AeroAussie From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 264 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 9 months 2 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1851 times:
Does anybody know if AC has any plans to update it's longhaul fleet (or at least the A333/A343 fleet) and install the new A345 interiors? I'm flying LGA-YYZ-LHR at the end of this month, and am scheduled to fly an A333 from YYZ to LHR. I'm sure it's a long shot, but is there any chance I'll be on an aircraft with PTVs?
AlekToronto From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 328 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (8 years 9 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1746 times:
hello
If I were you I wouldn't plan on anything with Air Canada. They change and subtitute aircraft all the time. Many times when I was scheduled on an Airbus 330 or 340 they change last minute to a 767-300. This has happened to me on both Vancouver and London routes in the last 6 months. A lot of times they will tell you until flight date it is a 330 and when you get to the airport its a 763. In any case the 345 is only on the Hong Kong route and I have yet to see PTVS in Economy on 343 or 333's.
cheers
Alek
DgeHfx From Canada, joined May 2001, 132 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (8 years 9 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1741 times:
Possibility is extremely remote unless you're in Business Class. The only aircraft in the fleet with PTV's in Y class is the A340-500. AC has two and uses them almost exclusively YYZ-HKG
You can check their website at: http://www.aircanada.ca In the entertainment section I think you'll find the movies scheduled for your flight.
Sebring From Canada, joined Jul 2004, 1658 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (8 years 9 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1725 times:
To give you a more precise answer, Air Canada plans a major upgrade of its cabin interiors, but not in the timeframe of your LGA-YYZ-LHR. The airline exits creditor protection on Sept 30, and any spending announcements will likely be made after that date, with implementation over the next several months. I can't say which aircraft will be done in which order, though it is likely to begin with the A340s, then proceed to the A330s and finally those 767-300s which are keepers for the next several years. I know the exec handling the iVOD/Live TV purchase and installation recommendations for the whole fleet, so most aircraft are likely to get some kind of in-seat entertainment system over time. As for your flight to London, it will depend on the flight, but if you are booked outbound on AC856, this is usually the airline's prime flight of the night on that route (AC has 4-5 flights to LHR a night at this time of year). On 856, you can almost always count on an A330 or A340.
AeroAussie From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 264 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (8 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1588 times:
Sebring-
Indeed, I am on 856. Any channce it'll be overbooked and I can pull off an upgrade? I'd at least like to try for an exit row...
Thanks for all the info.
-Nick
Sebring From Canada, joined Jul 2004, 1658 posts, RR: 15 Reply 5, posted (8 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1524 times:
Considering you are getting close to Labor Day, anything is possible on the North Atlantic but AC does have a lot of capacity on the route. Only two AC flights have operated on the route year round with the same departure time 365 days a year: 856 and the 9 am departure, whose number I forget. That 856 is timed to make a fair number of connections so it's always possible it will be overbooked. Try it. As for picking a seat, depending on the fare type, I believe you can pre-select seating, like right now. You might look into that. Another tactic you can try if 856 is overbooked: offer to standby for a later flight. There should be 2-3 others that night after 856 leaves. Get a voucher and it can translate into a nice discount or even a short-haul ticket to come up for a weekend.
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6413 posts, RR: 58 Reply 6, posted (8 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1468 times:
As others have said, the A330's don't have PTV's in Y, but the legroom is fantastic, and for me it is a much more valuable asset on a long flight than a TV that I'll get tired of after a little while. The legroom I will appreciate the whole flight, while the TV I will enjoy just for a bit.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Spyderz From Canada, joined Apr 2001, 651 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (8 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1405 times:
Well on the 333's, there's the plastic space in the seat where the PTV is supposed to go, but instead there's a nice block of Air Canada green fabric. Who knows, maybe if you stare at it long enough you might pretend to see a movie!
Texdravid From United States of America, joined May 2004, 1266 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1397 times:
I know the YYZ-DEL-YYZ flight is on a A343.
I also know the flight has had problems flying over Russian airspace, and thus had to make fuel stops enroute occasionally (or more than occasionally?)
If, or when, AC gets more A345's, will they put it on this sector?
AeroAussie From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 264 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 1261 times:
Thanks for all the feedback. I will let everyone know what happens. Also, Sebring - I went ahead and preselected seats when I booked, so not to worry.
AlekToronto From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 328 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 1195 times:
as much as we would all secretly would like to see Air Canada get its just deserts..it seems more likely everyday that it ain't going to happen (sadly) so the bad service and attitude will continue for years to come...we need to accept it...for some reason AC (and Milton) are undeservedly lucky.
As for the PTV question - according to my contacts at AC only the A345 has PTV's in Economy Class and it will stay that way for a while.
CPDC10-30 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 4759 posts, RR: 26 Reply 13, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1157 times:
it seems more likely everyday that it ain't going to happen (sadly) so the bad service and attitude will continue for years to come
Alek, have you flown AC recently? In the past three years, I have had nothing but positive experiences with their cabin crew both domestic and international. Heck, last time on my flight YYC-YYZ while I was walking to the lav the f/a offered to have another drink ready for me at my seat as I had finished my first one quickly. Now that's attention to detail!
AeroAussie...the A333 is really a treat on the transatlantic flights...great seat pitch in Y and relativley quiet too. They have airshow installed so at least you will get some entertainment between the movies and news programming. I like Spyderz's idea though...
AlekToronto From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 328 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1114 times:
hey..cheers!
I fly AC all the time..mostly to YVR, LGA, MIA, LAX and LHR. I reached Elite this year, have been Superelite in the past..In my experiences there are some very good Cabin Attendants but I find in general the ground staff, F/A's, Res Dept and Aeroplan Dept quite rude, aloof, not friendly and frequently uncooperative. I fly both Y and J class and this is true of both classes of travel. There are currently many bad apples in the company that are undoing the good work of a few. I can see that most staff are not happy (understandable) but thats no excuse to take it out on customers that are helping out your company (and paying your salary) and I have seen it far too many times..I used to love AC and make excuses for them all the time..but that time is passed...
Today if there is another convienient nonstop choice I take that instead of AC.
lets hope that with all the new developments AC morale will get better.
UA744KSFO From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 879 times:
Alek,
I totally see your point, but I've had similar experiences with all airlines, and I really can't say that AC has disappointed me recently. I just got back from a trip on them to Germany, and I'm scheduled to fly them to Beijing in December. I prefer flying on them than on most US airlines (and I live in the US). I don't know enough about Milton and the AC management, but I think Canada would have a HUGE gap to fill, especially in international service (via a Canadian carrier) if AC went under. I would really like to see a decent management team be brought in and get the AC employees that the service that they provide is going to make or break their company.
Lucky727 From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 600 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (8 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 855 times:
Flew on AC856 YYZ-LHR back in May - the A330 has really good seat pitch in economy (34" or 35"? at 6'4", I was very comfortable), and as stated above, the frames for PTVs are there, but they only frame the seat upholstery.
On the off chance that the meal choice is chicken vs. lasagna - get the lasagna : the chicken comes in the saltiest teriyaki sauce ever...to be avoided at all costs!
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