So how bad is Air Canada Rouge?

[thebigman65]

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

Agreed to each their own....I hope everyone has great trips no matter what they choose!!

 

[minnie56]

Absolutely...safety first!!

 

[tiggerrr]

I'm probably repeating everything here, but still have to chime in "me, too." It's a pretty lousy experience for the most part. It's the worst leg room of any airline in North America, except for Spirit (Spirit has 1" less, but also doesn't allow seats to recline). They have the new slimline seats, thinner but harder; the theory says that 1" thinner seat means 1" more leg room. The staff are hit or miss. Some of the crews are very good; many more do a drink run and then hide in the galley for the rest of the trip.

As others have mentioned, no seatback IFE. They will stream to an Apple product through their app. You can also use a laptop to get the stream, but with the tight seats, you can't physically open most laptops (especially if the person in front of you reclines). The streaming entertainment has very little in the way of current movie content, but the rented ipad does have more.

The carry on situation is bad, but the real reason it's bad is because of the number seats physically on the plane. Even if everyone brought only one regulation bag on board, you still wouldn't get them all in the bins, there are too many seats. These flights are almost always close to sold out.

And there is my editorial comment. What Air Canada has discovered is to the destinations that Rouge serves, price is the dominant factor that people will consider when choosing (schedule is well behind and comfort hardly factors at all). Air Canada knows they don't have to provide leg room or good service to be successful on these routes. Even if you won't ever fly them again, once you take up a seat on Westjet or anyone else, someone else will buy that Rouge seat. And the financial results and expansion of Rouge are showing that. Their planes are full and getting more full.

The problem is that their competition are starting to realize it, too. WestJet CEO this month said they're considering adding more rows to their planes, which would put them close to Rouge. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/westjet-earnings-fall-20-per-cent-due-to-one-time-charge/article21436818/.

Even JetBlue just announced adding more seats to planes (although they'll still be much better than Rouge). http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2014/11/19/coming-soon-on-jetblue-bag-fees-more-seats/19266701/

We may look back with longing on the way it is today. Okay, rant over.

 

[xlxo]

Just make sure there is no loose screws...
https://www.google.ca/search?q=air+canada+screw

 

[minnie56]

Freak thing...
This concerns me more because it involves overall safety in the fleet

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/...-airlines-for-improper-aircraft-repairs.html/

 

[Limmer]

Same as everybody else...hated it. Will not book AC because they can change anytime. I was quite irritated that they switched ours after we booked. No refund for our "discount flight".
We were going to the Dominican and it was quite uncomfortable and I am only 5'2! No iphones for us so no movies. They announced that here was a charge for the movies but it was last October so that may have changed.
No snacks, water served. Just not worth it for the "discount" price we were charged.
Westjet or Buffalo for us from now on.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

The problem is that their competition are starting to realize it, too. WestJet CEO this month said they're considering adding more rows to their planes, which would put them close to Rouge. [

I think if WestJet went that route we would definitely just stop flying WestJet completely. We choose WestJet because the seating and service is better than Air Canada, not based on price. If they are now talking about jamming us in like sardines... then we will feel zero loyalty to using Canadian Air carriers for anything... particularly if the Ogdensburg airport expansion happens.

Perhaps I'm showing my age but I recall when I was a kid that air travel was somewhat civilized and getting to your destination was actually pleasant, almost part of the vacation experience. (Still recall how nice the Wardair flights used to be.)

 

[minnie56]

I think if WestJet went that route we would definitely just stop flying WestJet completely. We choose WestJet because the seating and service is better than Air Canada, not based on price. If they are now talking about jamming us in like sardines... then we will feel zero loyalty to using Canadian Air carriers for anything... particularly if the Ogdensburg airport expansion happens.

Perhaps I'm showing my age but I recall when I was a kid that air travel was somewhat civilized and getting to your destination was actually pleasant, almost part of the vacation experience. (Still recall how nice the Wardair flights used to be.)

Having worked for Wardair for many years, I totally relate!

 

[PensFan]

We always flew Air Canada just seemed like the right thing to do ... but once we looked to book our seats for our trip in AUG I noticed we were getting dumped into Air Canada ROUGE!

I looked up all the details and was not very pleased with the smaller seats the now being charged for in-flight entertainment and more so what caused my initial prompt to look at other options was the fee for a checked bag now.

I too also found that ROUGE prices were not really any cheaper to what I had been used to paying for the time we typically fly! Im all for a good deal but to lose services and options and the cost remain the same .. No thanks!

So recently I flew with WestJet for the first time and have no issues! Unfortunately they too now charge for the checked bag but out of principal of Air Canada changing so many things I'll be flying WestJet for a few go's and spread my business around! The staff at WestJet did seem to be a lot friendlier on my 1st experience with them so that was an added bonus!

 

[kiford]

We flew Rouge in December 2013 because Westjet didn't have a flight back on the Saturday that was at a reasonable time (either really early in the morning or late at night). Next time, we will pay to stay extra days at WDW just to avoid Rouge.

DH, who is 5' 10" had to sit with his legs splayed because there wasn't enough room to sit with legs in front of him. No room for the carryons in the overhead bins so they had to go under the seat in front and I had to sit with my legs bent at 90 degrees the entire time, basically staying immobile. I have a problem with my legs - if I can't move or stretch my legs occasionally I end up in pain. I had to take painkillers because of the inability to move or shift position. I'm not claustrophobic, but I actually felt like I was going to be deprived of air because the seat in front of me was so close and panicked slightly for a minute or two. I felt like my face was practically pressed into the back of the seat in front of me.

To add insult to injury, although this is supposed to be a discount airline, only the service is discount, not the price. If we had chosen to take Westjet even though we didn't like the flight times, it would have been less expensiv. Plus, at the time, Westjet didn't charge for the first bag. Unfortunately, now they do but I'll still take them any day over Rouge.

Even the check-in was discount. You have to check in at a self-service terminal, print out your own boarding pass, print out your own luggage tags (after paying the fees, of course), put your own luggage tags on and then STILL wait in line to have them weigh the bags before they'll put them on the conveyor belt. It took about 45 minutes to do that. Never again will I fly Rouge. Worst. Airline. Ever.

 

[DVCALMA]

Having just flown Rouge montreal to orlando and back to toronto I have to say flying Rouge is problematic for me. I am 6 ft 2. Leg room is very poor for me and also for anyone that wants to work at their seat. Very little room to manuveur around and get thing off the floor, for instance. There is not much difference in the food service. The crew was friendly. The good thing is that it is a shorter flight. When I fly personally, a couple of times per year to MCO, we are using aeroplan points so other airlines are not an option. I also have to comment on the first class cabin. It is the same seats with more suitable legroom. There are 3 seats on each side of the aisle but they do not sell the middle seat in that cabin. The food hot meal is good. I do have eupgrade credits which would allow me to upgrade to first class for free but they are not allowed to be used on reward, aeroplan, flights. Anyway I am going to have to put up with and good it is a shorter flight

 

[FLmummy]

Rouge from Toronto to Orlando isn't totally horrible...for short people like me.

However, I can definitely see the discomfort of anyone taller than 5'11" or so. The seats are small. The rows are packed together, and there is never enough room for carry on luggage.

They also seem to be overselling these flights to an extreme. There were 8 people bumped from our return flight because they oversold.

The lack of in-flight entertainment annoys me. So if I don't have an iPad or computer to access their system, I now have to pay $10 to rent one from them?No wonder there are more restless screaming kids on the flights these days.

I dunno guys...the cost savings are minimal at best, considering you then have to pay for luggage as well as the option for choosing your seat and getting a little entertainment.

 

[minnie56]

The seats remind me in size of Westjets but the leg room is smaller...can always nab an exit row? I'm flying them to Orlando next month and again in February but have purchased th exit seats for February as my hubby is 6'4 sooo he will need!

 

[tiggerrr]

For those of you with Android devices, the Air Canada app for Android was updated a couple of weeks ago to include the Rouge Player. So you can use the IFE on your android device instead of renting an iPad. Of course, the selection is still awful.

In related news, Westjet has begun the process of installing their new seats which means the end of seatback TV and a move to a Wifi entertainment system like Rouge. Two aircraft are done and they think they can convert one aircraft a week next year. But they didn't change the seat pitch, so you do get much better leg room on Westjet.

 

[JoS]

For those of you with Android devices, the Air Canada app for Android was updated a couple of weeks ago to include the Rouge Player. So you can use the IFE on your android device instead of renting an iPad. Of course, the selection is still awful.

In related news, Westjet has begun the process of installing their new seats which means the end of seatback TV and a move to a Wifi entertainment system like Rouge. Two aircraft are done and they think they can convert one aircraft a week next year. But they didn't change the seat pitch, so you do get much better leg room on Westjet.

Thanks for that. Will try a download now.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

Flying Rouge for our upcoming Orlando trip on Jan 12th. We used Airmiles, but Westjet connections were horrible to non-existent...some even had a 12 hour layover before our connecting flight....so we were stuck with AC given their more plentiful flight options and connection times.

 

[JoS]

Flying Rouge for our upcoming Orlando trip on Jan 12th. We used Airmiles, but Westjet connections were horrible to non-existent...some even had a 12 hour layover before our connecting flight....so we were stuck with AC given their more plentiful flight options and connection times.

Pretty much the same with us. Overnight layover with West jet, in Toronto so are stuck with AC for our 1/25 flight as well.

 

[amberg93]

We flew Air Canada Rouge in September roundtrip from YUL to MCO. It's not bad. I mean, I'd say it's comparable to when I flew Southwest from Michigan to MCO. There is less space as everyone has mentioned and my android tablet wasn't compatible at the time so I just read, played games and napped. My wife watched movies on her iphone though and was fine with it.

I'd prefer regular Air Canada any day, don't get me wrong, but I couldn't tell much difference between Rouge and Southwest. Nor is it that different from my experiences on Delta or United (which have both been inner US flights).

Then again, I've never flown anyone other than AC out of Canada. So I can't weigh in on Canadian companies. I can say JetBlue is better than Rouge.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

We flew into Ft Lauderdale on regular AC and home from Orlando on Rouge. Our first time on Rouge and I was nervous after reading this thread. We initially found it to be very claustrophobic. My 18 year old was not sure she could handle it. Storage space was a problem. We were fortunate that our stuff fit under the seat in front of us. Though seated in economy we were close to the front. We found the plane to be quite loud upon takeoff. My husband remarked that he felt Snoopy was flying the plane as the Red Baron. Those of you old enough to remember that cartoon will understand. Several people seated around us laughed because that is exactly what it sounded like. Once in the air however we found it to be a smooth and pleasant flight. Leg space was tight though.

I recently flew Rouge again Vancouver to Maui (not my first choice). This time I was pleasantly surprised. A much bigger plane. Leg room still was not great but not claustrophobic at all. I would take this Rouge flight any day.

 

[minnie56]

How the experience is of course is related to type of aircraft used for the flight..I'm flying Rouge to Orlando this coming Thursday and I'm not concerned. Unfortunately, this is air travel now, it's cost prohibitive to have the space and service as it used to be... that said, I found them to be very little different than Westjet.