Review: Air Canada A320 - Business Class

Last flight of our mini-tour of the world with Aeroplan miles: San Francisco – Montreal in business class on Air Canada.

San Francisco – Montreal on Air Canada in business class

This is the end of our round-the-world loop with 155,000 Aeroplan miles in business class:

aeroplan mini world tour 2017 — Our mini-tour of the world on Aeroplan

Checking in

For this last flight, we got up early. The San Francisco International Airport is almost deserted at this early hour: no line in the general line or in the priority line.

air canada sfo yul business 01 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

air canada sfo yul business 02 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

The registration of our bags will be very fast.

En route to the United Club Lounge in Terminal G

We walk through the long halls of Terminal G, a vast playground for Alexandra.

air canada sfo yul business 03 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

The restaurants are still empty at this time.

air canada sfo yul business 05 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Our flight is announced on time: 7:45 am.

air canada sfo yul business 04 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

The transition to security will also take place quickly.

air canada sfo yul business 06 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

We then follow the signs towards the exhibition.

air canada sfo yul business 07 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Finally, the lounge is located at gate G98, opposite our boarding gate G97!

air canada sfo yul business 08 — United Club Lounge – Terminal G – San Francisco International Airport

Fortunately, the escalators are there to navigate the long corridors of the international terminal.

air canada sfo yul business 10 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

We arrive at the United Club lounge near door G98.

united sfo international 01 — United Club Lounge – Terminal G – San Francisco International Airport

To discover our report on this United Club show, go to this article.

Shortly after our passage to the lounge, we go to the boarding gate. The plane, an Airbus A320 with registration C-FZQS is already there, still in the old Air Canada colors.

air canada sfo yul business 12 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Air Canada business class boarding

Boarding takes place at gate G97 (always the same gate for this flight to Montreal).

air canada sfo yul business 13 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Business class passengers will be called first (Zones 1-2) as well as parents traveling with young children. As usual, a last view of the aircraft before boarding.

air canada sfo yul business 15 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Like most of its North American fleet, this aircraft offers in-flight Wi-Fi (for a fee).

air canada sfo yul business 14 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

This is the old business cabin(the new one will be on Air Canada’s new B737 Max aircraft). In fact, this is the type of cabin you are used to seeing on the entire Air Canada short/medium haul fleet and will remain in place for a few more months/years.

air canada sfo yul business 16 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

air canada sfo yul business 17 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Traveling with a baby, we were assigned to the first row of the plane.

air canada sfo yul business 20 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Alexandra is already making herself comfortable in her “big” business class chair.

air canada sfo yul business 19 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

I don’t really like this seat for business class travel. For example, you may be hindered by the partition to extend your legs:

air canada sfo yul business 21 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

… or have trouble looking at (or accessing) your screen, especially if you are traveling with children

air canada sfo yul business 18 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

The only consolation for the Avgeek that I am: to be in the front row for the view on the cockpit.

air canada sfo yul business 23 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

The flight attendant then informs us that the 4 seats at the back of the business class (before the economy class) are available and invites us to take a seat there (acknowledging that it is more comfortable).

air canada sfo yul business 25 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Indeed, it is more pleasant for the space with the legs (to be able to slip them under the armchair of front or to use the footrest):

air canada sfo yul business 26 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Small test of the milesopedia coaster to judge the size of the screen (very correct for a medium-haul flight):

air canada sfo yul business 27 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

But look at the difference with the one offered in business class on an Air Canada Boeing 777 (which is remarkable!):

air canada business 777 cdg yul54 — Air Canada – Business Class – B777

Back to our plane of the day: USB plugs are available next to the screens (and each seat has an electric plug).

air canada sfo yul business 28 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

A quick trip to the bathroom: parents will be reassured. A changing table is available, we can take off!

air canada sfo yul business 38 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Take-off

We leave our gate with a B787 Dreamliner in United colors at our side.

air canada sfo yul business 24 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Also, we cross the competitor: an Airbus A350 of Singapore Airlines – registered 9V-SMF – the 10 000th aircraft produced by the European manufacturer.

air canada sfo yul business 29 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Fun factDuring our trip to Vietnam, I had taken a picture of the 9,000th aircraft produced by Airbusan Airbus A321, delivered in 2015 to Vietjet – registered VN-A651 ! Nice increase in speed since the A350 of Singapore Airlines above was delivered a little over a year later!

9000th airbus vietjet — Vietjet – 9000th Airbus produced

We will take off from San Francisco under a gloomy weather

air canada sfo yul business 30 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

air canada sfo yul business 31 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

air canada sfo yul business 32 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

But we will quickly cross the cloud barrier to find the sun during all our flight:

air canada sfo yul business 34 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

In flight

Shortly after takeoff, breakfast service will begin.

air canada sfo yul business 22 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Parsley omelet, chicken sausage, cottage cheese, roasted red potatoes, red bell pepper relish, fresh fruit and yogurt
Pancakes, maple butter, chicken sausage, applesauce-cranberries, fresh fruit and yogurt
Healthy option (seasonal fruit, cheese, yogurt and oatmeal)

Good sugar to start the day! 🙂

air canada sfo yul business 35 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

air canada sfo yul business 36 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

The service will be very professional. I must say that this is the first time I noticed this on Air Canada: the flight attendant called me by my last name every time he intervened. It’s great to see the service being “personalized”.

The flight went off without a hitch. The end of the vacations was fast approaching for everyone:

air canada sfo yul business 39 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

We take advantage of it to observe the American territory slightly snowed:

air canada sfo yul business 37 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Arrival in Montreal

We are approaching Montreal on time and even slightly ahead of schedule.

air canada sfo yul business 40 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

air canada sfo yul business 41 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

The snow and the cold are obvious:

air canada sfo yul business 42 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

We are in Montreal: the airport logo and the Air Transat plane remind us of this!

air canada sfo yul business 43 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

air canada sfo yul business 44 — Air Canada AC780 – Business Class – San Francisco – Montreal

Before reaching our gate, we pass behind a brand new (2 months) Air France B787 Dreamliner – registered F-HRBD – which is about to leave for Paris. Maybe we’ll have the chance to borrow it soon!

air canada sfo yul business 45 — Air France B787 Dreamliner

Bottom line

An excellent flight on Air Canada in business class between San Francisco and Montreal. We particularly appreciated the service on board… but we are still looking forward to seeing a rejuvenation of the cabin, as it now exists in the Canadian airline’s B737 Max!