Review: Air Canada B787-9 – Business Class
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Here is the story of our flight to Vancouver with Air Canada on a Boeing 787-9 in business class.
In a few minutes we arrive at the boarding gate of our flight which leaves at 7:00 am. The next door also has a flight to Vancouver at 7:30 am, the road is very busy!
Our aircraft is registered C-FGHZ and joined the Air Canada fleet in May 2016.
We manage to embark as soon as the first ones to be able to photograph the various cabins. Air Canada has 8 Boeing 787-8s and 29 Boeing 787-9s, 10 of which are on order. These aircraft are gradually replacing the Boeing 767 and Airbus A330, some of which will join the Air Canada Rouge fleet.
The aircraft has three classes with 21 seats in Premium Economy, the Canadian carrier’s “premium economy” version. This one comes with priority boarding, a more comfortable seat, a comfort kit and an improved meal. Each row has 7 seats (2-3-2).
The economy class contains 247 seats in rows of 9 (3-3-3).
We then move to the Business cabin which has 30 seats in rows of 1-2-1. There is only one cabin. All seats have access to the corridor. These are “Super Diamond” seats from the manufacturer B/E Aerospace.
During boarding, the flight attendants offer refreshments in the form of orange juice or a glass of water.
Overall the seat is very well made. The IFE is of good quality, there is plenty of storage space and there is enough room to put a book or a tablet.
What’s a little weird: the tablet doesn’t fit completely under the screen.
A blanket and pillow are also provided in addition to the noise-cancelling headphones.
One negative point: the partition between the seats is not removable. This is also the case in the company’s Boeing 777-300ERs. It doesn’t prevent us from talking but we can’t hold hands 🙂
Jean-Maximilien notes that it is therefore difficult to travel with children aged 2-4 years (who do not stay in their seat all the time…)
The weather is splendid and the takeoff is done smoothly.
It is now time to eat, the service throughout this flight will be fast and efficient.
I took the omelette and Jean-Maximilien the pancakes.
And it’s time to take a nap, the reclining seat is very comfortable. In addition to the usual settings, you can change the hardness of the cushions. It was a good nap for a few hours.
Without being suites, the seats provide a certain intimacy.
After a little more than 4:30 hours of flight we arrive in Vancouver, I let you admire the landscape always very seizing.
Bottom line
It’s nice to make a transcontinental flight on a wide-body aircraft, a change from the old-fashioned Airbus A320 business class. For 25,000 miles and $120 it is a good value of Aeroplan points given the modern cabin of the aircraft. The service of the flight attendants was impeccable: fast but also discreet on such an early flight which allows you to finish your night quietly.
A big thank you to Michel C., cabin attendant, who noticed that I had forgotten my iPad and was able to catch me in time as I left the airport!
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