector of QF9 and PER-MEL sector of QF10 is being replaced by a 738 to cover the frame stranded in DFW.

and Qantas Delays/Cancellations

Sunday : It appears that Monday's QF9 MEL-PER & QF10 PER-MEL are again going to be B738 operated. If as previously by a single aircraft, then Melbourne bound passengers will again face a near 6 hour wait in Perth.

 

[Revenge]

As a business traveller who books own travel and expenses it, I'd be much more comfortable justifying a Y+ seat than a business class seat (even if it's the same price) which is what I plan to to do for an upcoming flight from YVR to YUL on an A330.

 

[Port Power]

Absolutely! there is (presently) no safety floor in the local network and due to a lack of competitive forces there probably won't be foreseeably.

Has QF9 ever been subbed on the MEL-PER sector?

The (baby) elephant in the room, has VA considered increasing their premium capacity?

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had specifically booked a paid J seat on QF9 MEL-PER following on from AKL-MEL. Qantas subsequently moved the 787 to their new DFW route several days of the week, and my flight was changed to a 737. I am completely less than happy! Besides the complete change of comfort, I also no longer have access to the F Lounge. This also happened on a recent purely domestic booking.
Edit: I could change to an earlier A330 flight but that means arriving in peak hour. And still no F Lounge!

 

[Sprucegoose]

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had specifically booked a paid J seat on QF9 MEL-PER following on from AKL-MEL. Qantas subsequently moved the 787 to their new DFW route several days of the week, and my flight was changed to a 737. I am completely less than happy! Besides the complete change of comfort, I also no longer have access to the F Lounge. This also happened on a recent purely domestic booking.
Edit: I could change to an earlier A330 flight but that means arriving in peak hour. And still no F Lounge!

I can understand when a sub for 'operational' reasons occurs; things go off track from time to time. Still, when they occur due to the business (consciously) applying constraints, they are not delivering the service they claim to, which leads to brand devaluation.

The lie flat is more than comfort. There have been times I have 'budgeted' my sleep requirements which are pretty important if I am flying to a project or for a presentation and need to be on point. So it's more than a leisure whinge. It's an absolute necessity.

If QF wants to sub regularly, I'll sub them for whatever I know I will get.

Sorry to hear about your experience; I agree it's not acceptable.