AC Offers Lie-Flat Seats

[Kip Powick]

Air Canada to offer premium price lie-flat seats on some flights

Routes with the perk will include overnight daily flights from Vancouver, Los Angeles and San Francisco to Toronto, the airline says.

Air Canada Signature Service includes lie-flat seats and other added amenities, such as valet service in a BMW across the Toronto-Pearson airport tarmac to connecting flights.  (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

By The Canadian Press

Tues., April 17, 2018

 

 

MONTREAL—Air Canada will soon be offering lie-flat seats on some of its non-stop flights within Canada and the United States for customers willing to pay a premium.

The airline says these lie-flat seats are available for those flying in Air Canada Signature Class, the premium cabin of its wide-body aircraft.

The new service, which is available today for international customers, will be offered starting June 1 for select flights within North America.

 

Routes with the lie-flat seats will include overnight daily flights from Vancouver, Los Angeles and San Francisco to Toronto, the airline says.

This new service, branded as Air Canada Signature Service, will also include other added amenities such as valet service in a BMW across the Toronto-Pearson airport tarmac to connecting flights for full-fare premium cabin customers who qualify, starting later in 2018.

Benjamin Smith, president of passenger airlines for Air Canada, says its premium customers travelling on longer-flight itineraries place a high value on convenience and comfort.

 

[Innuendo]

A dash across the ramp in a BMW ???       Wow,  be still my beating heart.

[dagger]

Interestingly, Calin said in a speech - or was asked by media afterwards, I can't remember - that AC might be interested in the new Boeing 797 - the mid market plane Boeing seems likely to launch.

[Seeker]

7 hours ago, Innuendo said:

A dash across the ramp in a BMW ???       Wow,  be still my beating heart.

I sense a hint of sarcasm but I wouldn't dismiss this service as useless.  A ride in a BMW is, by itself, a piece of fluff but it necessarily involves someone to meet you, escort you directly to your connecting flight or the Maple Leaf lounge nearest your connecting flight and gives a way to avoid trudging throughout the terminal dodging wheelchairs, electric golf carts and families.  I'm not suggesting that there is anything wrong with wheelchairs, go-carts and families but being able to avoid them is definitely value-added!

[acsidestick]

These aren’t your average BMW 3-5 series.  They are BMW 750Xdrive long wheel base, the version used if your going to cut it to make a stretch limousine.  The trunk space is enormous.  Reclining rear seats, TVs, electronic footrest, uniformed (suits) drivers.  You can be taken from private check in directly to the airplane seat, no waiting area.  The trials were very positive.

[Guest]

I wonder if AC will have the same problem. 

Airline bans fat people from flying business class

By Lauren McMah, News.com.au

March 21, 2018 | 12:43pm | Updated

 

Modal Trigger

iStockphoto

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY:

Well, this is a little awkward.

Thai Airways has come up with a plan to install seatbelt airbags in business class cabins on its new 787 Dreamliner jets.

The move is good news for nervous flyers, but it’s bad news for those carrying some extra weight around their waists — because they simply won’t fit.

Passengers with a waistline of more than 56 inches will not be able to fasten the new seatbelt airbags in a way that meets safety standards, according to the vice president of Thai Airways’ safety, security and standards department, Prathana Pattanasiri, the Bangkok Post reports.

The new airbags will also make flying difficult for parents of young children, who will now be forced into cattle class if they need to travel with their kids sitting on their laps.

The seatbelts can’t be extended because of the airbag mechanism, according to the Post.

The airline has imposed a waist size limit on passengers and banned passengers carrying infants on their laps.

Thai Airways fitted the new seatbelt airbags on business class seats on its 787 Dreamliner fleet. The airline added two new Dreamliners to its fleet in Se

[blues deville]

8 hours ago, seeker said:

I sense a hint of sarcasm but I wouldn't dismiss this service as useless.  A ride in a BMW is, by itself, a piece of fluff but it necessarily involves someone to meet you, escort you directly to your connecting flight or the Maple Leaf lounge nearest your connecting flight and gives a way to avoid trudging throughout the terminal dodging wheelchairs, electric golf carts and families.  I'm not suggesting that there is anything wrong with wheelchairs, go-carts and families but being able to avoid them is definitely value-added!

So you get to exit the jetway perhaps down one of those adjoining metal staircases, in the dark, cold, wind, rain or snow to a waiting BMW which will not have priority over aircraft movements. And who is driving these cars around the apron? Sounds like a lawsuit in the waiitng. Uber stupid.

Who comes up with this stuff?

[Seeker]

6 minutes ago, blues deville said:

So you get to exit the jetway perhaps down one of those adjoining metal staircases, in the dark, cold, wind, rain or snow to a waiting BMW which will not have priority over aircraft movements. And who is driving these cars around the apron? Sounds like a lawsuit in the waiitng. Uber stupid.

Who comes up with this stuff?

Not exactly how it goes.  There are dedicated exits on ground level - nice sliding doors and escalators to get there.  I think the original intent of these was for passenger loading to buses for the infield terminals.  The BMWs are clean, nicely heated or air conditioned.  Of course they don't have priority over aircraft but they don't need it since they simply follow around the perimeter of the terminal and don't need to cross any aircraft movement areas.  The drivers have airside driving permits and are AC employees - never go much above 30 km/hr so I think the lawsuit issue is small.  BMW provides the cars for a "good rate" which I will not disclose here.  The passengers feel special since they are being escorted to their connecting flight and get to tell the story about being driven around airside in a $150K BMW.  This is not a new service - it's been going on for years already and, by all accounts, is very well-received.  You might think it's hokey but the passengers who use it  - love it.

[blues deville]

I don’t think it’s hokey, just unnecessary and not every gate is designed as you describe. Also, a BMW ride at 30kph? Sweet. Sign me up. 

Most gates are like I mentioned and I’ve dodged a few flying garbage bags as I was running up and down those jetway stairs to do a walk-around.

 If I was looking to improve customer satisfaction, connections and on time performance, I’d focus on hiring more ramp/ground staff so inbound (and outbound) flights can stay on schedule and keep the other 99% happy too. Always a problem at YYZ. 

[J.O.]

Next we'll see the return of helicopter service to downtown for the high rollers. They had it in YYZ back in the 80's.

BTW, the BMW thing isn't exactly new. I saw it two + years ago when I last sat in the jump seat at AC.

[Seeker]

16 minutes ago, blues deville said:

 Also, a BMW ride at 30kph? Sweet. Sign me up. 

 

Why do you keep doing that?  Twice you've posted sarcastic comments about the concept and the BMW and twice I've told you that it's not about the car and not even really about the ride to the gate - it's a personal service available only to a select few passengers.  Yeah, we get it, you think it's pointless and stupid but the passengers who use it  - love it!  Do you think I'm lying to you?  If so, I guess we're done.    If you believe me, why do you feel the need to continue dissing it if it's clearly something the passengers value?

[blues deville]

22 minutes ago, seeker said:

Why do you keep doing that?  Twice you've posted sarcastic comments about the concept and the BMW and twice I've told you that it's not about the car and not even really about the ride to the gate - it's a personal service available only to a select few passengers.  Yeah, we get it, you think it's pointless and stupid but the passengers who use it  - love it!  Do you think I'm lying to you?  If so, I guess we're done.    If you believe me, why do you feel the need to continue dissing it if it's clearly something the passengers value?

Where did I say pointless and stupid? Your words, not mine. 

[Seeker]

2 hours ago, blues deville said:

Where did I say pointless and stupid? Your words, not mine. 

Really?  Do I have to cut and paste your posts into this one to show you?  OK.

 

"Where did I say it was pointless?"

      "I don’t think it’s hokey, just unnecessary and not every gate is designed as you describe."  

"Where did I say it was stupid?"

       Sounds like a lawsuit in the waiitng. Uber stupid.

 

Thesaurus.com lists pointless and unnecessary as synonyms.

[blues deville]

17 minutes ago, seeker said:

Really?  Do I have to cut and paste your posts into this one to show you?  OK.

 

"Where did I say it was pointless?"

      "I don’t think it’s hokey, just unnecessary and not every gate is designed as you describe."  

"Where did I say it was stupid?"

       Sounds like a lawsuit in the waiitng. Uber stupid.

 

Thesaurus.com lists pointless and unnecessary as synonyms.

Haha. My apologies. I guess you’re correct but until I am advised otherwise I’m entitled to my opinion on the topic. I know what can happen in a heart beat and airport ramp areas are a dangerous place to have passengers even if they are in the safely tucked into the back of a BMW. Take a ride around the bowels of LHR and you’d wished you had walked out.

[UpperDeck]

I have been on a few flights sitting nearby " famous people" up front. They did not get on..or off...the aircraft in the same manner as the rest of us " plebes".

I'm guessing they appreciated the perqs.

[acsidestick]

Many of the people using the service are flying too far for their Helicopter or Business Jet to get them there, and so are “forced” to use an airline to get them there, like when the President of Deutchbank and his four VPs need to get to Melbourne.  Others are so famous that they are use to coming in the “back door” of arenas, venues, restaurants through-the-kitchen etc.  Walking up a Jetway is something nobody else gets to do, except they do it with someone carrying their luggage.  Others may not be as famous, or as rich, but love the idea of having people wonder who they are.  

For a myriad of reasons, the service is First Class and very well received.

 

[Jaydee]

 

An Italian manufacturing firm is hoping to help airlines cram even more people onto their planes with its new idea for “increased upright passenger position” seating.

Oh good!

The Skyrider 2.0 — a design proposed by Aviointeriors and unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 in Hamburg — is billed by the company as an “innovative seat” which would allow for an “ultra-high density” of passengers in the cabin area, per press materials.

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/04/17/new-upright-airplane-seats-would-allow-for-ultra-high-density-flights-manufacturer-says.html

[boestar]

11 hours ago, blues deville said:

Haha. My apologies. I guess you’re correct but until I am advised otherwise I’m entitled to my opinion on the topic. I know what can happen in a heart beat and airport ramp areas are a dangerous place to have passengers even if they are in the safely tucked into the back of a BMW. Take a ride around the bowels of LHR and you’d wished you had walked out.

Been driving on Airport ramps for decades and yes in YYZ.  While there are dangers they are few and far between.  A properly trained driver knows what to look for.  I had a "D" AVOP for 20+ years so could drive anywhere on the airfield (obviously with permission and radio contact) Not once was I involved in an incident while driving.  Witnessed a few but all were related to a bad or inattentive driver.  2 resulted in grounded aircraft and Major repairs.

Risk is minimal.  Besides dont you think the lawyers required a risk assessment prior to offering the service

[Geminoid]

Looking at YVR-YYZ fares in July, it appears that the new service adds more than $300 to the existing top business class fare. That's a hefty premium.  I hope it sells or it will be full of standbys.

[Seeker]

2 hours ago, Jaydee said:

 

An Italian manufacturing firm is hoping to help airlines cram even more people onto their planes with its new idea for “increased upright passenger position” seating.

Oh good!

The Skyrider 2.0 — a design proposed by Aviointeriors and unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 in Hamburg — is billed by the company as an “innovative seat” which would allow for an “ultra-high density” of passengers in the cabin area, per press materials.

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/04/17/new-upright-airplane-seats-would-allow-for-ultra-high-density-flights-manufacturer-says.html

As a man, I have to say those seats look really uncomfortable - looks like a medieval torture device!  Okay, okay, I confess, please let me stand up!

[blues deville]

3 hours ago, boestar said:

Been driving on Airport ramps for decades and yes in YYZ.  While there are dangers they are few and far between.  A properly trained driver knows what to look for.  I had a "D" AVOP for 20+ years so could drive anywhere on the airfield (obviously with permission and radio contact) Not once was I involved in an incident while driving.  Witnessed a few but all were related to a bad or inattentive driver.  2 resulted in grounded aircraft and Major repairs.

Risk is minimal.  Besides dont you think the lawyers required a risk assessment prior to offering the service

I’m quite sure a risk assessment was done before providing this service. However, ramp and gates areas will always be a dangerous place. Here are three recent incidents at YYZ.

 

[Seeker]

All of those incidents happened in the aircraft manoeuvring area - a little different from the controlled vehicle lanes, wouldn't you say?

[blues deville]

35 minutes ago, seeker said:

All of those incidents happened in the aircraft manoeuvring area - a little different from the controlled vehicle lanes, wouldn't you say?

Not really. I would say at YYZ (and every airport) there are controlled vehicle lanes which intersect with gate, apron and other areas occupied by parked or moving aircraft. Two of these recent YYZ photo incidents occurred very close to their respective gates. One involved a serious uncontrolled fire and according to the reports of the incident could have been even more serious.

 

[Seeker]

4 minutes ago, blues deville said:

One involved a serious uncontrolled fire and according to the reports of the incident could have been even more serious.

Yeah, could have been but wasn't.  How many of the hundreds of fuel trucks, catering trucks, baggage tugs, maintenance vehicles or Brinks trucks got caught up in any of those incidents?  None of them!  Look if the airport authority and various insurance providers feel it's safe to load 50 passengers is a lightweight bus and drive them around airside while they'll all standing I doubt there's any concern worth worrying about for someone being shuttled in a BMW - probably greater risk walking through the terminal from the golf cart drivers.

[blues deville]

4 minutes ago, seeker said:

Yeah, could have been but wasn't.  How many of the hundreds of fuel trucks, catering trucks, baggage tugs, maintenance vehicles or Brinks trucks got caught up in any of those incidents?  None of them!  Look if the airport authority and various insurance providers feel it's safe to load 50 passengers is a lightweight bus and drive them around airside while they'll all standing I doubt there's any concern worth worrying about for someone being shuttled in a BMW - probably greater risk walking through the terminal from the golf cart drivers.

Seeker you can continue your point of view as you wish but I think we have to agree to disagree.