Review: Air Canada Airbus A330-300 Premium Economy and Aer Lingus Airbus A320neo Economy (YUL-LHR-DUB)
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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 January 8, 2025, Canadian citizens must get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) 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 ETA 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.
How to earn Aeroplan points
The simplest way to earn Aeroplan points is to apply for one of these Aeroplan credit cards. Not only will you get Aeroplan points as a welcome bonus, you’ll also earn more on every purchase you put on your Aeroplan credit card.
The most popular Aeroplan credit card is the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card. Here is its current welcome offer:
Featured
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $139
- Our valuationMilesopedia 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.
- $1,139
- Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months
- Up to 50,000 points
Apply Now
on TD's website
Note that you can also earn Aeroplan points through the American Express Membership Rewards program. You can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan points at a 1:1 ratio. So 10,000 Membership Rewards points = 10,000 Aeroplan points. Many Membership Rewards credit cards are available in Canada.
In my view, one of the best American Express Membership Rewards credit cards is the American Express Cobalt® Card. With this credit card, you earn 5 points per dollar on groceries, convenience stores, and restaurant and bar spending. Also consider the gift card strategy, which also lets you earn 5 points per dollar at many retailers such as Amazon, SAQ, Ikea, Netflix, etc.
Here is the welcome offer currently available for this card:
- Annual fee
- $191.88
- Our valuationMilesopedia 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.
- $255
- Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months
- Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply 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”).
Bottom Line
Overall, this journey aboard Air Canada and Aer Lingus went smoothly and passed quickly. Air Canada’s Premium Economy class truly allows for more comfort, especially on an evening/night flight. The comfort aboard Aer Lingus is far from that of a long-haul flight; it felt more like being on a bus full of people commuting to work that morning, but given the short duration of the journey, it was acceptable. I had the misfortune of having a seatmate who was watching their favourite TV series without headphones, which was very disruptive. Nevertheless, it remains a good option for quickly getting to Ireland from London.