3 Links I Love: Canada Crushes Competition, American May Be Preparing for Basic Economy, The Day Eastern Died

Today’s featured link:
NewLeaf discount airline postpones service, will refund tickets – CBC News
Canadian people are just begging for a true ultra low cost carrier these days, but Canada’s government isn’t helping. Just as one was about to get started, the rules were reviewed. Now the airline may need to get a license even though it’s using an airline that has a license already to operate the flights.

Why? Your guess is as good as mine, but I imagine someone at Air Canada has good friends in the government.

Links I Love

Two for the road:
Fare Class Removal – B Inventory – American Airlines SalesLink
There was a curious move this week when American announced it was removing B class from its inventory. This means nothing to the average traveler since it’s all just hocus-pocus on the back-end, but why is American doing this?

Glad you asked. It’s “for the development of new sales products.” Were I a betting man, I’d say American’s version of Delta’s Basic Economy is on its way.

25 Years Since Eastern Air Lines Folded Its Wings: Personal Stories of That Final Day – AirwaysNews
Eastern shut down 25 years ago. While I have no love for that mess of an airline, this is still a great read about the personal stories of some of the people who were working on the front line that day.

Brett

14 responses to “3 Links I Love: Canada Crushes Competition, American May Be Preparing for Basic Economy, The Day Eastern Died”

Dave C

Jan 22, 2016

The “B” fare class could also be for the upcoming Premium Economy.. which would also make sense as B is traditionally a higher fare price point

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1. Alex Hill
  
  Jan 22, 2016
  
  That’s my alternate guess as well. (I’d give basic economy and premium economy about 45/45 probability each, with the remaining 10 being something else.) If B is for premium economy, I’d assume it would be discount premium economy, with W being full premium economy (since that’s what nearly all other airlines with a W cabin use, including AA for partner-operated, AA-marketed flights with premium economy).
  
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James Burke

Jan 22, 2016

Pretty bummed out re: Newleaf. Was looking forward to going up to visit friends/family in February. At least we didn’t have pre-paid hotel rooms or had bought our Lacrosse tickets. Its not a big deal, since we go up a lot, but still not ideal.
ps – received my refund already. doesn’t seem like a fly-by-night operation.

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maxe

Jan 22, 2016

Dear Cranky:

before you mock Canada, as is a favourite conservative US game, perhaps you should read the CBC article again and interprete it properly, which, alas, is not a conservative US strength…

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1. A
  
  Jan 22, 2016
  
  I didn’t think Cranky was mocking Canada. Since AC is the 800# gorilla north of the border it seems natural to joke that they had a hand in stopping/delaying Newleaf. As someone who has traveled extensively within Canada and to/from the US I’ll be the first to say your airfare borders on robbery compared to what is standard in the US. Westjet included. I’m all for more options for my Canadian friends.
  
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2. Matt B.
  
  Jan 23, 2016
  
  And just what is the ‘proper’ interpretation of the article?
  
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Kia

Jan 22, 2016

25 years later and we are still not sure if Frank Lorenzo had a hand in Easterns demise? Really?

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Richard

Jan 22, 2016

Doesn’t AA already have a basic economy fare in it’s “Choice” fare.

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Jim

Jan 22, 2016

Cranky, could you consider writing an article on the revisions to the Visa Waiver Program and how the government handled them? A lot of people’s travel plans to the US have been disrupted because of this, and no warning was given.

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maxe

Jan 22, 2016

To A:

Of course the Canadian flying public is asking for even lower air fares. Isn’t everybody wanting something for nothing, until it gets explained to them that costs have to be paid, aircraft are usually better maintained than in the US (I know, I worked in the industry until retirement), that staff gets at least decently paid, contrary to you-know-where, that they have health insurance and pensions, contrary to you-know-where. Of course, all that makes us communists now, doesn’t it? At least that’s what we hear once too often from down south, the salt of the earth…

Of course, since it is alright to consider it a joke when things don’t go down well, consider this a joke.

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1. Joey Jaidee
  
  Jan 22, 2016
  
  There might be some kernels of truth what maxe says BUT there are large amounts of Canadians who, when given any choice at all, choose to travel across the border for cheaper airfares. The fares and the taxes on said fares are punitive and many Canadians are voting with their feet.
  
  BTW you reveal yourself when you make it a conservative , progressive thing. You might want to clear that huge chip on your shoulder.
  
  BTW x 2 Every time I had the chance to visit Canada, I have enjoyed my time there. Canada is a nice country that has a lot going for it…..
  
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2. CZBB
  
  Jan 22, 2016
  
  And let’s not forget that Canadian airports are only funded by themselves and not by large federal, provincial or municipal grants like is common in the USA. That’s why AIF’s (PFCs) are higher in Canada.
  
  I’m fed up hearing about the amount of Canadian tax on a ticket, and remind them to look at a YVR-LAX return ticket where there is considerably more US tax on it than Canadian.
  
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tharanga

Jan 23, 2016

The article with memories from the Eastern (and other) employees was touching.

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DougYWG

Jan 23, 2016

I doubt if Air Canada had anything to do with this. The story hit the press and it seems to me that the bureaucrats got cold feet. Canada had a low-cost carrier. WestJet started out following Southwest’s lead but has long since lost the plot. They look more like Air Canada every day. Which, I suppose, is good news for Air Canada. And let’s be clear – the reason 5 million Canadians drive across the border every year to fly out of U.S. airports is that they are flying to U.S. points and thereby avoid the huge tax burden imposed on passengers flying into the U.S. from foreign countries i.e. Canada. Now that is not very neighbourly, is it?

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