Atlantic Canada airport thread

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

It does feel like you just need to get super lucky with delays. I use Flighty as a flight tracking app and 67% of all my flights have had some sort of delay. Not had any issues with luggage but I only ever take a carry on suitcase to minimize luggage related issues.

I always travel only with carry on luggage - a tote which can fit under the seat in front of me. You can't call yourself a man unless you can live off a carry on suitcase for at least 7-10 days.

I never take a connecting route, unless it is absolutely unavoidable, and if so, I ensure connection times of 4 hours (at least) if at all possible.

Yes, I am very paranoid.

[Sunnybrae]

I would say I am an aviation enthusiast. Like playing MSFS, A320neo mostly. Always checked out the aviation websites and magazines and such. I use to take flights to Bermuda often where I had family. That was years ago.... when it was actually fun to fly. The last time I flew was in 2012. The worst experience I ever had. Not going into details but swore never again and never have flown again. No need. Sure I want to go on trips, but the travel industry is a shadow of what it once was in terms of service. The sad thing for the younger generation is that they think the current service is the norm.... and it probably is.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I always travel only with carry on luggage - a tote which can fit under the seat in front of me. You can't call yourself a man unless you can live off a carry on suitcase for at least 7-10 days.

My wife and I have literally been flying carry-on only for about 10 years. Ironically, this is the first time we've checked ANY bags in that time, and that was only because they were included in a (relatively cheap) upgrade to Premium Economy.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by Nashe

My wife and I have literally been flying carry-on only for about 10 years. Ironically, this is the first time we've checked ANY bags in that time, and that was only because they were included in a (relatively cheap) upgrade to Premium Economy.

I almost always check a bag if it's more that a couple of days

What if I spill something on these pants/shirt/jacket?
What if it's colder than expected?
What if it's hotter than expected?
What if it rains or snows?
What if we go somewhere dressy for dinner?
What if.....?

I'm just too much of a contingency planner I guess.

[J81]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Lack of flights to the Maritimes (especially YSJ) and zero excess capacity are glaringly apparent when there are any disruptions.

We got a real lesson in this on Friday.

Family member was flying YSJ to TO on Friday and then on one of AC's twice weekly flights to Bermuda Sat morning. Weather in TO Friday evening meant they actually circled Pearson for awhile and then diverted to Montreal. Chaos ensued as the weather hit Montreal early Saturday causing multiple cancelations. That's fine and bad weather is certainly not AC's fault. How they deal with the fallout from it however........

Air Canada's only solution on Saturday was to offer to return this person to SJ on Monday afternoon which would be after being stuck in Montreal for 3 nights. (AC's next flight Toronto- Bermuda won't be until next Thursday) Zero willingness to reroute them or book them an AC flight to the US and then onwards on an American airline. Zero effort to get them to their destination.

They ended up abandoning their outward leg and buying an American Airlines Montreal-Charlotte-Bermuda ticket for this morning.

Air Canada's attitude can be summed up as "too bad....— to be you"

I know this story is just one of millions in recent years and probably not as bad as many but you have to wonder how air travel has deteriorated so badly? It's especially bad in a small, underserved market. Missing a flight or a connection doesn't mean being inconvenienced for a few hours. it can mean being stranded somewhere for days.

Helps to know the APPR regulations. Your friends can take AC to small claims court because by law they have to book you on another airline.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by J81

Helps to know the APPR regulations. Your friends can take AC to small claims court because by law they have to book you on another airline.

Even if a weather diversion causes the missed connection? I though weather and safety were the two big loopholes Air Canada invoked all the time to deny compensation.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I always travel only with carry on luggage - a tote which can fit under the seat in front of me. You can't call yourself a man unless you can live off a carry on suitcase for at least 7-10 days.

I never take a connecting route, unless it is absolutely unavoidable, and if so, I ensure connection times of 4 hours (at least) if at all possible.

Yes, I am very paranoid.

In this day and age it's the best way to be with airports. I had a big fight with United a few weeks ago as they wanted to reschedule one of my flights giving me a sloid 45 minute lay over.

I had to really ask the person on the phone, have you travelled before? If you say yes, you know 45 minutes isn't a viable option.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

In this day and age it's the best way to be with airports. I had a big fight with United a few weeks ago as they wanted to reschedule one of my flights giving me a sloid 45 minute lay over.

I had to really ask the person on the phone, have you travelled before? If you say yes, you know 45 minutes isn't a viable option.

You actually got to speak with a live person on the phone?

i didn't have to read anything else to know you weren't dealing with Air Canada.

[J81]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Even if a weather diversion causes the missed connection? I though weather and safety were the two big loopholes Air Canada invoked all the time to deny compensation.

Thats where it gets tricky and the airlines will lie to avoid paying any compensation. It happened to me. Crew ran out of time while we were deicing but the airline claimed the reason for the cancellation was weather. Thats why small claims court could be handy. Let a judge decide.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by J81

Thats where it gets tricky and the airlines will lie to avoid paying any compensation. It happened to me. Crew ran out of time while we were deicing but the airline claimed the reason for the cancellation was weather. Thats why small claims court could be handy. Let a judge decide.

For a certain percentage of people the months of hassle and the countless hours spent on emails and calls isn't worth the amount of money they are trying to claim. Pretty sure Air Canada counts on that.

[theshark]

Article in the Acadie Nouvelle talks about how the future looks better for the Bathurst airport, and the possible return of daily flights to Montreal by the summer and other projects that are in the works…not a lot of details other than things look better and the administration is more optimistic about the future.

[J81]

Originally Posted by sailor734

For a certain percentage of people the months of hassle and the countless hours spent on emails and calls isn't worth the amount of money they are trying to claim. Pretty sure Air Canada counts on that.

All the airlines do. Not just AC

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by J81

All the airlines do. Not just AC

Oh, I'm sure that's true. However from all I've read, compared to Europe Canada's passenger bill of rights has huge exceptions and loopholes the airlines can (and do) exploit ruthlessly to avoid taking responsibility for their failings.

[Bishop2047]

Originally Posted by theshark

Article in the Acadie Nouvelle talks about how the future looks better for the Bathurst airport, and the possible return of daily flights to Montreal by the summer and other projects that are in the works…not a lot of details other than things look better and the administration is more optimistic about the future.

It would not take much. Already there are 4X Weekly to Montreal from Bathurst. The more the better though. I am curious if this announcement might be about the terminal upgrades and runway lengthening that was put on their website. There is no time stamp on the page so I am not sure when it was put there. Link below.

https://www.airbathurst.com/#projects

[theshark]

Originally Posted by Bishop2047

It would not take much. Already there are 4X Weekly to Montreal from Bathurst. The more the better though. I am curious if this announcement might be about the terminal upgrades and runway lengthening that was put on their website. There is no time stamp on the page so I am not sure when it was put there. Link below.

https://www.airbathurst.com/#projects

Those two projects have been completed before prior to the pandemic. Before everything grounded to a halt, he had two daily flights to Montreal. Right now what really drives people to other airport is the time of the flights. We used to have an early morning flight which was perfect for connections in Montreal. Now the flight leaves a 4:30 pm so you miss most of your connections and have to spend a long layover in Montreal. I know it has been my reason for picking another airport when Montreal is not my final destination, i get to my final destination much faster.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by theshark

Those two projects have been completed before prior to the pandemic. Before everything grounded to a halt, he had two daily flights to Montreal. Right now what really drives people to other airport is the time of the flights. We used to have an early morning flight which was perfect for connections in Montreal. Now the flight leaves a 4:30 pm so you miss most of your connections and have to spend a long layover in Montreal. I know it has been my reason for picking another airport when Montreal is not my final destination, I get to my final destination much faster.

Same scheduling issues that are driving traffic away from Saint John ....you often have to overnight on TO or Montreal both ways when travelling to or from the US or western Canada

[homebody]

First Flair flight leaves for Orlando Sanford today from YSJ.

[DyAm00394]

Flair Airlines wants to expand further in Saint John.

“A vice-president at Flair Airlines says they want to keep expanding their operations at the Saint John Airport.

The ultra-low-cost carrier began offering a weekly sunshine flight to the Orlando Sanford International Airport last week.

In addition, the airline’s summer service to Toronto is expanding to add even more weekly trips this year.

Eric Tanner, the vice-president of revenue management and network planning, said the community has embraced their low-fare model.

“It’s truly a testament to the partnership that we’ve developed with the entire community of Saint John because we don’t get to expand service if people aren’t taking the flights,” Tanner said in an interview.

The Saint John-to-Toronto route, which started with two weekly flights in 2022, is expanding to four times weekly this summer.

Tanner said they would love to add more weekly frequencies during the summer and make it a year-round service, but other issues need to be dealt with first.

“There is a lot of constraint in the Toronto airport, in particular. It’s not operating at its full capacity right now. We really need it to,” he said.

“We need to continue pushing all of the stakeholders in air travel to make sure the country’s largest airport can operate at full capacity.

Tanner said it is also important to make sure there is demand for the service in order for it to be viable.

As for the potential of future routes, the vice-president said they want to give the community what it is looking for.

“We don’t fly the routes that we want to fly, we fly the routes that people in Saint John want to fly,” said Tanner.

“Tell us where you want to fly. Give feedback to the airport. We want to hear from you.”

Source: https://www.country94.ca/2024/01/31/flair-airlines-wants-to-expand-further-in-saint-john/

[Bishop2047]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Flair Airlines wants to expand further in Saint John.



Source: https://www.country94.ca/2024/01/31/flair-airlines-wants-to-expand-further-in-saint-john/

I would love nothing more than to see SJ increase frequency and routes, and I want more competition, but...... Things do not look so rosy for Flair. They are not showing the markers of a successful airline.

https://vancouversun.com/news/canada/fla...ir's%20fleet%2C%20Jones%20said.tthg=

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by Bishop2047

I would love nothing more than to see SJ increase frequency and routes, and I want more competition, but...... Things do not look so rosy for Flair. They are not showing the markers of a successful airline.

https://vancouversun.com/news/canada/fla...ir's%20fleet%2C%20Jones%20said.tthg=

It says in the articles that they already reached a payment plan deal with CRA. Says it has no impact on their operations. But would like them expand here in SJ and other carriers start operating/expanding here. We need more flight options.