Canadian Airline Series: Air Transat
In today’s post, we are going to introduce Air Transat, a Canadian airline based in Montreal, Quebec. Its major hub is Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport.
Air Transat has flights to many destinations across the world. Some countries include United Kingdom, Mexico, Netherlands, Greece, Spain, France, Germany, France, Belgium, Hungary, Canada, Cuba, Columbia, Ireland, Portugal, Martinique, United States, Turkey, Dominican Republic, Italy, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Aruba, Panama, Sint Maarten, Guadeloupe and Venezuela.
Flights Within Canada Route Map
| Airports |
Destinations |
| Calgary (Calgary International Airport) | Vancouver (Vancouver International Airport) |
| Vancouver (Vancouver International Airport) | Calgary (Calgary International Airport)
Toronto (Toronto Pearson International Airport) |
| Halifax (Halifax Stanfield International Airport) | Montreal (Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport) |
| Montreal (Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport) | Halifax (Halifax Stanfield International Airport)
Quebec City (Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport) Toronto (Toronto Pearson International Airport) |
| Quebec City (Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport)
|
Montreal (Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport) |
| Toronto (Toronto Pearson International Airport) | Montreal
Vancouver (Vancouver International Airport) |
I am just going to mention that other airports in Canada provide Air Transat passenger services to other destinations in the world:
- Edmonton (Edmonton International Airport)
- Hamilton (John Munro Hamilton International Airport)
- London (London International Airport)
- Ottawa (Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport)
- Thunder Bay (Thunder Bay International Airport)
- Windsor (Windsor International Airport) operations begins Dec 21, 2015
- Kelowna (Kelowna International Airport)
- Victoria (Victoria International Airport)
- Moncton (Greater Moncton International Airport)
- Regina (Regina International Airport)
- Saskatoon (Saskatoon John Diefenbaker International Airport)
- John’s (St. John’s International Airport)
- Winnipeg (Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport)
Air Transat Travel Information
| Type of Fare | Economy Class | Option Plus |
Club Class |
| Baggage Allowance (Flights to US) | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple |
| Baggage Weight (Flights to US) | Total 44 lbs | Total 66 lbs | Total 88 lbs |
| Baggage Allowance (Flights to Europe) | One piece | Two pieces | Two pieces |
| Baggage Weight (Flights to Europe) | Total 51 lbs | Total 72 lbs | Total 88 lbs |
| Baggage Allowance (Flights within Canada) | $25 First Checked Bag | $25 First Checked Bag | $25 First Checked Bag |
| Baggage Weight (Flights within Canada) | Each 51 lbs | Each 51 lbs | Each 51 lbs |
| Overweight Fee | $75 CAD | $75 CAD | $75 CAD |
| Excess Baggage Fee (Flights to Europe) | $100 CAD | $100 CAD | $100 CAD |
| Second Additional Piece Fee (Flights to Europe) | $200 CAD | $200 CAD | $200 CAD |
| Excess Baggage Fee (Flights within Canada) | $25 CAD | $25 CAD | $25 CAD |
| Second Additional Piece Fee (Flights within Canada) | $75 CAD | $75 CAD | $75 CAD |
| Meal and Beverage Services (Within Canada) | For purchase only | N/A | Welcome cocktail, complimentary beverages, snacks, coffee and choice of gourmet meals |
| Meal and Beverage Services (Flights to US) | Complimentary snack and alcoholic beverage | N/A | Welcome cocktail, complimentary beverages, snacks, coffee and choice of gourmet meals |
| Meal and Beverage Services (Flights to Europe) | Complimentary meal, breakfast, snack, and glass of wine | N/A | Welcome cocktail, complimentary beverages, snacks, coffee and choice of gourmet meals |
| Carry-on Baggage Allowance | Max 22 lbs | Max 22 lbs | Max 33 lbs |
| Seat Selection | No | Yes | Yes |
| Priority Check-in | No | Yes | Yes |
| Priority Boarding | No | Yes | Yes |
| Extras (Flights to US) | N/A | Comfort Kit (Natural wood earbuds, bottle of sparkling wine, snack box with 5 appetizers and one alcoholic beverage) | Exclusive Club cabin with wide leather seats, two dedicated flight attendants and specially selected travel amenities |
| Extras (Flights to Europe) | N/A | Comfort Kit (Natural wood earbuds, bottle of sparkling wine, snack, beer or bottle of wine with your meal, and one alcoholic beverage) | Exclusive Club cabin with wide leather seats, two dedicated flight attendants and specially selected travel amenities |
If you’re travelling on the Air Transat A310 aircraft, you can enjoy the airline’s complimentary WiFi network. You will need to download the CinePine app prior to boarding in order to take advantage of their wide range of entertainment. If you’re in the Club Class cabins, you will also be provided with individual touch screens as well.
In July of this year, Air Transat added new connecting flights allowing travellers to fly from Toronto to Paris with connecting flights to Montreal. Flights from Calgary to Vancouver will begin operations in December 2015. Air Transat has slowly been trying to enhance customer experience and travel each year by making proper improvements and additions to their services.
Air Transat Achievements
Air Transat has received the Best North American Leisure Airline by the Skytrax World Airline Awards for four consecutive years. These votes have been made by travellers across the world and factors range from boarding, seat comfort to customer service.
In October of 2014, Air Transat was named Airline of the Year by the Association des Agents de Voyages du Quebec in Montreal. Again, the votes were made by travellers themselves; the award was recognition for the best overall in-flight experience.
Air Transat Frequent Flyer Program and Partnerships
By travelling with Air Transat, you can earn Air Miles on every flight, calculated at 1 base reward mile for every $35 you spend on a vacation package, cruise or charter flight operated by Air Transat.
They currently do not have a frequent flyer program as their mandate is to cater to the majority of travellers and offer them discounted fare during holidays rather than a small minority.
The Bottom Line
Air Transat is a charter airline, and definitely not as large as Air Canada, so there are specific schedules and limited aircraft which fly to particular destinations. In terms of delays and cancellations in flights, you can be sure that you won’t be flying that same day. Although Air Transat does fly overseas, you will not be getting the leg room and baggage allowance you need for a longer trip. In terms of pricing, ticket fares for charter airlines like Air Transat will generally be cheaper. If you have to take a trip to a specific location, it may be worthwhile to take advantage of smaller airlines like Air Transat.