To wrap up a go to to Australia, I flew from Sydney to Vancouver in Air Canada Signature Class, the airline’s flagship product. Given the space between the 2 international locations, having a direct flight is essentially the most preferrred circumstance, as you’d in any other case need to route via the USA, New Zealand, the Center East, or Asia to get to Canada.
On the time, Air Canada had simply reintroduced its Signature Class product, because it brought back many aspects of its service that had been curtailed as a result of pandemic. This included pre-departure drinks, a brand new amenity package, heat towels, and garment-hanging service.
Whereas I’d flown this product many instances earlier than, this could be my first time experiencing Air Canada’s long-haul Signature Class service in full after the product was restored. Naturally, I used to be eager to see the way it in comparison with earlier experiences with the airline, in addition to to different airways who had lengthy since returned to enterprise as regular.
As we’ve reviewed Air Canada Signature Class many instances earlier than, this evaluation will focus extra on the smooth product moderately than the onerous product.
Air Canada 777 Signature Class – Reserving
I booked flights for my niece and myself lengthy earlier than Australia had absolutely reopened its borders to tourism. On the time, there was wonderful eUpgrade availability on direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver.
My spouse, sister, and youthful niece flew from Sydney to Vancouver by way of Brisbane on the identical day, and we had been scheduled to reach inside an hour of one another. With my sister as my Super Elite eUpgrade nominee and my spouse reserving my youthful niece along with her, this was the one means we may all get pleasure from Air Canada Signature Class for flights again to Canada.
In whole, we paid 65,000 Aeroplan factors every on an Economic system (Latitude) fare, which additionally included a flight from Vancouver to Victoria. I additionally parted methods with 26 eUpgrades for this flight, utilizing 13 for every of us to instantly confirm an upgrade.
Whereas it’s now harder to seek out eUpgrade availability or Signature Class flights that fall throughout the affordable vary of Air Canada’s dynamic pricing, it’s nonetheless doable. Be sure you e-book far upfront, or regulate costs and make a change accordingly.
In any other case, you’ll be able to look to route by way of Asia or the Center East to get to Australia, or e-book in premium economy with Air Canada to safe a spot on the top of the waitlist for enterprise class.
Air Canada 777 Signature Class – Floor Expertise
My niece and I arrived on the airport in Sydney effectively upfront of our flight. The remainder of our celebration that was flying by way of Brisbane had left a bit earlier to permit for loads of time to make their connection.
We approached the Tremendous Elite check-in lane, the place we had been greeted by the Concierge on responsibility in Sydney. She made certain to make my niece really feel particular, because it was her first time flying on the entrance of the plane.
After checking our paperwork that we had ready for me to fly with my niece, we ran right into a little bit of a hiccup with Canada’s Digital Journey Authorizations not speaking with the airline. This concern affected many passengers, and it wasn’t one thing that was below the airline’s management.
We had been confirmed to a close-by seat whereas the workers sorted out the issue, and finally, we had been welcomed again to complete up the check-in course of.
After continuing via safety and customs, we spent a while within the Air New Zealand Lounge Sydney previous to our flight. Whereas we additionally had entry to the Singapore Airways SilverKris Lounge subsequent door, we opted to remain right here, because it had nice views, good meals, and was good and quiet.
As our flight started to board, we headed down the escalator to Gate 59, the place we boarded via Zone 1.
Air Canada 777 Signature Class – Cabin
The Concierge met us on the bridge and requested my niece about her favorite components concerning the lounge. As soon as once more, I appreciated how she made her really feel particular, and accompanied her all the best way to her seat to level out all of the bells and whistles.
Our plane was a Boeing 777-200LR, with a complete of 40 seats unfold out in a 1-2-1 configuration throughout 11 rows.
I organized for our seats within the entrance cabin, selecting seats 2A and 3A in order that we may each benefit from the views throughout our daytime flight to Vancouver.
We may have chosen the center seats, however for the reason that partition doesn’t decrease on the Boeing 777, I made a decision that it might be finest for us to be seated on the window facet of the plane moderately than within the center.
Air Canada 777 Signature Class – Seat
The seat is Air Canada’s flagship product, as each passenger enjoys direct aisle entry. The cabin has a reverse-herringbone configuration, with window seats angled in direction of the window and the center seats angled inwards in direction of one another.
Having been on this aircraft many instances previously, I knew what to anticipate. Whereas the seat is probably not as flashy as different airways’s signature merchandise, Air Canada gives a aggressive enterprise class seat, with loads of cupboard space, an affordable quantity of room in lie-flat mode, and a modest quantity of privateness.
Air Canada 777 Signature Class – Facilities
One side of the flight that I used to be most desirous about was the total return of Air Canada’s in-flight facilities. Till this level, the airline had been working on a diminished service mannequin, which I had skilled on a flight from Paris to Montreal simply two months prior.
Upon boarding, we had been supplied a alternative of welcome drinks. I opted for a glass of Champagne, whereas my niece selected a glass of glowing water.
For what it’s price, the crew didn’t supply any top-ups previous to the flight, and cleared glasses as quickly as they had been empty.
The cabin crew additionally got here round with scorching towels for everybody to clean up with.
Once we arrived at our seats, we discovered the standard blanket, mattress, pillow, and noise-cancelling headphones. This time, I additionally observed the brand-new Acqua di Parma amenity package positioned on the seat, in addition to a pair of slippers.
This amenity package is an improve to Air Canada’s earlier providing, and I appreciated the color of the package. Sadly, the contents inside are very normal, and embrace socks, a microfibre fabric, a dental package, an eyeshade, earplugs, and a few small bottles of Acqua di Parma merchandise.
Whereas the amenity package is definitely an enchancment to what was supplied earlier than, the contents go away a lot to be desired. It will be nice to see the airline enhance the contents, maybe taking some inspiration from what’s supplied in Emirates business class.
Air Canada 777 Signature Class – Meal Service
The cabin crew distributed menus quickly after we boarded. As a Tremendous Elite, the Service Director got here by to personally welcome us to the flight and took our orders earlier than different passengers.
I opted to strive the spiced rooster with tamarind sauce, whereas my niece determined to order the pink wine braised beef cheeks with garlic herb smashed potatoes.
Upon reaching cruising altitude, the crew got here round to start the meal service. We had been supplied our alternative of drinks and a few heat nuts to snack on.
The Service Director did some magic methods for my niece, which I assumed was a very nice contact.
For an appetizer, we loved blackened smoked trout with shaved fennel and pink grapefruit, alongside a regular inexperienced salad. I had my Champagne topped up for this a part of the meal service, which had been poured previous to our appetizers being delivered.
I loved the appetizer, because it was gentle and refreshing, and paired effectively with the bubbles in my drink.
When the primary course was delivered, I assumed the rooster was good, however the sauce wasn’t fairly as much as par. Sadly, my meal hadn’t been heated via fully, which had the impact of suppressing my urge for food.
After a giant meal within the lounge, my niece wasn’t too hungry, and I made a decision to offer her braised beef cheeks dish a strive. It turned out to be pleasant, with tender meat and sufficient sauce to assist wash the remainder of the dish down.
For dessert, I attempted the lemon chia cake alongside a glass of port wine.
The dessert supplied a great finish to a combined total impression from the meal service.
Air Canada 777 Signature Class – Leisure
After taking part in some video video games with my niece and getting some work carried out, I made a decision to scroll via Air Canada’s leisure system to zone out for a bit. I’ve all the time discovered that the choice is sweet, with a pleasant vary of titles.
I wound up watching a few episodes from the HBO collection Successful Time in between stints of labor and naps.
The Wi-Fi onboard was good, and I used to be in a position to work with none points during the flight. I get pleasure from a Wi-Fi plan as a part of my Select Benefits, however entry can in any other case be bought by any passenger.
For the rest of the flight, I tuned in to the airshow and adopted alongside as we made our means throughout the Pacific.
Air Canada 777 Signature Class – Snack Service
After I turned a bit peckish just a few hours after the meal service, the Service Director advised I strive the Mexican pulled beef sandwich on a brioche bun. I’d ordered related dishes with different airways earlier than, and to be sincere, I used to be a bit skeptical after just a few damaging experiences.
Fortunately, the dish was successful, and I loved each chunk.
After reclining my seat for some time, it was quickly time for us to have the second meal service. On this flight, we had been served breakfast at round 90 minutes previous to arrival.
I wasn’t actually within the temper for an egg dish at this level within the day, so I opted for the waffles this time to change issues up a bit. I’m really a giant fan of the chilly breakfast possibility on Air Canada flights, so I used to be delighted to see the bircher muesli obtainable as an accompaniment.
I used to be pleasantly stunned by the waffles, and it was a pleasant change to the in any other case typical selections of the parsley omelette or scrambled eggs.
Air Canada 777 Signature Class – Service
I needed to make a remark concerning the service onboard this flight, because it’s one thing that usually comes up in opinions of Air Canada Signature Class.
For this flight, we had an ideal crew, with each Service Administrators clearly setting an instance and going out of their means for everybody within the Signature Class cabin. Employees checked in on us regularly, and I loved some good conversations with the flight attendants in between meal companies.
Particularly, I appreciated how the Service Director made certain my niece was well-looked after and made her first expertise in enterprise class a memorable one. Other than magic methods and jokes, he even allow us to have a fast peek on the crew bunks on the higher degree of the plane, and supplied my niece with some Air Canada pins as a memento.
My spouse labored as a flight attendant for just a few years with Air Canada, and she or he mentions that the general service tradition on flights is ready by the Service Director(s). On this flight, we had an ideal expertise, however I additionally know that this isn’t all the time the case.
On my flight from Paris to Montreal just a few months prior, I had wonderful meals, however the service on the aircraft was moderately completely different. Following the meal service, workers didn’t come round with water or test in on passengers for at the least a few hours, which required me to both use the decision button or head into the galley for a glass of water.
I used to be blissful to have an enthusiastic crew who sorted us effectively on this flight, and I hope to have related encounters on flights with Air Canada sooner or later.
Conclusion
At over 14 hours, the flight from Sydney to Vancouver in Air Canada Signature Class is certainly not a brief one. Air Canada’s onerous product is fashionable, and other than having a sliding door for privateness, it offers a snug area to be in on the long-haul flight.
On this flight, I had a combined expertise with the meal service, as my preliminary meal hadn’t been heated via correctly, which resulted in me dropping my urge for food considerably. Alternatively, the remainder of the meals on the flight was good, so this was probably only a little bit of a hiccup within the preparation.
We had an ideal crew on our flight from Sydney to Vancouver from begin to end, and I admire the efforts made by workers to make my niece really feel additional particular.
Whereas Air Canada Signature Class may not be as aggressive as, say, Qatar Airways Qsuites or ANA “The Room”, it’s a completely comfy option to get to your vacation spot. You’ll get pleasure from a lie-flat seat with loads of actual property and an ideal number of leisure, in addition to the comfort of direct flights to and from Canada.
My expertise with Air Canada Signature Class on this journey was in keeping with lots of my earlier flights, with some elements of the flight being nice and others being much less memorable. Because the airline returns to its full service providing, it might be nice to see some consistency all through all elements of the expertise to deliver it extra consistent with different high Star Alliance carriers.
