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?
I didn’t now anything about Air Canada Rouge until I got on a plane from LA to Vancouver and suddenly felt incredibly claustrophobic. I’m a frequent traveller and we travel with kids. I couldn’t understand how my three year olds legs could easily kick the seat in front of him,just when he move slightly around in his seat. Then I realized that air canada had launched this separate airline. It’s deceiving cause right up until you get on the plane you think it is a regular Air Canada flight. Then you sit in your seat and the guy in front reclines and he’s literally in your lap. Did I mention, I’m 5’4! I felt to sorry for the 6ft guy beside me. Thank god he had the isle seat but he could not have been comfortable. I know understand why there are so many articles in the news lately about passengers getting into fights on planes because they recline their seats. I wonder if there is a correlation?! Luckily my husband was behind me, but I didn’t have the heart to recline it on him given that I knew that if I was uncomfortable with the space, he definitely would be too.
I think anyone who flies this airline should kindly not recline their seat, out of curtesy for the person behind. But what garbage to even have to suggest that!
The seats are not only tight they are terrible. I fly air canada a lot and i will not fly rouge again. my knees are in the seat ahead of me and i am only 6 feet tall. they sell this seat at the same rate as competitors so we will fly united from now on unless it is a regular a/c plane. If you want to get some work done on the plane…don’t even think about it. Terrible product…but i guess AC get 12 more seats of profit.
Do not travel on this plane.
Two chances of me flying with Air Canada, in particular their Rubbish, er, I mean Rouge product. None and none.
As an AC super elite that avoids Rouge as much as possible (ie to get to vegas I now fly to la and take southwest or united to LAS), I unfortunately have flown rouge many times. I was on one of their first flights, before they even had the chance to upgrade the old Air Mexicana planes with their interior, and it was the worst flight experience I’ve ever had. While the flight staff have slowly improved, it still boggles my kind at what a poor experience Rouge offers.
I agree with one of the above comments – this is simply AC to lower their union costs by hiring non-unionized flight crew. I understand they tried to also include the pilots in this, but backed off due to fear of backlash, so the pilots are regular ac union pilots.
Two things are extremely disappointing for me:
1) none of the cost savings are past on to the customer. Its one thing getting bargain basement service/seat pitch/etc when you pay bargain basement prices, but Rouge isn’t cheap.
2) there’s no reason for the service to be as bad as it is. It has taken over 45 min to get a drink in their premium / business section. Boggles the mind.
I fly over 150k miles per year, and the first time I actually lost my patience on a flight was in this airline, when I was stuck in the last row and someone kept reclining their seat (it actually hit me every time).
I write this in hopes ac takes notice (I have given them feedback dozens of times). My wish is that they:
A) train their flight staff properly
B) lower their economy prices to be on par with transat and other charters
C) offer choice by not converting entire flight routes to Rouge.
Bottom line, I will never fly Rouge economy again, and suggest you don’t unless you get a really low price and be prepared for a terrible charter-like experience.
Where did this non-unionized idea come from?
Rouge FA’s are represented by the same CUPE local as the mainline FA’s. They are certainly unionized.
i agree and have made a few trips every year since the 60s but now fly westjet. the airbus is way beyond what anyone should expect. i would sooner pay a few more dollars and not feel like a sardine
Hate the hats. I find it looks awkward and gets in the way of the attendants’ tasks. The attendants have to hold their heads at weird angles just to look at you from under the brim. They then end up taking them off for in flight work and to keep their hair in place you see these childlike colourful headbands on women who are trying to pull off a polished look. On the aircraft I rode, all the attendants are super young and many inexperienced. They had to call in help several times for simple tasks. Please drop the hats and the ageism Air Canada Rouge.
DITTO!
Agreed that this is complete bull. We purchased “business class” tickets only to discover upon receiving our confirmation that it was a Rouge flight – why are they priced the same? There should be differentiated pricing given that I’m just getting a slightly better economy seat. Air Canada is the worst.
I flew with them from Manhester to Toronto and it was hell. Seat pitch is far too small for a transatlantic flight. Shame, as I quit liked everything else.
There is only one thing you need to know about flying on Air Canada Rouge……DON’T!!!
All I can say about Rouge is that I got Rouged and will be flying anything but Air Canada. I’m also a Super Elite and was disgusted with Air Canada’s underhandedness in selling Air Canada flights and then changing them to Rouge without notifying the customer. I paid for a Rolex, but got a Timex instead. Never again on Air Canada will I book as you don’t know what you will be getting.
Super Elite never flying Air Canada again??? BS. Have fun on WestJet or Transat.
This I have suspected myself. WE were in Europe off season coming back in January we got a very tight seat, both of us are small stature, not overweight. From Toronto to Ottawa we got the Sunwing flight, what a difference in the size of the seats! Imagine scrunched up from Zurich to Toronto on the regular AC flight and got a Sunwing very comfy seated aircraft from Toronto to Ottawa. I am inclined to fly Lufthansa. I am more and more disappointed in AC and I could go on and on about the lost items that was promised to us and was never found although we just vacated the airplane!
I was trying to edit the above but there is no edit button. What I want to say that I am sure AC changed the aircraft and gave us a Rouge aircraft coming back from Zurich in January. It is a shame.
Worst airline experience I have ever had. I agree with the comment above. I actually cancelled my ticket and am using westjet on the return flight, and I can’t stand that airline either. They’re getting on my ‘forever banned’ list. In the future I will fly westjet in Canada and AA to the US.
From what little I have read, it appears “Rouge” is little more than Air Canada’s attempt at running a business without unions, and lowering costs. If this is the case, then where’s the cost advantage for the customer–I don’t see it? Smoke and mirrors…
Rouge employees belong to the same union as Air Canada main line flight attendants.
WRONG!
I’m an fa for Rouge. We belong to CUPE (same as Air Canada FAs).
Interesting uniforms! I’m sure it’ll do better than what I have experienced in Indonesia. I went on the plane and the seat I was in was broken. The tray infront of me was broken. The next seat I went to had a broken arm rest. I’m not saying that these problems are going to bring a plane down, but damn it’s a little worrying to fly when regular maintenance isn’t done!
That aeroplane food has also made me hungry. Sadly.. I need to eat!
I agree completely with Ken Kai’s comments regarding the condition of the aircraft interiors. I flew last year from YYZ to LAS return on one of their two A319’s at the time. When I tried to raise the headrest of my seat, it came off in my hand and maintenance had to be called. Fortunately we had not departed the gate at the time
Point # 7 re “tight” seats is an understatement. If you’re a 6′ or taller, you cannot fit comfortably in the seats on their 319 aircraft. If you’re tall (I’m 6’4″), you simply will not fit. When I expressed concern about seating before my first flight, I was told by Rouge to pay extra for their “Plus” or “Premium” options. Then, Air Canada management said that Rouge’s horrible reputation re seat comfort was because their customers were too stupid to understand what “leisure” carrier seating is supposed to be. Fail.
No comments in the article re pricing. Based on my flying out of Calgary, they’re selling a discount carrier product (think Allegiant or Spirit, definitely not like main Air Canada) but pricing it at a hefty premium (identical to their non-discount competitors). You don’t get what you pay for.
Costs to upgrade to “Premium” at time of check in, in my experience, are ridiculously high — particularly given that what they call business class on the 319 is really just extra legroom with a free meal.
Use caution when booking any Air Canada flight to what might even be remotely classified as a vacation destination. So far this year, they’ve surprised untold numbers of customers by “Rouging” mainline flights that they’d already purchased — resulting in a significant downgrade in service, zero compensation in return (unless you choose to cancel outright) and often major changes to flight schedules. If your pre-existing AC reservations get Rouged, it will be painful.
Wishing I had read this last year before I flew from Toronto to London Heathrow with Rouge, really dreadful I upgraded both ways thinking this would make for a comfortable trip , couldn’t be more wrong and it was not cheap. Both flights were the two worst I have ever experienced , in many years of travel with different airlines and countries. I am not tall but was really uncomfortable even with upgrade, the seats are too narrow and the arm rests do not lift up and are a solid block between seats . No in seat/flight entertainment , why would I wish to hold an ipad for the journey? The crew were really inexperienced , with zero people skills. I asked when we would be landing and was told soon ( I felt like a child asking are we there yet) …..had to smile 1.5 hours later we were still in the air,Flights with Rouge should come with a warning ‘at your own risk’I wrote to Air Canada and the reply was simply sorry to hear you didn’t like it.