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?
Air Canada has damaged their brand very seriously by associating the name with Rouge. The main Air Canada flights are fine, but I will not book with AC again because of the risk of the flight being operated by Rouge. I feel leery of the whole Star Alliance for the same reason, so try to avoid it, too. I have flown multiple airlines on five continents, and Rouge is one of the worst.
Boy am I not jappy. Thought I was booking United Airlines but now end up with Air Canada Rouge? Horrible and not lookig forward to a 5hr flight crammed in my seat with no entertainment or meal. I would lose all my money on 2 fares if cancelled. Can’t afford that . Never again
Fooled me once. Will be telling everyone I know about this scam of and airline.
I am gutted, i have just booked to fly with this air-line, and now reading the comments, i am simply very scared. I was talked out of booking with Norwegian airlines by the agent, and then he still managed to increase my price by offering the extra day, which i could not access on the other airline. But now i read i will be limited on 7kg carry-on, when it is 10k on Norwegian, and it now seems there are no meals, which you just expect to get on long-haul. And i ended up with a stop-over which i also did not want, at least the other one was direct to. Now to see the very limited seating room, i am just so worried. The worst thing ever is that there is way to change, or refund,
My mom and I are the same size 5″2 …. we flew w my lilttle one 3 yo to YUL – ATH, worst FLIGTH EVER!!! i am 5’2 and i couldnt even get into my seat properly bc there was no space to shimmy my way in!! the seat was perfect for my 3yo…. my mom and I hated it. We will not fly AC, for fear of ending up in ROUGE , ever again.
I was very apprehensive and worried about flying with Rouge after reading numerous comments and reviews, especially since it would be my first experience with this airline. So I was prepared for the absolute worst, reminding myself that it would simply be a means of transportation to get me to my destination (767-300, Toronto to Las Vegas). I was pleasantly surprised! The crews (there and back) were awesome – friendly, in a good mood, accommodating, helpful and responsive. Were the seats tight? Yes – but we also flew Air Canada Jazz Express, and THOSE seats lacked room (plus, that plane is very loud!). We needed to get up and walk around a bit, but I was expecting much worse. My only issue? The onboard media player. My husband and I both followed the directions to a “T”, and none of our devices would work. So, not being prepared for that made for a long flight (we read our books instead, and tried to sleep… but oh well). So, I would recommend having a back-up plan (i.e.: previously downloaded shows or movies to watch) in case the “Rouge Player” doesn’t work for others as well. Definitely worth the savings for us, and we would fly with them again in the future!
I flew from Calgary to Luna on Rouge. I absolutely hated everything about it. The plane was old and noisy, and wasn’t very clean. The seats were uncomfortable, the food was bland. Take my advice. Avoid Rouge at all costs, because the cost isn’t worth it.
I hate rouge
Worst airline in the world! Hate hate hate it
Nothing worse than flying rouge
Even air transat is better
We have a flight booked from Budapest Hungary to Toronto on October 5, 2018. We have paid hundreds of dollars for “extra seating”. What kind of seating can we expect ?
This https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Air_Canada/Air_Canada_Rouge_Boeing_767-300ER_new.php
Flew air canada rouge very recently, first long haul I’ve ever been on with no inflight screens!!!! Also had no warning at all to download the app, so sat in an uncomfortable chair on a full flight for 9 hours very unhappy. They took a very long time to feed us (at least 2 hours into the flight), then did not collect our trays or rubbish until at least 4 hours after, and as this was an overnight flight we had to try sleep with our tray tables down as there was no place to put the rubbish, some tried handing it to air hostesses who told them ‘we cannot take this just now please wait until we come to collect it’. Made no sense to me & was an unpleasant experience
I am flying Vancouver to Osaka, `12 hour flight. I am flying economy. Do you remember if there are plugs for iPads? Also was there overhead air vents? I am having problems trying to find out.
Worst flights ever. Booked AC got AC for the short 40min connection and Rouge for the 4hr flight. Walked into the cabin and thought I had traveled back in time. At 5’9 I was stuck sitting back arched to get the most knee room and still couldn’t avoid my knees crammed up against the back of the seat in front of me. Return flight was exactly the same. I don’t care for ‘comforts’ like charging my phone, or entertainment, but these cabins don’t even have basics like room for average size people, or seating positions that don’t fuck you up. Never again. Ever. Its not worth booking with AC and chancing a Rouge flight. There’s better options for the $.
Don´t you complain about AC mainline flying six hours flights on a B737?. That´s cruelty, and not a B767 crossing the Atlantic, whatever tights the seats are.
We flew Air Canada from Toronto to London two years ago and had a great flight. It wasn’t until after I booked our flights to Manchester for our trip in Sep. that I realized our reservation is with AC Rouge. I’ll admit I’m a little scared after reading all of these bad reviews. However, I now know to bring tablets for everyone and to download the app beforehand. Although, this may be better for my kids overall we shall see. It will be an evening flight so hopefully our kids will sleep.