Thread: NonRev "Black Holes" - your list?

Again, my two-cents-worth on HNL. I suppose Al is correct about HNL depending on where you're trying to get from/to. I have heard nasty stories about AC's route YVR-HNL-SYD from co-workers.

HNL can be horrific if you choose the wrong time of the year. But, as with anything, including space-a travel, timing is everything and backup passes are a must.

We frequent Hawai'i often. Usually thru LAX, sometimes thru SFO and occassionally nonstop from ORD. We have flown TZ, AA and CO. September and January are our months of choice but we have sucessfully done it in Feb, April, May, July and August as well. (There was that 3 day attempt to get there in June a few years ago! Never again in June! )

All--

Sounds like most of us have been "taken in" by several of the famous NRSA black holes...

Myself, it's been HNL X3, BKK X2 and SYD X1... Had to get an ID90 on AC to get out of HNL.. ID 95 on TG to get out of BKK and ID 90 again on AC to get out of SYD..

I've found that overall AC makes a pretty good "ID protection" ticket.. They travel to most places worlwide that a NRSA would go and have reliable service.. I'm not endorsing AC, but in my past practice, found them to be my life saver on more than one occurance...

Interesting, that's been my experience too.

First big trip to London. Primary oversold, backup oversold. Scrambling to find an alternative. AC got us there thru YOW with no problem. Fast forward a few years. A grand 2 1/2 week adventure to China. Same problem. Plans falling apart. Scrambling for alternatives again. AC came to the rescue via YVR.

AC may be coming to the rescue yet again. Rumor is they'll be flying Toronto-Los Angeles-Sydney with new 777s starting early next year. A new player on the LAX/SYD route should bring a little light into the Sydney black hole.

Keep'em flying

No rumour. AC has applied to the Oz Govt for approval. The U.S. gave Canada full traffic rights from it's ports, used as a stopover on flights from Canada to a 3rd country, in the last round of talks a couple of months ago. This is the first visible sign that AC for one intends to make full use of the freedoms.

Back when I was with AN, AC were fantastic on one occasion when I was trying to get from LHR-YYZ. ID90 days - before ZED's so had a fistful of back-ups. One of AC's LHR-YYZ went mechanical, so instantly one just knew start heading towards the other carriers in T3 at Thiefrow. But no, friendly AC check-in agent says, "if you want to run we'll accept your LHR-YYZ coupon - you can make the LHR-YYT-YHZ flight and we'll then carry you from YHZ into YYZ". Ended up falling in love with Nova Scotia as we came in to land there, asked the AC staff on arrival if it was okay to continue on the next day (no coupons remember), as I wanted to have a night looking around. "Sure, not a problem" was the reply. So I had a nice afternoon/evening in YHZ then the next day was routed to YYZ via YUL.
My LHR-YYZ coupon got me LHR-YYT-YHZ-YUL-YYZ over two days - and people wonder why we love this biz !

While I still contend that timing is everything, here's an article that might just explain why you can't find that elusive seat or that great interline hotel discount.

Click: Hawaii close to capacity