Air Canada rouge

[BSBNess]

Has anyone flown with them? For my trip to WDW in 12 days.

My mom and I are flying with Air Canada rouge as it was the only company that offer a direct flight.

My mom has only been on a plane 3 times before and it has only been for a flight a little over an hour long. This is also her first time outside of Canada.

I am just curious about Rouge. I haven't flown on Air Canada in years and now I am hearing horror stories about Rouge.

I just wanted to get other people's opinions.

 

[alc571]

Since they have switched to Rouge, our flights seem to be delayed more often than not. Sometimes not by much, and other times an hour or two. It's usually "not their fault" - malfuncion, de-icing the plane, etc. We love Air Canada because their flight times work best for us, but I will say we HATE Rouge planes. The staff are very friendly, they have more baggage allowance (size/weight wise), but the planes to Orlando are SOOOO small. Air Canada use to have slightly bigger planes than Sunwing or Air Transat, but now they're smaller. I'm only 5'6" (longer legs though) and my feet swell by the time I get there because the seating area is so small.

 

[BSBNess]

That what I was scared of. I have long legs as well. And I usually get a leg cramp. Thanks for your reply.

 

[alc571]

I recommend booking yourself an aisle seat then, or upgrading to the emergency aisle or something. My husband is 6' tall and he doesn't have an issue... just me

 

[BSBNess]

Someone already took the exit row seats. But I am taking one for my mom and give her the aisle seat. She hates the window. She is not a flyer. Where I don't mind.

Hopefully I can get a couple of movies on my iPad to distract her. Since I hear Rouge doesn't do a movie. Do they offer you a free drink like other airlines?

 

[mort1331]

They are not my fav airline, but I might be doing a last minute flight down mid Sept because the price is so darn good.
You said they are the only ones with a direct flight, not sure where your flying from but westjet has a number of direct flights too.
I am 6' and yes it is cramped but I make it work, it is only 3 hours so I just suck it up.
From what I know you can download an app and get their inhouse entertainment, no tvs in the back of head rests.

 

[PBuggy]

I found the seats uncomfortably hard. The flight to/from Orlando would be my limit, anything longer would be awful.

 

[BSBNess]

From Montreal and West Jet had no direct flights and high. West Jet always has always been higher from Montreal no matter where I want to go. Yeah I am going to suffer through it.

So people say the app isn't that great but I will give it a try. Yeah the price was really good.

Yeah I can deal with that for 3 hours the hard seats.

 

[starvenger]

From what I know you can download an app and get their inhouse entertainment, no tvs in the back of head rests.

If you have the Air Canada app you're good to go. Incidentally this seems to be road airlines are heading down as United is switching to the app from seat back/tv for a fee/old school giant screens.

Rouge is fine for what it is, and certainly the flight staff are nice folk, but the pitch is less than regular Air Canada (2" according to SeatGuru) and no power ports is a bit annoying to one who has grown accustomed to them.

That said, I would fly Rouge over any of the American carriers any day. And this is coming from someone who used to work at one of them (sort of).

 

[grantclaire]

Hi, have flown Rouge one before, Toronto to MCO and back. Not the most comfortable planes. Staff were fine and most important the flights were on time! I tell my family to just think where we will be in a few hours! good luck, and have a great vacation!

 

[JRennie]

I will never fly Rouge again. They crammed extra seats onto the plane which hugely decreased leg room. They also don't have in flight entertainment unless you either bring your own IPad or pay to rent one of theirs. It's ridiculous.

 

[BSBNess]

Hi, have flown Rouge one before, Toronto to MCO and back. Not the most comfortable planes. Staff were fine and most important the flights were on time! I tell my family to just think where we will be in a few hours! good luck, and have a great vacation!

Thanks. Since it is a semi early flight I am hoping I will just sleep. And if my schedule keeps going how it will and I am a last minute packer I just might sleep most of the flight.

 

[kiford]

Worst. flight. ever. DH is slightly less than 6 feet tall and had to sit with his legs wide open because the seat in front was so close his knees would hit it. There's insufficient room in the overhead bins so I had to put my bag under the seat in front of me so couldn't stretch my legs out at all. I have knee and hip problems so it was the most painful 2.5 hours I've ever spent in a plane. I've never had a seat back ahead of me so close that I felt like I wasn't going to get enough air. I'm not claustrophobic but it made me feel like it.

There is no TV screen - you have to use the Air Canada app on your iPad or nothing at all. Frankly, given the selection that's available on the app, you're better to read or snooze.

The only reason we flew Rouge was: (a) Air Canada has no alternative to Orlando - it's Rouge or nothing; and (b) it was the only direct flight to Pearson that was flying back on a Sunday at a reasonable time. WestJet only flies direct to Pearson from Orlando on the weekend at 7 am or 9 pm. But the really annoying thing is that they bill themselves as a discount airline but were still more expensive than WestJet. This December we're staying until Monday and flying WestJet.

 

[BSBNess]

West Jet does not have any direct flights from Trudeau for anywhere. And they also charge an arm and a leg.

 

[starvenger]

Worst. flight. ever. DH is slightly less than 6 feet tall and had to sit with his legs wide open because the seat in front was so close his knees would hit it. There's insufficient room in the overhead bins so I had to put my bag under the seat in front of me so couldn't stretch my legs out at all. I have knee and hip problems so it was the most painful 2.5 hours I've ever spent in a plane. I've never had a seat back ahead of me so close that I felt like I wasn't going to get enough air. I'm not claustrophobic but it made me feel like it.

2" less pitch is not an insignificant amount, and even at 5'9" I can feel the difference. Makes me feel like I'm on Transat

 

[thebigman65]

Took Rouge once and hated it!.... too cramped.....I'm In Toronto and will always fly out of buffalo on Jet Blue or Southwest....even with the higher exchange I still got a better deal....next time you should check out flying from plattsburgh. ....hope you have a great trip!

 

[Debbie]

Are there 'jacks' so that you can plug in your device-and not use up all the power if you do use their app? And I am assuming the app has to be downloaded before you get to the plane.

 

[BSBNess]

I checked flying out of Plattsburgh but for once it was still cheaper for me to fly with Air Canada.

I was going to fly with Delta they had a short connection at JFK. But when I went to book the price went up and the direct flight was cheaper. I have to consider my mom. I got her on a plan which is a huge step in itself. I wasn't sure if I could get her with connections.

 

[BSBNess]

Are there 'jacks' so that you can plug in your device-and not use up all the power if you do use their app? And I am assuming the app has to be downloaded before you get to the plane.

They have no plug for your power adapter so you have to go off your battery. And yes the app has to be downloaded before.

 

[samsteele]

I've flown on Air Rouge x2 from Toronto to Orlando return. Less leg room than other flights. I'm 5'6 and do OK but less than pleasant when the seat in front of you reclines into your lap. Try to book an aisle seat if at all possible. It helps to avoid having to crawl over the other passengers to get out for a bathroom break (and you can stand sideways in the aisle to let others out). I don't use their app. Last time I flew, they provided small cups of juice, pop, ice water & coffee/tea. No snacks. I just bring my own itouch or kindle. Make sure it is fully charged before you board. Note that once you are in the holding area and have less than a half hour to board, and there is any issue with overhead space for the flight (and there usually is) Air Rouge will start to look at the size of the carry-ons to see if they strictly comply. I have seen some passengers compelled to check their larger carry-ons at the gate. Just an FYI if your carry-on is questionable. If at all possible, line up as early as possible for general boarding to get a head start on the overhead bins. It does make a difference. If you are amongst the last to board, you may well have to stow your carry-on under the seat in front of you thus making tiny leg room non-existent. Other than these points, I found the flights were on time. The cabin crew professional. Air Rouge is simply a means to an end. To get me to and from my destination. If I have any other choice in carriers, I take it. If I can get Westjet, I will. If I can drive to Syracuse, NY and take JetBlue, I certainly do.