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?
Wow most painful flight ever, I feel I was duped,!I never thought A.C. could sink this low! I would not pay 5o % less for this flight, well if it was a 2 hours flight.I will never fly A.C. again and will definitely sell my return ticket at a lost.
Absolutely the worst airline period- and I have travelled all over the world. Recent flight to Poland. Paid to upgrade my seat- got a bulkhead seat with less legroom ( if you can believe this is possible) than a normal economy seat. Seat was beside door and absolutely freezing cold- I had 5 blankets covering me, was not sick, spend most of my life playing in hockey rinks and snowmobiling- I have never been so cold. Flight attendant says this is a regular complaint and airline is not doing anything about this. Sent in complaint letter and after three weeks got response saying that they have to cut back or cancel routes. Cutting back at the expense of a customers health should not be an option. Ever tried to call and speak to someone about your issue- good luck with Rouge/Air Canada. And no TV or free drinks for international long haul- c’mon Rouge- you do not deserve to use the name Canada. Bloody disgrace!
I recently flew 2 Air Canada Rouge flights, about 5 hours each way. My main complaint is I paid what I would have paid to fly Air Canada, but got absolutely none of the amenities. And thank god the person in front of me didn’t recline, because I swear my nose would have been hit by their seat. And by the end of my flight, my tailbone was sore as hell from those seats. Next time, I won’t even look at Air Canada, since my only option from where I’m at is Rouge. Either drop the price (which they won’t do, since the flight was packed), or give away those iPads for FREE. Never flying them again.
Anyone tried to upgrade to Rouge Premium? Is it worth it?
Booked/Paid for Air Canada. Got Rouged from Toronto to San Diego. The attendants were extremely nice, but those planes are ridiculously cramped. I am 5’2 and my legs hurt. My friend is over 6′ and had to take over the last row because there was no way she could sit for 5+ hours with no legroom. The plane rattled intensely. It was such a terrible, anxiety-inducing experience and I am doing all I can (multiple stops/driving to different airports) to ensure I never have to fly with them again.
Thought I had booked return transatlantic flights with United but turned out the homeward bound flights were code share with Air Canada which turned out to be Rouge. NEVER AGAIN. Spent hours on the phone the night before sorting out the fact they had changed all the coding and trying to ensure I had a veggie meal. Trying to check in at Atlanta and no one knew where I should go, went to all three terminals and finally United sent me back to the first one I went to (No one seems to want Rouge). Cut to the actual flights. Atlanta to Toronto ok although I have to say the staff were a little surly. Toronto to Manchester UK …. horrid. Not since the 1970’s have I been on such a basic flight. No entertainment – not even music. Nobody mentioned any rental of ipads and even though I had my ipad with me no one had mentioned downloading any apps. In the 70’s when I flew with such basic facilities I at least had the fun as a child chatting to the stewards and visiting the flight deck. The stewards couldn’t give a darn about the passengers, there was a family near me who could easily have been moved to ensure they were together but they didn’t help them at all. The meal I had fought hard to get did not arrive and I was made to feel like a thorough pest when I twice requested it. They finally offered me someone else’s veggie meal they had refused (????) and I was sick for two days afterwards.
I didn’t know I was booking Air Canada rouge or whatever it is called but in future I will double/triple check any code shares.
Never ever again
Just flew to Costa Rica on Rouge. Horrible experience! The plane was so cold some people had on parka’s! Remember, this is a flight from Toronto to Costa Rica in August! (I don’t know where they got North Face jackets from, maybe they’ve been Rouged before.) I was lucky enough to buy a blanket before they sold out. Was still freezing. I couldn’t even hold a book to read it was so cold. Also the in flight entertainment sucks. I had my IPad and had the option of watching old movies like “Field of Dreams”. Is this 1991?
However, if you rented their IPads you could watch more current movies. Keep in mind there aren’t enough IPads for everyone on the plane.
The power outlet in my seating area didn’t work, so couldn’t keep electronics charger either.
Would definetly never fly this airline again…
Unfortunately for me I have to get on the plane again tomorrow to fly home… Wish me luck!
We’re going from Toronto to Curacao in September for our 25th. Is our trip going to be a bust because of flying Rouge economy? Thanks.
Did not know that the flight from Barcelona to Toronto was Air Canada Rouge. No mention of this “Rouge” in the original booking / ticketing!
This was the worst flight ever! We have logged 100s of thousands of miles in the past and when I say worst flight ever I mean it.
No in-flight entertainment for a 9 hr flight, no way to charge your devices – who has a plane today with no electrical outlets???
They make you buy those crappy snacks and they even charged for blankets!!
Air Canada rouge offers a complimentary meal and a light snack prior to arrival. For entertainment, you can stream it from your device for free. Simply download the AC app on your ipad, iphone, android, etc. You can also use your laptop but make sure the flash player is up to date. As for charging for blankets? Each passenger has a free pillow and blanket for the flight. You shouldn’t say false things. Under the seat in front of you there is an electrical outlet on 767 (the aircraft used for european flights). Are you sure you didn’t fly on Air Zimbabwe or you confused the two/facts.
Fly from London to Toronto and Vancouver couple of times a year…. To say that AC Rouge is a “cheap airline” is simply untrue…. I am constantly checking flight prices…. AT have the best prices and you can often get a “special offer” price…. the seats/leg room/in flight entertainment/meals are ok and exactly what you would expect AND at no extra charge! The AC Rouge sounds like a complete customer rip-off. Shame on you AC.
Flew from YUL to CUN so only about a 4h flight. I concur with most reviews just an awful plane configuration (A319), the seat are so freakin tight, never seen this in all my years of travel. Seat are in cheap polyester. No entertainment system is BS and making us download the app is completely cheasy. Everything is extra, ipad 10 bucks? No thanks! Luggage: no where in my purchase confirmation did it say it was $25 per luggage (not even the 1st one for free). They waived it in MTL cause the lady had a sense of decency but in Mexico he did not want to put the luggage on the plane unless I paid. He said AC would make him pay personally if he doesn’t charge me and that he had this discussion about 20-30 times per week because customers are not informed of the charge ahead of time. So be mindful when you see the price and add $25 per piece (as of june 2016, I’m sure it’ll go up). Food prices are a rip off for the bad quality it is.
The only good thing was the crew, super nice and customer oriented. Unlike management.
I will do everything I can do avoid rouge in the future. And if you’re debating and the pricing is close do not book rouge, classless airline (except crew).
Disgusting, been to canada 5 times in 3 years from London Heathrow to Canada. Booked in the usual way, the price was about $90 cheaper. I saw Canada Rouge, stupidly i thought it was rebranding as if you google it there is no mention of low cost airline. I then paid $180 for legroom
As soon as i got on the plan i thought this plane is old, looks tatty. Then noticed no entertainment system. Then i sat down, i thought there was a mistake, extra leg room, what a joke. 8 hours of discomfort. Arrive to complain to find no one wants to help, its all about referring me to customer services. Now i am due to fly back, im dreading it. Air canada, you can’t do business like that. I will look for alternatives to Air Canada in future, they will be a last resort option