On a recent flight from Toronto to Edmonton with Air Canada, which is a 4 hour and 20 minute flight, I enjoyed an upgrade at the gate to Business Class. And I certainly made the most of the experience.
On the way to the airport in Toronto, I took the UP Express for the first time – the new link between Union Station and Pearson International Airport in Toronto. It’s got to be amongst the most expensive in the world for airport transit, and they’re still trying to make it clearer where you board. So it’s pretty under used at the moment. But it’s still significantly cheaper than a taxi, quicker than a bus and incredibly comfortable. It felt like I’d already had the business class experience thanks to that journey!
But back on the plane, I was seated in the Bulkhead seat 1D, right at the front of the plane. I was somewhat restricted by the wall when it came to the legroom, but it’s hard to complain when you have great recline, a good headrest, pillow and a wider seat. On this Airbus A320-200 aircraft (Toronto to Edmonton, flight AC1157) they have Business Class in a 2-2 layout, while economy is 3-3, so that gives you an idea of how much room the upper class seats take up.
Orange juice or water was served to us before take off – and then warm nuts and a full drink service were served shortly after take off, while I enjoyed my entertainment unit.
Not long after that, the stewardess came around and asked what we wanted for our mains, taking our orders and giving us an option to have it now or later. It was a longer flight, so I ended up getting it about two hours into the journey. We had four meal options: the vegetarian pasta, chicken, salmon or beef. They didn’t have a menu for you like on some other Air Canada aircraft, but they did their best to talk you through what each dish was.
Ahead of the main course, fresh fruit was served, and they didn’t hesitate to offer another alcoholic beverage.
A first course followed, along with the tray and all the cutlery. A warm bread roll was served with butter, and a vegetable salad came with mozzarella cheese and a balsamic dressing you could pour over the dish. It was a bit of an odd way to serve a salad, but it tasted great.
The main – which for me was the salmon, served with rice and vegetables, as well as a tomato puree – came out on its own in a hot plate. It was a surprisingly delicious meal, and a decent portion too. They definitely look after Business Class passengers with a meal like this.
The flight itself ended up arriving early, and after a good meal, great service, a bit of rest and a movie, I had arrived comfortably (and perhaps a little tipsy for the occasion) in Edmonton.
To book your next flight with Air Canada, visit aircanada.com.
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