Calgary International Airport II

[Cage]

Originally Posted by casper

Discussion over on the frequently flyer forum is that WestJet has taken over the the lounge on pier A as its own.

Any one have any details on what the plan is. Hopefully that is stepping stone for domestic departures to have three lounges: WestJet, AC and Priority Pass/AMEX lounge.

Plans are not formally announced. From reading the Flertalk thread and other knowledge of the area and subject. Priority Pass is still allowed but I expect Amex Plat benefit to be removed from the Chinook lounge. Effect on the Amex Plat cardholders (who get priority pass lounge card for free once application is filed).

Servisair contract lounge in domestic YYC is gone for good and unlikely to return. Rumour is that WS will have their own flagship domestic lounge in brand standard colours and fittings.

Final domestic lounge opens in 2020, which is about the timeline for the new combined domestic security for A/B/C concourses to be activated. This would be a ideal location for WS to have a departures level lounge just after security. They could take over and repurpose the Kelsey’s space or go immediately beside the new security space. From a public space orientation, the new combined domestic terminal pre boards security area will be the temporary checkin are currently occupied by WS (formerly AC temporary space).

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

Last domestic flight out WestJet had a customer service desk in the A lounge. No branding had changed then. Is there still the old lounge space up stairs near B that could be refurbished and reopened?

The Rocky Mountain Lounge space above the B concourse is too small for either WS or AC purposes. It could be repurposed into the upper level of a two level WS concourse, but that is probably too much space for WS.

I suspect the new WS domestic lounge will be on the departures level in a space currently occupied by retail. Back when Canadian was still planning the new concourse (prior to AC takeover) the Empress lounge was to have been on the departures level, not above departures where the Chinook lounge is located.

[hollywoodcory]

Looks like WS has made a few long-haul changes

LGW - Daily until Sep 29. 6x Weekly Sep 30-Oct. 13, then 5x Weekly Oct 14-Oct 27, then 3x Weekly for the winter.
CDG - Remains 4x Weekly until Oct 27 (previously dropped to 3x in September). Schedule extended until Oct 31, possibly hinting at year-round service?
DUB - Remains 3x Weekly until early Oct (previously changed to 2x weekly in early Sept).

Other changes:

MZT - Looks like its year-round now, weekly flights through summer.

[msmariner]

Originally Posted by hollywoodcory

Looks like WS has made a few long-haul changes

LGW - Daily until Sep 29. 6x Weekly Sep 30-Oct. 13, then 5x Weekly Oct 14-Oct 27, then 3x Weekly for the winter.
CDG - Remains 4x Weekly until Oct 27 (previously dropped to 3x in September). Schedule extended until Oct 31, possibly hinting at year-round service?
DUB - Remains 3x Weekly until early Oct (previously changed to 2x weekly in early Sept).

Other changes:

MZT - Looks like its year-round now, weekly flights through summer.

Any guesses/speculations on what WS will do with the Dreamliners in the winter months. As well as the new ones coming online next year?

[YYCFlier]

Originally Posted by msmariner

Any guesses/speculations on what WS will do with the Dreamliners in the winter months. As well as the new ones coming online next year?

The next set will go to YYZ, replacing LGW 763 service and likely other Europe destinations.

I think the final set will go to YVR and this where we may see WS dip their toes into Asia.

We already know one frame is doing YYC-LGW. I'd guess YYC-YYZ runs are still on the table. Someone has mentioned the idea of keeping YYC-CDG year round. Hawaii is possible but seems like a waste since the 7M8s can reach.

[YYCguys]

Originally Posted by YYCFlier

Hawaii is possible but seems like a waste since the 7M8s can reach.

With AC announcing new Dreamliner service between YYZ and HNL, perhaps WS will attempt the same?

[TheGreatestX]

They need to announce some "counter-seasonal" destinations like AC did.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Cage

Plans are not formally announced. From reading the Flertalk thread and other knowledge of the area and subject. Priority Pass is still allowed but I expect Amex Plat benefit to be removed from the Chinook lounge. Effect on the Amex Plat cardholders (who get priority pass lounge card for free once application is filed).

Servisair contract lounge in domestic YYC is gone for good and unlikely to return. Rumour is that WS will have their own flagship domestic lounge in brand standard colours and fittings.

Final domestic lounge opens in 2020, which is about the timeline for the new combined domestic security for A/B/C concourses to be activated. This would be a ideal location for WS to have a departures level lounge just after security. They could take over and repurpose the Kelsey’s space or go immediately beside the new security space. From a public space orientation, the new combined domestic terminal pre boards security area will be the temporary checkin are currently occupied by WS (formerly AC temporary space).



The Rocky Mountain Lounge space above the B concourse is too small for either WS or AC purposes. It could be repurposed into the upper level of a two level WS concourse, but that is probably too much space for WS.

I suspect the new WS domestic lounge will be on the departures level in a space currently occupied by retail. Back when Canadian was still planning the new concourse (prior to AC takeover) the Empress lounge was to have been on the departures level, not above departures where the Chinook lounge is located.

Interesting option for a lounge in that area that is currently pre-security retail. That is fairly nice space. That also leaves the option of someone going into the Chinook lounge after WestJet moves into its new space.

[J-D]

Originally Posted by YYCFlier

I am not at all worried about ATL and in fact believe they'll upgauge from 737-700 to 800s or 7M8s, and possibly to double daily soon. There's a lot of codeshares from ATL now.

I think MEX failed due to lack of high yield connecting traffic in MEX. You won't see that problem in ATL. WS had very good yields (I think Sims even lamented on the loss of them) connecting passengers in ORD and DTW with American.

The connections offered at MEX were timed pretty terribly also. Lots of the flights had 6-12 hour layovers for some of the more popular destinations, or the risk of missing a shorter connection with the slow customs there.

[MalcolmTucker]

The Amex team definitely has Calgary as a target market for maintaining and growing their card user base, based on my experience as a card holder. I doubt they’d let a lounge go without replacement. In Canada while you can use priority pass for lounge access, a platinum card gives you access even without a priority pass signup. Having a westjet/Amex/priority pass lounge could mean a much larger lounge with variety of facilities than westjet could support in its own at least initially. Otherwise it could fracture - in another fortress hub Denver, priority pass has no lounge, but they do have a partnership with an in terminal restaurant and the pass gives you a credit large enough for a meal and almost two drinks. The old chinook lounge also might be big enough for Amex only?

[Cage]

Originally Posted by casper

Interesting option for a lounge in that area that is currently pre-security retail. That is fairly nice space. That also leaves the option of someone going into the Chinook lounge after WestJet moves into its new space.

YYCAA is going to have to turn pre security retail areas into post security real estate. This starts with flipping the traffic flow on the border spots like Kelsey’s and Montana’s.

First/business class Lounges fit nicely around the immediate post security area. This reduces the amount of backtrack walking for the high value pax.

[YYCFlier]

Originally Posted by YYCguys

With AC announcing new Dreamliner service between YYZ and HNL, perhaps WS will attempt the same?

I would think they'd do YYZ-LGW first before that. But nothing so far so for now appears frames all remain YYC-based.

[YYCFlier]

Originally Posted by TheGreatestX

They need to announce some "counter-seasonal" destinations like AC did.

YYC-LGW remains 3x weekly on a 789.
YYC-YYZ will likely keep a daily - just a guess though.

Remaining use is unknown. With the 763s and more 7M8 it's unclear... 7M8 can easily make Hawaii now from AB so no need to deploy the heavies.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Acey

Inaugural ATL on WS heads out this morning, a full 7M8 of 174 pax.

Interesting that Calgary has a direct to Atlanta at this time of year when Vancouver does not. If I'm correct, Air Canada non-stop from Vancouver to Atlanta is seasonal only.

[hollywoodcory]

Originally Posted by s211

Interesting that Calgary has a direct to Atlanta at this time of year when Vancouver does not. If I'm correct, Air Canada non-stop from Vancouver to Atlanta is seasonal only.

DL operates YVR-ATL and it appears they are converting that route to year-round.

[casper]

Originally Posted by s211

Interesting that Calgary has a direct to Atlanta at this time of year when Vancouver does not. If I'm correct, Air Canada non-stop from Vancouver to Atlanta is seasonal only.

Delta is switching their Vancouver - Atlanta flight to year round.

Not a great flight as it is a late evening departure out of Vancouver. I believe it usually goes out after US pre-clearance closes in YVR so it does that on arrival in Atlanta the next morning.

[YYCFlier]

Originally Posted by s211

Interesting that Calgary has a direct to Atlanta at this time of year when Vancouver does not. If I'm correct, Air Canada non-stop from Vancouver to Atlanta is seasonal only.

Not at all surprising. Which is the bigger WS hub? YYC by a longshot. YVR is the smallest WS hub and the secondary one in the west. This is reversed for Air Canada.

Air Canada has no YVR-ATL route. You are probably thinking of Delta.

[zahav]

Ya definitely no surprise WS operating YYC-ATL and not YVR. YVR has DL and as mentioned, will now be year round (codeshared with WS)

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Acey

YYC-ATL eastbound today another 7M8, again 100% full. Join me tomorrow for the daily update on WS1590. But for real, this is obviously huge for us and IMO our biggest missing nonstop transb link (I say "our" as in the city, I do not work for WS)

Showing a -700 tomorrow.

DL from YVR is a redeye, ain't it? Clearing customs in ATL after a redeye... phuck that. Pretty sure it leaves after preclearance closes.

Good numbers on YYC-ATL is very promising indication the route will perform very well. I have high hopes for this route and have long felt that DL could have made this route work their own. My now not so bold prediction is this route will go 2 times daily and feed into the European departure bank. This is a huge deal for YYC as it best option for connecting to the entire SE USA.

As for the red eye from YVR-ATL, there are about 4-8 arrivals from South America at that time, nothing that would bring about massive line-ups.

In my travels through ATL have been efficient and pleasurable within the confines of the Airport being within the mega hub category and on par with ORD, LAX, LHR, HKG, etc.

[YYCFlier]

Originally Posted by Cage

Good numbers on YYC-ATL is very promising indication the route will perform very well. I have high hopes for this route and have long felt that DL could have made this route work their own. My now not so bold prediction is this route will go 2 times daily and feed into the European departure bank. This is a huge deal for YYC as it best option for connecting to the entire SE USA.

I agree I can see this going double daily for sure.

Originally Posted by Cage

In my travels through ATL have been efficient and pleasurable within the confines of the Airport being within the mega hub category and on par with ORD, LAX, LHR, HKG, etc.

ATL is the busiest airport in the world...

[casper]

Originally Posted by Acey

YYC-ATL eastbound today another 7M8, again 100% full. Join me tomorrow for the daily update on WS1590. But for real, this is obviously huge for us and IMO our biggest missing nonstop transb link (I say "our" as in the city, I do not work for WS)

Showing a -700 tomorrow.

DL from YVR is a redeye, ain't it? Clearing customs in ATL after a redeye... phuck that. Pretty sure it leaves after preclearance closes.

I did the return (ATL->YVR) a few times last summer. It would connect onto a bridge in the international area (not the trans boarder). One positive is there is Skyteam lounge in the international side. Going to Atlanta I did WestJet to YYZ and then connected onto Delta . YYZ was a poor customer experience. Hoarding everywhere, no room at the gate. The gate agents were re-issuing WS issued boarding passes. Would have been happier with a WS connection in YYC.

Have they fixed the problem where Delta needs to redo boarding passes at the gate for passengers transferring from WS. The same problem use to exist with AA when they were partnering.