Air Canada to Vancouver

[missyp]

As anyone flown Air Canada to Vancouver for an Alaskan cruise? If so any issues? Any feedback on the airline would be appreciated

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I flew back on them to San Francisco on time good seats good staff we booked food it was good only issue was two of four bags in the hold were damaged badly in flight .

 

[SirDuff]

I fly Air Canada often and never had a serious problem.

They are the whipping-boy for many Canadians (but really, we only have two "legacy" airlines), but I've had far more problems with West Jet (our other airline that flies cross-country) and some of the US airlines (Delta comes to mind).

I wouldn't hesitate to fly with them.

 

[xlxo]

Some thoughts...

• they code share with United and at times use their planes interchangeably.
• Air Canada is a full service airline, but they do "tier" their prices online with various service levels (ie seat selection and luggage)
• Some customers have complained when they booked the flight, they were expecting full service but their flight was their discount "rouge" service.
• I like the rouge service because I can use my iPad to watch the movies I want. Yes they have inflight wifi, but it's limited to their entertainment services. DO DOWNLOAD THE AIR CANADA app prior to your flight.
  https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/air-canada/id326459697?mt=8
• While Air Canada costs more than discount carriers, they do allow for more luggage. But that can change.
• Where are you flying from? Anchorage to Vancouver? Yes, Air Canada offers service from Alaska to Vancouver if you want to go on a one way cruise. Ooops... The Disney Wonder doesn't go there.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-svA2ca6FY

Lots of luggage (7 days of cruise luggage?)???? I prefer the $30 taxi ride downtown instead of the new subway line. The new subway line costs around $9 with the $5 surcharge per person.
http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Canada-Line-YVR-AddFare.aspx

Car rental? Watch out for the tourist charge for the first 24hrs you touch down in the city. Might want to stay at one of the nearby airport hotels and use the shuttle for the first day. Then get a car from the cruise ship terminal to save money.

Do you need car rental and hotel advice?

 

[Mickdeb]

We used Air Canada this summer for our Alaskan cruise. We traveled BOS-Vancouver, with a change of planes in Toronto. All of our flights were on time and the price was reasonable, just under $1500 for 3 of us. The only thing I was concerned about was not being able to choose your seats, unless you wanted to pay a ridiculous fee, but ultimately, our seats were always together, though towards the rear of the plane.

We will use them again, when we return to the Vancouver area.

 

[missyp]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[for my family]

Some thoughts...

• they code share with United and at times use their planes interchangeably.
• Air Canada is a full service airline, but they do "tier" their prices online with various service levels (ie seat selection and luggage)
• Some customers have complained when they booked the flight, they were expecting full service but their flight was their discount "rouge" service.
• I like the rouge service because I can use my iPad to watch the movies I want. Yes they have inflight wifi, but it's limited to their entertainment services. DO DOWNLOAD THE AIR CANADA app prior to your flight.
  https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/air-canada/id326459697?mt=8
• While Air Canada costs more than discount carriers, they do allow for more luggage. But that can change.
• Where are you flying from? Anchorage to Vancouver? Yes, Air Canada offers service from Alaska to Vancouver if you want to go on a one way cruise. Ooops... The Disney Wonder doesn't go there.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-svA2ca6FY

Lots of luggage (7 days of cruise luggage?)???? I prefer the $30 taxi ride downtown instead of the new subway line. The new subway line costs around $9 with the $5 surcharge per person.
http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Canada-Line-YVR-AddFare.aspx

Car rental? Watch out for the tourist charge for the first 24hrs you touch down in the city. Might want to stay at one of the nearby airport hotels and use the shuttle for the first day. Then get a car from the cruise ship terminal to save money.

Do you need car rental and hotel advice?

Thanks for volunteering all the info! Where's the best place to get poutine in Vancouver?

 

[missyp]

Some thoughts... [*]they code share with United and at times use their planes interchangeably. [*]Air Canada is a full service airline, but they do "tier" their prices online with various service levels (ie seat selection and luggage) [*]Some customers have complained when they booked the flight, they were expecting full service but their flight was their discount "rouge" service. [*]I like the rouge service because I can use my iPad to watch the movies I want. Yes they have inflight wifi, but it's limited to their entertainment services. DO DOWNLOAD THE AIR CANADA app prior to your flight. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/air-canada/id326459697?mt=8 [*]While Air Canada costs more than discount carriers, they do allow for more luggage. But that can change. [*]Where are you flying from? Anchorage to Vancouver? Yes, Air Canada offers service from Alaska to Vancouver if you want to go on a one way cruise. Ooops... The Disney Wonder doesn't go there. [*]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-svA2ca6FY Lots of luggage (7 days of cruise luggage?)???? I prefer the $30 taxi ride downtown instead of the new subway line. The new subway line costs around $9 with the $5 surcharge per person. http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Canada-Line-YVR-AddFare.aspx Car rental? Watch out for the tourist charge for the first 24hrs you touch down in the city. Might want to stay at one of the nearby airport hotels and use the shuttle for the first day. Then get a car from the cruise ship terminal to save money. Do you need car rental and hotel advice?

We ended up sticking with United, we had enough miles to make it worth while. Would love advice on hotels ( not Pan Pacific, will need 3 nights of hotel in Van couver and that is already over $400/ night). Thinking about the Hyatt, much more reasonable). We do need a car. We are heading to Seattle after the cruise not sure if we will use a car rental for that or take the train. Very overwhelmed glad I have the cruise and flights booked, feel like I am making progress.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

As noted above, Canada has two legacy airlines - Air Canada and Westjet, with the former being the whipping boy, even though they provide about the same level of service.

The issue seems to be that Air Canada is unionized, while Westjet isn't (they have gone out of their way since starting up about 20 years ago to try to ensure they have a happy workforce, through things like profit sharing and stock awards), so historically, WJ staff have been much less surly to deal with then those who work for AC (although the gap has been narrowing the past few years).

The old joke about Air Canada is that their corporate motto is, "We're not happy, unless you're not happy".

 

[Gigi22]

The other issue with Air Canada is their Air Canada Rouge service. The discount service. Less service, less passenger space, fewer amenities. At one point full service Air Canada flights tended to morph into Rouge flights with little or no warning. You have to keep an eye on them.

 

[kiford]

My advice is to try to avoid Air Canada Rouge service at all costs. I am not clostrophobic at all but I have never sat in an airplane seat that is so close to the seat in front of me. I started to feel like there wasn't enough air especially when the person in front tilted the seat back. DH couldn't sit with his legs in front of him - he had to have them off to the side and he's under 6 feet. There's no TV or screen on board. If you want to watch the in-flight entertainment, you have to bring your own tablet and download the app prior to takeoff or rent an iPad from them for a few dollars.

Absolutely the worst flight and airplane I have ever been on in my life. Then add the usual horrible "service" from Air Canada in the airport when checking in. Even worse, although Rouge is supposed to be the discount airline arm of Air Canada, it was still more expensive than an equal Westjet flight. The only reason we went with them was the scheduled return time. Next time we will stay an extra day or two just to avoid them.

 

[xlxo]

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZs3rSrNH2w
• http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/05/13/rob-lowe-air-canada-rouge_n_5318084.html
• http://www.aircanada.com/rouge/en/entertainment.html
• http://www.johnnyjet.com/2014/07/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-flying-air-canada-rouge/
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQRmhXHtczk

Your Disney Cruise has Kids clubs.... so can your flight with Kargo Kids...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4SkoJy3D0M

 

[xlxo]

Thanks for volunteering all the info! Where's the best place to get poutine in Vancouver?

Here's some ideas...
http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2014/01/27/best-poutine-vancouver-first-time/

 

[Claireywalsh]

Has anyone flown air transat recently? We are booked with them for our Alaskan cruise next year. Whenever I've done trans atlantic flights I've always tried to book Virgin but they aren't flying into vancouver next summer I was offered indirect Lufthansa which was manchester - Munich - vancouver total travel time 18 hours or direct air transat so went with the latter

 

[xlxo]

I see Virgin going to nearby Seattle. There is a popular 5hr shuttle from Seattle airport into downtown Vancouver for $50... You get to see a bit of Cascadia.
http://www.quickcoach.com/fares.htm

 

[xlxo]

carry-on warning...
http://globalnews.ca/news/2007249/air-canada-to-begin-tagging-carry-on-luggage-at-pearson-airport/

 

[Jasrhon]

Thanks for volunteering all the info! Where's the best place to get poutine in Vancouver?

Poutine is more of a French Canadian thing than a Vancouver thing but there are some places you can get it. Here is a blog that lists some places:
http://theculturetrip.com/north-ame...de-to-the-10-best-poutine-spots-in-vancouver/

Fritz, Mean Poutine and La Brasserie are all downtown and easy to get to if you are staying at a hotel close to the port.

 

[TagsMissy]

Thanks for volunteering all the info! Where's the best place to get poutine in Vancouver?

As locals we go to La Belle Patate on Davie St (@ Bute)

 

[starvenger]

Has anyone flown air transat recently? We are booked with them for our Alaskan cruise next year. Whenever I've done trans atlantic flights I've always tried to book Virgin but they aren't flying into vancouver next summer I was offered indirect Lufthansa which was manchester - Munich - vancouver total travel time 18 hours or direct air transat so went with the latter

My SO and kids took Transat YYZ-MAN last summer. They said the trip was not bad. Which, when you're dealing with Transat, is about what you aim for.

With that said, if you have kids, enroll them in the kids club. They get some onboard goodies and stuff, but most importantly, two priority baggage tags so you can (in theory) get your luggage faster.

There's also an annual draw for a WDW vacation, which is nice but not a perk (since it's unlikely one will win).