Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW) 1.0

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 76, including 4 sun flights

Today’s cancellation count (so far): 1

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 68, including 5 sun flights

Today’s cancellation count (so far): 0

[DTcrawler]

For the past few days I've noticed the YOW-CDG flight on AF shows as "price unavailable" on Google Flights. As a result, it's listed pretty far down on the list of recommended flights. Not sure if just an issue on my end or if it shows the same for others too. I worry if that might negatively affect bookings, especially since many people are likely in the midst of making their summer travel plans.

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

For the past few days I've noticed the YOW-CDG flight on AF shows as "price unavailable" on Google Flights. As a result, it's listed pretty far down on the list of recommended flights. Not sure if just an issue on my end or if it shows the same for others too. I worry if that might negatively affect bookings, especially since many people are likely in the midst of making their summer travel plans.

I tried it out and it shows the same for me too. However, it’s at the top of my list with the other recommended flights and when I hover my mouse over the “price not available” it corrects itself and shows a price. I’m super excited to try out AF for myself for the first time this summer.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

For the past few days I've noticed the YOW-CDG flight on AF shows as "price unavailable" on Google Flights. As a result, it's listed pretty far down on the list of recommended flights. Not sure if just an issue on my end or if it shows the same for others too. I worry if that might negatively affect bookings, especially since many people are likely in the midst of making their summer travel plans.

Yea I was trying to look at prices a couple days ago and with a non-stop/AF filter the calendar made it looks like there were no flights. Once I go to a date the price shows right away. I think it's a generic Air France issue as I tried changing to YYZ as the origin and same issue.

I have heard some radio ads for them so hopefully the word is getting out regardless.

[roger1818]

Flying through YYZ to DTW today (I miss having the direct flight). The NEXUS line has become crazy easy at YYZ. I didn’t ever have to show my passport, NEXUS card, or boarding pass (I had scan my passport with my phone on check in though). All the machine did was take my picture and told me to proceed to the officer (no slip of paper) and all they asked for was my name to identify me. A couple more questions and I was on my way.

[waterloowarrior]

I applied in November, still waiting for conditional approval... interview locations are finally opening back up though, Ottawa re-opens this week.

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by fanofYOW

I tried it out and it shows the same for me too. However, it’s at the top of my list with the other recommended flights and when I hover my mouse over the “price not available” it corrects itself and shows a price. I’m super excited to try out AF for myself for the first time this summer.

Interesting. It’s probably a minor issue, but I just want this route to secure all the business it can get. It was so painful to read on Reddit about some folks who booked via YUL this summer because they didn’t know about the new route. I myself am flying roundtrip YOW-VCE via CDG even though going XDS-YUL was a couple hundred bucks cheaper. I hope it’ll be worth it in the long run, if YOW can secure a few more TA routes. LHR, FRA, AMS would be amazing.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

Interesting. It’s probably a minor issue, but I just want this route to secure all the business it can get. It was so painful to read on Reddit about some folks who booked via YUL this summer because they didn’t know about the new route. I myself am flying roundtrip YOW-VCE via CDG even though going XDS-YUL was a couple hundred bucks cheaper. I hope it’ll be worth it in the long run, if YOW can secure a few more TA routes. LHR, FRA, AMS would be amazing.

That's dedication! Myself I'll drive to Montreal for a direct VCE flight if it saves me $50. Direct flight to Paris worth spending money on for sure but a connection in Paris is still a connection.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

I applied in November, still waiting for conditional approval... interview locations are finally opening back up though, Ottawa re-opens this week.

Interesting. When renewing ours a couple years ago, they automatically approved 3 of us (sending us new cards) but only conditionally approved my younger daughter (presumably to take a new photo). In January they decided to approve her without an interview and mailed her a new card with the photo from when she was 6 (she is now 13). Presumably they did this to clear some of the backlog, knowing we will need to renew it again in 3 years.

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

That's dedication! Myself I'll drive to Montreal for a direct VCE flight if it saves me $50. Direct flight to Paris worth spending money on for sure but a connection in Paris is still a connection.

Didn’t see any direct YUL-VCE flights for my dates, only via CDG, AMS, etc. if there was a direct option that was price competitive with YOW-CDG-VCE I might have caved and opted for that. But I was happy to pay ~$200 more total for four seats to fly out of YOW on an otherwise nearly identical itinerary.

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

I applied in November, still waiting for conditional approval... interview locations are finally opening back up though, Ottawa re-opens this week.

I actually just cancelled my appointment at YOW that was supposed to be this week and moved it to July at a land boarder. It would have required an interview at YOW then on a day I fly to the US, another interview with US boarder protection. I’m not about that life so I opted to just do the whole shebang at the Ogdensburg land crossing later instead. Get it all out of the way in one shot.

[fanofYOW]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

Didn’t see any direct YUL-VCE flights for my dates, only via CDG, AMS, etc. if there was a direct option that was price competitive with YOW-CDG-VCE I might have caved and opted for that. But I was happy to pay ~$200 more total for four seats to fly out of YOW on an otherwise nearly identical itinerary.

Me and a group also paid like $100-200 extra to use AF this summer. We all agreed that the convenience was worth it.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by fanofYOW

I actually just cancelled my appointment at YOW that was supposed to be this week and moved it to July at a land boarder. It would have required an interview at YOW then on a day I fly to the US, another interview with US boarder protection. I’m not about that life so I opted to just do the whole shebang at the Ogdensburg land crossing later instead. Get it all out of the way in one shot.

The USA protects boarders?

[YOWhopeful]

I booked AF business class to go and premium economy on way back for two trips in July and October. Hoping there’s a good turn out in business class as I think that would increase Air France’s confidence in the route.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by RomanR27

Yea I was trying to look at prices a couple days ago and with a non-stop/AF filter the calendar made it looks like there were no flights. Once I go to a date the price shows right away. I think it's a generic Air France issue as I tried changing to YYZ as the origin and same issue.

I have heard some radio ads for them so hopefully the word is getting out regardless.

There's a billboard near YOW, the rotating one at Montreal Rd & St-Laurent has a French AF sign and I saw a bus shelter on the weekend with one. No doubt there's more. I'll be booking them soon as will family members.

[Dominion301]

Tuesday’s departure count: 69, including 3 sun flights - one of these though is TS600 to Liberia. TS has never flown YOW-Costa Rica, so I wonder what this is?

Tuesday’s cancellation count (so far): 0

Did anyone catch the widebody at the Canada Reception Centre the other day? I was driving and couldn't get a good view but it looked like an A350. German Air Force?
https://www.radarbox.com/data/flights/gaf917

I believe that's the first ever visit of an A350 to YOW.

This sweet looking Falcon also left YOW this afternoon for Berlin (owned by Volkswagen):

[Tesladom]

Germany evacuated Canadian personnel in Sudan, probably why that A350 was here?

As for the VW jet, I guess that's what $13B In subsidies gets you

[Harley613]

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German President, arrived in Ottawa on Sunday. That explains the Luftwaffe A350.

[RomanR27]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

For the past few days I've noticed the YOW-CDG flight on AF shows as "price unavailable" on Google Flights. As a result, it's listed pretty far down on the list of recommended flights. Not sure if just an issue on my end or if it shows the same for others too. I worry if that might negatively affect bookings, especially since many people are likely in the midst of making their summer travel plans.

Google Flights appears to be working again with AF flights.