Calgary International Airport - New Terminal, Runway, Control Tower

[Drummer]

Some well written, honest reviews of the new terminal on their Facebook page.

[Bigtime]

New Leaf announced flights from YYC to the Mesa airport a few days ago. 3x weekly. WestJet has just announced they are starting flights there too. Flights from both operators start January.

Oh and the WestJet flights are on the exact same days as the New Leaf ones, LOL.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

New Leaf announced flights from YYC to the Mesa airport a few days ago. 3x weekly. WestJet has just announced they are starting flights there too. Flights from both operators start January.

Oh and the WestJet flights are on the exact same days as the New Leaf ones, LOL.

Interesting move by Westjet. Why would they want to add Mesa when they already fly into Phoenix? Do they not have enough capacity on their flights to Phoenix? Can they not add a few more flights into Phoenix? Is Mesa going to be significantly cheaper in terms of airport fees/taxes and whatever?

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Interesting move by Westjet. Why would they want to add Mesa when they already fly into Phoenix? Do they not have enough capacity on their flights to Phoenix? Can they not add a few more flights into Phoenix? Is Mesa going to be significantly cheaper in terms of airport fees/taxes and whatever?

To mess with New Leaf? If they price match and it's a choice between WestJet and New Leaf, same dates and same price, most people will likely go with the brand they already know.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Interesting move by Westjet. Why would they want to add Mesa when they already fly into Phoenix? Do they not have enough capacity on their flights to Phoenix? Can they not add a few more flights into Phoenix? Is Mesa going to be significantly cheaper in terms of airport fees/taxes and whatever?

It's a direct attack at New Leaf. Announced several days after, on the same days from both Calgary and Edmonton. They could easily ramp up PHX, but a better use of those planes would be trying to push New Leaf out of the southwestern US market which WestJet has a firm grasp on from YYC/YEG.

[Bigtime]

Yup, it's a straight up dogfight.

[Acey]

WestJet has twice filed claims of anti-competition, first in 2001 against AC for trying to price them out of expanding in the east, then again a few years ago against the AC/UA joint venture for taking too much of the transborder market.

Now that's in their own backyard, WestJet will have absolutely none of it.

[fliguy]

Originally Posted by Acey

WestJet has twice filed claims of anti-competition, first in 2001 against AC for trying to price them out of expanding in the east, then again a few years ago against the AC/UA joint venture for taking too much of the transborder market.

Now that's in their own backyard, WestJet will have absolutely none of it.

Funny how that works. Had this been AC doing this, people would be up in arms about how they are out to squash any kind of competition and hearing all kinds of stories about how bad they suck. Interesting that as it's Westjet doing it, I haven't hardly heard anything from anyone.

[Ducay]

Does anyone even like Westjet anymore? Their management seems to think it is still 2003 and people are eating up their cutesy "owners care" small company vibe, when in reality they're just as bad, if not worse than their competition. Westjet is the new Air Canada.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by fliguy

Interesting that as it's Westjet doing it, I haven't hardly heard anything from anyone.

One difference in this case is that WestJet will not be pricing them out and purposely taking a big loss on the route, as Air Canada did to WestJet. It's fair competition, but New Leaf will still probably succumb to it once people discover their hidden bag/carry-on fees are pretty detrimental to Phoenix golf trips.

[Calgary14]

Westjet has signed a deal with McDonald's to serve their coffee in flight. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repor...ticle32949736/

[Fuzz]

That's good. Westjet coffee wasn't very good. McDonalds coffee is decent enough. Better than Timmies. Maybe they will give you more than a shot glass now.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Yup, it's a straight up dogfight.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Does anyone even like Westjet anymore? Their management seems to think it is still 2003 and people are eating up their cutesy "owners care" small company vibe, when in reality they're just as bad, if not worse than their competition. Westjet is the new Air Canada.

I would actually rather fly Air Canada than Westjet. More comfortable seating, better entertainment options, and better overall amenities/food options.

Well standard Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge is absolutely horrendous. Jazz isn't much better. The only time I really fly Westjet anymore is when i'm headed to the Maritimes, because they actually fly 737s into their versus Air Canada Jazz from Toronto/Montreal.

[fliguy]

Originally Posted by Acey

One difference in this case is that WestJet will not be pricing them out and purposely taking a big loss on the route, as Air Canada did to WestJet. It's fair competition, but New Leaf will still probably succumb to it once people discover their hidden bag/carry-on fees are pretty detrimental to Phoenix golf trips.

Interesting, where did you find that information? I can't be bothered to look up the prices myself

[Tyler]

I'm loyal to WestJet only because of my RBC MasterCard.

Actually have preferred flying AC any time I go international or overseas where WJ doesn't fly

[Bigtime]

I have good experiences with both carriers, and never any real nightmare scenarios. So depending on where I'm going, schedules, and price I choose between them.

We flew United YYC-IAH-PTY in March, and must have dodged the "United Sucks" bullet, all the flights were on time, friendly crew, and easy to connect through Houston.

[Drummer]

My last flight a few weeks ago was mainline AC to LAX. It was much more roomy than Rouge - but 2 of the plug ins in our row didn't work, all bathrooms had non functional sinks due to a pluming issue, and the content selection on the TVs was poor. I paid for wifi and that made the flight better.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I would actually rather fly Air Canada than Westjet. More comfortable seating, better entertainment options, and better overall amenities/food options.

If not for their customer service falling somewhere between Rogers and Truman Homes, I'd agree with you. Air Canada is awful. You may have dodged their bullets so far, but one day, they're bound to... wing you.

... pause for laughter...

That said, it's not that Westjet is good, or anything. They're just an airline, you get what you pay for and there's nothing special or additional about it to make you feel good about your air travel choice. You just don't get completely screwed over and left hanging by a company that seems to actually hate its customers.

[cavalera403]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I have good experiences with both carriers, and never any real nightmare scenarios. So depending on where I'm going, schedules, and price I choose between them.

We flew United YYC-IAH-PTY in March, and must have dodged the "United Sucks" bullet, all the flights were on time, friendly crew, and easy to connect through Houston.

I think that may be because the YYC-IAH is an old Continental route and is still serviced by former Continental personnel.

At least that is what I am to believe. Going Denver or Chicago is like pulling teeth.