So how bad is Air Canada Rouge?

mom_rules · Feb 9, 2015

We fly Rouge about a dozen times or so throughout the year. 98% of the time in row 1. The middle seat is blocked off with pillows so you do have an extra seat to put your books or laptop on, also an extra tray table for drinks. The section is blocked off by curtains from the economy part of the plane. You have a dedicated restroom at the front of the plane. Storage is a problem but since you board first there is usually a spot in the overheads. Beer,wine, mixed drinks as well as non-alcoholic beverages and a relatively decent meal by airline standards is served. They usually have nuts, chips and chocolate bars as well. They offer you orange juice or water before takeoff as well as the day's newspaper. You have access to the Maple Leaf Lounge before your flight where they also have food and beverages, magazines, newspapers, espresso, lattes etc. Onboard they will provide an ipad and earbuds for your use throughout the trip. Can take 2 checked bags each at 70lbs. Priority check in lines are available at both Pearson and Orlando. I'm not defending Rouge. I think what theyve done in economy is terrible and if I had to fly other than Premium Rouge I would not be taking Air Canada.

minnie56 · Feb 9, 2015

That's of course if they don't have an equipment change,
I've just had an Airbus switched to an Embraer for a Turks and Caicos flight and now premium economy isn't quite as appealing row 1 or otherwise!

mom_rules · Feb 10, 2015

minnie56 said:
That's of course if they don't have an equipment change,
I've just had an Airbus switched to an Embraer for a Turks and Caicos flight and now premium economy isn't quite as appealing row 1 or otherwise!

mom_rules · Feb 10, 2015

Wow! Totally agree with you there...........

surfer_ed · Feb 11, 2015

I might be in the minority but find Rouge is fine. I like the iPad option for entertainment. Not as good as AC but better than Westjet. I find WestJet friendly but operationally way more delays, not as many direct flights and they always loose my luggage...just a curse I guess.

bfost87 · Feb 11, 2015

I think AC Rouge is great, I've flown with them to LA and twice to Honolulu and will continue to fly with them. Great service, very friendly flight attendants, decent food offerings, the options for movies, etc is fantastic.

minnie56 · Feb 11, 2015

Options for movies? I flew with them 2 weeks ago and 'Shawshank Redemption' was playing?
I think they're disgusting and I will not fly them again!!

jba2 · Feb 16, 2015

We flew Rouge a few weeks ago. After reading all the horrible reviews, I expected the worst. To me, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'd fly them again.

byoung78 · Feb 17, 2015

I am flying with them in April to Costa Rica and we booked row 1..they better not have an equipment change and we lose those seats as we paid extra for the comfort.

minnie56 · Feb 17, 2015

Don't count on it ...

byoung78 · Feb 17, 2015

So what I am going to get ripped off they change and don't have the "business class"..

minnie56 · Feb 17, 2015

They don't have business class anyways, it's premium economy ..

byoung78 · Feb 17, 2015

I know that's why I put it in quotations that's what they call it and we booked the premium rouge seats premium economy is the next one down..

minnie56 · Feb 17, 2015

Sorry, no glasses on lol..
If they change aircraft they switch your seats to whatever is available in the same class..keep an eye on your flight in case of.

SplashMom · Feb 21, 2015

I really dislike Rouge. As mentioned before, the seats are very tight, no entertainment, no space for carry on. What bothers me most is we have no choice. Air Canada is the only airline that flies from my area and all flights going to Orlando are Rouge. The flights are expensive enough (minimum $700 per person on a good deal) for us and I feel that we have substandard service and no choice. We are driving five hours to fly from a different airport this time but even then, AC was the best price (still over $700 each) but we have to fly rouge. My husband is bigger man and it is absolutely brutal. I wish we could fly regular Air Canada...not rouge.

tgropp · Mar 1, 2015

Just returned yesterday. We flew down to Orlando and paid xtra for the first row behind the front section. This had a little more legroom. While flying home in a regular seat, the amount of seat space was atrocious. It feels like the seat ahead of you is about a foot from your face. No entertainment due to whatever, but the choices are terrible. I do not like Rogue.....but on the plus side, while my 3 year old grandson was boarding the plane, he looked into the cockpit. The pilot noticed him and invited him in to push a button, put his pilots hat on him for pictures and gave him wings pin. Now that made him very happy. Kudos to the flight crew!!!

montrealdisneylovers · Mar 1, 2015

tgropp said:
Just returned yesterday. We flew down to Orlando and paid xtra for the first row behind the front section. This had a little more legroom. While flying home in a regular seat, the amount of seat space was atrocious. It feels like the seat ahead of you is about a foot from your face. No entertainment due to whatever, but the choices are terrible. I do not like Rogue.....but on the plus side, while my 3 year old grandson was boarding the plane, he looked into the cockpit. The pilot noticed him and invited him in to push a button, put his pilots hat on him for pictures and gave him wings pin. Now that made him very happy. Kudos to the flight crew!!![/QUOTE

Do you feel paying for the extra leg room is worth it? You did it on the way down but not home why? Do you feel you can breathe more with the extra space (less claustrophobic?)

tgropp · Mar 1, 2015

We flew down on a 767 so there were more premium seats available. I would pay extra. On the way home I was an AB 319. And even those premium seats were less legroom compared to the 767. They were not available when I picked my seats. Claustrophobic ...... I could see it for some people

Mortlives · Mar 6, 2015

Rouge would be fine if you weren't paying Air Canada prices for it. Same thing with Jazz (Express). It's the same price as Air Canada, but without the Air Canada luxury. We flew premium economy on Rouge to Jamaica, and it was regular sized seats: they just gave you the one in the middle to share. And Jazz - we flew Business Class on Jazz to New Orleans, and they didn't even give us a hot meal, or mimosas (and it was a morning flight).

SnoopMary · Mar 9, 2015

I'm also tiny so the legroom is definitely not an issue for me but I've seen some very tall people be very uncomfortable. If you are more than 5'9" or have issues with mobility, book on another airline even if it means connecting through Chicago. It's not worth the stress.

I usually use my lululemon gym bag as a carry-on/purse when I do fly rouge. It's totally squishy so it fits fine under the seats and I can pack everything I need for a 7-day trip in it without it cramping the footspace. If it's for more than 7-days, I always choose to offend Rick Steves and check the bag. My bag has only once been misdirected and Air Canada delivered it to my hotel that evening.

Re: entertainment - I just take a book. If you aren't flying on a longer-haul flight, the programming is not to most peoples' tastes.

Also - I get gift cards for AC every year at Christmas (not enough to go anywhere exotic) and I save them for rouge flights. It makes it worthwhile when you only pay a smidgen for the flight.

So how bad is Air Canada Rouge?

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