YEG - Edmonton Int Airport

[hilman]

Originally Posted by Hallsy's Toupee

My one and only tie to Air Canada is a whole shitload of Aeroplan miles. At this point, I am considering cancelling my Aeroplan. But what to do with those miles, apart from donating them? Are there better alternatives than Aeroplan or Air Miles?

We plan on using ours for gift cards, their website shows everything you can get for the points. AC will definitely never see my family in their planes again.

http://www3.aeroplan.com/UseYourMiles.do

[Hallsy's Toupee]

Hm yes, I think I might use my Aeroplan miles on a new TV.
I still have a 14-year-old CRT, so high time I moved into the 21st century.

I wouldn't mind knowing about some other frequent flyer programs offered by banks, credit cards and such.

[ACT7]

Originally Posted by hilman

If the easiest way to make money is to use a hub system, why does AC continually lose money?

It shouldn't take a genius to wonder, if you're continually losing money, maybe your business plan/model is wrong???? Nope, let's continue doing what we are doing......

The problem is that they weren't actually doing this for years. It's only recently that there has been a massive effort in consolidating operations at YYZ.

I find it a bit strange, the notion that just because a city has 1.2 million residents with high disposable income, that an international route will work. You have to remember that YYZ and YUL are within a two hour flight of 100 million people along the Eastern Seaboard. Different ballgame entirely on that half of the continent.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by hilman

We plan on using ours for gift cards, their website shows everything you can get for the points. AC will definitely never see my family in their planes again.

http://www3.aeroplan.com/UseYourMiles.do

The return on Aeroplan miles when exchanged for merchandise and gift cards is absolutely pitiful when compared to using them for air travel, especially in premium cabins. Just use the points on the other Star Alliance airlines (United, US Airways, Lufthansa, ANA, Air China, etc.) instead.

[LO 044]

If you have Aeroplan points or any frequent flyer points, the best use of the points is to actually book flights. There is no comparison. On Aeroplan, you can buy a Dyson DC29 Vacuum for 59,000 points or you can book an economy flight to Europe for 60,000 points. Amazon sells the vacuum for $480 whereas an international flight can easily cost more than that. This is exactly what the reward cards want you to do and it has been stated on many sites comparing cards and talking about this subject. If you want to screw AC, the best thing to do is find the most expensive ticket you can find and use your points to book it.

I think the best way of getting rid of AC is to start the FI flights earlier in the year to build momentum. This will create an excuse for AC to drop the LHR flight and then maybe just maybe BA will come in with a 787.

[Rocket252]

I wonder if EIA has had discusions with FI to up their schedule? Also does anyone know if AC was going to cancel the flight completely or was persuaded to only suspend service for 3 months?

[YegFan]

^ At least it is a strong indication of how committed AC is to this route. Obviously, they see it as a tertiary priority for them.

So, EIA please go and pursue other airlines and provide them with big incentives. We're done with AC.

[dancinb]

Air Canada shuts down direct flights to London for 3 months

"Air Canada announced Wednesday that direct flights between Edmonton and London, U.K. will be discontinued for three months.

In an email, spokeswoman Angela Mah said it has always been challenging to keep the route profitable during the winter months.

As a result, flights will not operate between Jan. 8 and March 28, 2014, but will resume March 29 with five weekly flights.

In May, flights will run daily to accommodate tourists. "

[s211]

Ooooo. Nice stab AC. Tell us how few business travelers you served, or expect to serve, out of Edmonton.

"Flights will run daily to accommodate tourists."

[Coldrsx]

Tourists can be in bound or out bound I suppose, but still upsetting.

[Rocket252]

Quite an attitude from AC.
Makes me despise them all the more

[lubicon]

I truly feel bad for you YEG-ers and I say that truthfully as someone who used to live there. Every time the City (or airport) manages to climb up the ladder a little it seems to get kicked in the nuts and lose something else. It seems like you just can't make much headway.

I don't know why because the city is prosperous and growing but it seems like it has always been a struggle for the airport to maintain anything but the 'basic' routes. I can recall a number of flights over the years that have not survived and the reason given has always been the same. Loads are good but yields are poor meaning there is not a lot of business traffic and airlines don't make their money off tourists, they make it from business travel.

[YegFan]

It is a bit strange to me that both BA and KL would rather compete for the same business pax in YYC.

I know there might be more inbound business pax into YYC than YEG, but come on....Can YYC really support 777-300 ER to both LHR and FRA and 77s into LHR and AMS.

Sounds like too much capacity!!!

[tuffyy]

Well the way I see things panning out in 2014 will be (IF) pushing AC out of the market. I predict this based on the airlines much lower fares and ease of connections in KEF. That will ultimately lead to a increase in service on the route. This route provides much better connections than the AC LHR flight so logically it should provide extra connecting bums.

In addition with the 763's being handed to Rouge it'll come down to "no metal" again, unless the airline decides to put a A330 on the route.

In addition after a conversation last night with a former co-worker from EIA they are looking for another carrier to service the LHR route. I strongly smell BA on the horizon...

[Mercucio]

Everyone take a deep breath and relax. With their current fleet composition and the launch of Rouge, it's the simple fact that more money can be made rearranging the fleet to accomodate new international Rouge routes.

With the addition of the far more economical 788s next year, I think we'll see some big changes at YEG. That metal makes much more sense for flights here from a $ standpoint. And bigger margins about AC, which is all they are about.

Believe me, this decision had absolutely no emotion attached and nobody at this airline has a "hate on" for Edmonton. The numbers worked better with a different solution set is all.

[Jasper and one o nin]

Originally Posted by tuffyy

Well the way I see things panning out in 2014 will be (IF) pushing AC out of the market. I predict this based on the airlines much lower fares and ease of connections in KEF. That will ultimately lead to a increase in service on the route.

In addition with the 763's being handed to Rouge it'll come down to "no metal" again, unless the airline decides to put a A330 on the route.

In addition after a conversation last night with a former co-worker from EIA they are looking for another carrier to service the LHR route. I strongly smell BA on the horizon...

Yes, but from a business and economic development POV, a direct flight to London is key. Any time that I have flown that route in the winter (between January and end of March), it has been full.

[tuffyy]

I just read on the Calgary forum that "cage" believes this is almost surely a move based on FI stepping into YEG.

Sort of a tantrum of sorts...

[YegFan]

^ I am not sure this has anything to do with FI.

FI serves a sliver of what LHR offers in terms of connections. It is simple as YEG is not a hub for AC. And LHR is not a Star hub.

It comes down to this. The 67's can be deployed on flights to Lisbon, Athens and Barcelona....(again in AC's eyes, these are killer destinations with a lot of revenue potential) vs running the YEG-LHR route.

Never understand the AC logic. But, it is what it is!!

[ACT7]

Originally Posted by YegFan

It is a bit strange to me that both BA and KL would rather compete for the same business pax in YYC.

I know there might be more inbound business pax into YYC than YEG, but come on....Can YYC really support 777-300 ER to both LHR and FRA and 77s into LHR and AMS.

Sounds like too much capacity!!!

BA will almost certainly pull out of YYC or tack on YEG as a stop-over. YYC does have far too much capacity on that route and the flat international pax figures over the past few years are indicative of that. Now, with AC up-gauging to a 77W on that route, it will likely spell the end of BA at YYC. KLM will likely be the only foreign European tail at YYC for a few years.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by tuffyy

I just read on the Calgary forum that "cage" believes this is almost surely a move based on FI stepping into YEG.

Sort of a tantrum of sorts...

I am always up for a debate of the facts and fact based opinions.