So how bad is Air Canada Rouge?

[Hemlock]

We are flying Air Canada Rouge from Toronto to Orlando. I've heard some pretty bad reviews. Does anyone want to share their experience - good or bad

I'm travelling with a 3 year old, so I was wondering what Rouge offers in terms of in-flight entertainment.

 

[keaster]

I have not flown them but have also seen the reviews, mostly about the lack of leg room. The good news is that toronto to orlando isn't a very long flight so even if it's bad it's short!

 

[Fivers]

I've flown with them from Anchorage to Vancouver, and to and from Calgary and LA. The seats are quite tight, I'm 5'7" with average to longish legs, and my knees were fairly close to touching the seat in front.

Entertainment-wise, they don't have seat-back screens, if you have a tablet or smart phone you can download their app and get access to TV shows. If you want movies, I believe you have to rent one of their iPads, which for the YYC to LAX flight was $10.

I haven't had a bad experience with them per se, the three flights I did were all on time, and the staff were courteous, etc., but I wouldn't want to do a flight longer than 3 hours. I know they came by with water, can't remember what else they had beverage selection-wise. I feel like it was less than normal, but I could completely be making that up. We didn't get snacks at all either.

I'm just disappointed because the AC planes used to be two and two seats to LAX from YYC, and now they only have Rouge flying there, with the three and three! Long story short, I wouldn't say it was bad, but it is not my first choice for airlines.

 

[shoppgirl]

I will be on my first Rouge flight in less than two weeks!! I'm very nervous about it as I have also heard about how little leg space there is and also you need to bring your own iPad/iPod with their app downloaded or a computer for the in Flight entertainment!! Don't forget to pack your own headphones either. i just finished reading the worst reviews but figure Orlando isn't that far away. I have friends who purposely fly other airlines to avoid Rouge. I would too for any distance greater than YYZ-MCO!!

 

[OnceUponATime15]

We flew AC Rouge last December on our return leg from MCO to YYZ and round trip again this past August. I always pay the seat upgrade price to sit in row 4 - extra leg room. On a short flight I will book Rouge that way if they are considerably cheaper.

Rouge is often are the only very late flight home lately as well, up until very recently Westjet's latest departure to YYZ has been 2pm. That is like losing a half day of vacation!

My biggest complaint about Rouge is the ongoing problem with never having overhead storage for our carry on's. The gate crew starts "looking for volunteers" to gate check their carry on baggage about 90 minutes before boarding.. They will allow things that would easily fit under the seat ahead up into the bins, and I've actually seen flight crew wrestle carry on suitcases from passengers and take them to be gate checked. I feel if I'm paying for a seat and a pricy upgrade - the bin above my seat should be for my luggage.

We are headed down to WDW for a pre Christmas visit in 17 days... We are flying Westjet round trip And at our prefered times! At a cost of $190.00 less all total for 2 adults, then the comparable AC Rouge flights on the same days.

 

[grantclaire]

We flew with them last March Tor to Mco. Young flight crews, polite and friendly. Flights were on time. Felt very cramped in the seats, I am short and stocky. No TV or snacks. OK for the shorter trips.

 

[mort1331]

I would avoid them whenever you can. They are very discount, I will deal with the problems of sunwing over them. We booked with AC for our flight to Greece, then they announced the new Rouge, and it would be our flight. No discount given. 11 hours no entertainment for 2 kids. Come dinner time, they ran out, the last 6 rows(us) no food. Have you heard old Greek ladies complain, thank goodness there was only 5 hours left.
Called when we landed, and got a hearty Sorry. Thems the breaks.
Anything AC has lost my business, this was the icing on the cake, as they can change routes and put a Rouge on it at any time,,, good luck.

 

[Hemlock]

Well I just downloaded the Air Canada entertainment app (Argh), but according to their website there is a $5 fee to access their programming. Does anyone know how/when this fee is paid? Do I need to wait until we are on board the plane?

 

[xlxo]

Here's the link to the iTunes app...
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/air-canada/id326459697?mt=8

I don't remember $5 charge when I used it. It was great that I had a choice on which movie I wanted to watch.

Just remember to download the app prior to boarding the flight (at home? Airport wifi?). The plane's wifi does not offer internet.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Well I just downloaded the Air Canada entertainment app (Argh), but according to their website there is a $5 fee to access their programming. Does anyone know how/when this fee is paid? Do I need to wait until we are on board the plane?

There was no fee last month when I flew then from Toronto to Orlando. We just downloaded the AC app on our iphones and connected to their wifi entertainment. It was actually very easy. I thought the selection was about the same as you get on AC with the seat back TV.

I didn't find anything else that bad. The drinks were the same, we also got snacks (pretzels) and they still have the on board cafe to purchase basic food. The seats are slightly tighter, but I didn't notice that much difference. The seats were leather and (for me) a bit less comfortable. I think they are fine for a shorter flight. (if it makes a difference, I'm AC super elite 100K, so I do a lot of flying with different airlines to compare with)

 

[minnie56]

For a Florida flight, they're ok,,
Flew them this past spring..lucky enough to get upgraded southbound but regular economy coming home was ok. I thought the crew a bit hokey, but as thy do training with Disney , it can't be all bad right?!?!?

 

[Hemlock]

I would avoid them whenever you can. They are very discount, I will deal with the problems of sunwing over them. We booked with AC for our flight to Greece, then they announced the new Rouge, and it would be our flight. No discount given. 11 hours no entertainment for 2 kids. Come dinner time, they ran out, the last 6 rows(us) no food. Have you heard old Greek ladies complain, thank goodness there was only 5 hours left. Called when we landed, and got a hearty Sorry. Thems the breaks. Anything AC has lost my business, this was the icing on the cake, as they can change routes and put a Rouge on it at any time,,, good luck.

Wow, that is an awful experience and poor customer service. When I booked my flight it was an Air Canada flight, but they sent me an e-mail that the flight had be reassigned to AC Rouge

 

[RipperSB]

Air Canada motto - "We're not happy until you're not happy!"

 

[alc571]

We flew down on them last week, and are flying home with them today. The seats are VERY cramped. I'm 5'6" and my knees were touching. The planes are clean and the staff friendly. The flight was delayed but it was because we had to de-ice in Toronto, not ACs fault. You have to pay for food, and you need an iPad or iPhone to access the programming. It's free though - movies, TV shows, music. If you don't have an iPad, you can rent one for $10 each way. I missed not having the plane to follow, but otherwise it was fine. AC is our preferred airline, and we have never had any problems flying with them.

We flew Sunwing in January, and when we were departing we were in a boarding area with Westjet, Canjet, AC and Westjet...AC was the only flight to leave on time.

 

[thebigman65]

Let me put it this way....I will never fly AC Rouge again!

- Cramped seats....you better not be over 5' 10".
- No in flight entertainment. App works only for Apple, so you have android, you're screwed. And if you don't have a Ipad or Iphone...they will rent you one for a fee.....
- Flight was 3 hours late leaving....for what reason?....I don't know.
- Barely had room carry on's and if you are one of the last ones on....forget it.
- Had to pay for checked bags....not even the first one free.

The only good thing was that I didn't pay for this trip....my friend won it in a contest.....When I have to Pay.....Jet Blue out of Buffalo everytime!!

 

[JoS]

Have to agree seating is very cramped. No entertainment if you have no ipad etc. Staff just ok. We had booked upgraded seats but due to cancelled flight we were assigned seats, one near front of plane and one near the back. As I need assistance, we asked if the flight attendant could see if some one travelling alone would kindly swap seats. She said sure, will do that once we all all on board. Never saw her again after that. Even if she had just come back to say no that would have been ok. Main problem for me was lack of space. Would never choose to fly rouge again.

 

[alc571]

Let me put it this way....I will never fly AC Rouge again! - Cramped seats....you better not be over 5' 10". - No in flight entertainment. App works only for Apple, so you have android, you're screwed. And if you don't have a Ipad or Iphone...they will rent you one for a fee..... - Flight was 3 hours late leaving....for what reason?....I don't know. - Barely had room carry on's and if you are one of the last ones on....forget it. - Had to pay for checked bags....not even the first one free. The only good thing was that I didn't pay for this trip....my friend won it in a contest.....When I have to Pay.....Jet Blue out of Buffalo everytime!!

Hope you enjoy your commute from Buffalo. Took a friend 6 hours last week to get from the airport to Hamilton because of the snow storm. I'll fly out of Toronto over Buffalo every time....especially in winter.

 

[minnie56]

Me too!!!
It just takes one godawful experience...
I've had it..
No thanks!

 

[thebigman65]

We have flown out or Buffalo at least 10 times....can stuff happen (weather etc.)? yes....does it happen often enough to be a concern....no.....

Flying out of Pearson is a nightmare compared to Buffalo IMHO....

 

[minnie56]

To each his own...
I have of course done both. But Toronto is my first choice..