YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion - Page 194

Bigtime · #**3861** Posted **Dec 21, 2011, 7:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Well, they are an OK airline. Very "basic" I would say compared to say, a Singapore Airlines. I only flew business class, and their lounge in KIX is atrocious. The interiors of the planes are a bit drab, even though they are relatively new. Actually, I've heard complaints (never seen it myself) that the 787 interior could have been a lot better. It's nothing like the Boeing mockups that looked so futuristic lol

As far as interiors / business or first class service go, I'd have to say JAL beats them. Of course, not on the old plane they send to YVR

But what good are OneWorld Alliance points in North America!

That's a pretty common thing to happen, both Boeing and Airbus mockup the interiors of their new aircraft with these amazing designs but in the end it all comes down to making as much money as possible for the airlines. So you hardly ever see anything like it in reality.

usog · #**3862** Posted **Dec 21, 2011, 7:53 PM**

I only fly economy and ANA has been pretty good to me. Better than Air Canada and much better than United so far. JAL in economy is also pretty bad lol. Also is there no demand at all for KIX-YVR or what?

twoNeurons · #**3863** Posted **Dec 21, 2011, 8:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Well, they are an OK airline. Very "basic" I would say compared to say, a Singapore Airlines. I only flew business class, and their lounge in KIX is atrocious. The interiors of the planes are a bit drab, even though they are relatively new. Actually, I've heard complaints (never seen it myself) that the 787 interior could have been a lot better. It's nothing like the Boeing mockups that looked so futuristic lol

As far as interiors / business or first class service go, I'd have to say JAL beats them. Of course, not on the old plane they send to YVR

But what good are OneWorld Alliance points in North America!

That makes, sense. You and I have totally different flyer profiles, ha! While I'm holed up in cattle class impressed by an extra 3cm of elbow room and working media systems, you're up in business class sipping champagne and noting that you don't like the hue of the curtain that separates sections.

Of course, I'm half kidding, but yea... you're definitely in a better position to evaluate the upper end of the market offerings.

usog, don't get me started on KIX - YVR. There used to be one. I can kind of understand why there's no connection, but it doesn't make me feel any better. The flights were always full, I heard. It's just about the distance and the costs of running a 767 there. There's problems in Japan with the economy. In the Osaka area, they are supposed to be consolidating Kobe, Itami and KIX under the same ownership. It's a bit of a mess there. It would be nice to see KIX actually used to its potential. It's a gorgeous airport, architecturally.

Delta started up direct SEA - KIX flights last year. ANA's flight to Seattle will be NAR - SEA.

Yume-sama · #**3864** Posted **Dec 21, 2011, 8:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by usog

I only fly economy and ANA has been pretty good to me. Better than Air Canada and much better than United so far. JAL in economy is also pretty bad lol. Also is there no demand at all for KIX-YVR or what?

Ironically, it seems the bigger the plane the more uncomfortable their economy section is. The 747 & 777 tend to be uncomfortable, and people prefer the 767.

Similarly, I find AC's Embraer planes more comfortable than any of their smaller Airbus'

Quote:

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

That makes, sense. You and I have totally different flyer profiles, ha! While I'm holed up in cattle class impressed by an extra 3cm of elbow room and working media systems, you're up in business class sipping champagne and noting that you don't like the hue of the curtain that separates sections.

Definitely chuckled at that. What an offensive shade!

ACT7 · #**3865** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 6:29 PM**

November pax numbers are in for YVR and overall it's been pretty anemic growth, coming in at just over 1% YoY.

http://www.yvr.ca/Libraries/Facts_and_Stats/November_2011_Passenger.sflb.ashx

What's troubling is that YVR hasn't fully recovered it's pax numbers from as far back as 2006 (although it will likely achieve that this year) and it's way off its peak of 17.8 MM in 2008.
Canada's remaining big 3 have all surpassed their 2008 peaks, although YYC is marginal. As of last year YYZ was also off from its 2008 peak but will surpass that this year. So any growth for YVR right now is mostly recovery of passengers from 5 years ago.

Maybe Sea-Tac really is funnelling passengers away from YVR.

twoNeurons · #**3866** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 6:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Ironically, it seems the bigger the plane the more uncomfortable their economy section is. The 747 & 777 tend to be uncomfortable, and people prefer the 767.

The only exception I have found for that rule is the 747s that JAL used to use from Vancouver. The whole plane (at least when I flew) was economy, including the upper deck.

The upper deck was like being in a small plane and having the front window seat meant you have a cavernous space in front and a shelf to the side where the fuselage curves.

Bigtime · #**3867** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 7:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

The only exception I have found for that rule is the 747s that JAL used to use from Vancouver. The whole plane (at least when I flew) was economy, including the upper deck.

The upper deck was like being in a small plane and having the front window seat meant you have a cavernous space in front and a shelf to the side where the fuselage curves.

Interesting, that sounds a lot like the 747D models that only operated in Japan in the all economy class configuration. I think ANA still has a couple of them in service.

s211 · #**3868** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACT7

Maybe Sea-Tac really is funnelling passengers away from YVR.

And/or Bellingham also?

I wonder about Abbotsford also, to a limited extent.

Bigtime · #**3869** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 7:27 PM**

Abbotsford pax numbers have been dropping over the last few years.

ACT7 · #**3870** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Abbotsford pax numbers have been dropping over the last few years.

Yah, I'd be surprised about YXX too.

Bigtime · #**3871** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACT7

Yah, I'd be surprised about YXX too.

I actually grabbed a copy of Airways magazine (the January 2012 issue) and they have a writeup on Abbotsford, they also show the last 4 years of pax numbers and you can see the drop from above 500,000 to mid 400,000 now. Someone from YXX was talking in the article about getting a direct flight to India, um yeah ok.

twoNeurons · #**3872** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 9:28 PM**

Anyone know how much BLI's numbers are up?

ACT7 · #**3873** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 9:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I actually grabbed a copy of Airways magazine (the January 2012 issue) and they have a writeup on Abbotsford, they also show the last 4 years of pax numbers and you can see the drop from above 500,000 to mid 400,000 now. Someone from YXX was talking in the article about getting a direct flight to India, um yeah ok.

I think I saw that article too. Amritsar was specifically the Indian city that was mentioned. Considering YYZ is the only city in NA with an Amritsar connection (with a stop in DEL), I would say I have a better chance of winning tonight's Lotto Max than YXX getting that flight. It may have come from a different article, but I think I read that either China or Korea was also on YXX's list of desired future destinations.

Bigtime · #**3874** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACT7

I think I saw that article too. Amritsar was specifically the Indian city that was mentioned. Considering YYZ is the only city in NA with an Amritsar connection (with a stop in DEL), I would say I have a better chance of winning tonight's Lotto Max than YXX getting that flight. It may have come from a different article, but I think I read that either China or Korea was also on YXX's list of desired future destinations.

You're right, they did specifically mention Amritsar and China. I guess if you shoot for that and get a flight to Edmonton or something you are winning right?

ACT7 · #**3875** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 9:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

You're right, they did specifically mention Amritsar and China. I guess if you shoot for that and get a flight to Edmonton or something you are winning right?

That's one way to look at it...

s211 · #**3876** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 9:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Abbotsford pax numbers have been dropping over the last few years.

Interesting, as the airlines seem to be pushing it. I seem to recall being on the Westjet website to look at travel out of YVR, and there's typically a banner proclaiming "did you know you could also depart out of Abbotsford" or something along those lines.

Bigtime · #**3877** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 9:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

Interesting, as the airlines seem to be pushing it. I seem to recall being on the Westjet website to look at travel out of YVR, and there's typically a banner proclaiming "did you know you could also depart out of Abbotsford" or something along those lines.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the only scheduled major carrier is Westjet with flights to YYC and YEG. There appear to be smaller operators (Orca Airways, Island Express Air) and the tour operators to sun destinations (Transat, Canjet).

ACT7 · #**3878** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 10:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Correct me if I'm wrong but the only scheduled major carrier is Westjet with flights to YYC and YEG. There appear to be smaller operators (Orca Airways, Island Express Air) and the tour operators to sun destinations (Transat, Canjet).

That sounds right. YXX is not a factor in YVR's pax numbers. The decline seems to either exclusively be choosing to fly out of Bellingham or Seattle, or simply just natural demand.

teriyaki · #**3879** Posted **Dec 23, 2011, 4:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACT7

That sounds right. YXX is not a factor in YVR's pax numbers. The decline seems to either exclusively be choosing to fly out of Bellingham or Seattle, or simply just natural demand.

+1 Never heard anyone choosing abbotsford over YVR, but I have heard a lot of cases where people drive down to BLI or SEA for a flight.

In related news. ANA has just announced a new route from Tokyo (NRT) to Seattle (SEA).
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12...ights-to-seattle-san-jose-in-fy2012.html

With JAL flights downgrading from full 747 to 777 to 767, this is kind of sad news since ANA won't be flying to YVR anytime soon with their planned service to Seattle now.

usog · #**3880** Posted **Dec 23, 2011, 7:30 AM**

I honestly don't think I've ever seen flights from Abbotsford advertised anywhere.