In addition to allowing pre-flight services at Kingston, the Landline service replaces the need for passengers to drive themselves and find parking in Toronto and Air Canada accommodates traffic or weather-related delays between the two airports. “I think that’s one of the big values is we’re making it more seamless because you can actually check in, print your boarding pass, and check your bag at Kingston airport,” he said. “You’re saving money. You’re not paying for parking. You’re not paying for the gas or the
wear and tear on your vehicle. You’re also getting your time back. You can have three hours to sleep, to do emails, to read a book.” The use of the Landline bus service also gives Air Canada data about air travel demand in Kingston. Air Canada continues drawing information about air travel demand in Kingston from the Landline service. “The more passengers use the service, the more it’s giving Air Canada data on how many people actually are travelling. Kingston used to have air service.
Now when people drive to Ottawa, they drive to Montreal, they drive to Pearson, Air Canada and any airline doesn’t see any demand data,” Johnson said. “We read all the time that people want their flights back. Well, the number one way to get flights back is to show that there’s actually demand from the Kingston airport code.”
Air Canada, Landline, Kingston airport, Toronto, Ontario, check-in, boarding pass, bag drop, parking, demand data
So it’s like… a bus to Toronto but with luggage? Interesting.
Why would anyone still drive to Toronto then, that parking is insane. But I’m wondering if the bus schedule even lines up with flight times though, like if it’s late then you’re stuck.
They say it helps with traffic/weather delays between Kingston and Toronto, but isn’t the bus still on the road during the weather? Feels like they’re just calling it “seamless” so people don’t complain about being late. Also “data” about demand… cool, but I’m not sure how that affects my actual flight.
This is great for saving money… but I read somewhere Landline is also used by other airlines? If so, why only Air Canada? And Kingston airport, wasn’t it already closed or like “not enough demand” before? Now suddenly it’s demand data because people took a bus, so did the airport get reopened or what. Sounds like marketing to me but I guess parking costs are brutal.