Air Canada's new Business Class? seats..BRUTAL

[Beefitarian]

He said he flies the route once a month not AC. Took him 2 years to be booked on AC.

Oh sorry. I wonder how he knew, "The service was great and the seats were spectacular."? Maybe he read it here.

[whiteguy]

He said he flies the route once a month not AC. Took him 2 years to be booked on AC.

Oh sorry. I wonder how he knew, "The service was great and the seats were spectacular."? Maybe he read it here.

Not sure.....

His words.....

" It was with great anticipation I boarded the flight in Hong Kong. Air Canada at last! This was the flight I finally get my little POD and a chance to rest nicely until Vancouver. NOT! The seats had been totally changed out to some ugly cramped new style. I actually had to ask the flight attendant: "Is this the flight to Vancouver?"

[Beefitarian]

... I expected nicer seats from the description.

[YYZSaabGuy]

He said he flies the route once a month not AC. Took him 2 years to be booked on AC.

Oh sorry. I wonder how he knew, "The service was great and the seats were spectacular."? Maybe he read it here.

Not sure.....

His words.....

" It was with great anticipation I boarded the flight in Hong Kong. Air Canada at last! This was the flight I finally get my little POD and a chance to rest nicely until Vancouver. NOT! The seats had been totally changed out to some ugly cramped new style. I actually had to ask the flight attendant: "Is this the flight to Vancouver?"

I think "Air Canada at last" referenced his 2 hour ride to the airport and the prior legs with Silk Air and Singapore Airlines. His first paragraph implies that he's accustomed to flying AC on the Vancouver/Hong Kong route.

Not that it really matters, when you think about it. Whether he's a long-term AC frequent flyer who's leaving, or a potential future customer who's decided to stay away, it's still a business class fare, and cash, that AC won't be booking.

[MIQ]

Air Canada will be reducing fares to reflect the decrease quality of service, right??

Sure, just like Air Canada's 'new low cost Airline' Air Canada Rogue is offering cheap flights

[rt777]

You could fly Cathay to Vancouver instead? Their first class is top notch

[1000 HP]

I'm looking at all the options. I have United Premier 1k status so I'd hate to switch from star alliance. No more double air miles for awhile. But I really don't travel much on my days off anyways so losing some air miles for a year won't kill me.
In response to the earlier question, I had flown with AC in the past and that is why I knew the seats were good. The travel agent who booked my flights usually booked the cheaper ones until my back to back and I revolted and demanded a regular run.
Also note that the Air Canada staff have always been very friendly and I have never had a problem with the service.
If I'm lucky, they will move the 787 to the run. It has better business class seating from the looks of the email add I just received

[Rudy]

[Rookie50]

I've flown Yyz - Hkg both in economy and business, 3 or four times total. I would avoid that plane shown above for either, and assuming they are switching all their 777's to that, I will switch to Cathy next time I go to Asia.

[GyvAir]

So far, the YYZ-HK pplanes are still 3-3-3. Would that be a fuel, weight, range consideration for the longer flight? Cathay has become much more competitive lately, and I've heard their food is several notches above. Can't speak to the service.
As far as AC service goes, I've noticed an odd thing about service on any airline. It tends to follow my mood and my expectations. If I anticipate it being poor, low and behold, it is. If my mood is a bit foul getting on the plane, strangely, the CAs seem to be a little cooler and less accommodating too.

[Rudy]

So far, the YYZ-HK pplanes are still 3-3-3.

Oh that's good to hear. Hopefully this is just a short-long haul thing and the ultra-long routes stay the original config. Still sucks for the Vancouver people though and it sounds like they're using it for Toronto to Europe too.

[Dockjock]

Those are the "HD" high density B777's in AC's fleet. There are 5 aircraft configured this way. I believe the routes they are used on are YUL-CDG, YVR-HKG, and seasonally YYZ-MUC (I think). If you fly AC through any other Asian city you will get the normal pods in J-class.

[rt777]

So far, the YYZ-HK pplanes are still 3-3-3. Would that be a fuel, weight, range consideration for the longer flight? Cathay has become much more competitive lately, and I've heard their food is several notches above. Can't speak to the service.
As far as AC service goes, I've noticed an odd thing about service on any airline. It tends to follow my mood and my expectations. If I anticipate it being poor, low and behold, it is. If my mood is a bit foul getting on the plane, strangely, the CAs seem to be a little cooler and less accommodating too.

I flew Economy YVR-JFK a few months ago on a Cathay 77W, the food was actually decent, service was fantastic, and the seats in economy were not too bad in a 3-3-3 Configuration. I think If I was flying longer than a 5 Hour leg I would have upgraded to Premium Economy however.

[Old fella]

For me a B777 is vacation time - not foul mood time. Service on any airline is gonna have to be some shitty to get me in a bad mood on vacation time. Only experience for me on international is AC in their B777 and 67, flights were full to the inch. We were all fed and wine with the meal, beer and spirits , movie and map tracking, AC service was top knotch for us

[Rookie50]

Yep, for me too I've been happy with AC service in both cabins for the most part. I'm a bit worried though that the airlines are all trying to cram another seat into their wide bodies -- really narrow seats are not so great.

[1000 HP]

Yep, for me too I've been happy with AC service in both cabins for the most part. I'm a bit worried though that the airlines are all trying to cram another seat into their wide bodies -- really narrow seats are not so great.

For sure AC has good service. Like I said no troubles there. But the truth is the Asian airlines have really good service also. I actually have not yet experienced a regular airline with bad service. Not including Sunwing but that was sardine style to Mexico and it won't happen again.

But the AC comfort levels dropped abruptly with the new seating. Comfort is as important as service.

I have put in the request to change airlines and it has been approved today without trouble. I suspect my 6'2' 280 lb back to back will dislike the seats even more than myself and will switch also. That will be 2 customers gone. It may not matter because business class's was 100% full last trip. Maybe AC needs a new marketing crew?

Or maybe I'm just too picky...

[PAXUNK]

I was very happy with the old style 'pods' and found them very comfortable for overnight flights.
It seems strange that AC has downgraded business class in order to fit in more seats that will attract fewer business travellers.
I will avoid the HD 777.
Who would suffer one of these seats if they can get a pod on another route or airline?

[Rudy]

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1275373 ... om-toronto

AC is starting 787 service from Toronto to Haneda in July with 3-3-3 and the 1-2-1 first class pods look nice and private. Haneda will give better access to low cost carriers to further on to Asia versus Narita. Looks great but I wonder if they'll charge more for the new plane and the convenience of Haneda's better access to downtown Tokyo.

http://787.aircanada.com/en