Last week (in 2014), I flew on Air Canada rouge for the first time. They began operating on July 1, 2013 with a start-up fleet of two Airbus A319 aircraft and two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. By the end of this month, they’ll operate a total of 27 aircraft including 19 Airbus A319s and 8 Boeing 767-300ERs.
At launch, their planes serviced a network of 14 routes flying from Toronto and Montreal to Europe and the Caribbean but they’re now up to a total of 52 routes from Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver—including 11 to Europe.
I recently flew them roundtrip from Los Angeles to Calgary in both classes. Here are 10 things you need to know about flying Air Canada rouge:
1. Same check-in as Air Canada
Although Air Canada rouge is a separate airline from Air Canada, you still check-in for your flight as if you’re flying Air Canada.
2. Cool flight attendant uniforms
All the Air Canada rouge flight attendants that I came across were young and attractive, and sporting funky uniforms that included a gray pin-striped trilby hat. The look was created by Maybelline and Redken and their burgundy Fluevog shoes were designed and manufactured by Canada’s own Fluevog Shoes. Rob Lowe famously made fun of their uniforms but I like them—especially the hat.
3. The planes aren’t brand-spanking-new
I was expecting Air Canada rouge’s planes to be brand-spanking-new since the airline is only a year old, but they’re actually just converted Air Canada planes. According to Renee Smith-Valade, Vice President of Customer Experience, “the aircrafts Air Canada rouge operate (the Airbus A319 and the Boeing 767-300ER) have been transferred from Air Canada’s fleet. Air Canada rouge aircraft are restyled inside and out. They have modern charcoal and burgundy cabin interiors, featuring new Slimline seats with a streamlined profile, and branding accents throughout the cabin (e.g. bulkheads, curtains) and onboard service elements (e.g. tray liners in Premium rouge). Both aircraft types sport a sleek white, red and burgundy livery that clearly establishes Air Canada rouge as part of the Air Canada family.”
4. There are no built-in entertainment systems
Although Air Canada rouge’s planes don’t have Air Canada’s seatback entertainment systems, they do have a very cool app that you need to download BEFORE getting on the plane. Air Canada rouge aircraft are all equipped with Player, a next generation in-flight entertainment system that streams unlimited live entertainment to customers’ personal electronic devices. Customers should bring their own fully-charged laptop or iPad, iPod, or iPhone and download the latest Air Canada app (from the Apple App Store). For those with a laptop, make sure you have Adobe Flash Player installed. Availability on other platforms like Android is coming this fall.
5. You can rent an iPad
If you don’t own a tablet, you can rent an iPad on-board for $10 (free for Premium rouge passengers). They hand them out after takeoff.
6. There are no electrical outlets
Rouge planes don’t have electrical or USB outlets to charge your devices so be sure to have everything fully charged before getting onboard.
7. Coach seats are TIGHT
I flew on rouge’s A319 and the seats are really tight in coach. The A319s are configured with 3×3 seating and they only have 29 inches of pitch (distance between the back of your seat and the back of the seat in front). In comparison: American Airlines has 30 inches, United has 31, Virgin America has 32 and regular Air Canada has between 31-35. The good news is rouge does have 18-inch wide seats, which are wider than American’s and Virgin America’s. FYI: On rouge’s other style of aircraft, the 767, which flies longer distances, they offer 30 inches of pitch in economy.
8. You can buy food
Just like on Air Canada, you can buy food—including pizza—on rouge on flights in coach. But on their flights to Europe, they do offer complimentary meals and non-alcoholic beverages. FYI: Food pic is from Premium rouge.
9. Premium rouge (UPDATED on May 19, 2016)
Air Canada rouge let me know that after I took my original flight that they improved their premium product on their Airbus 319 aircraft. The premium cabin in Air Canada rouge’s fleet of 20 Airbus 319 aircraft has been converted from 3×3 seating configuration with a blocked middle seat to two side-by-side larger seats in a 2×2 configuration. This seating offers the same or more space than equivalent seating on Air Canada rouge’s Boeing 767 aircraft. They also increased carry-on space throughout its Airbus A319 fleet by 30 per cent with the installation of new overhead bin doors – dubbed “pillow doors” because of their curved shape – which allow carry-on items to be stowed more efficiently. In addition, they also have full power charging capacity with a 110-volt power plug and a high-powered USB port at every seat.
10. They write the flight number on landing cards
This was a first for me…When the flight attendants handed out the landing cards for Canadian immigration, the airline and flight number were already filled out. When I asked the flight attendant if they always do this they said they try to on all rouge flights. That’s a nice touch.
Because Air Canada decided to pack in way too many seats on this plane I would only take Rouge again on a short flight or if I was upfront in Premium Rouge. How about you? Have you flown Rouge?
Crappy airline, crappy experience, delays both ways stuck on the ramp in their shitty overpacked aircraft. No legroom, no entertainment. Firgging annoying French announcements. I hate being treated like crap.
What does it mean if someone is Rogue?
1. : a dishonest or worthless person : scoundrel. : a mischievous person : scamp. 3. : vagrant, tramp.
overvalue
Avoid
– uncomfortable
– usually delayed
Last week my daughter and I flew AC Rouge from Budapest time to Toronto. My daughter was sick so we up-graded to premium so she could be more comfortable. We were shocked at both the cost to up-grade (over $5000) and the condition of the aircraft. Not only was it old and shabby and the washroom wasn’t clean, it was freezing. The thin little blanket was no help.
Immediately after take-off, when our ears were plugged, the attendant came to take orders. We couldn’t hear him and asked if it was for beverages and he said yes. I didn’t want one but my daughter ordered one. Later on we realized everyone but us was eating. We asked another attendant when we would get our meals and were told we didn’t ask for any. I have diet restrictions and could only eat the chicken which they were out of. The attendant kindly offered me hers but I would have to wait 30 minutes. I did finally get meal.
During the 8+ hr flight beverages were served twice in our section while the attendants in economy were constantly coming up for more water, tea, coffee and pop.
The only positives were the larger seats and more leg room than in economy. Needless to say, we are never ever flying Rouge again.
I AM VERY CONCERNED. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE FLYING VANCOUVER TO HONOLULU ON ROUGE 763 AIRCRAFT. AFTER READING ALL OF THE BAD REVIEWS I WISH I WOULD HAVE NOT BOOKED BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS TOO LATE. I’M PAST THE 24-HOUR WINDOW. CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THERE ARE SEATS ON THIS AIRCRAFT THAT WOULD BE RECOMMENDED THAT WOULD HAVE EXTRA LEG ROOM. I’VE READ THAT SEATS 27 A & C ARE NOT RECOMMENDED. MY HUSBAND IS 6’2. I KNOW WE CAN UPGRADE TO THE BUSINESS CLASS BUT THAT IS AN EXTRA $900 PER PERSON.
Hi i am 6,3” and I just flew 8.5 hrs from Toronto to Zagreb on rouge and it was a tight fit but at least the flight was on time I upgraded to the premium seat for the return trip for 100.00 cdn because that flight is over 9.5hrs.