Sometimes tales from the road can be a little repetitive. The same destinations, the same flights. While you can take it as dreary and unexciting, I still feel the excitement and getting out of the office and stepping on a plane. Despite reviewing this past flight early this year on a visit to Regina, I was called back for another series of meetings. Despite reviewing it earlier, for entertainment purposes I’ve decided to review it again. Please join on a familiar route on this blog; Air Canada Express Regina to Vancouver.

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Review: Air Canada Express Business Class Canadair Regional Jet – 900, Regina International Airport – Vancouver International Airport

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Sometimes, the road isn’t all too exciting. In this case it was a repetition of places that I’ve already been to. While I had previously documented flying from Vancouver to Regina on Air Canada Express CRJ-900 Vancouver – Regina. I figured I would document the outbound and return trip, just for entertainment purposes.

This visit was another two day trip to Regina Saskatchewan. While I was treated to Air Canada A320 Newer Business Class Vancouver – Regina on the way out, today’s return flight would be on Air Canada’s Express’s regular product on their Air Canada Express Canadair Regional Jet.

Checkin In at Regina International Airport:

I was departing on the middle flight of the day of three possible flights. The first flight of the day was at 5 AM, and I didn’t relish the thought of getting up at that hour. As a result, I ended up on the 10:30 AM departure.

In a repeat of my last trip, I got up early and visited Cora’s Breakfast Restaurant in the strip malls south of the Regina International Airport. If anything, once discovered, it’s that the road offers familiar spots. If it isn’t broke, there isn’t any need to fix it.

I returned the Hertz rental car and found myself in the usual Regina International Airport Departures Hall. There was no wait or other travellers at the Air Canada Priority Check In. The area was decorated in the usual sleek Air Canada black signifying Air Canada Priority Services.

I ended up checking a bag as I was travelling with a lot of clothes and supplies. Air Canada offers a 2 bag limit at 70 lbs per bag on a business class ticket. As a result, I had room, weight and baggage allowance to spare.

I headed down the hall and headed up the escalators to the departure concourse. I had security screening without any wait and headed over to the secure side.

I met some fellow co-workers who were travelling on this flight. As a result, I didn’t stop in at the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Regina. As I’ve previously mentioned, this isn’t a very exciting lounge but it takes the crown for being among the smallest sized lounges in the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge system.

If you are travelling through Regina in Air Canada Business Class, you’ll have access o the loune as a result of the class of your ticket.

When it came time to board, I boarded with Group #1. We had short line of people waiting to get on board, in a compact boarding area.

Air Canada Express
AC 8191 – Business Class (Z)
YQR – YVR (Regina International Airport – Vancouver International Airport)
Oct 24, 2024
10:30 AM – 11:52 AM
Booked: Canadair Regional Jet – 900
Flown: Canadair Regional Jet – 900

On Board Air Canada Business Class:

Air Canada Express offers a small twelve seat business class cabin on it’s Canadair Regional Jet – 900 series aircraft. The cabin is set up in a 1 – 2 configuration in business class across four rows of business class, versus a 2 – 2 configuration in economy class in the back. Given that this was a familiar cabin type, today’s review offers a combination of old and new photographs.

If you are a solo traveller, the single row of seats on the left hand side of the aircraft will be your area. I don’t mind these seats, but they are not a first choice for me since they are quite exposed and without much privacy. I would end up seated in this single aisle for this particular journey.

I found my seat, which was on the single aisle in 2A. Since I recalled that the seats do not have monitors, I was well prepared to have some entertainment on hand for the two and half hour flight home. My seat was showing a little wear and tear, with a map pocket that had seen much better days.

It is worth mentioning that if you’re seated in the single row of seats, that the overhead bins on this side of the plane are not large enough to stow a rolling suitcase. You’ll have to fight your seat mates across the aisle for space on the right hand side of the aircraft. Accordingly, make sure you board early enough to get bin space.

Pre Departure Services:

Air Canada serves a simple pre-departure beverage, a tiny bottle of Naya Water that was waiting on the seat, unlike most US carriers that offer an open bar. There was no further offer of an extra drink. On the Air Canada Express CRJ, this is balanced on the small cupholder table on the left hand side of the plane.

While waiting for the plane to complete boarding, I reviewed the menu offered for todays flight. While Air Canada used to offer a printed menu service, today they have shifted to menus presented in the Air Canada app.

Since our plane was leaving at noon, we were up for a lunch service today. The lunch menu featured a choice of two hot entrees, a Garlic Ginger Chicken or a Lasagna Pomodoro.

The second page of the menu offered the drink list. It offered a list of beers, unspecified wines, spirits. The spirits were pretty mainstream; although there was an effort at upscale Tanquery Gin, there wasn’t all too much “wow” on the spirit menu.

As I was writing this trip report, and got a mis-matched meal on the way out, that I likely got the garlic chicken that was double catered instead of my pre-ordered meal. It was a bit of a mix up but recognition that the flight is actually double catered from Vancouver, without solid catering facilities in Regina.

For a two and a half hour flight, the menu service was pretty reasonable overall. There’s not a meal plan as extensive on most of my First Class flights within the US. As a result, having a full meal available was a definite advantage.

We got underway fairly quickly with no wait for other aircraft departing the Regina International Airport.

I still can’t get over how flat it actually is in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The Meal: Lunch

The flight time today was scheduled at two hours and thirty minutes gate to gate. The meal service started at about forty five minutes after take off from Regina International Airport.

The in flight service started off with a warm towel service. This isn’t typically expected on domestic flights. However, it is still appreciated.

I ended up enjoying a Lasagna Pomodoro, which was presented with a mesculin salad and a blueberry cheese cake. This was presented all at once on a single tray. I enjoyed a sprite to go with this, served in a glass with ice.

The lasagna was a little limp, but pretty tasty considering the flight. While it wasn’t a memorable meal, it was better than some of the other Air Canada surprises I’ve had over the years.

The fact that Air Canada provides a complete dinner on a quick two and a half hour journey is to be applauded. Compared to our American colleagues, who typically offer a snack basket instead, a full meal is greatly appreciated.

Landing at Vancouver International Airport:

We were back over the Rocky Mountains before we knew it. The weather was more pleasant in Vancouver and the city looks great from the wing.

We approached Vancouver International Airport on Runway 26R. We didn’t have any wait coming in, and we were on the ground before we knew it.

After we landed, it was a quick taxi over to the “C” gates. I was able to get off quickly and was in the terminal before I knew it.

I picked up my car at Park and Fly and headed home for the evening, with another trip accomplished in the books.

The Bottom Line: Air Canada Express Business Class

The Air Canada Express Business Class on the Canadair Regional Jet – 900 Series offers a little more room, but not a whole lot of excitement.

On this trip, I continued with using the single aisle seats on the left hand side of the aircraft. While you won’t have anyone bothering you in these single aisle seats, I still do find them a little exposed with less access to overhead bin space.

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When flying an Air Canada Express Canadair Regional Jet, do you enjoy the catering provided by Air Canada ?

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