air canada?

Old Apr 10th, 2011, 12:50 PM
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air canada?

I am flying from Boston to Vietnam, and back from Bangkok to Boston. The fights that make the most sense are with Air Canada (business class) through Toronto. Does anyone have any experience/opinion on Air Canada's service/comfort? thanks!
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Old Apr 10th, 2011, 01:35 PM
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I like Air Canada's business class from HKG or NRT to Toronto. The seats are fully flat and are great for sleeping; the food is somewhere between edible and ok. Their lounge in YYZ is actually quite comfortable. Certainly better food, seats, and ground service than United. (United fully flat seats are probably comparable -- though I've never flown in them and almost surely never will. But United's propensity to change aircraft means that you might think you're getting a flat seat, then discover a month before the flight that they've switched planes and the seat you're getting will be as crappy as the food, baggage handling, telephone service, lounges, and flight attendants' attitudes for which United is famous.)
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Old Apr 10th, 2011, 02:02 PM
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Yes, I am Canadian and have plenty of experience with Air Canada. The comfort ought to be just fine, their service leaves much to be desired. They are well known through Canada for having comically poor customer service. Typically the complaint is that in the event that you require assistance, even if it's just to have a question answered, you will be met with an annoyed staff. I fly with them regularly (my employer books it for me) and am shocked at the smart comments made my way when I require assistance or make inquiries. Heaven help you should you need them to do something on your behalf. They could care less that your father passed away, that you were stuck in traffic, that your luggage is a half pound overweight, that your screaming toddler is a handful at the precise moment you're trying to check your bags, etc. They will not offer assistance and are likely to provide such guidance as "Perhaps you should try again tomorrow." If you follow all the rules, you'll be ok.

"Air Canada - We're not happy until you're not happy."
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Old Apr 10th, 2011, 03:04 PM
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SInce AC doesn't fly to Vietnam or Bangkok, you'll be connecting; and mostly likely at HKG or NRT. At those airports, you'll be using the same lounges as passengers flying UA's business class. But connecting through YYZ is fine.
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Old Apr 10th, 2011, 03:20 PM
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rkkwan: My lounge comparison concerns AC's surprisingly nice trans-border lounge at YYZ vs. United's dismal lounges in ORD or IAD (where unlucky Boston-bound UA flyers would transit).
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Old Apr 10th, 2011, 03:34 PM
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rizzuto - Definitely not disagreeing with you.
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Old Apr 10th, 2011, 06:09 PM
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I flew them from LAX to Montreal and had no problems.

I found everything just fine and I was in coach: food, service, etc. But then I did just get on and hushed!

I try to avoid all USA airlines except Southwest, and took Air Canada over United and the others and was so happy I could do so!
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Old Apr 10th, 2011, 06:36 PM
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I quite like Air Canada's business class for long haul flights (Executive First in Air Canada speak) and find the service to be very good. In half a dozen flights I have always had a good night's sleep in the flat bed pod seating.
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Old Apr 15th, 2011, 04:43 PM
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Ditto on the positive comments on Air Canada Executive First. I've not flown the long Asian routes in AC C, but I've found the pods to be great (a little narrow, as I like to curl up when I sleep, but otherwise fantastic. Oh yeah, once I had a neighbor who kept wanting to hang his jacket, or his reading material, or his headphones, or even his arm over the divider, so they'd dangle in my face, but you'd need floor-to-ceiling walls to stop behavior like that). Because Air Canada offers only two classes, the "Executive First" is positioned as a premium business class.

I've never found Air Canada service to be "bad" per se, but not as smooth, polished, and helpful as some other (notably Asian) carriers. Some flight attendants are really surly, but I've also had some really great flight attendants and gate agents.

The food has been pretty good, but I cut airplane food a lot of slack. On one of my trips last summer, the braised lamb shank on the plane home was the best meal of the trip (this is as much a comment about AC food as that trip...)
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