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Apples and oranges. AirCanada can get you to Sydney Nova Scotia or Sydney Australia. Has many aircraft types to get you non stop Toronto to Seoul Korea. WestJet much smaller is based on the Southwest model, inter continental only, one aircraft type, sardine can seating. Air Canada cannot compete. That's why they started Rouge.
Have a red stripe, forget AC and provide us some more detail about the good things on ypur trip to Negril.
We only fly AC when absolutely necessary. Unfortunately flying out of Saskatoon it's far too often. We used to fly using air miles to Minneapolis on Northwest (then Delta), then buy tickets with the same or American. Air miles screwed that up now, they make you go thru Pearson then take the worlds smallest jet to MSP.
Maybe if AC didn't fill their seats with non-revenue passengers they would have more money available to service their paying customers.
Non-rev passengers get to fly only when there are empty seats. Should there be a shortage of meals, non-rev passengers go without. They take nothing from the full paying passenger. And, at least at my airline, a non-rev will be in serious trouble should they detract in any way from a paying passenger's flight experience. I have lost count of the times that I have assisted regular passengers while non-revving and other non-revs have done more than I. I have transported lost bags miles out of my way so that regular passengers could get to their homes with children rather than waiting at the airport. I have sat and calmed passengers that have had mental breakdowns and panic attacks which prevented an unscheduled landing. Most non-revs are there to help when necessary.I have seen a non-rev mechanic leave his vacationing family, take off his tie and roll up his sleeves and dive into an aircraft engine where no maintenance was available thus preventing a delay or cancellation. So don't begrudge the non-rev too much.
I had a similar experience with "delay after delay". Took two days to get home....what I took from it was/is to always have one extra set of clothes and small carry on sizes of toiletries.
Westjet flies to many world locations, some with 'code partners'. They seem to have several types of aircraft.Quote:
Originally Posted by dash
I've noticed that newer aircraft (737-700 and Airbus A320) have more leg room than old aircraft (specfically 767-300 - yuk).
Correction: Air Canada might get you to Sydney:)
I just flew Westjet and had a nasty in charge. First grumpy Westjet employee I have ever encountered! Sorry about your AirCanada nightmare Pegger but if you look up stats there is not a lot of difference between the two delay-wise. Westjet only fly smaller aircraft of the Boeing 737 family and now have only just recently started to compete against AirCanada to the smaller Canadian cities using Q400 prop planes. Globally they have just started serving Ireland and GreatBritain using those same 737s. I believe they have one stop in StJohns Nfld. they don't have the range to serve outside NorthAmerica without stops. Anyone can claim to fly the world with code partners. It's not real. I'm anxious to try AirCanadas new Boeing 787s soon and maybe Qatars A350 on my way through Doha to HoChiMinh city in November. But will have to stay with Westjet to MBJ. My favourite place. Now tell us about your Negril trip. That's something we can agree on!
Dash, do you post anywhere about your experiences in HoChiMinh City. I've been trying to get back there after so many years.
I've only felt like writing about Negril. Mostly because of all the great people that I've met there and on this board. It's easy to share with people who know.
What non-rev passengers do is cost money to the airline, thus passing it on to the paying customer. Paying for a ticket means paying baggage handlers, ticket agents, maintenance of planes, fuel, food, drinks, etc etc etc. To say non rev passengers dont impact the cost to paying customers is total BS.
The range of a 737-600 is 6000 km. Westjet also has B757-200 aircraft for thier Hawaii routes. They may not be the world's biggest flyer, but they do what they do pretty well. WJ rudeness would be new to me too, Dash; I've always had good service on WJ. If they ever approached the coldness and incompetence of Air Canada, I would worry!Quote:
Originally Posted by dash
yuk terrible- took us 19 hours to get home to Calgary from Negril as well- stuck in Toronto- WestJet airplane maintenance issues!
19 Hours is ridiculous!
Where did Westjet get that old 757 from Pegboy? They don't mention that on their web site. Maybe they borrowed it to cover for a broken down 737? They do do well for a small airline. Again, Apples and oranges. Give me the old days when 747s, 1011s and DC10s used to swoop into Negril with full size seats and leg room!
When we were boarding our westjet flight home, the flight attendant told us about their new fleet of planes coming soon...wish I had paid more attention, Bigger, better, faster ..there is something in the Horizon
http://blog.westjet.com/adding-boein...ircraft-fleet/
The 767 and 757 are good safe dependable airplanes. The 787 is still working out some problems and should become a popular airplane for the owners and passengers. The passenger amenities are entirely dependent upon the airline's choice of interiors ,whether on new orders or refurbished. In the "good old days' of the 747, L1011, and DC-10, airlines where more assured of a profit so they did not pack so many people on an airplane. The L1011 was my favorite in its prime. The economy cabin on most 1011s was about as nice as business class on today's aircraft. The DC-10 was also comfortable and only slightly less dependable than the 1011. The 747 was comfortable and dependable but due to it size was not always profitable in many markets. The L1011 in it's early years was not very dependable. The airlines that waited to order the 1011 did not suffer the expensive delays that the initial deliveries caused. Perhaps the 787 will prove to be a similar case. One airline could not understand the many engine failures on the Rolls Royce engines that were on the 1011. Upon further investigation, it was found that Rolls Royce was so diligent that they had exceeded the requested specifications on bearings and other engine parts. The fittings were so tight and well made that proper lubrication was not getting between moving parts thus causing bearing and seal failures and thus the resulting engine shutdowns. There are many stories that could be told about the "parties' involving crew in the lower galleys on the 1011 that were reached by two elevators.
Sandman66, I would submit that the effect on cost of non revs is negligible and the return on the negligible cost is very good. An airline has many very qualified employees that choose their jobs in part because of the perks. By flying as a passenger the employees experience the customer's experience and are thusly very sympathetic to paying passengers concerns. I have already explained how many times non revs have saved the day by being present on a flight.It is simply good business to have your employees experience the product especially in the hospitality sector. There are not that many non revs on any particular flight and there is no increased staff due to non revs. Many airlines levy non revs a service charge which covers food and drink. Usually BS comes from those that are ignorant of the facts or who are just mean spirited and jealous.
[QUOTE=thepegboy;155796]Westjet flies to many world locations, some with 'code partners'. They seem to have several types of aircraft.
I've noticed that newer aircraft (737-700 and Airbus A320) have more leg room than old aircraft (specfically 767-300 - yuk).
Correction: Air Canada might get you to Sydney:)[/QUOTE
Peg Boy Looks like your favourite airline and mine are buying the 767-300-yuk. Used. I wonder if they are AirCanadas old ones?
Dash, WJ 757 are "leased from Thomas Cook and operated by our crews...". Search a flight to Hawaii to see this note.
Looks like thier "new" 767s will take over the 757 Hawaiian routes.
The 767 aircraft are old Qantas not AirCanada aircraft Pegboy. They will be changing the seating I'm sure. A lot better than renting.
Westjet is also finally changing their horrible entertainment system for the new aircraft. Let's hope they do the same for the jamaica run. I wonder if they are going to go to tablets like Virgin and Rouge.
It's M of M&G here. First off, I am not fond of flying, but it's the only way to get from Point A to Point B. I deal with it.
I agree with Dash - loved the 747's/DC-10's and L1011's! THAT was flying!
Any airline that takes me up and lands me safely - regardless of delays - is #1 in my book. So far, Air Canada and West Jet to Jamaica are tied for #1 in my book! :)
If the pilot doesn't want to fly that plane, I am right behind him! I'll sit in any airport terminal as long you want me to until that pilot is happy to fly that plane. I'm quite OK with that.
Ditto on a flight crew who are way into overtime because of weather delays. I can wait til the pilot feels fresh as a daisy and ready to fly! No problemo from me!
Since I like to go to the tropics during Canadian winters, it seems inevitable that there will be delays somewhere along the way at some point in time. I do good deeds so that the travel gods will smile on me and make my delays on the way BACK! It usually works.
Other than that, I don't let delays ruin my vacation or bring an ugly end. Curl up wherever; use the wifi; read a book; people watch - no better place than airports - and just go with the flow. They'll get you back to the snow and ice and (shiver) work eventually.
It's much less stressful!
:)
My wife and I were on flight 1699. Yes we are happy we eventually got home safe and sound. However, I am curious if anyone has received any sort of compensation for this flight? By the time we arrived home we had extra costs for missing work as well as two extra days for parking at the airport. I'm not even going to get into the lack of communication and overall poor handling of the situation by Air Canada. To offer me a 25% discount on my next flight is an insult. I can get the same thing if I hit the right seat sale. C'mon Air Canada
Wow. I just read through the thread on the Facebook page, and thought this thread was going to be way different. Haha.
A thread on Facebook? Can you provide a link please? Thanks
I'd rather not directly post such negative things, but if you search for the "Negril Boardies" page, you will find it.
Thanks Ryan. Totally understand. Unfortunately I can't find it. NBD as I'm sure its very similar.
Hi Ryan, I've received no compensation, but I expect none, even though it was a terrible reaction on thier part, and nowhere equivalent to what we paid for; I wrote a candid email to all Air Canada executives, and they got it (checked me out on LinkedIn!), but sent no response of any kind. Typical standoff-ish attitude. They need to collapse and be reborn.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mayanryan