Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Anyone know how long the current wait is for a mail in passport? Wife needs to renew for a possible February trip, just wondering the best option.

All the comments I've seen lately suggest that *new* applications are receiving their passports in as little as 2-3 weeks. To the anger of those who applied in say, June, and haven't received one.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by cmyden

Canadian Transport Agency approves request from WestJet to operate flights between Canada and Japan.

Interesting, no doubt they studied how Air Canada fared when they operated YYC-NRT and may make a go of it.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by cmyden

All the comments I've seen lately suggest that *new* applications are receiving their passports in as little as 2-3 weeks. To the anger of those who applied in say, June, and haven't received one.

She went in yesterday to Harry Hayes and was told a 3 hour wait, then they called her after 10 minutes. It's a renwal, so she just dropped it off and they said to expect it by Christmas. All kind of baffling, so we will see.

[Hanni]

I submitted both my kids by mail back in mid-July, have been charged for both. One was issued in October, the other is nowhere to be seen.

Filled out the online inquiry application two weeks ago and still no response. Will try calling next week I guess.

Trip isn't until March but if I end up having to replace the birth certificate I had to send with the application I'm suddenly worried about having time.

It's ridiculous that people who submitted in the last two months already have their passports but an application from July is still in process.

[Eagle Eye]

Originally Posted by cmyden

All the comments I've seen lately suggest that *new* applications are receiving their passports in as little as 2-3 weeks. To the anger of those who applied in say, June, and haven't received one.

Sent my kid's applications in via mail on Nov 4th, and received them both back on/before Nov 25th. I originally thought I made an error on the applications because I thought there was no way I was getting the new ones so fast. I was pleasantly surprised.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Interesting, no doubt they studied how Air Canada fared when they operated YYC-NRT and may make a go of it.

At this point I don't think we know if the plan would be to operate from YYC or YVR or both (the two most likely suspects). WestJet has made it clear they want YYC to be their global hub. They also recently modified their codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines between YVR and Tokyo NRT (allowing the 'WS' code on Japan Airlines operated flights).

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by cmyden

At this point I don't think we know if the plan would be to operate from YYC or YVR or both (the two most likely suspects). WestJet has made it clear they want YYC to be their global hub. But they also recently modified their codeshare agreement with Japan Airlines between YVR and Tokyo NRT (allowing the 'WS' code on Japan Airlines operated flights).

I don't see why they would choose to operate out of YVR with AC and their Asian hub there versus YYC and drawing from the insane amount of domestic connections.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I don't see why they would choose to operate out of YVR with AC and their Asian hub there versus YYC and drawing from the insane amount of domestic connections.

Yeah, Vancouver is a much bigger market for Japan, but already has multiple competitors (Air Canada, ANA, JAL) whereas Calgary has none. Plus connections from other smaller centres (especially in the west) are almost certainly better on WS via Calgary than AC via Vancouver. They could then fill remaining seats discounting into the US market.

[Wormius]

I have been learning a bit about status matching for rewards programs. Has anybody ever gone from an elite status with a car rental agency to hotels or airlines or is it limited to within the category, like Marriott to Hyatt, but not Enterprise to Air Canada?

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I wasn't even going to suggest that as it may be above his paygrade. Dude treats CP like it's AskJeeves.

I ask questions on a message board looking to leverage past experience.

Got a problem with that ??

I can book flights and hotels all on my own with no issues Dude...

Don't you have a cloud to yell at or something.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I have been learning a bit about status matching for rewards programs. Has anybody ever gone from an elite status with a car rental agency to hotels or airlines or is it limited to within the category, like Marriott to Hyatt, but not Enterprise to Air Canada?

I don't think car rental status transfer into much in other businesses. Some hotel programs will offer higher status in car rental programs. Airline programs pretty much never match status to hotel programs anymore. Some hotel programs will give you status at Vegas casinos and from their you can get some status with a few cruise lines.

There are a couple of good blogs that run through the status match game so search those out.

[InglewoodFan]

I'm back to a decent amount of work travel after over a decade of not much at all. Programs are kinda lame these days. I'm going to make Delta gold medallion this year, imagine my surprise to learn that I don't even get lounge access for that on domestic routes. Will get a better upgrade window and some drink tickets. AC Elite back in the day was much better for about the same miles flown.

Next couple of years will be Houston instead of the US southeast so Delta won't do much for me anyway. Need to decide if I should pile the miles onto AC or WJ. WJ seems to not give me much at all.

I also hit Hilton diamond this year, and they just gave me another diamond status to give to someone. Some nice points boosters, but not much else unless you are staying in branded Hiltons (exec floor etc).

In the end I just use the perks to take my wife places so that she'll keep putting up with me being away.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by InglewoodFan

I'm back to a decent amount of work travel after over a decade of not much at all. Programs are kinda lame these days. I'm going to make Delta gold medallion this year, imagine my surprise to learn that I don't even get lounge access for that on domestic routes. Will get a better upgrade window and some drink tickets. AC Elite back in the day was much better for about the same miles flown.

Next couple of years will be Houston instead of the US southeast so Delta won't do much for me anyway. Need to decide if I should pile the miles onto AC or WJ. WJ seems to not give me much at all.

I also hit Hilton diamond this year, and they just gave me another diamond status to give to someone. Some nice points boosters, but not much else unless you are staying in branded Hiltons (exec floor etc).

In the end I just use the perks to take my wife places so that she'll keep putting up with me being away.

For Houston, I think I'd go with Westjet. The last couple of times I've booked AC to IAH the direct got cancelled, and they wouldn't protect me on to United but instead had a transfer in Vancouver. I cancelled and booked the united direct instead, and just got notified today that was cancelled and I'm protected via Chicago. Now it's too late to book Westjet at a reasonable price, but next time I'll do that to begin with.

The AC upgrade program has been pretty neutered in recent years anyway, lots of co-pays and minimum fare classes, where basically buying biz to begin with seems to mostly make sense vs trying to use e-upgrades.

[Johnny199r]

nm

[cmyden]

WestJet has scheduled their new route from Calgary to Tokyo, Japan (NRT)

The nonstop flights to Tokyo, Narita are 10 hours there, 9 hours back on the 787. They start on April 30th, 2023. Scheduled through to August 2023.

Prices are currently $1139 CAD roundtrip
https://www.google.ca/travel/flights...AEB&tfu=EgIIAQ

[Bigtime]

Also announced YYC-Barcelona and YYC-Edinburgh.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Also announced YYC-Barcelona and YYC-Edinburgh.

Barcelona doesn't surprise me due to cruise traffic (even if it isn't near the ocean...) but Edinburgh does.

[Wormius]

Any possibility of a price war on these routes?

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Also announced YYC-Barcelona and YYC-Edinburgh.

This makes me happy.

[Fuzz]

With Edinburgh only being 8.5 hours, it will be great to have another option to access the rest of Europe.