AirCanada787 From Canada, joined Nov 2010, 260 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 3593 times:
It would seem that Air Canada has changed its baggage policy for flights to the United States. While economy class passengers used to get their first check bag free it will now cost $25. A second bag can be checked for $35.
While I guess this new policy puts Air Canada more inline with American carriers I do find it a bit disappointing. I also wonder if Westjet will follow suit and change its baggage policy.
lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10668 posts, RR: 100 Reply 1, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 3563 times:
Quoting AirCanada787 (Thread starter): I also wonder if Westjet will follow suit and change its baggage policy.
Westjet's baggage policy won the business of my family. If Westjet changes their baggage policy, I'll be doing a dance to try and get WN to fly to Canada...
czbbflier From Canada, joined Jul 2006, 932 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3424 times:
So let me get this straight....
Because of heightened security precautions you it's essentially impossible to travel without a checked bag these days and now you have to pay a $25.00 supplement to check even one bag?
Why don't they just add $25.00 to the fare?
Forgive me- it has been a while since I've flown business... it's been a while since I've flown at all. Is it still possible to travel with just a carry-on and a pack sack for miscellaneous items?
Can you actually carry a water bottle with water in it?
This nickel and diming is going too far. (And has for too long now already!)
ykaops From Canada, joined Nov 2010, 63 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 3273 times:
When the hell will a Canadian carrier set the standard, rather than follow suit of all the money losing carriers south of the 49th parallel???
AC & WS have changed their baggage policy more times than their CEO's change underwear over the last few years..
OOOOOO WAIT! Fuel costs have risen, so this is how they manipulate their customers to make extra $ rather than "including it" it the ticket price... what a farce!!
blueflyer From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 3120 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 3061 times:
Quoting ykaops (Reply 5): When the hell will a Canadian carrier set the standard
Even with a baggage charge (hate 'em, mind you), AC still pretty much sets the standard in transborder flights. Better service, better BOB and free AVOD in the back, that and more space and lounge access in the front.
I pray the new fee isn't the beginning of a race to the bottom...
WestJet747 From Canada, joined Aug 2011, 1259 posts, RR: 7 Reply 7, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2839 times:
Quoting lightsaber (Reply 1): If Westjet changes their baggage policy, I'll be doing a dance to try and get WN to fly to Canada...
...and i'll be dancing with you.
But for the mean time, WS and PD continue to offer superior value for their product (relative to the Canadian market). They will get my business so long as they don't start charging me to check baggage containing products that they don't allow me to bring in my carry-on
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21465 posts, RR: 24 Reply 8, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 2812 times:
Quoting czbbflier (Reply 3): Why don't they just add $25.00 to the fare?
Why should passengers who rarely check bags (I haven't checked one in 5 years) have to pay $25 more? I'm quite happy having costs for things I don't use (checked bags) or can happily do without (inflight meals) separated from the base fare.
RamblinMan From United States of America, joined Oct 2010, 1081 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 2808 times:
Because of heightened security precautions you it's essentially impossible to travel without a checked bag these days and now you have to pay a $25.00 supplement to check even one bag?
Oh... it's POSSIBLE. Good luck! Ok ok, here's a hint- contact lens cases for small amounts of liquids.
Quoting ykaops (Reply 5): When the hell will a Canadian carrier set the standard, rather than follow suit of all the money losing carriers south of the 49th parallel???
I absolutely agree. Although AC only operates domestic routes from YTZ whereas the charges in question are only for flights to the U.S. With that said I can't see this change in policy growing Porter's advantage at YTZ too much in that respect.
FURUREFA From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 762 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2692 times:
Quoting ykaops (Reply 5): When the hell will a Canadian carrier set the standard, rather than follow suit of all the money losing carriers south of the 49th parallel???
Really? Because last I saw, US carriers, with a few exceptions, have been wildly profitable, while AC, even with a virtual monopoly, has had it's own troubles.
connies4ever From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3856 posts, RR: 13 Reply 15, posted (1 year 8 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2553 times:
Quoting FURUREFA (Reply 12): Really? Because last I saw, US carriers, with a few exceptions, have been wildly profitable, while AC, even with a virtual monopoly, has had it's own troubles.
It would be a huge stetch to claim that AC has a virtual monopoly. In terms of domestic traffic, I believe AC is about 60/35 vs WS. PD and the rest would account for the remaining 5%.
canadianpylon From Canada, joined May 2003, 273 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (1 year 8 months 2 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2339 times:
Quoting yyz717 (Reply 14): Good. There is a cost to the airline's ops with EVERY bag checked, so those pax checking bags should be charged for EVERY bag.
Nice work AC on: passing on a cost to the users, and generating more ancillary fees.
I like it.
Only in the airline industry would someone *applaud* ancillary fees for the customer.
Next thing you know, gas stations post gas prices will just be for the gas, and there will be a $5 pump utilization fee, regardless of the amount of gas that you use. Cuz, you know, it costs the gas station money to maintain and operate pumps.
Or maybe they'll have an additional surtax for insurance based on the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. The more fuel efficient the vehicle, the high the surtax as you will be stopping less often for gas...Cuz, you know, it costs the gas station money to insure their equipment and buildings...
OR,
The could roll all of those costs into 1 flat fee that includes the cost of the volatile materials they are delivering + fixed costs spread out over the volume of product they wish to sell? $2 a litre... 50 litres.... $100...Taxes included?
Blasphemy!! Communist!! Heretic!!! It'll never work!! Gas stations s are bleeding money left, right, and center! That's why there are so few of them around!
Maybe...just maybe.... Airlines would tell tell us how much every portion of their operation costs, and I do not know, flat fee deliver their product?
Always looking for the longest route with the most transfers.
longhauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 4275 posts, RR: 36 Reply 17, posted (1 year 8 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2290 times:
A lot of this comes from increasing trans-border code-shares. Now with the increase code-share with CO, it was becoming very cumbersome to handle the passengers.
AC passengers, buying an AC fare (first checked bag free) , but on a CO/UA aircraft were now expected to pay for checked baggage. This was something that was not expected when booking and had to be handled when checking in. Conversely, a CO/UA passenger buying a CO/UA fare but on an AC aircraft, paid for checked baggage for which AC does not charge.
An internal memo stated that with the JV, AC was trying to get its trans-border code-share partners to also not charge for the first checked bag. With the delay of the JV, this is the result and makes passenger processing easier and consistent.
Quoting AirCanada787 (Thread starter): I also wonder if Westjet will follow suit and change its baggage policy.
AC has very very few city pairs where they compete with Westjet. Perhaps, if Westjet is ever able to convince an American carrier to code-share on its trans-border routes, they may have to do the same, for consistency for the passenger.
Never gonna grow up, never gonna slow down .... Barefoot Blue Jean Night
canadianpylon From Canada, joined May 2003, 273 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (1 year 8 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2286 times:
Quoting longhauler (Reply 17): AC has very very few city pairs where they compete with Westjet. Perhaps, if Westjet is ever able to convince an American carrier to code-share on its trans-border routes, they may have to do the same, for consistency for the passenger.
I agree. Westjet has given up on the transborder war, and relegated themselves to Sun/Fun Destination flying.
It's time like this I miss Canadian (CP). They, along with American Airlines, were able to keep Air Canada honest.
Always looking for the longest route with the most transfers.
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I absolutely agree. Although AC only operates domestic routes from YTZ whereas the charges in question are only for flights to the U.S. With that said I can't see this change in policy growing Porter's advantage at YTZ too much in that respect.
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