Great post.tequilla wrote: ↑ >>Unfortunately, word of mouth has so far not put them entirely out of business.
Why you want them out of business? You like them... not, ok, do not fly with them.
Pay more, fly ACV. Drive SW and TS out of business -- and pay monopoly ACV 2-3 time more.
>> For those that will say that they've flown either one and never had any problems
>> or issues, count yourself as lucky. Even in Russian Roulette, sooner or later,
>> you're going to hit the "jackpot".
Sooner or later one can get a problem with AC, WJ, etc.
Yes, we can critique occasional not-perfect service, but
we pay less for this. A soon as ratio quality/price is
acceptable, the business is viable.
Cheers!
In terms of “airlines” Air Canada is our flag carrier and the largest in terms destinations served, # of flights, fleet size etc. Air Canada Vacations and AC Rouge were created solely to compete with the likes of Transat, Sunwing who are not airlines but charters/tour operators (and other defunct carriers like Skyservice, Canada 3000). Believe it or not, the tour operator business model is more profitable then running an airline.
Sunwing isn’t going anywhere (despite people wondering how they are still in business or wondering why). They are a subsidiary of TUI (THE largest tour operator in the world): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TUI_Group
They not only own aircraft/ tour operators/ travel agencies but actually OWN resorts and are majority stakeholders in a few others big names not even listed in the link. Their contracts are unreal (due to their buying power) and they have exclusives for a lot of resorts that it’s not even worth contracting knowing your competitor will be able to sell for MUCH lower (if that tells your anything from someone who works for the “biggest” airline serving Canada). Example; Blue Diamond Hotels (Royalton / Memories / Starfish) is brought to you by the likes of Sunwing/backed by TUI. Air Canada Vacations (after 2-3 years of negotiations) now offers the competitors resorts- WHY? Because they have to just to stay competitive and relevant.
AC has a monopoly on many routes but has chosen to focus on being an airline first and foremost and that should be “frustrating” for the average Canadian wondering why Sunwing/Transat is still in business. AC has allowed the charters to eat their lunch and even offered them dinner too. Sunwing offers seasonal (direct) service from smaller airports that are served by AC/Jazz (think London, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Sault St Marie and others all over Canada). As a consumer if you are booking a winter trip down south would you rather fly from Timmins through Toronto on connections OR fly direct even with Sunwing? Now factor in (Timmins-Toronto is typically RT $200ish on a good day + the cost of the Toronto- Caribbean flight RT $500+ in high season). AC has to basically give away the seats being sold as a package to even somewhat compete with the direct flights being offered on a product they don’t even have contracts with.
Personally I would not be surprised down the line if Transat is one day also purchased by TUI. Similar things have happened in other European markets. And Transat is def the weaker link these days in terms of the tour operators/charters (Not saying they are in financial trouble or going anywhere anytime soon).
So ya long story short I will stand by statement. For a package vacation like this - pick your poison they are all the same.