Air Canada Executive First Class

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Air Canada Executive First Class

Originally published on businesstravelerusa.com 17/10/2011 - Filed under: Tried & Tested » Airlines » Air Canada »

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PLANE TYPE B777-200ER

SEAT CONFIGURATION 1-2-1

SEAT PITCH Individual Suites

SEAT WIDTH 20.5in/51.69cm

SEAT RECLINE Full lie-flat

PRICE Internet rates for a round-trip Executive First class flight from Sydney to New York via Toronto in October listed at $8,975.

CONTACT aircanada.com

CHECK-IN I took a car to the airport at 0730 for my 1020 flight to Vancouver. When I got to the check-in desk, there were three or four attendants handling the Executive Class passenger check-in. As soon as I stepped in line, the concierge welcomed me, asked my name then walked me to the next available attendant. Before leaving, she offered to escort me from the lounge to the gate when the plane was ready to board, but I declined the offer.

Air Canada uses the Air New Zealand lounge in Sydney, and it’s a real pleasure to visit. The lounge is always fully stocked with just about everything you could think of, including beer, wine, sparkling wine, soda, juice, spirits, coffee, tea and – since this was a morning flight – a full spread of breakfast choices. In this large space it’s easy to find a seat and the staff is exceptionally friendly. Despite having stayed in this pleasant environment longer than I’d intended, which led to a dash for the gate, I was relieved to find a long line of passengers still waiting to get on board. And since I was able to use the express lane for Executive First passengers, I had no wait.

BOARDING I was directed to my seat where a nice-sized pillow, blanket, headphones and amenity kit were waiting. Before I could even sit down, the flight attendant offered a glass of sparkling wine and a newspaper, “The Daily Telegraph.” An attendant soon stopped by with my lunch menu, while another quickly followed to take my pre-lunch drink order. It was also a nice touch that both crew members had taken the time to learn my name.

SEAT COMFORT We were flying on a Boeing 777-200 with Executive First and Economy Class cabins. The Executive First cabin has a 1-2-1 layout in four rows, with pod seats arranged in a staggered configuration that assures every passenger direct aisle access.

Each seat reclines to a fully-flat bed with additional settings for the head rest that make a big difference when fully reclined. The personal entertainment system offers On Demand videos, music, games and more, and I was able to charge my computer using a personal outlet.

FLIGHT Shortly after settling in, the captain announced that we would be delayed for about 15 minutes (the luggage weighed more than usual and we would require additional fuel). Without missing a beat, the flight attendants began to take our lunch orders during the wait. After taking off, the captain continued to keep us informed. He announced that we would hit turbulence for about an hour, and asked us to please be patient with our seatbelts fastened. During this time, I was able to watch the latest news on my personal monitor and do a little work on my laptop.

As soon as the skies were clear, the flight attendants sprang brought around hot towels and immigration cards, followed by tablecloths for the meal service. My drink soon materialized, accompanied by a dish of warm nuts. From the large selection of entertainment, I chose a movie to enjoy with the meal just as my starter arrived: smoked mackerel and asparagus with pineapple, onion and mint salsa, and mesclun salad with cherry tomatoes, parmesan and balsamic vinaigrette. Next came the herb-marinated rack of lamb with mint sauce, chive mash potatoes, asparagus and roasted capsicum. As if that were not enough, a trolley came by afterwards with a selection of cheese, fruit, sweets, port and after-dinner drinks.

As I selected a second movie, I couldn’t help but notice the crew making regular rounds about the cabin to make sure everyone was comfortable. After a long nap, I ordered one of the many mid-flight snacks available. The croquet monsieur put me back to sleep before I could even start my next movie. Several more naps during the flight, and each time I awoke, someone was always nearby to see if I needed anything at all.

ARRIVAL About two hours before landing, the cabin lights turned on and our pre-arrival breakfast arrived. Although I was hardly hungry at this point, I sampled the herb omelet served with potato wedges, chipolata chicken sausage, oven-roasted tomato and spinich along with a hot cup of coffee.

My connecting flight back to New York, aboard an Embraer 175, all had the same excellent service. We landed as expected and my bags made their appearance on the carousel in no time.

VERDICT My outbound trip to Sydney had been beset by many problems, large and small. But Air Canada redeemed itself and lived up to the lofty expectations of service I’d learned always to expect. My return trip was comfortable, relaxing and left me in a great mood – something that too few airlines can promise customers.

— Adam Rodriguez

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