CHECK-IN
I arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport at 0710 for the scheduled 1000 departure of flight AC15 to Hong Kong. The economy check-in process was atrocious (I held an economy class ticket, with the possibility of an upgrade to business at the gate). Not only was there a long queue, but when it was finally my turn to be checked in a power outage hit the airport, leading to the shutdown of all computers.
To further complicate matters there was confusion over the booking name: my passport lists my middle name before my first name, but I was booked with my first name. The Air Canada counter staff struggled to find my booking on the computer, which further delayed the check-in process. I finally made my way through security at 0820 and was airside in about 15 minutes.
LOUNGE
Business class passengers can access the Maple Leaf Lounge, located on level 3 at Node F. With only an economy class ticket I was not permitted to use the lounge, but as a Priority Pass member I could use the Plaza Premium lounge, also located in Terminal 1. The facility was modestly sized with plenty of seating available. The F&B selection was generous, with a mix of hot and cold breakfast choices as well as complimentary drinks.
BOARDING
Boarding for flight AC15 began at 0915, but I only made my way to gate E77 at 0930. Approaching the ticketing desk I was promptly handed a new boarding pass for business class. I switched queues, was quickly processed and boarded the plane at 0935.
THE SEAT
Air Canada operates a two- and three- class version of the B777-300ER. I was on the former, which features 42 seats in business class arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, meaning all passengers have direct aisle access. Overall, the “Classic Pod” business class product leaves a positive impression. The seat can be extended into a fully-flat bed and offers individual power supplies to charge electronic devices, as well as a USB port by the side of the seat.
WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE
There really isn’t a “bad seat” in business class, as even the middle seats are angled away from each other, meaning that individual passengers enjoy excellent privacy.
THE FLIGHT
I was allocated seat 10G, a middle seat towards the back of the cabin. An attendant soon came along with a tray of welcome drinks – I chose a glass of orange juice.
Service on the flight was impressive and I was addressed by name most of the time. Overall, it was much better than the service I had previously experienced flying on most North American airlines.
Every business class seat came with an amenity kit, bedding and a bottle of mineral water. Browsing through the in-flight entertainment options, the selection of movies and TV shows was limited compared to many Asian carriers. However, I found the touchscreen to be intuitive and the sound quality from the headphones was excellent.
Flight AC15 took off at 1020, approaching cruising altitude ten minutes later. A second round of drinks was served along with an in-flight dining menu; this time I chose Moko Black Sauvignon Blanc, a New Zealand wine that was refreshingly crisp.
Lunch service began just before 12 noon with a tuna appetiser. I thought it tasted fairly bland and compensated by mixing it with copious amounts of ginger vinaigrette. I chose the sablefish for my main – a signature dish by Vancouver fine dining chef David Hawksworth. It was delicious – the flesh was soft and flaky, while the brown rice and bok-choy added texture to the dish. I skipped the cheese course and had the dark chocolate fondant cake for dessert, which was rich and nicely married with a sweet blackberry compote.
After lunch, I reclined my seat into a fully-flat position, laid out my bedding and got a full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep on the comfortable and supportive bed.
The brunch service began roughly two hours before arrival, but it was a forgettable affair. I opted for the parsley omelette and was rather disappointed by its rubbery texture (admittedly, I’ve yet to be impressed by any omelette served in the air).
ARRIVAL
Descent was announced at 1230, with a new arrival time of 1320 – more than an hour ahead of schedule. The plane landed and approached the gate five minutes later.
VERDICT
An excellent business class seat that was matched by very good service and premium amenities. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Air Canada’s ground operations, which didn’t cope well under pressure and appeared inefficient.
FACT FILE
- DEPARTURE TIME 1000
- JOURNEY TIME 15 hours 20 minutes
- AIRCRAFT TYPE B777-300ER
- CONFIGURATION 1-2-1
- SEAT PITCH 191cm/75in
- SEAT WIDTH 52cm/20in
- SEAT RECLINE 180 degrees
- PRICE Internet rates for a midweek return business class flight from Toronto to Hong Kong in April start at C$5,053 (US$3,631) including taxes and surcharges.
- CONTACT aircanada.com
