Air Canada A330-300 YUL-LHR Flight Review

The direct flight duration is 6 hours 44 minutes and allows connections to several destinations with a layover, including Dublin, my final destination. Direct flights are offered by Air Canada between Montreal and Dublin during the summer season, and year-round between Toronto and Dublin.

One of the biggest advantages of traveling with Air Canada remains the possibility to earn Aeroplan points for each flight. In my case, I’ve been in full points-earning mode for several months now so I can travel to Asia in 2026. I’m taking advantage of every opportunity this year to boost my Aeroplan balance. I was able to earn 1,619 points on the Montreal-London flight.

Check-in with Air Canada

Since spring 2025, Canadian citizens must have an ETA visa for the United Kingdom. As this document is mandatory, I was able to check in online, but could not receive my boarding pass. I had to go to the counter (long queue included) for visa validation to obtain it before going through security.

Baggage with Air Canada

For long-haul flights, you have the option of having one carry-on bag and one checked baggage. However, during check-in, you will be offered to check your carry-on suitcase for free, as space is always a bit limited in the overhead bins. Personally, I prefer to keep my suitcase in the cabin, especially if I have a layover of less than 2 hours to my final destination.

Access to the Maple Leaf Lounge

To access the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau Airport, you need a valid same-day boarding pass and eligibility through one of the following options: a Business Class ticket, Aeroplan Elite Status (50K, 75K, Super Elite, or Star Alliance Gold), holding an eligible Aeroplan credit card, or having a lounge pass. Since my ticket was for standard Premium Economy, I wasn’t able to access the lounge this time!

Cabin and Seat – Premium Economy class A330-300

Air Canada’s Premium Economy class offering aboard the Airbus A330-300 provides an enhanced experience with wider seats, additional legroom, and the ability to recline further. This category features 24 seats arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration on either side of the aisles. My seat for this flight, 13H, was right in front of a lavatory wall, giving me the impression of having even more space. However, I had to place my personal item in the overhead compartment above me.

Not only is the comfort level higher than in Economy Class, but each seat also features a USB power outlet, an adjustable headrest, as well as a blanket, pillow, headphones, and a complete amenity kit. The kit includes toothpaste, an eye mask, socks, earplugs, and a toothbrush.

A footrest can also be adjusted up to about a 45-degree angle using the control buttons on the armrest. The only downside of my seat was that, with the screen mounted on the wall and no remote control, I had to stretch quite far to reach the screen. My headphones, which were plugged in at a distance, were also inconvenient during meal service.

Meals in Premium Economy class

On an evening/night flight to London, we were served a hot meal onboard, followed by a lighter meal before landing. For dinner, I had an Asian salad, a beef stew with potatoes, and a dessert. The meal was just okay. As I was asleep for the light morning meal, I missed that service. Air Canada snacks are offered between meals: a MadeGood Mornings oat bar (for the morning), herb and garlic butter pretzels, and the Ginger Defence wellness drink. Wine and beer are also offered complimentary in all classes, including Heineken 0.0 non-alcoholic beer, in addition to the usual beverages.

On-Board Service

The flight attendants provided excellent service. Announcements are made onboard in English and French, as on all Air Canada flights.

In-Flight Entertainment with Air Canada

Air Canada likely has one of the best in-flight entertainment selections in North America. With shows and movies from Apple TV, Disney+, Audible, and very recent films, there’s no chance of getting bored. Wi-Fi is also offered complimentary to Aeroplan members, allowing you to send a few messages during the flight, though you shouldn’t always count on this service being available. It works occasionally during the flight.

Aer Lingus – London to Dublin Aboard an Airbus A320neo

My journey continues with another one-hour flight to Dublin aboard an Airbus A320neo. With a layover of just under 2 hours, I still had to wait near a display board for my gate number to appear 40 minutes before boarding. Although Air Canada has a codeshare agreement with Aer Lingus, you cannot earn Aeroplan points with the latter. However, I was able to check in for this flight from Montreal.

Aer Lingus Boarding

Boarding with Aer Lingus in London is done by zone, like any airline, but with an automatic gate that scans boarding passes. Staff pre-validate passengers’ passports in the queue.

Cabin, Seat, and Service – Economy Class Airbus A320neo

The aircraft covers short distances and has 186 Economy class seats with a front section called ‘Aer Space’ which promises a bit more legroom. In a 3-3 configuration, the space is among the smallest on the market (fortunately, the flight is short). Although the aircraft is new, the seats do not have headrests or screens, but they do have a small tray table and a coat hook. There is also a seatback pocket for personal belongings and a USB and USB-C port. During the flight, there is a paid beverage and snack service. However, I was kindly offered a glass of water if I did not wish to buy a bottle. The flight attendants were very helpful, speaking English and Gaelic, one of Ireland’s official languages.

Comment obtenir des points Aéroplan

La plus simple méthode pour obtenir des points Aéroplan est de souscrire à l’une de ces cartes de crédit Aéroplan. Non seulement vous obtiendrez des points Aéroplan en prime de bienvenue, mais vous en accumulerez également lors de tous vos achats porté sur votre carte de crédit Aéroplan.

La carte de crédit Aéroplan la plus populaire est la Carte Visa Infinite* TD^MD Aéroplan^MD dont voici l’offre de bienvenue offerte actuellement :

FeaturedCompare

TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card

TD Aeroplan First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual fee: $0 $139No annual fee the first year; No annual fee the first year
Our valuation: $1,139Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.; Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer: Up to 50,000 points; + First Year Annual Fee Rebate

With this offer for the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 50,000 Aeroplan points^† as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year^†.

Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first Purchase with your new Card^†
Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of Account opening^†.
Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening^†

This card also allows you to enjoy travel benefits, such as a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation^†, as well as a rebate on the NEXUS program application fee (up to $100 CAD per eligible cardholder) every 48 months^†.

With the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points^† per $1 spent on:

Grocery purchases
Gas and electric vehicle charging purchases
Purchases made directly with Air Canada^® (including Air Canada Vacations^®)

You also earn 1 point^† per dollar on all other eligible purchases made with your card.

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^†Terms and conditions apply.

Annual fee

Primary card$139

Additional card$75

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1.5xGas & EV
1.5xGroceries
1.5xAir Canada flights
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,714

2nd Year Value$425

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Notez que vous pouvez également obtenir des Points Aéroplan au travers du programme Points-Privilèges d’American Express. Vous pouvez en effet transférer vos Points-Privilèges d’American Express en Points Aéroplan au taux de 1 pour 1. Ainsi, 10 000 Points-Privilèges = 10 000 Points Aéroplan. De nombreuses cartes de crédit Points-Privilèges sont offertes au Canada.

À mes yeux, l’une des meilleures cartes de crédit Points-Privilèges d’American Express est la Carte Cobalt^MD American Express. Avec cette carte de crédit, vous obtenez 5 Points par dollar pour les achats en épicerie, dépanneurs et vos dépenses dans les restaurants et bars. Pensez également à l’astuce des cartes-cadeaux vous permettant d’obtenir également 5 Points par dollar pour de nombreux commerces comme Amazon, SAQ, Ikea, Netflix, etc.

Voici l’offre de bienvenue disponible actuellement pour cette carte :

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American Express Cobalt^® Card

American Express Amex Membership Rewards

Annual fee: $191.88
Our valuation: $255Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.; Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer: Up to 15,000 points

Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The American Express Cobalt^® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt^® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

15,000 Aeroplan points
15,000 Avios points
15,000 Flying Blue Miles
18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.

American Express Cobalt^® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line^® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:

Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
Home food delivery.
Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt^® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category	Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.)	5
Home food delivery	5
Restaurants and bars	5
Convenience stores	5
Streaming services	3
Service station	2
Transport	2
Travel	1
Other	1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt^® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt^® Card fees

Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
Additional cards: $0.
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.