Air Canada Airbus A330 Business Class From Montreal To London Heathrow

Following a business trip in Montréal last month, Simple Flying was invited as guests of Air Canada to experience the airline’s business class on the flight back to London Heathrow. With it being a red-eye flight across the Atlantic Ocean, we were excited about the opportunity to relax in the premium cabin of Canada’s Airbus A330-300.

We arrived early at Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, allowing us extra time to enjoy the Maple Leaf Lounge. Stay tuned for our review of this premium lounge in the coming weeks. Until then, check out our review of Air Canada’s Frankfurt offering.

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Ready for boarding

While we would have loved to spend more time chowing down on poutine, we had to head back to Europe. As we had priority, the process of hopping on the aircraft was nice and seamless, with a smooth journey through the checking and boarding procedures. Swift boarding isn’t always the case with business class across the industry, as our review of Etihad’s operations in Abu Dhabi highlights, so we didn’t take this situation for granted.

Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying

Once on board the twinjet, the freshness of the cabin can be felt right away. Even when flying in economy, the accents and materials of the interiors offer a refined mood, making the experience all the more classy.

Plenty of space

Making my way to seat 6D, it was clear to see all the space to be had in the cabin. From the overhead bins to the roomy aisle, there is a lot of room to move about.

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

Still, the best example of spaciousness is the seat itself. Registration C-GFAF has a capacity of 292 passengers, split by 27 business, 21 premium economy, and 244 economy seats. Despite the aircraft being nearly 25 years old, conducting its first flight in June 1999, the interior’s modernity manifests within the seat.

The first of Air Canada’s retrofitted A330s began flying in June 2020. The Air Canada Signature Class product, which the airline brands its business seat, now features a 70-inch pitch and 21-inch width. It also boasts a 75-inch bed length. The airline has also discontinued the aged 1-1-1 herringbone configuration.

According to ch-aviation, C-GFAF was delivered to Air Canada in January 2000. It is one of 18 A330-300s in the carrier’s fleet. This unit has flown a total of over 96,500 flight hours and more than 16,100 cycles. Other than Montréal and London, it has recently been seen on trips to Geneva, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, Cancún, Vancouver, Punta Cana, and Lisbon.

Once strapped in via the over-the-shoulder seat belt, it was time to see what was for dinner. Much like the cabin, the menu was nice and minimalist. Since it was a late flight, there’s no need to complicate matters. Yet, despite the simplicity, there was a range of choices.

The menu was prepared by some of Canada’s finest chefs: Vikram Vij, David Hawksworth, and Jèrôme Ferrer. Sommelier Véronique Rivest also assisted with the wine selection. We didn’t waste any time trying out the bubbly provided by the galley!

Photo: Joanna Bailey | Simple Flying

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Exploring the features

While I contemplated what to dine on later, I browsed through the features of the seat, appreciating the small touches such as the reading light. This lamp aided in getting better-lit shots for this review amid the dim night service.

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

One of the more surprising features was the massage function of the reclining seat. This setting took away any pre-flight anxieties I may have had, and I was ready to enjoy the ride.

After the safety video prepared us while showing some of Canada’s natural wonders, it was time to browse through the inflight entertainment (IFE). Compared to some of its other Star Alliance carriers, the IFE was stacked with several new and popular movies and TV shows.

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

Movies such as Napoleon, Anyone But You, The Color Purple, Anyone But You, and the new Mean Girls were available. Meanwhile, partnerships with the likes of Apple TV, HBO MAX, Disney+, and Hulu ensured that binge-watchers were kept busy during the flight.

Flight AC864 took off from Montréal at 20:48 EDT, 28 minutes later than the scheduled time of 20:20. The departure was smooth, and after aircraft leveled, I tried out the WiFi, which is available via the following options:

• Stream Pass: CA$27.75 for the flight or CA$10.75 for an hour
• Ultimate Pass: CA$34.50 for the flight or CA$14.25 for an hour
• Air Canada Plan: CA$89.95 for monthly onboard access
• Texting for Aeroplan members: Free for the flight

Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying

Looking to be entertained by the IFE, I opted for the free texting option to keep in contact with my family and colleagues on the ground. This is just what many travelers need to keep in communication with their loved ones or coworkers while in the air.

Screenshot: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

The crew’s attempt to serve the first meal was slightly delayed amid a bout of turbulence. Therefore, I took a moment to appreciate the leather Acqua Di Parma amenity bag and its contents. This pouch has far more capacity than its pencil-case-like counterparts, allowing for greater reuse opportunities.

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

The kit includes the usual suspects: a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, and earbuds. Other favorites, including socks and eye masks, complemented these.

The more unique touch was the addition of the Acqua Di Parma hand cream and lip balm, which would definitely come in use in the chilly winters of Canada.

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

Time to eat

The Customer Service Manager (CSM) came by with a friendly introduction, which was a nice touch. Soon enough, his team came through with the meal service.

The appetizer consisted of a well-presented plate of, loubieh bi zeit, a tangy muhammara, and za’atar feta cheese. This Mediterranean dish was balanced perfectly with a spoonful of hummus.

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

The flavors are similar to what I’ve tasted while flying with Middle Eastern carriers such as Turkish Airlines and Etihad.

For the main dish, I personally opted for the green curry chicken. This fragrant dish came with coconut jasmine rice, sugar snap peas, and carrots. I’m a huge fan of sticky rice, and this serving was up there with the best of them.

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

The chicken was tender and well-seasoned, and it went well with a glass of Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

I did consider going for the beef short rib bourguignon. My colleague Tom chose this France-inspired dish, which was served with potato au gratin, roasted pearl onions, and sautéed mushrooms.

Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying

A cheese platter followed, consisting of Brie, Oka, Cheddar, grapes, and crackers. For dessert, I went for the fruit platter. Here, the strawberries and their sweetness were a standout. For others, a luxurious dark chocolate fondant rounded off the notably generous dinner service.

Tranquility in the clouds

With my belly full, my seat reclined, and the leg rest up, it was time to lay back and watch some TV. Making the most of the HBO MAX partnership, I put on the series finale of The Sopranos as I only had one episode left on my latest rewatch. I was impressed to see the whole of the final season available, especially since only a handful of episodes from some other series can be selected across the skies.

Despite my best endeavors to complete the series on the large 21-inch screen, the comfort of the seat sent me to sleep 15 minutes in. I woke up, thinking I had only slept for an hour or so, only to see on the flight map that we were fewer than 30 minutes away from Heathrow!

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

There is an option on the screen to request to be woken up for breakfast, but I didn’t anticipate I’d fall asleep so soon, so I didn’t take advantage of this tool. Nonetheless, at least I woke up well-rested and ready for the new day without having to go to bed first.

Some of us went all in and basked in the full-bed experience…

Photo: Joanna Bailey | Simple Flying

The snaps below show the comfort to be had with the cozy seats, warm duvet, comfy mattress, and plush pillow.

Even though we were seated in the middle, we managed to catch some quick glimpses of London’s famous skyline while approaching Heathrow. Despite the late departure, we arrived in the capital of the United Kingdom 24 minutes early, touching down at 06:45 GMT.

The jet stream across the Atlantic undoubtedly helped pick up some speed along the way!

Photo: Sumit Singh | Simple Flying

Reflecting on the ground

Deplaning was even more swift than the boarding experience. We were out in no time, catching a fantastic glimpse of the vessel we had just left after leaving the jet bridge. It did take a while to make our way to the main area of Heathrow Terminal 2 since Air Canada operates at the B gates. Still, the quick work to get us off the plane ensured we made it in good time to collect our bags.

Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying

There are not many better ways to hop over the Atlantic. From the cabin design to the menu selection, Air Canada seamlessly balances its classic tradition with a modern zest that brings the operator’s service into a new era without losing its tradition.

What are your thoughts about Air Canada’s service? Let us know what you think in the comment section.