Sunwing - Rumour Busting

[Clint23]

Just flew into YEG the other night and a SW 800 landed ahead of us and parked next to us at gate 60. There was only 23, as best as we could count, (using fingers and toes of course ) people from the SW airplane. I am not sure how they are doing financially, but with loads like that, it can't be great.

But then again, it could have been just a repositioning flight from Mexico with just a few seats sold at the last minute. Who knows.

[Troubleshot]

I was just on a CanJet (Transat) flight that was very similar...going down south however was sold out. I see this every year with all the Charter airlines I work for, at various points in the season.

Sunwing differs in the fact it only matters how full their resorts are.

[Niteflyer]

Was in the terminal as well. The flight was positioning back from YXE after a Cuba flight. Don't know the load to YXE.

[YVR Dude]

Just flew into YEG the other night and a SW 800 landed ahead of us and parked next to us at gate 60. There was only 23, as best as we could count, (using fingers and toes of course ) people from the SW airplane. I am not sure how they are doing financially, but with loads like that, it can't be great.

But then again, it could have been just a repositioning flight from Mexico with just a few seats sold at the last minute. Who knows.

FYI , the flight probably originated out of Cuba, and then had a stop either in YXE, or YQR, or YYC where most of the pax were deplaned, and then only 23 or so remaining for the flight on to YEG..loads have still been reasonably well so....

[HS-748 2A]

I'm going to be SunWinging my way back from Cuba to YWG in mid Apr - trust they will still be in business to do that for me..

48

[Troubleshot]

I'm going to be SunWinging my way back from Cuba to YWG in mid Apr - trust they will still be in business to do that for me..

48

If your worried about that, why in hell did you book with them?

[HS-748 2A]

I'm not too worried - and; I didn't book it with them. When you go for the 'all-inclusive', you get what you get in terms of the travel part of the deal.

If there's no ride home, that's ok too. I'll head for the hills and camp out up there for a while.

[roger.roger]

If your worried about that, why in hell did you book with them?[/quote]

or book with a decent credit card. Then they're taking the risk?

[rd1331]

Well if it makes you feel good, AT has lost about 110million in the last 2 quarters. (4th quarter of last year 81.4 after taxes and 1st quarter this year 29)

But I don't think they will be going anywhere, at least I hope.

[bigskyjoc]

Just flew home from Jamaica on our Holiday with SUNWING. Excellent service, hot towels, choice of meal, wine, free headsets etc. etc. and the flight was rammed full !

Would definately use them again.

[...]

hot towels, choice of meal, wine, free headsets etc. etc.

HOT TOWELS!?!?!

CHOICE OF A HOT MEAL!?!?!

FREE WINE!?!?!

AND............FREE HEADSETS!?!?!

What year is this!?!?!?!? 1985!?!?!?

The only warm 'food' I get now a days in the airlines is when I find a pretzel on my seat that is still warmed up by me sitting on it!!!



I had no idea about this...

[mattedfred]

sorry but i'm still confused

one can choose to go for 3 or 6 months

one can request an LOA which may not be approved

so if one didn't want to go then can one choose to get laid off if an LOA isn't approved so one can collect EI?

Why do you think that you must deploy overseas or accept an LOA as the only choices?

What about staying and working in Canada with the rest of the crews not deploying? Why do you want to collect EI so badly when you can stay in Canada and earn full salary?

this is why...

PIC@Sunwing wrote:

Starting this May, 28 Sunwing flight crews will be based in Europe. Pilots have the choice of going for the whole 6 months or for 3 months. At any given time at least 56 Sunwing pilots will be based in Europe. Additionnal pilots will be sent from Canada to cover vacations, sim, extra flying.....

There will be 4 aircraft at 4 bases. London (LGW) and Manchester on behalf of Viking Airlines. Prague on behalf of Travel Service and Heraklion on behalf of Eurocypria.

As opposed to some beliefs, no one at Sunwing is forced to go to Europe. Many senior guys have been doing this for many summers and they love their summers abroad.

No pilots will be laid off.

Those interested in a 6-month LOA will possibly get it.

[ram]

As opposed to some beliefs, no one at Sunwing is forced to go to Europe. Many senior guys have been doing this for many summers and they love their summers abroad.

That all depends on who bids what...
If not enough pilots bid to fill the deployment than the junior guy would absolutely be forced to deploy. I wouldn't expect the senior group to continue bidding a deployment. After a couple of years...This gets OLD!

As ALL were told...Expect to deploy...You may not have to, but it's always a possibility!

[mattedfred]

that contradicts PIC@Sunwing's post so that is why i am confused

it would be impossible to avoid furloughs if you couldn't force a pilot to deploy unless the numbers worked out perfectly

your post makes more sense

[ram]

The summer deployment is handled on a year per year basis...(every year the bases and number of A/C deployed changes). A bid is published and "IF" (a BIG if) all the positions are filled...than nobody would be forced to deploy. If deployed positions are not filled than the remaining un-bid positions would be filled in reverse order of seniority (Junior guy would be forced to deploy)...That is why the bid asks for 1'st, 2'nd' 3'rd..etc...choice for a summer base.
The possibility always exists...very similar arrangement to Skyservice.
Cheers,

[ziggy]

Just looking at Sunwing's website. I see that you can now finance a vacation over 12 months....Only $89 month!

I think that if a person is in a position that they have to make monthly payments on a vacation, they should not be going on vacation!

m 2 cents

[PIC@Sunwing]

Sunwing Airlines adds another new aircraft
Written by Sunwing Airlines
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Sunwing Airlines is pleased to announce that, per its expansion plans, it has added another new Boeing 737-800 to its fleet. The new aircraft arrived from the Boeing factory in Seattle on April 7 at which time it commenced service to Sunwing’s sun destinations and, soon thereafter, across Canada on its domestic summer schedule.

Like all of Sunwing’s other aircraft, it will feature 189 seats including 24 seats with extra-legroom. These extra-legroom seats are part of the airline’s new Elite Plus service level whereby passengers also enjoy 30 kg baggage allowance, pre-boarding and advance seat selection. The aircraft also features two meter high “winglets” at the tip of each wing, which deliver 4 per cent fuel reduction, giving Sunwing the newest and most fuel efficient fleet of any carrier in Canada. “It’s always a proud day for us when we take delivery of a new aircraft,” says Sunwing Airlines president Mark Williams, “And our passengers tell us they love flying on our new planes.” This is the third aircraft the airline has taken delivery of in the last five months, giving Sunwing the youngest fleet in Canada with an average age of 2.3 years.

[mattedfred]

The summer deployment is handled on a year per year basis...(every year the bases and number of A/C deployed changes). A bid is published and "IF" (a BIG if) all the positions are filled...than nobody would be forced to deploy. If deployed positions are not filled than the remaining un-bid positions would be filled in reverse order of seniority (Junior guy would be forced to deploy)...That is why the bid asks for 1'st, 2'nd' 3'rd..etc...choice for a summer base.
The possibility always exists...very similar arrangement to Skyservice.
Cheers,

thanks for the clarification ram

[Batman]

189 seats in a 800 with extra legroom in 24 of them. I believe WJ configures at 166 and for someone a little taller they feel cramped. Its gotta be brutal for anyone in those other 165 seats.