With Delta and WestJet forming closer ties, including a transborder joint venture, Air Canada is looking to strengthen its relationship with United Airlines. Earlier this year, Delta and WestJet agreed to seek antitrust immunity from regulators, with the goal of...
Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge London (LHR)
In theory, I love this lounge. It has all the elements of an airport lounge that I love. In practice, however, I found the lounge to be very overcrowded. It seems I visited at the wrong time of day… The...
The Paradox of Aeroplan’s Survivalist Mentality
Aeroplan will lose its largest partner, Air Canada, in 2020. While the program may continue to survive in some form, many predict parent-company Aimia is already preparing for the worst. As in au revoir. From what I hear, the decision...
Cathay Dragon Pilot Scams $29K in Flights from Air Canada
A Cathay Dragon pilot has been ordered to repay over $29,000 and perform 20 hours of community service in punishment for scamming free flights from Air Canada. Marc Anthony Tacchi is Canadian but lives in Hong Kong and flies...
My Demand Letter to Aeroplan
In the interest of transparency, I’m keeping you updated on what/how I communicate with Aeroplan concerning the SWISS First Class award controversy. Having been thus far unable to resolve this in a manner that suits me, I just mailed...
Aeroplan Rebooks Me on Air Canada…Without Notice
Yesterday evening I received an email from Aeroplan. It was a new e-ticket receipt. My nonstop flight in SWISS First Class had suddenly become two Air Canada flights in business class with an overnight connection in Toronto. If you’re...
Aeroplan Plan of Attack: DOT First, Lawsuit Later
Aeroplan apparently won’t honor the SWISS First Class award tickets issued last week. I say apparently because Aeroplan still hasn’t contacted me directly concerning my ticket and the reservation still shows intact if I login to my Aeroplan account....
Aeroplan: We Won’t Honor SWISS First Class Award Tickets
Just 11 minutes after publishing a cautiously optimistic post on the Aeroplan/SWISS First Class award issue, the other shoe dropped…Aeroplan is throwing in the towel. Here’s the update from Aeroplan– A small number of first class bookings were made...
SWISS First Class Update: No News is Good News?
I’ve received over 50 emails the last two days asking for an update on the Aeroplan/SWISS First Class issue. Thus far, I’ve only been advised to be patient. At this point, we know that SWISS is the culprit for...
Why I Disagree with Lucky on Air Canada’s Strict Lounge Access Policy
Fundamentally, a business class ticket is a business class ticket…confirmed passengers who paid with miles instead of dollars should not be treated as second class citizens. From all initial reports, it appears Air Canada’s new Signature Suite in Toronto...
Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Toronto (YYZ)
Executive summary: a perfectly comfortable lounge with a decent food spread, showers, and fast wi-fi. Before my flight on Ethiopian Airlines from Toronto to Addis Ababa I spent an hour in Air Canada’s Terminal 1 Maple Leaf Lounge. An...
Free Lounge Access at LAX for United Star Golds
Earlier today I wrote about the new Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Terminal 6 at LAX. This lounge, along with the Star Alliance Lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, presents two superb free lounge options for United...
First Look: New LAX T6 Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
Air Canada has moved from Terminal 2 to Terminal 6 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). As part of the move, it has opened a brand new Maple Leaf lounge in T6 that is small but outstanding. First, the bad...
Air Canada Dumps Aeroplan: Let’s Not Celebrate Yet
Effective June 30, 2020, Aeroplan will no longer be the loyalty program for Air Canada. Negotiations between Aeroplan’s parent company Aimia and Air Canada have stalled, prompting Air Canada’s decision to go it alone. As Air Canada’s financial situation has...
Air Canada Restarts Tel Aviv Service from Montreal
Air Canada’s international expansion in Montreal continues, with news of a new seasonal route between Montreal and Tel Aviv starting in June. The carrier also announced plans to make its daily Toronto – Tel Aviv service year-around. The new Montreal...
Star Alliance Iceland Stopover Now Much Easier
Iceland fascinates me. Not only does it contain immense natural beauty, it offers Northern Lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer. I’ve been before and had a great time — now I want to take the family....
Review: Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Frankfurt
Perhaps familiarity does breed contempt, but the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Frankfurt was a welcome relief from the oft-crowded network of Lufthansa departure lounges nearby. Located in Terminal 1 in the B-Gate Area (non-Schengen), the lounge is...
Lost Cat Turns Up on Air Canada Flight
Have you ever heard a flight attendant come down the aisle asking, “Has anyone seen a cat?” I haven’t either, but I wasn’t on Air Canada Flight 189 from Ottawa to Vancouver earlier this week, where about 20 minutes...
Alitalia the Latest Carrier to Cut Service to Venezuela
The situation unfolding in Venezuela fascinates me. There you have a state on the verge of failure with hyperinflation and a government suffering from a foreign currency crunch. The result: airlines are not getting paid for their service and...
Air Canada Suspends Service to the Failing State of Venezuela
Air Canada is halting its thrice-weekly service between Toronto and Caracas as hyperinflation and violence continue to engulf Venezuela. In a statement, Air Canada said– Due to ongoing civil unrest in Venezuela, Air Canada can no longer ensure the...
