The increased codeshare agreement means the two carriers will operate more than 260 daily trans-border flights in summer 2023, which is about a 20 percent increase in schedule capacity compared to summer 2022.
The schedule will include up to 120 daily departures between the airlines’ hub markets, an increase from 101 in summer 2021.
Flights will be timed to offer optimal connections between the airlines, and your luggage is tagged to your final destination.
The new coordinated schedule will enable both airlines to offer shuttle-style hourly service on routes between top hubs. There will be 29 daily flights between New York/Newark and Chicago, and eleven between Vancouver and San Francisco.
Overall, customers will be able to connect to over 100 codeshare destinations in the U.S. and 25 of the most popular cities in Canada.
The new non-stop service between Vancouver and Washington-Dulles will begin June 1st, operated with an Air Canada Boeing 737 Max 8.
United will operate the new, non-stop flight between Calgary and Washington-Dulles starting on June 2nd on an Airbus 319.
There will be nine daily flights between Vancouver and New York/Newark, Houston and Chicago, and seven flights daily between Los Angeles and Vancouver.
The agreement also adds a second daily flight will be added between Calgary and both Chicago and Houston, and a second daily flight between Edmonton and Denver.
Air Canada and United will codeshare on these flights, allowing Aeroplan or MileagePlus members to accumulate and redeem miles. Eligible customers and loyalty plan members also will be able to enjoy benefits including priority check-in, lounge access, priority boarding and other benefits, where available.
Both airlines will offer business class seats on every flight between their respective hubs.
The press release announcing this new codeshare does not explain how those of us who book online should book on United or on Air Canada websites to find the codeshare connections.
ecoxplorer travel tip – Fly United not Air Canada
I just returned from a combination United/Air Canada trip to Calgary, to ski Banff and Lake Louise.
The United experience was far superior. In fact, the Air Canada portion was close to miserable – except for the seamless check-in at Calgary.
For one thing, United has preferential early boarding for Military, Seniors, physically challenged and families traveling with young children. Air Canada has no such perk, even for Canadian military.
Air Canada passengers requiring “extra time” have to wait until after the two top loyalty groups and most Business class groups – 1 and 2 – have completed boarding.
United gave me free seats as part of my ticket purchase, reserved at purchase. Air Canada insisted on charging me for a reserved seat – which I refused to do at purchase or at day-before check-in. But they assigned me a free seat at check-in – so what’s the point of trying to gouge another $25 bucks from a passenger? It’s another $25 bucks.
Air Canada took my passport and boarding pass until I gate-checked my rollerboard carry-on, which the gate attendant ruled was too large. So there was a flurry of re-packing, in full view of all the other passengers still waiting to board.
Luckily, I had a fold-up backpack in the carry-on, which got stuffed with my laptop, bag of chargers, reading material, medications, water and snacks.
Another ecoxplorer tip – always carry a reusable shopping bag or small fold-up backpack for emergencies.
When I got to my seat, I saw that rollerboards and duffels larger than mine fit easily in the overhead. It was infuriating.
Now, I’m waiting to see if I get MileagePlus credit for the Air Canada return from Calgary.
Airline executive statements
“Through our longstanding partnership with United Airlines, Air Canada has been able to offer customers ever-increasing and significant benefits,” said Mark Galardo, senior vice president-network planning and revenue management at Air Canada.
“This summer customers will have even greater choice and convenience with our joint summer schedule made possible by our airlines’ new enhanced transborder agreement. Together we will offer more than 260 daily departures to the U.S, and new non-stop flights from Vancouver and Calgary to Washington-Dulles. Our coordinated schedules will provide business travelers with the convenience of hourly service and the additional comfort of a business cabin on all flights between Toronto and New York and Chicago, as well as Vancouver and San Francisco.”
“We’re proud of our continued work with Air Canada to provide customers with even greater transborder connectivity, including adding more flights and new direct service to Calgary and Vancouver from Washington Dulles,” said Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of global network planning and alliances at United. “With schedules designed to give customers more flexibility with timing and more convenient connection options, as well as the ability to enjoy the benefits of both airlines’ loyalty programs, our agreement with Air Canada makes United the premier U.S. airline for travel to Canada.”
For more information, visit www.united.com or www.aircanada.com.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA) and is a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
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