Hi, Air Canada is rolling out new seating on the long range 777's, and it is not good for economy Since they launched the 777's AC has had a 2 cabin configuration, with 1/2/1 in business class and a 9 abreast 3/3/3 in economy. They have now reconfigured one of the 777's into a 3 cabin configuaration, and they are rolling this out across the fleet, including for Australia. Business is essentially unchanged. There are now 3 rows of premium economy, which are pretty poor compared to competitors. I haven't flown in them, but got to sit in a seat an play around for a while. However, the big change is in economy which has now gone 10 abreast in a 3/4/3 configuration. For those of you who have not have the unfortunate experience of enduring a 10 abreast 777 this is not good news, especially for a 15 hour transpacific flight. The seats are much narrower (43cm vs 47 cm), and closer too with a pitch of 78cm vs 81cm. The aisles are very narrow. This makes for a cramped and unpleasant experience. This is particularily bad in the 2 middle seats of the middle row (seats E and F) which have the legs of the row in front smack in front, so there is very little room to move your feet, and no room to put a bag. Also this means there are more people trying to cram carry on into the overhead lockers. You can see the different configurations here http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/77L.html On top of this they have reduced the number of attendants per flight. I like AC for the convenience of the direct flights to YVR. However, if you are travelling economy, this makes it much less attractive. Robbo
I've abandoned Air Canada....having experienced them at their "user friendly" worst. Surprisingly, my return to being a Qantas customer has been quite enjoyable. The direct flight to Vancouver was the big plus with AC, but now that QF are offering that service in January ( and possibly extending the offer) I have no desire to fly AC again. Returns via LAX in Feb or March can be a bit tedious (unless you've tagged a USA resort onto the end of your Canada experience) but I would still go out of my way to avoid the Air Canada offer. By your report, Robbo, I guess AC are not on the improve.
Most airlines worked out a long time ago that you don't have to please anyone in Economy As long as the price is right, they will fill
Interesting. I was thinking of booking flights on their new Brisbane to Vancouver route for our trip next winter. Maybe LAX is a better option now. Problem is Air Canada fares are not cheap on their Aus to Canada route. My research is showing going via LAX offers a better price.
We have just arrived home on the new reconfigured 777-200, and I can confirm that the new seating arrangement is appalling. Heaven help you if you get even a moderately large person sitting beside you. Also, they have removed a toilet on the right side middle, so that all the passengers on the right hand side aisle have only two toilets they can easily access. They are also noisy, you can here them flushing from several rows away, so they must have reduced insulation in an attempt to save weight. The flight attendant told us that they had also reduced the crew count by 3 as well. After 6 trips with AC, we will not be travelling economy with AC again.
So it's same old same old Economy is downsizing with every airline , everyone moans and bitches, but they can only fill about 21 seats of PE on a 777 They could make you stand all the way to LAX and most people would still buy that over a more comfortable seat that they actually have to pay more for Makes me lel
So if you had a choice. a. shorter flight (straight to Vancouver), narrow seats, less legroom AND costs your family $8000 or b. longer flight (via LAX to Canada), slightly wider seats with more leg room AND only costs your family $5000 Which one do you choose ?
Cathay Pacific and a longer flight ......difference in costs was quite substantial. Flying in June and yes cattle class but cost was $1600 each return......compared to Air Canada of $2400 each return ....mmmm Both cattle class I would have chosen Qantas with an upgrade on points however my friend does not operate on FF points at all.......now she is separated from the control freak it may change. Would NEVER EVER fly British Airways .....
The higher price of the Brisbane Vancouver flights is enough to have me looking for alternative options but this new seating lay out would rule AC out all together. Premium economy isn't worth double the price if you are paying for yourself
My daughter came back from Canada last week, went on Qantas via LAX on a Thursday, had 3 seats to herself, returned with her boyfriend on a Tuesday, same story, plenty of spare seats.
Im usually a supporter of direct being best but i am lazy and $3000 is a lot of biscuits! That and the comfort factor make for a tough decision. Kids' ages would be the decider for me regarding convenience
Which is why people will bitch and moan about narrow seats and pitch but still buy the cheapest return fare they can. Believe me, the airlines wouldn't do it if they thought it would in any way undermine their bottom line For me , the journey is a major part of the trip, so I like to do it in some degree of comfort. Not withstanding my 6'5" Mr Legs 1988
I'm slightly taller than that and used to travel exit row or get a points upgrade. But now with kids I'm buying four tickets and kids can't sit exit row. So 500-600 extra per ticket adds up especially if AC are more expensive and more cramped
We enjoyed Cathay Pacific. Stop over in Hong Kong broke up the trip and added an extra flavour to the holiday.
Well, I have a mortgage, pay child support and I'm on a fixed wage. The cost of getting from point A to point B is very important to me. Any money I can 'save' on an airline flight can go against the mortgage. So long as I can squeeze my butt into a seat on a widebody jet I'll go. It's still way better than those old Southern/Northern Service flights I did as a youngster.
Cruisin along, can you recall if Cathay Pacific still include the free stop over option in Hong Kong? (ie no extra cost to flight price if you decided you wanted to stop over). Our prices where very similar to yours as well compared to Air Canada (some years ago now).
Don't worry, just answered my own question in a quick search. Seems like they are charging $20 extra on this ticket (under terms and conditions) if you want to stop over for a day or two in Hong Kong. http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...economy-class-to-vancouver-origin-sydney.html
Flew on that bird in Jan. Good space for economy, but JAL like to run their cabins warm, so you'll only need a t-shirt.
Same situation Harper I try to book 2 exit row seats + the row of 3 behind Or else I wait for the PE specials! @Donza have noted the ANA pitch and legroom also at 34 and 18.5 J* at 30 and 17...that'a @ biiiiiiiiigggg difference on a 9hr flight Can get a flight to Tokyo around New Year about the same price as Jetstar on ANA No Brainer really....and correct me but they also offer 2x23kg to economy passenger luggage and no xs baggage if your bag is within weight and less than 203cm
My usual routine is to be first in the queue to check in whenever I can manage it, and ask for an exit row. Almost always get it, which makes Jetstar tolerable. Still rather be flying ANA to Japan though.
Korean air do the same. Warmest cabin temps i have flown in. My only real gripe about the flight apart from the longer flight. It was uncomfortable temp wise. They were also cheaper than AC by more than 3k so that us a lot of dollars i save for the ski trip esp when i need 6 tickets. It all adds up.
Been looking at flights to North America. The money you save shopping around with a family, can pay for 5 days skiing in Alaska. Which I'm now investigating.
I counted 7 people measuring and conferring over my 185cm Dakine roller from Osaka to Sapporo one time I remember thinking "This cannot be the first time someone has taken a skibag to Hokkaido from Osaka" But it was early/mid 00's ...so maybe not as common then
Just a little rough mudmap volumetric maths...but the difference in personal space between the J* and Japanese carriers 787's economy seating is about 25% given the vertical height is constant
Which, well, in terms of seat height, it really isn't Having flown Tiger on the weekend and found the headrest topping out below shoulder height...
I guess I was thinking more about the distance from the floor to the overhead luggage bins That pic Don-san posted of the JAL seats is pretty enticing
Agree. You know what else would be nice? The tray table being hinged just a couple of cms higher than it always is currently.
Isn't that a joy I particularly like it when the air waitress starts banging the bloody thing onto your femurs as though that will somehow achieve a level feeding platform
I am lucky sometimes.....being only 5'4" my legs fit comfortably in cattle class and my bum has no trouble fitting on the seat .....headrest is higher than I would like but seriously ..I now have a silk and alpaca wrap that doubles as a soft pillow.....Bose noise cancelling headphones with brilliant music and a penchant for good scotch ...... Who cares what seat I am in .......I did a horrific 20 hours back from London once with nothing but the 3 day old clothes and an inflatable pillow donated by some feral next to me......then on returning after more flight changes immediately got on a bus with 60 kids to travel from the QLD border to the snow ....... Harden up peeps ......or do what I did and get a few of life's luxuries to help in times of need.
It would be nice to have retractable femurs and tibias If 20 hrs was horrific for you at 5'4, imagine what it's like at 6'5
