This just in: Hell about to freeze over

[gcclarke]

Hell can't freeze over, because hell is exothermic. ;D

I would like to point out that freezing is an exothermic process...

 

[Scott]

Just saying.    I'm on First Air's e-mail list, & saw Nuuk recently added to their schedule.

I've seen a culvert with wings decked out in AC logos the last time I was there.

That is an excellent idea.  Because clearly, booking flights does not work for everybody - which I suspect is part of the master AC plan.    :Tin-Foil-Hat:

If you go through the booking process you'll find that you have to pay out on top of those miles. While there are certain folks (some who might even be here) who do long haul business class trips on miles I am not one of those. In fact, flying as often as I do the thought of using miles to fly even more is revolting.

I also used to have a miles/dollar comparison spreadhsheet that explained the better bang for buck rewards out there - but I'll be damned if I can find it right now. That's if you want to get really geeky with it or find yourself with an enormous amount of time on your hands like I sometimes do.

 

[bridges]

I've seen a culvert with wings decked out in AC logos the last time I was there.

uh-oh... that's not good.

I also used to have a miles/dollar comparison spreadhsheet that explained the better bang for buck rewards out there - but I'll be damned if I can find it right now. That's if you want to get really geeky with it or find yourself with an enormous amount of time on your hands like I sometimes do.

I've often wondered about that, and about which travel reward cards give the best deals & don't throw out your points after a certain # of years.  Either way, it must be profitable for them or they wouldn't do it - but maybe there's at least one that's a good deal for the consumer too. 

 

[a_majoor]

On a more general note, the prices for flying in Canada are pretty close to extortion, and (since I am 2 hr away) if I really need to fly anywhere on my own dime, it is far more cost effective to go on the Internet; book a ticket on a US airine and fly ut of Detroit Metro. Since Toronto is 2 hr the other way, I can do a very valid time and cost comparison.

Most US domestic carriers are pretty decent, if no frills operations, and I can most certainly say that I am not getting several hundred dollars in extra services using a Canadian airline or flying out of a Canadian airport.

 

[bridges]

On a more general note, the prices for flying in Canada are pretty close to extortion, and (since I am 2 hr away) if I really need to fly anywhere on my own dime, it is far more cost effective to go on the Internet; book a ticket on a US airine and fly ut of Detroit Metro. Since Toronto is 2 hr the other way, I can do a very valid time and cost comparison.

Most US domestic carriers are pretty decent, if no frills operations, and I can most certainly say that I am not getting several hundred dollars in extra services using a Canadian airline or flying out of a Canadian airport.

For my next domestic US flight I'll be looking at flying out of Ogdensburg NY, instead of Ottawa - and they offer free parking!  For now, at least.

 

[2010newbie]

Previous to joining the military I flew internationally, throughout North America, and sometimes within Canada. Whenever I could I would use Air Canada. I've flown, Delta, US Airways, Mexicana, Aeromexico, Lufthansa, British Airways, United, Southwest, American Airlines, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin Blue (now Virgin Australia), and a few more that I can't recall. Air Canada has always provided the most consistent service and reliability. Now that I am with the CF, I have had to fly WestJet a few times and I find their service within Canada to be sub-par to anything Air Canada ever provided. As others have mentioned, I find their in-flight banter to be annoying instead of humourous and their level of in-flight service is lower than Air Canada provides.

 

[Scott]

I've often wondered about that, and about which travel reward cards give the best deals & don't throw out your points after a certain # of years.  Either way, it must be profitable for them or they wouldn't do it - but maybe there's at least one that's a good deal for the consumer too.

I think 7 years is the drop dead date for AC points. It's pretty simple to gauge the dollar value for the points on simple items. Just find two or three that interest you, copy the details and find out the retail number for them - that's if you're budget minded.

I don't care about the price built in for miles because I don't pay for my flights and find the miles to be a little bonus for airport and traveler hell I put up with at times My firm could book me with the option that awards no miles but then changes to the flights would cost a stupid amount and I have to change some detail much more often than not.

I say again: my prime source of aggravation during travel is other passengers, not the airlines.

 

[Greymatters]

Air Canada has always provided the most consistent service and reliability.

It's all perception and experience; Ive found several airlines to be better than Air Canada during my travels, but it's no surprise if others had good experiences... 

 

[bridges]

I think 7 years is the drop dead date for AC points. It's pretty simple to gauge the dollar value for the points on simple items. Just find two or three that interest you, copy the details and find out the retail number for them - that's if you're budget minded.

I don't care about the price built in for miles because I don't pay for my flights and find the miles to be a little bonus for airport and traveler hell I put up with at times My firm could book me with the option that awards no miles but then changes to the flights would cost a stupid amount and I have to change some detail much more often than not.

I say again: my prime source of aggravation during travel is other passengers, not the airlines.

You're correct on 7 years for Aeroplan.  And as for budget-minded, yes.  A bit time-crunched, perhaps, but I could probably shave off some of the time I spend on here.    Or devising ever-more detailed formulae on the spreadsheet I keep for my car mileage.

My most recent prime source of aggravation is the machines where you have to print your own boarding pass (not too bad), and your own luggage tag - then peel off the sticky backing at the right spot and attach it to the suitcase yourself.  I constantly see people fumbling with the tags, or standing in the way while they try to decipher the instructions on the back.  It's particularly difficult for people who travel infrequently, and aren't used to it - as compared to a check-in clerk who puts hundreds of those on every day, and can do it with their eyes closed.  Lots of efficiency gained for the airline staff, not so much for the traveller.  And overall, it just strikes me as another means for the airlines to shift responsibility for more things onto the traveller, so they can employ fewer staff in the future.

Oh, and the requirement for putting your own bags on the belt, like in Winnipeg.  Once you've checked yourself in, printed your own boarding pass and tagged your own luggage, literally the only thing the check-in clerk does is glance at your boarding pass and wave you through to the baggage belt.

All right, where's the "rant over" button...

 

[daftandbarmy]

I'm heading to the airport now and taking Air Canada because there is no....other....option. Pray for me.... (in both official languages)

 

[GAP]

au revoir.........

 

[Scott]

Funny, I see those self service machines and walk right by them and on to the counter. No probs.

 

[aesop081]

Just walked up to the first airline agent you see and say "i've never used these self-serve machines before" and they do it for you.........

Works. I do it every flight.

 

[jollyjacktar]

Air Canada has always provided the most consistent service and reliability.

In my experience within Canada, consistently disappointing.  I liked Canadian Pacific Airlines.

 

[cupper]

Just walked up to the first airline agent you see and say "i've never used these self-serve machines before" and they do it for you.........

Works. I do it every flight.

I was going to post something about them taking pity on the old and feeble. Good thing I checked you're profile first.

They were probably taking pity on someone who was feeble. >

 

[my72jeep]

Here in Northern Ont. you have Bearskin air, AirCanada Jazz, West jet, Porter. Now WestJet only fly's out of Thunder bay. I fly out of Sault Ste. Marie to Toronto Bearskin $1100, Air Canada $500-700, Porter $99-350. All booked 3 weeks in advance all round trip, Air Canada free coffee & nuts. Porter up to 2 free Beer, nuts/cookies, sandwich with pasta salad. Bearskin don't know too scared to fly with them.

 

[bridges]

Here in Northern Ont. you have Bearskin air, AirCanada Jazz, West jet, Porter. Now WestJet only fly's out of Thunder bay. I fly out of Sault Ste. Marie to Toronto Bearskin $1100, Air Canada $500-700, Porter $99-350. All booked 3 weeks in advance all round trip, Air Canada free coffee & nuts. Porter up to 2 free Beer, nuts/cookies, sandwich with pasta salad. Bearskin don't know too scared to fly with them.

Bearskin doesn't fly to Toronto, exactly.  Closest is Hamilton, or Kitchener/Waterloo.  They're great though - I've flown with them from Ottawa to the Soo several times.  They had good prices, convenient schedules for business travellers and the best part, you don't have to go through Toronto.  Typically they only stop in Sudbury.  Plus it's a very relaxed vibe.  In SSM they write out the boarding passes by hand, which, while inconsequential, I find a refreshing change. 

The pilots are also your flight attendants.  The plane (Fairchild Metroliner) has 19 seats, one row on each side - so you get a window seat AND an aisle seat.  No seat assignment - you just sit wherever a seat is free. 

IMO these are the downsides to Bearskin:

-no washroom on board.  All flight legs are short, but this could still be a problem for those with certain medical conditions, or who had a few beers at the airport. 
-restricted luggage weight for checked bags, which I think is 40 lb - the same as charters to the south.  Max carry-on is 1 piece, small.
-no food/beverage service obviously - which IMO is a good thing.  The only good food I've ever had on an airplane was on First Air & Canadian North, between Ottawa & Iqaluit.  Everything else has been basic sustenance at best, cardboard or downright nauseating at worst. 

Never any problems with Bearskin - the same can't be said for Air Canada.  For short hops to/from Toronto, though, Porter can't be beat for the service and airport location. 

On a related topic, I heard that WestJet was soliciting feedback from the public on potential new cities for their routes - not sure if this is still going on, but apparently there were 40 cities and Brandon MB was one of them, which would be great for the WestMan region.  WJ had Brandon on their schedule briefly, many years ago.  Around the time they also flew to the Sault and Sudbury.  Took their flight to Brandon and the plane was full; not sure why they stopped.