Queens Express
Welcome to my report on Air Canada's E190 to LaGuardia. The route is flown multiple times daily with a fleet mix of the 320 family and the Embraer. Slotted for a 15:20 departure, the aircraft which was scheduled had maintenance issues which then delayed the flight. The majority of passengers, excluding myself were placed on other departing NYC flights, as they had no checked luggage. Air Canada said little to no information on the new time of departure which left traveller confused. All in all, after shifting gates about 3 times, we were on to NYC and I was awarded an upgrade compliments AC.
Flight Details
Aircraft Registration: C-FMZR
Aircraft Type: Embraer E190
Delivered: 2007
STD: 15:30
ATD: 19:20
ETA:16:48
ATA: 21:00
Departure
Coming closer to our scheduled departure time, gate agents allowed us to know that we were delayed. At first it was by one hour, which quickly turned into two, then three hours. In the mean time I took the time out to spot some aircraft from Terminal 1. There was a lovely selection of the AC fleet parked at their respective gates.
As we neared the third delayed hour, the sun began to set as evident in the photos.
Soon after, an announcement was made for the remaining passengers to make their way to the gate. To my surprise I, along with 7 others were upgraded by the kind AC agents.
The cabin was quite nice as there was also a great seat pitch on the E190. These aircraft had not yet been refitted with the new AC interiors.
As this flight was about 4 hours late, catering was also limited but the cabin grew was able to get enough meals on board for those who wanted.
Some views from Seat 3A. ACA112 from YVR.
After about another 35 minutes on the ground, AC716 taxiied out and took off for LGA
Wine and Seared Tuna was my chosen meal
Interesting to see my home country in another AC magazine for the second month in a row
Decent and approach into LGA came quickly!
Our E190 at the gate preparing for the return flight to YYZ
As LGA was under construction in Feb of 2018, Uber was quite difficult to get as we had to be transferred by bus to a remote parking lot.
Nice night views of Toronto at take off, and of the bridges of I-678 and I-295 before landing !
Too bad Canada does not (yet?) mandate compensations when flights are badly delayed, like in the EU.
Thanks for sharing !
Thanks. Actually, I remembered being reimbursed for an AC flight being overweight last year which then bumped me onto a later flight. I'm not sure about delayed flights as of yet, however.
Yet is correct. Requirements of compensation and rebooking on other carriers are included in new recommended regulations. Now I guess it just depends how effective AC and WS are in lobbying against those recommendations....
Thanks for this FR.
Was the upgrade some sort of compensation by AC or did you also get a voucher ?
The tuna salad looks nice but a desert would be welcome.
I think it was compensation. In respect to vouchers I'm not sure if anyone got them as I was all about Terminal 1 spotting other aircraft! :)
Since everything was last minute, I assume that was the most catering could have done seeing that we were seated and already were late for pushback.
A nice surprise to get the upgrade as a make-good. Were you and the seven other upgraders the only ones left for the flight, or were you upgraded based on status?
On the other hand, very odd for AC to have that long a delay the hourly (or nearly-hourly) Rapidair YYZ-LGA route. Surprised they didn't pull something else in to cover for this plane.
As I've switched my loyalties to Delta, I have to say I really appreciate "for real" food on the short 350-mile flight down to New York. Even if it's a light meal, it sure gives it a lot more premium feel than the snack basket being passed around, which is standard on DL/UA/AA for flights of less than 800 miles. Was there a choice of meals? I seem to recall these short J routes on AC having just only two snack options -- have it, or don't have it.
Happy flying, and thanks for sharing!