Has Anyone Here Actually Flown In Air Canada's Executive First Lie Flat Seats?
Apr 10th, 2008, 03:07 AM
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Has Anyone Here Actually Flown In Air Canada's Executive First Lie Flat Seats?
I've read the thread about whether or not "only a marketing concept" 'business first' as as good and all the other posturing that went along with it so please, spare me....
we will be flying from Toronto to Beijing in Executive First and I've seen the video on AC's website but wondered how those seats really ARE?
We eventually fly from Singapore to AMS in Singapore Air's bsuiness class and pretty much expect those will be all they are reported...but as to AC's.....any actual first-hand experience appreciated.
we will be flying from Toronto to Beijing in Executive First and I've seen the video on AC's website but wondered how those seats really ARE?
We eventually fly from Singapore to AMS in Singapore Air's bsuiness class and pretty much expect those will be all they are reported...but as to AC's.....any actual first-hand experience appreciated.
Apr 10th, 2008, 06:50 AM
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I have, Dukey, once to CDG on a refurbished 767 and twice from CDG to Montreal on the new 777s.
The new Air Canada lie-flat seat is truly flat and truly horizontal to the cabin floor. Each rests in its own "pod", a shell that isolates you from the surrounding passengers. (There is an up side to this if you are travelling alone; if flying with a companion, it is almost impossible to chat. You'll see what I mean if you study the seat diagrams on aircanada.com or setguru.com -- seats across the aisle from each other at least will allow you to look at your companion.)
AC has been having a lot of trouble with the inflight entertainment system. Passengers love the video-on-demand when it works, but there have been many reports of the IFU not working. (This doesn't bother me, because I eat, sleep, and read, but on a long-haul like YYZ-PEK, it is a big gap for some people.)
Air Canada's "Executive First" is available on non-North American international flights. It is a far better product than AC's domestic business class, offering the lie-flat seats, more elaborate food, and a wider selection of beverages. However, don't be misled by the "First" in "Executive First" ... it is still a business class offering.
How to describe the in-flight crew? Well, they're Canadian: expect friendly, informal, and competent.
I flew YYZ-PEK on AC in business two years ago. My recollection is that we had a main meal a couple of hours after take-off. There were a choice of appetizers and main dishes, including both North American and Asian selections. There were snacks available in the galley en route (the FAs offered me noodles somewhere over Siberia), and a small meal before landing in Beijing.
Anselm
The new Air Canada lie-flat seat is truly flat and truly horizontal to the cabin floor. Each rests in its own "pod", a shell that isolates you from the surrounding passengers. (There is an up side to this if you are travelling alone; if flying with a companion, it is almost impossible to chat. You'll see what I mean if you study the seat diagrams on aircanada.com or setguru.com -- seats across the aisle from each other at least will allow you to look at your companion.)
AC has been having a lot of trouble with the inflight entertainment system. Passengers love the video-on-demand when it works, but there have been many reports of the IFU not working. (This doesn't bother me, because I eat, sleep, and read, but on a long-haul like YYZ-PEK, it is a big gap for some people.)
Air Canada's "Executive First" is available on non-North American international flights. It is a far better product than AC's domestic business class, offering the lie-flat seats, more elaborate food, and a wider selection of beverages. However, don't be misled by the "First" in "Executive First" ... it is still a business class offering.
How to describe the in-flight crew? Well, they're Canadian: expect friendly, informal, and competent.
I flew YYZ-PEK on AC in business two years ago. My recollection is that we had a main meal a couple of hours after take-off. There were a choice of appetizers and main dishes, including both North American and Asian selections. There were snacks available in the galley en route (the FAs offered me noodles somewhere over Siberia), and a small meal before landing in Beijing.
Anselm
Apr 10th, 2008, 12:26 PM
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Anslem, thanks for that report..just what I was trying to find out. yes, i have studied the diagrams and also seen the pictures on the AC site of the configuration as well as the various and very helpful pictures posted on airliners.net
I was wondering how hard it would be to chat, etc., with a traveling companion. In our case we are in midle seats adjacent to one another so I suspect we won't be chatting much!
As to the in-flight entertainment..I'll probably have my laptop with me and can always watch DVDs and play games with that if I get truly bored.
And yes, I am aware of the fact that it is a "business" product but since these are award tickets I am quite satisfied.
I appreciate your not advising me to "get out more" as if i were going to be crazy enough to pay the thousands of dollars to fly in some airline's First Class seat when I can lie flat and sleep in this business one.
I was wondering how hard it would be to chat, etc., with a traveling companion. In our case we are in midle seats adjacent to one another so I suspect we won't be chatting much!
As to the in-flight entertainment..I'll probably have my laptop with me and can always watch DVDs and play games with that if I get truly bored.
And yes, I am aware of the fact that it is a "business" product but since these are award tickets I am quite satisfied.
I appreciate your not advising me to "get out more" as if i were going to be crazy enough to pay the thousands of dollars to fly in some airline's First Class seat when I can lie flat and sleep in this business one.
Apr 10th, 2008, 12:33 PM
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Apr 10th, 2008, 01:16 PM
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rkkwan, that's a great photo you linked to.
Dukey, I recollect reading on either Flyertalk.com or Canflyer.com that the partition between the middle seats slides down. (If you look at the photo that rkkwan posted, you can see the partition or wall between the middle pods.) You could probably talk to your companion, but with some difficulty, as you'd still be facing away from each other.
Enjoy your trip on AC. As I think about it, you're probably fortunate to be flying AC first and then Singapore.
AA
Dukey, I recollect reading on either Flyertalk.com or Canflyer.com that the partition between the middle seats slides down. (If you look at the photo that rkkwan posted, you can see the partition or wall between the middle pods.) You could probably talk to your companion, but with some difficulty, as you'd still be facing away from each other.
Enjoy your trip on AC. As I think about it, you're probably fortunate to be flying AC first and then Singapore.
AA
Apr 10th, 2008, 01:21 PM
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We did YYZ-LHR on an AC 777. Wonderful trip. On that plane people traveling together should ask for the two middle seats. There is a sliding panel between the two seats. When we arrived it had been lowered making it reasonably easy to chat but obviously not as easy with the conventional side by side arrangement. I found it very easy to sleep on this flight.
Apr 13th, 2008, 04:53 PM
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Dukey
Have done about 8 roundtrips in the new flate seats - sometimes on the 777 (check out the window in the washroom) and sometimes on the refurbished planes.
I really like the beds - there is plenty of room to stretch out and because of the pod-like design they are very private. (I have flown BA a couple of times and prefer the flat bed AC - though to be fair perhaps it was old BA flat beds).
On one flight the entertainment system did not work and it is not unusual for it to need re-booting.
There is power in the seats as well.
to make the bed even more comfortable, i like to put one of the duvet thingies down first and then lie on top of that.
Flying into Bejing will be great - most of my trips have been transatlantic and there is not really enough time to sleep.
Have done about 8 roundtrips in the new flate seats - sometimes on the 777 (check out the window in the washroom) and sometimes on the refurbished planes.
I really like the beds - there is plenty of room to stretch out and because of the pod-like design they are very private. (I have flown BA a couple of times and prefer the flat bed AC - though to be fair perhaps it was old BA flat beds).
On one flight the entertainment system did not work and it is not unusual for it to need re-booting.
There is power in the seats as well.
to make the bed even more comfortable, i like to put one of the duvet thingies down first and then lie on top of that.
Flying into Bejing will be great - most of my trips have been transatlantic and there is not really enough time to sleep.
Apr 14th, 2008, 05:29 AM
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Not that I sat in Executive First on trip to Seoul recently but wondered how comfortable they were as I passed through to the cheap seats in the back - where I never slept a wink - but I didn't have any trouble with the in-flight entertainment. Thank goodness for it on that long flight.
Apr 15th, 2008, 11:30 AM
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Dukey
I've flown on them in the new product.
Seating was very good and it does go flat. I found it very comfortable and slept well.
Yes, you can chat to the person next to you if you have the middle seats.
Food was good. Entertainment system wasn't great.
I've flown on them in the new product.
Seating was very good and it does go flat. I found it very comfortable and slept well.
Yes, you can chat to the person next to you if you have the middle seats.
Food was good. Entertainment system wasn't great.
