A late "throwback Thursday" photo posted on the YYC Spotters facebook page. The Cessna 172SP pictured is C-FTCG. The bird I did most of my flight training on, including my first solo. Of all my hours (~900) about 60% are probably on this bird, both as a student and instructor.
The photo shows TCG in the run-up bay just to the east of what is now runway 35L, it was always fun to be sitting there doing your run-up checks and have the airliners come by on their way to the active, even more fun when it was a heavy like the A333 pictured here, or even on one year the last of the AC 744's!
Sadly this is no longer a sight at YYC anymore, as the airport pretty much booted the flight schools out with high landing fees. Despite how busy the airport was at the time ('99-2004) I felt we really did a good job working with ATC to expedite our departures and arrivals between all the big traffic, it was a really great environment to learn in, and made you pretty sharp on the radios right away.
Last edited by Bigtime; 09-12-2014 at 09:57 AM.
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I did all of my training at YBW, but took the odd flight to YYC. I'll never forget the approach onto 16 and seeing an AC 777 hold short waiting for us to land. So good!
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The fee only applies to Econo fares for travel within Canada – and between Canada and the U.S.
Guests who select a Flex fare will receive one free checked bag while guests choosing a Plus fare will get two complimentary checked bags.
If you’re flying to any of WestJet’s international destinations including Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe, you may continue to check your first bag at no charge.
*sigh*, I guess Westjet was just a little too good for too long, just a matter of time before they start nickel & diming like this. The "econo/flex/plus" was the beginning of the end of their "it's all first class!" mantra.
Not sure I buy their "1 in 5 customers" argument either, but I'm not in the airline business.
Well of course this has led to a social media sh*t storm on facebook and twitter, personally I think they shouldn't have trotted out that "It will only affect 1 in 5" line, seems really bad and not really typical of WestJet to say something like that.
I like WestJet. I own a modest amount of shares (which have done very well), I like that they're Calgary-based, etc. When traveling for work, they are my preferred airline.
But I do think that they should be pretty careful with the nickel and diming. Their points program is a joke, their fares aren't any cheaper than AC on any given day, and people's loyalties tend to wane a little when the price and hassle are increased. While this will create a bit of a spike in share price (up 5% today already), over time, people may adjust their preferences.
That being said, AC will introduce their own fee soon anyway, and we will all just end up paying more. Predictable Canadian oligopoly behaviour. It doesn't really matter who you fly with - they're all one in the same.
And so the slow downward spiral into become just like Air Canada is nearly complete. All they need now is to have their staff start unionizing, and we're done.
FWIW, I don't like it. But to blame it on Canadian oligopoly behaviour? The American carriers have been doing this for years, and AC has been charging on transborder routes since everyone but WestJet does it.
I have seen too often people book on US carriers because the base fare is a few bucks cheaper, not even thinking about bag fees. So it is becoming the new reality, and either you charge or you lose out on the revenue.
To be clear, I don't like it at all. But I do understand it. And it is the Americans largely to blame, not the Canadian oligopoly.
FWIW, I don't like it. But to blame it on Canadian oligopoly behaviour? The American carriers have been doing this for years, and AC has been charging on transborder routes since everyone but WestJet does it.
I have seen too often people book on US carriers because the base fare is a few bucks cheaper, not even thinking about bag fees. So it is becoming the new reality, and either you charge or you lose out on the revenue.
To be clear, I don't like it at all. But I do understand it. And it is the Americans largely to blame, not the Canadian oligopoly.
But what you're describing is exactly what an oligopoly does. One company goes ahead with the fee, the other knows that the consumer has no other choice, so introduces their own fee. Air Canada will probably introduce their fee within weeks, if not days, now that WestJet has taken the brunt of the backlash.
Even in the US, the airline market only has a handful of players. There is simply no reason to compete on differentiation. Nobody has the gonads to say "we're not going to gouge you on this" and earn business and loyalty as a result. WestJet used to be that airline in Canada, but they've got no reason to play that role anymore.
That being said, my shares have gone up enough today to cover a few checked bags. Don't get me wrong, it is clearly good business. But they're operating in an environment where the competitors are few and the alternatives are unattractive (driving, etc.).
Make the fee part of the price, Apples to apples what does it cost, A checked bag, a can of coke, a bag of munchies, in flight entertainment, boarding... this is what it costs to get on an airplane. end of story.
That is what i liked about flying with west jet, the price is what it is.
Not good news at all.
Make the fee part of the price, Apples to apples what does it cost, A checked bag, a can of coke, a bag of munchies, in flight entertainment, boarding... this is what it costs to get on an airplane. end of story.
For the same reason stores don't put the tax in the sticker price, Ford doesn't include the freight on their posters. People go for the lowest price they see, regardless of the 'hidden' costs. It gets the consumer in the door. It's a lot easier to convince them to stay once they are in.
We the consumers are the ones who have forced the service providers to model things this way by how we spend our money.
As for the extra fees, It's still more affordable to fly than it has ever been, we take so much for granted. Fuel and maintenance cost a fortune, and the airlines are financing multi million dollar aircraft, expected to have a 100% safety record, and we expect to fly for pennies.
I think if we are going to hold anyone to task on outrageous costs we need to start with the oil industry. If it's just about fees, start with the banks. Haha
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Will do my best to report on the BA787 after my flight in a couple days.
From all the reviews I've read, sounds as if it is the most crammed of the major carriers who fly the Dreamliner, as far as the way they've configured the seating plan, so expectations are a bit tempered.
