Atlantic Canada airport thread

[Freddypop]

Westjet 2x per week YFC-YYC direct beginning June 20

https://yfcfredericton.ca/Latest-New...d-fredericton/

[sailor734]

Great to see more non Air Canada options in NB.

One negative might be the schedule...... mid evening Calgary arrival and 09:15 Calgary departure times will limit connecting to or from elsewhere.

Although, OTOH, at least you aren't departing out of YFC at O dark thirty and arriving back in the middle of the night like some flights in and out of NB.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Great to see more non Air Canada options in NB.

One negative might be the schedule...... mid evening Calgary arrival and 09:15 Calgary departure times will limit connecting to or from elsewhere.

Although, OTOH, at least you aren't departing out of YFC at O dark thirty and arriving back in the middle of the night like some flights in and out of NB.

Looks like this has reasonable connection times to YVR at least.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by OliverD

Looks like this has reasonable connection times to YVR at least.

True. Although in someways I prefer an early departure heading to YVR. With this Westjet scenario you wouldn’t land in Vancouver much before 2 or 3:00AM Atlantic time….makes for a long day.
For some reason I do better with a very early departure rather that a middle of the night arrival.

[sailor734]

My daughter did Vancouver and back last week out of Halifax on Porter (dramatically cheaper than anything out of NB) It was her first time on Porter and when I asked her how it was she said "I literally don't care if I ever fly on Air Canada ever again" She did correct herself and add "unless I have enough points to fly business class in a pod"

Still, all joking aside, she was impressed with the staff both at the gate and onboard and with the new E195's. She had paid the extra for Porter Stretch (34" pitch) and said the seat was very comfortable for a long flight.

[homebody]

Still waiting for this flight announcement scheduled for April according to the Airport. Hope its not another Toronto flight by some other carrier!!

[sailor734]

It wouldn't be just that AC is going to add flights to TO and/or Montreal for the summer would it?

If not........

My guess is maybe somebody like PAL doing a Halifax flight?

[magee_b]

Minor thing - but i've got a couple of flights to/from YSJ in June/July (via YYZ), and they are now showing up as AC Mainline A319 instead of the Rouge and Express/Jazz flights that were originally scheduled. Got notification that my flight had changed, and sure enough, now an AC flight number instead of a Jazz or a Rouge flight number.

Obviously has a good chance of changing again before then and doubt it will last, but if it sticks, will be nice to get some mainline service in for a change.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by magee_b

Minor thing - but i've got a couple of flights to/from YSJ in June/July (via YYZ), and they are now showing up as AC Mainline A319 instead of the Rouge and Express/Jazz flights that were originally scheduled. Got notification that my flight had changed, and sure enough, now an AC flight number instead of a Jazz or a Rouge flight number.

Obviously has a good chance of changing again before then and doubt it will last, but if it sticks, will be nice to get some mainline service in for a change.

I'm just glad to see something other than a RJ or a Q400. Bombardier may have built some decent aircraft but they sure didn't put a premium on passenger comfort!

Wish AC would add some new E195 E2's to the regional fleet. My daughter just flew on one with Porter and said it was very nice. Although, now that I think about it, the A220 is a direct competitor so probably not likely

[sailor734]

It's behind a paywall but the National Post published a ranking of Canada's airports

YSJ came dead last in 25th place with Fredericton not doing much better at 23rd. Moncton was in 10th place.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada...-worst-ranking

From the article.....

"All 25 of Canada’s airports were ranked from best to worst based on convenience and the availability of amenities — none managing to score above 75 per cent.

Each airport received a score from 0 to 100 based on six factors: direct flight destinations, lounges, dining facilities, operating airlines, on-site car rental and hotels within a three-kilometre radius. How many yearly passengers go through each airport was also factored in."



Interestingly, Saskatoon came 1st follow by Quebec City and St John's.

[Bishop2047]

Originally Posted by sailor734

It's behind a paywall but the National Post published a ranking of Canada's airports

YSJ came dead last in 25th place with Fredericton not doing much better at 23rd. Moncton was in 10th place.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada...-worst-ranking

From the article.....

"All 25 of Canada’s airports were ranked from best to worst based on convenience and the availability of amenities — none managing to score above 75 per cent.

Each airport received a score from 0 to 100 based on six factors: direct flight destinations, lounges, dining facilities, operating airlines, on-site car rental and hotels within a three-kilometre radius. How many yearly passengers go through each airport was also factored in."



Interestingly, Saskatoon came 1st follow by Quebec City and St John's.

Can't argue too much if you use these things to rank airports. Obviously SJ and Freddy are a long way from having a lounge, and more direct options are needed but not here yet.

Saskatoon is a great airport. Plenty of hotels nearby, food options, new lounge, and spacious terminal (though I don't think this took into account how nice a terminal building is).

[sailor734]

Agreed.

Although, given the criteria I think I was more surprised at the top 5 airports than those at the bottom of the rankings. By these measures it seems the second tier/midsized airports are the best to fly out of in terms of passenger experience.

I guess that makes sense when you think of what a hassle getting through Pearson can be.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Agreed.

Although, given the criteria I think I was more surprised at the top 5 airports than those at the bottom of the rankings. By these measures it seems the second tier/midsized airports are the best to fly out of in terms of passenger experience.

I guess that makes sense when you think of what a hassle getting through Pearson can be.

I agree with that, I've had great experiences multiple times at Winnipeg, Ottawa, etc. they have lots of amenities but are much more efficient and pleasant to get around than the Pearson-sized hub airports.

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Agreed.

Although, given the criteria I think I was more surprised at the top 5 airports than those at the bottom of the rankings. By these measures it seems the second tier/midsized airports are the best to fly out of in terms of passenger experience.

I guess that makes sense when you think of what a hassle getting through Pearson can be.

Agreed.

Based on Casinohunters criteria, they had no choice but to factor in passenger numbers, otherwise the big airports would crush all the others. There is no customer satisfaction criteria. Not many cities have multiple airports so its not like you have a choice. Yah, kind of a useless report.

Although Mike Hunter of CasinoHunters did say “It is important for airports to be well-connected to various destinations, particularly Canadian ones.” Really? Like the airport has a choice on what destinations it wants to serve.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

I agree with that, I've had great experiences multiple times at Winnipeg, Ottawa, etc. they have lots of amenities but are much more efficient and pleasant to get around than the Pearson-sized hub airports.

I've connected through Winnipeg a couple of times when flying a multileg routing (points reward) from YVR. I agree that it's a nice facility and easy to get around. decent Maple Leaf lounge too.....although the best ML Lounge I've been in so far is Calgary.

[Lobster chucker]

Originally Posted by sailor734

It's behind a paywall but the National Post published a ranking of Canada's airports

YSJ came dead last in 25th place with Fredericton not doing much better at 23rd. Moncton was in 10th place.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada...-worst-ranking

From the article.....

"All 25 of Canada’s airports were ranked from best to worst based on convenience and the availability of amenities — none managing to score above 75 per cent.

Each airport received a score from 0 to 100 based on six factors: direct flight destinations, lounges, dining facilities, operating airlines, on-site car rental and hotels within a three-kilometre radius. How many yearly passengers go through each airport was also factored in."



Interestingly, Saskatoon came 1st follow by Quebec City and St John's.

I find it funny., That no one here mentions the fact that Moncton finished #10. Vs the other Atlantic and NB options( still room to improve for sure] The continuation of wasted resources for minimal gains continues in the ever present airport wars of NB. I regularly fly out out of Moncton and options becoming more and more are limited, because everyone wants something in their backyard, this splits the availability. Moncton has done pretty good under the circumstances , and has way more amenities vs others ( 3 hotels, close by with shuttles) , but have to say it’s getting tougher and tougher to find reasonable flights times and availability

[MonctonRad]

Flight times out of YQM, especially with Air Canada, is my biggest beef. As I get older, the less thrilled I am to have to get up at 3 AM to get to the airport in time for my flight to Toronto so that I can connect onwards to my final destination. This badly needs to be addressed. We desperately need a second (Air Canada) morning flight to YYZ from YQM.

[Lobster chucker]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Flight times out of YQM, especially with Air Canada, is my biggest beef. As I get older, the less thrilled I am to have to get up at 3 AM to get to the airport in time for my flight to Toronto so that I can connect onwards to my final destination. This badly needs to be addressed. We desperately need a second (Air Canada) morning flight to YYZ from YQM.

They will going back to a summer schedule may 15ish. Which Iads one more flight each to TO and montreal Daily either way mid day for both Not sure if that changes the overall seats to each. They usually put bigger aircraft when they do two. Vs three. So the seat counts roughly stays the same just better times

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by Lobster chucker

I find it funny., That no one here mentions the fact that Moncton finished #10. Vs the other Atlantic and NB options( still room to improve for sure] The continuation of wasted resources for minimal gains continues in the ever present airport wars of NB. I regularly fly out out of Moncton and options becoming more and more are limited, because everyone wants something in their backyard, this splits the availability. Moncton has done pretty good under the circumstances , and has way more amenities vs others ( 3 hotels, close by with shuttles) , but have to say it’s getting tougher and tougher to find reasonable flights times and availability

I wonder if Halifax isn't starting to do to Moncton what Moncton has been doing to YSJ and YFC. Recent return to the west coast was nearly 50% cheaper out of YHZ than from Moncton and the timing wasn't impossible either. To many the extra 2 hours to YHZ can be worth it if the savings are there

[Lobster chucker]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I wonder if Halifax isn't starting to do to Moncton what Moncton has been doing to YSJ and YFC. Recent return to the west coast was nearly 50% cheaper out of YHZ than from Moncton and the timing wasn't impossible either. To many the extra 2 hours to YHZ can be worth it if the savings are there

Yes. Just by the nature of AC favouring Halifax as an eastern hub . The AC pricing dynamic model works that way and is automatic. Less seats higher prices and are auto priced accordingly as deplete the available seats and or timing fill up