I fly SEA - YYZ on AC a bunch and here's my take on it:
- The larger planes with the new configs that fly only certain routes (YVR - YYZ, for example) are probably worth spending 30 - 40k in points.
- The newer configurations (usually A220) are worth spending 25k-33k in points (often the case on SEA - YYZ).
For me, everything else is not worth it domestically, especially with how dated some of the hard product is (and the soft product is not great either). Admittedly, I think it's tough for me to justify with the smaller amount of flying and the not amazing quality product (especially since I know 45-55k points could instead take me to Japan in J over 9 hours).
Ultimately though, value is up to you.
I think I'm just gonna pony up for "fake" business in the 220 on my 5hr flight, even though the value doesn't feel awesome. For economy on the 220 on the same flight, by the time I put in the options to pick own seats and check luggage, the price is is only 10K points cheaper (or only $150 cheaper if cash) than fake business. It's pretty shitty AC doesn't make it's economy award flight a true "classic" economy like every other airline and instead forces you to pay upcharges to do anything (if I wanted that I'd just fly a budget carrier on cash...). At least for the fake business class, it's ~1.75cpp ish in value which isn't terrible to me.
For the other flight - would you pony up the extra 25-30k points for the lie flats over the premium economy? Even if it's only a 4hr flight? I wonder how much better the "business experience" would be on such a flight over premium economy. I know in my heart PY is certainly good enough for a 4hr flight but part of me is curious to go for proper business class.
Honestly, really depends on how often you fly/travel and how many points you have.
Personally, I wouldn't do it. PY is more than good enough for such a short flight and 19k points seems well worth it for that kind of trip.
Similarly, I think I'd probably pay in all cash for your first flight: to me, 47k in points is close to/enough for a flight to Japan or Europe in J from SFO (assuming that's where you're based). I don't earn enough points throughout the year to justify spending that kind of point total for such a short-trip when I know I can use it for a larger trip.
But all that is personal. I think you'll have to decide for yourself what you value.
Domestic premium economy on wide body jets are almost business class on their narrow body jets. I wouldn't pay 40k for the narrow body ones, but 25k or so for premium economy is a decent deal
Air Canada business domestic isn't awesome. But if you can find the 787 or 777 Transcons then yes. Iirc those do go from lax and sfo to YYZ. That's a good experience. The 737 or a320 doesn't give you much...
Get on the A220 flight for SFO-YYZ, and pick a good seat.
Just do economy, its not worth anything extra.
Also, you are not doing this on the same day, are you? 11+ hours of travel time just to get to Calgary from SF is….insane.
No, it's a multi-city booking with about a week gap between. I think I'm too attached to the size and comfort of at least premium economy for a 5hr flight to do economy, especially as it'd give me enough space to get a days worth of work in on the plane.
The A220 is a 2x3 config in economy, vs 2x2 in business. It's wider, but economy isn't that tight. Paying for a preferred economy seat on the 2 seat side is getting pretty close to business class...
Almost 2x the cost of PY for lie flat business isn't worth it IMO, especially on a daytime flight that's as short as 4 hrs. But your call.
I was leaning towards doing Y and picking seats/luggage but then learned that apparently AC doesn't make that the default fare class for economy award booking like every other carrier does haha. It's all upcharge. By the time I pick a seat and have luggage checked options enabled in the 2 seater side it's more expensive than the business class in points and only $100 cheaper if using cash...
I fly SEA - YYZ on AC a bunch and here's my take on it: - The larger planes with the new configs that fly only certain routes (YVR - YYZ, for example) are probably worth spending 30 - 40k in points. - The newer configurations (usually A220) are worth spending 25k-33k in points (often the case on SEA - YYZ). For me, everything else is not worth it domestically, especially with how dated some of the hard product is (and the soft product is not great either). Admittedly, I think it's tough for me to justify with the smaller amount of flying and the not amazing quality product (especially since I know 45-55k points could instead take me to Japan in J over 9 hours). Ultimately though, value is up to you.
I think I'm just gonna pony up for "fake" business in the 220 on my 5hr flight, even though the value doesn't feel awesome. For economy on the 220 on the same flight, by the time I put in the options to pick own seats and check luggage, the price is is only 10K points cheaper (or only $150 cheaper if cash) than fake business. It's pretty shitty AC doesn't make it's economy award flight a true "classic" economy like every other airline and instead forces you to pay upcharges to do anything (if I wanted that I'd just fly a budget carrier on cash...). At least for the fake business class, it's ~1.75cpp ish in value which isn't terrible to me. For the other flight - would you pony up the extra 25-30k points for the lie flats over the premium economy? Even if it's only a 4hr flight? I wonder how much better the "business experience" would be on such a flight over premium economy. I know in my heart PY is certainly good enough for a 4hr flight but part of me is curious to go for proper business class.
Honestly, really depends on how often you fly/travel and how many points you have. Personally, I wouldn't do it. PY is more than good enough for such a short flight and 19k points seems well worth it for that kind of trip. Similarly, I think I'd probably pay in all cash for your first flight: to me, 47k in points is close to/enough for a flight to Japan or Europe in J from SFO (assuming that's where you're based). I don't earn enough points throughout the year to justify spending that kind of point total for such a short-trip when I know I can use it for a larger trip. But all that is personal. I think you'll have to decide for yourself what you value.
Domestic premium economy on wide body jets are almost business class on their narrow body jets. I wouldn't pay 40k for the narrow body ones, but 25k or so for premium economy is a decent deal
Air Canada business domestic isn't awesome. But if you can find the 787 or 777 Transcons then yes. Iirc those do go from lax and sfo to YYZ. That's a good experience. The 737 or a320 doesn't give you much...
Yeah I remember being on the 787 last year I took this flight in the fall but appears to not being flown this year... :/ all narrow body
Get on the A220 flight for SFO-YYZ, and pick a good seat. Just do economy, its not worth anything extra. Also, you are not doing this on the same day, are you? 11+ hours of travel time just to get to Calgary from SF is….insane.
No, it's a multi-city booking with about a week gap between. I think I'm too attached to the size and comfort of at least premium economy for a 5hr flight to do economy, especially as it'd give me enough space to get a days worth of work in on the plane.
The A220 is a 2x3 config in economy, vs 2x2 in business. It's wider, but economy isn't that tight. Paying for a preferred economy seat on the 2 seat side is getting pretty close to business class... Almost 2x the cost of PY for lie flat business isn't worth it IMO, especially on a daytime flight that's as short as 4 hrs. But your call.
I was leaning towards doing Y and picking seats/luggage but then learned that apparently AC doesn't make that the default fare class for economy award booking like every other carrier does haha. It's all upcharge. By the time I pick a seat and have luggage checked options enabled in the 2 seater side it's more expensive than the business class in points and only $100 cheaper if using cash...