Positive Space

Hi everyone.. I got an award letter from Air Canada with positive space for two which expires the end of this year. I would like to use it before years end so I have a couple of questions because I've been getting the run around. What exactly does positive space means? does it means I get a confirm seat but if the flight is oversold I'll be put on standby?

Not sure where I want to go on Air Canada but was thinking of Vancouver or Toronto to be safe.

You've fairly well guessed it. You have a confirmed seat that is pulled from inventory. However, in most cases, if the flight is oversold you're the first to go - with NO denied boarding compensation.

So it's basically a standby ticket? I may as well just visit toronto then since they have about 12 flights a day each way from lga.

Well, it does put you at the top of the standby list. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

maybe you can check with ac the conditions of your ticket. normaly with a firm staff ticket you have the same rights as a revenue passenger except the denied boarding compensation. so if they drop you from a flight,they have to rebook you.

As far as I am aware, having a positive space ticket is NOT a stand by ticket. You are guaranteed a seat on the flight. You are treated as a "no bump" -- Some staff travel for business only and as positive space, for instance: pilots -- they need to be somewhere and they must get on. That's the same for you.

In general the difference between positive space and subload travel is that a seat has been taken from the commercial inventory to allow for the positive space ticket which means one less seat to sell to a commercial passenger. As with any commercial ticket this space is subject to the impact of overbooking. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...n_confused.gif In normal circumstances all non-revenue tickets ( pos or sby space ) are given an onload priority which dictates whereabouts in the pecking order they sit, the positive space priorities tend to be higher up the pecking order than the subload ones.
Some of these priorities have a 'ranking' higher than a commercial booked passenger ( positioning Crew and engineers for example ), some have a ranking higher than commercial passenger holding open tickets ( i.e. not booked on that specific flight ) and some ( the majority ) are below all commercial bookings.
Based upon this it is quite possible that if you have a positive space booking you may not be accepted for a flight if it is full http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif however it might also be the situation that you are accepted and a commercial passenger is not accepted http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif , depending upon specific policies of the carrying airline.
If you want to ensure that you get on the flight become a CAA Inspector ( FAA in the US ) as I believe that these are the only people, when on duty, that cannot be refused acceptance. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif

Aloha,
I see this posting is from several months ago but I will risk responding anyway.
I was my experience (when I was still active crew) that a positive space meant you could not be bumped unless there were positioning deadheading crew members (which took priority). I have always found Air Canada to be most accommodating and believe they would be the consummate hosts for your travel...!
Hope this is useful.
Sonja

thanks for the info because i do have a positive space for this year 2006 so will decide wisely on where to go.