YYC Direct Flights Shakeup 2023 - AC Out, WJ In

[max_boost]

Get me to destination and I’m okay with any airline. First world problem

Thinking of Thailand in spring or Hawaii in summer. First big trip since 2019 woohoo

[Buster]

This is also the air travel industry preparing for an overall shift in public policy and mood towards air travel that will happen over the next decade or more.

The days of the middle class flying around the world for relatively cheap are numbered (or gone). International travel and flying for vacations will be moving up to "luxury" status.

We'll see a much reduced capital investment in airports and airplanes, as the risk/return profile will shift... Let's be honest it was always on the cusp anyway. We're already seeing this.

[max_boost]

So pricing the peasants out is what you’re saying?

[bjstare]

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I guess it depends on where you fly? To 80% of the world you can only do AC. AC has better planes than those oldass 737NG from WJ. Sure they have got some 787 now but AC has had them for much longer. Aeroplan > WJ dollar BS that charges you more to use WJ $.

If you're flying NA then who cares, max trip time is like 4-5 hours.

Agree with everything you're saying, except I think you're off base on WJ$ redemption.

They don't charge you more to use WJ$. Or at least they haven't with any flight I've booked with them (including the one I'm leaving on next week)... vs Air Canada where you get wildly varying value for your points, depending on time/route/biz class vs cattle class, etc.

[Inzane]

For a given destination/travel distance, which airline has the best legroom in coach class? End of the day, that's what I would care about the most. Not how modern the plane is or how many times you get served ice with a bit of soft drink.

[littledan]

you gotta just check on seatguru and compare the routes. it can vary within same plane depending on row etc.

[Buster]

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So pricing the peasants out is what you’re saying?

It's not a business strategy by the airlines in that sense. It will be more of an economic reality (ie inflation), plus public policy (carbon policy and a desire to keep spending domestic).

[max_boost]

Oh I see. Makes sense.

[suntan]

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Wasn’t that before WJ was owned by Onex, and about 3 CEO’s ago? It’s all about the bottom line now.

TIL publicly traded companies are not about the bottom line.

[Hallowed_point]

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WJ is now privately owned. Bottom line is everything.

Fuck WJ tho, AC has a much better product at the end IMO.

QFT, WJ is just a name nowadays. They have brutal customer service.

[Brent.ff]

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I dont understand the hate on AC, when WS is the same shit.

People make such a big deal with the 787, that plane has been out for 10+ years. Try flying in a A350 / A220 and you'll never look back.

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you mean flight attendance not doing their job? "Transport Canada regulations prevent the wearing of earbud-type headsets during taxi, takeoff and landing."

weren't earbuds..

[Team_Mclaren]

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weren't earbuds..

Fair enough, and that rule has been very inconsistently enforce anyways.

But if you're gonna hate on an airline because an FA told you to remove your "headphones", well...

[ExtraSlow]

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Agree with everything you're saying, except I think you're off base on WJ$ redemption.

They don't charge you more to use WJ$. Or at least they haven't with any flight I've booked with them (including the one I'm leaving on next week)... vs Air Canada where you get wildly varying value for your points, depending on time/route/biz class vs cattle class, etc.

Totally agree. With WJ, you find the price of the seat long before you have to decide what method of payment you are using. WJ Dollars spend like cash, same with their travel credits. No funny business with the fares tehre.
Maybe you mean the "member exclusive" fares, which I find are often not a very good deal compared to cash.

[Team_Mclaren]

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TIL publicly traded companies are not about the bottom line.

It's different because publicly traded companies care about perception and image as share prices affect payout for CEO and executives. Private companies care less because their compensation isn't tie to share prices.

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Totally agree. With WJ, you find the price of the seat long before you have to decide what method of payment you are using. WJ Dollars spend like cash, same with their travel credits. No funny business with the fares tehre.
Maybe you mean the "member exclusive" fares, which I find are often not a very good deal compared to cash.

I stand corrected on the WJ$ then. A few years ago I tried to use them having to log in and use the member exclusion pricing, which is more than normal pricing?!

Still, Aeroplan > WJ$

[max_boost]

Airplane mode is no longer a thing right

[Xtrema]

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must depend on the route. My WJ Halifax flight was max plane. don't recall what I flew to vegas, but then again, I don't recall much about that trip, good times.
My Mexico trip is scheduled to be a dreamliner, which is a surprise for that route.

Well they cancel the Amsterdam route, those Dreamliners gotta go somewhere. Looking forward to direct to Tokyo route tho.

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Airplane mode is no longer a thing right

Nobody do it but odd attendant still want you to put your shit away on takeoff/landing. Most DGAF.

[schurchill39]

I'm usually a WJ guy for domestics but the pricing has been nuts lately. In september the wife and I flew to Saskatoon for a wedding and with our companion voucher from the WJ MC the flights for both of us were still about a hundred bucks total more than just paying for Air Canada's straight up fee. Now with AC pulling out of all of these smaller markets, I can't imagine what that will do for the price of those flights.

[Buster]

Open up foreign ownership.

[benyl]

You could say that about so many industries. Telecom being another.

[Swank]

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Get me to destination and I’m okay with any airline. First world problem

Agreed, it's like associated vs checker cabs but in the sky. God help us if Uber Air ever becomes a thing.