I haven’t flown Air Canada in business class for a decade, but I had a chance to fly from Toronto to Rome but the experience did not live up to my expectations.
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Background
I was invited to the naming ceremony for the new Explora II vessel from Explora Journeys prior to its inaugural sailing from Civitavecchia, Italy (Rome.) As such I positioned on Air Canada from Toronto to Rome on the airline’s 777-300ER. I hadn’t flown Air Canada since 2012 and that product was on an A330 with a different business class section so I was really looking forward to an updated view of Air Canada’s offering. My expectations for the brand were perhaps unfairly elevated based on what others had conveyed about their experience.
The Seat
The cabin was laid out in a reverse herringbone 1-2-1 configuration which has seemingly become the standard. Storage above the seat was as expected but at the seat was more limited than Cathay Pacific or American Airlines’ 777-300ER product and even United’s Polaris cabinet instead offering a large but mostly unusable desk space.
Minimal storage is available in the IFE remote well and then another near the end of the seat (by your knee) in the footwell. It was easy enough to store my laptop there and charge it from a nearby outlet.
The software and selection on the IFE was substandard, but the screen seemed larger than most North American carriers.
When I fly in business class (almost all long haul flights I take), the purpose is to rest and adjust to my new time zone. I expect a fully flat bed in a modern business class cabin, but that’s not what Air Canada offers, at least on this equipment and route. It’s a nearly flat bed and the distinction from coach remains sharp, but the slight incline and not quite flatness coupled with a pillow exaggerates the sloped nature. I also found it a little tight at the shoulders.
I didn’t think I was such a temperamental sleeper but despite being very, very tired, I couldn’t rest well. That, unfortunately, is the key deciding factor for me. From the east coast, flight times to Europe and South America only allow for 4-5 hours of actual sleep even with “express” meal service. If the bed doesn’t allow me to get at least that, it’s just not a candidate for future trips.
Food and Drink
The Mediterranean Mezze starter was just okay aside from an outstanding Muhammara (red pepper dip.) In fact, when my colleague and I first got off the plane having not spoken since we departed, the first thing he asked was if I tried it and we instantly agreed it was absolutely incredible.
I selected the Sablefish as it was a dish crafted by one of the celebrity chef’s Air Canada commissioned. It was an average business class meal, nothing special and nothing inferior.
The Dark Chocolate Fondant (not pictured) was remarkable, and due to the lack of sleep I didn’t wake for breakfast.
Amenities
I’m generally a fan of Acqua Di Parma which is the chosen brand for the amenity kit. I had hoped they’d find some spare slippers lying around from a prior flight as they are standard from Asia but not Canada to Europe. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any and I had to slip my shoes back on to visit the restroom. I should have brought some with me, that’s my fault, but it’s nice when airlines have them (even if accidentally left over.)
The bedding (pictured with the seat above) includes a mat that fits over the seat as well as the duvet and pillow.
Service
Service in the absolutely slammed Maple Leaf lounge was non-existent for two hours while we were there. In fact, there was some sort of an emergency alarm going off unattended for the better part of 20 minutes unattended by staff. When a staff member finally walked by and corrected the issue, the otherwise quiet crowd all clapped confirming that everyone had been just as annoyed by it.
In the air, service was fine. Not outstanding, but there’s nothing to complain about, flight attendants were generally friendly as were the pilots (at the time) on the verge of a strike.
However, twice we were introduced to the ugly side of baggage handlers. First, our bags were marked with tags that said “do not release without a customs official present” something I had never seen before. They were processed off the belt as if nothing had every been tagged so I really don’t know what that was about. Second, my colleague’s bag was so badly damaged it’s unusable. There’s a hole in the bottom where the wheel once was, another wheel was folded sideways and rendered the case destroyed. No note, no tag, no notice, and we just carried on. It seems like Air Canada didn’t really look after our things and judging by the outside of the other case, it seems consistent that they do not put in a lot of care.
Conclusion
If the question was whether Air Canada Business Class is preferred to flying across the ocean in coach, the answer is yes. And the food and service was better and friendlier than a couple of US carriers too. However, the petite business class cabin (just 28 seats on a 777-300ER) should have had enough space to make the seats fully flat and though it’s only a 2″ difference at the head and the foot, it’s enough to say I won’t be back electively to the carrier.
What do you think? How has your experience been?
The En Transit tag was because you were merely transiting Canada and not officially entering Canada. Should something irregular happen that would force you to enter Canada on your connection, your bag would need to be presented to CBSA before being returned to you as the goods inside are now being brought into Canada…..if only even for a night.
Were you connecting from a trans border (US) flight? It’s usually bags that are international transfers that get labeled “do not release without a customs official present”. This is normal for Air Canda if you’re bags are sterile international transit.
@Brian – THANK YOU! That makes sense, I don’t connect in Canada so for me it was completely foreign but it’s a logical answer.
I don’t have a problem with the hard product on AC’s intercontinental business class, and food is OK too, mostly. My problem is that the FAs are inconsistent, some being quite weird or disinterested, some way overweight. Apparently crew standards have slipped, big time.
As stated, the YYZ MLL is inadequate, from lack of space to lack of views.
That suitcase doesn’t look very sturdy – was it an actual name brand item, or a $30 supermarket special? If the latter, I suspect that AC weren’t really unduly harsh on it – your friend shouldn’t have expected it to last more than a couple of trips.
I am not a fan of hard case luggage if you are checking them in. I actually prefer to use heavy duty North Face duffel bags which are almost indestructible. Yes, you can’t have stuff that might break inside but it is waterproof and will hold if mishandled by the idiots that handle bags at airports. I actually had KLM/AirFrance lose my bags on my last trip to Europe and I followed their journey through 3 different airports and several flights and locations until I got them delivered to my home. Both North Face duffels were impeccable.
Hard sided luggage is great as long as it doesn’t come with zippers. Stitching the zippers onto the plastic compromises the structural integrity of the suitcase, often resulting in cracks that basically render it useless. On the other hand, hard sided suitcases with frame closure will go on for decades and even then they’ll typically only fail because of worn handles and/or wheels.
Can you give a couple of specific examples of the good hard side
Delsey Moncey and Samsonite S’cure are probably the two most widely available current models. They’re both priced around €200 (depending on size, point of sale etc) and available in various sizes and colours. I own both of them (medium Samsonite and large Delsey) and I am happy with them (the Delsey does have some hugely annoying zippers for its internal compartments, but you can ignore them and stick to just using the straps if you need anything to stay in place). There are fancier options, including aluminium ones from various brands, and also a few cheaper models – I paid £65 for a medium sized one from Dutch brand Enrico Benetti, but I have only had it for a few months so can’t vouch for it just yet. If you want something completely indestructible, you might try and find a used 2-wheeled Delsey from the early noughties- e.g. this one from a Spanish ad has clearly travelled A LOT but hasn’t even lost a wheel trim.
https://www.milanuncios.com/maletas/maleta-rigida-delsey-300365600.htm
I have several friends and relatives that like to travel, and they are all extremely picky about having only a 100% lie flat seat/bed when they fly overseas. This even dates back quite a few years when angled flat seats/beds were common, and the lie flats were just being introduced. However, when it comes to sleeping at home, they absoutely will not even attempt to sleep on a flat mattress. They must have an hospital type adjustable bed and raise their head up into an angled position. They don’t appreciate my pointing out their obvious hypocrisy on this issue. I think what they are really obsessed about is wanting to have or experience whatever they feel is more exclusive and expensive. Hence they tink they are consistant on both sleeoping arrangements.
I would like to think that you are robust enough to sleep on a slightly angled bed once in a while, and that you are not just turning into another of the bloggers that just want to be pampered and fussed over.
@jcil – As I mentioned, I was surprised that I wasn’t able to sleep on it either, at least not for more than a couple of hours but it reminded me of somewhere between the old American Airlines business class and the current model. If you look at the button near the seat, you can see it doesn’t actually show fully flat either, I looked at it when I thought my seat was malfunctioning.
Ah yes; you slide incrementally forward, and the airplane movement helps. But underpants dont move at all. That’s why they call it the wedgie seat.
I’m really not certain what was wrong with the seat? It appears nearly exact to most reverse herringbone seats out there. Are you saying that AC has a lesser flat? I have used it in the past and it seemed the same to me as any other Reverse H, like on AA. You made this a main contention of AC tatl service so I’m curious, not that I am some apologist of AC. In fact I see the photos of the food, seat, bedding, etc and it looks perfectly fine to me. Not breathtaking, but adequate in comparison to others you would get on this route.
You are not an easy customer. I can be a bitch but wow…you take it to the next level.
@Antwerp – It’s simply not flat it was hard to sleep on. American, United, Delta, Cathay, Japan, KLM, Air France, British Airways – these all have fully flat beds. Air Canada does not offer a fully flat bad to my shock, when you add limited space for the pillow it was like sleeping on a 15 degree grade and as much as I would have loved to have slept (and expected to) I was unable. I didn’t complain about the foot, I didn’t complain about the bedding – they were adequate as was service as mentioned. I don’t sleep on a slope at home, do you?
Well, I use two pillows and I flew on AC in J and I never noticed anything you are speaking of. Seemed the same to me. Perhaps I am just more easy going.
The AC bed is fully flat. If it wasn’t, you should have informed an FA to see if they could get it to work for you. Admittedly I haven’t flown the A330 version, but even the previous generation A330 seat was fully flat.
Also, unless you were on an award ticket, you have access to the Signature Suite in Toronto. Why were you in the Maple Leaf Lounge instead? That’s equivalent to going to the United Club instead of the Polaris lounge when flying long-haul UA J. (Though the Signature Suite doesn’t have showers, so customers will also enter the MLL for showers before going to the Signature Suite.)
As for the alarm issue in the MLL… Seems like something that would have been rectified earlier if someone asked the staff explicitly? Sure, it shouldn’t need to be this way, but that would probably result in a faster resolution.
Kyle, I’m confused, I love the AC seats and AC always provides a mattress pad! AC hard product is more comfortable than KLM, Air France, sleeping on a Swiss and Lufthansa flight is like sleeping on a brick. The food is questionable (Kit Kats and oranges as snacks on long haul business) and service inconsistent but the seat is amazing! And yes this the same reverse herringbone seat as other airlines! PS love the signature lounge, not sure why AC can’t model this leave off service outside the lounge!
1) Clearly you were not on a paid ticket (cash) as if so, you could have accessed the Signature Lounge in Toronto, which is LEAGUES better than the MLL. It really is a cut above, even better than the Polaris lounges, and distinguishes Air Canada.
2) To pluralize the word “chef”, simply add an s – “chefs”. “Chef’s” as you write has an entirely different meaning, and it’s nonsensical in the context.
3) I’ve flown this seat before and as others mentioned, have no qualms with it. I do not understand your issue with it.
@Jason – I was on a paid ticket, however, I don’t frequent Air Canada and the check-in staff didn’t inform me of an alternative option.
If you’re entitled to the Signature Suite, I think it should show on your boarding pass. If a codeshare booking, probably won’t show, and not sure the cheapest business class fares, and definitely not upgrades from other cabins allow entry (I could be wrong on cheap biz).
@Kyle, you’re a travel writer and run a TA. Why are you relying on check-in agents to tell you where to go? Isn’t that something you look up beforehand? It’s like saying you visited the UC/AC instead of the PL/FL because they didn’t tell you otherwise. -_- A quick check of AC’s website would’ve told you about the Signature Suite.
You have a legitimate gripe about the luggage and the MLL alarm, but the other stuff is a stretch.
@Explore, unless things have changed in the last year, the cheapest biz tickets do get access to the Signature Suite. AC P/Z fares definitely worked. AC-issued BPs in the USA are marked with Signature Suite (and MLL) access.
Surprised you had such a rough go of it. Flown AC many times TA and other parts of the world in business and been perfectly happy with the food and service.
I find it extraordinary that someone who claims to be a travel writer did not know of the AC Signature Suite at YYZ and instead went to the Maple Leaf Lounge, propbably the most overcrowded on the AC network.