World Traveller 73 
Review: Air Canada Business Class A320-2, Vancouver – Calgary
This flight would find me flying in Air Canada’s legacy short haul product on it’s popular Airbus 320-200 series aircraft. My rapid air flight between Vancouver and Calgary had me upgraded courtesy of Air Canada elite status. Although it was a short flight, I would find a full suite of features that would come along with the experience, including a full meal. Follow along to see what the short haul flight experience on Air Canada offers on the west coast.
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Review: Air Canada Business Class A320-2, Vancouver International Airport – Calgary International Airport
While Air Canada has previously flown an all Airbus fleet domestically within Canada, they’ve recently upgraded to several Boeing 737 – Max 8 aircraft. The Air Canada Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft are the newer versions of the narrow body fleet. Occasionally, you’ll find yourself on one of the older Airbus 320 aircraft, like I did today.
This ticket was purchased as a regular economy class category in Flex Fare economy class. I used e-upgrade credits achieved from flying with Air Canada’s Aeroplan frequent flier program as a top tier elite, in order to upgrade into business class.
After purchase, I signed in to my Air Canada Aeroplan account and submitted an upgrade request shortly after purchasing the ticket. After the pandemic, I usually got upgraded several days prior to arrival to the airport. This time, my upgrade did not clear until the flight closed at the gate.
This was a bit of a smart economic move on the part of Air Canada. By only upgrading passengers at the gate, they likely save the expense of servicing the traveller at the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Vancouver Domestic.
In the end, approximately five persons out of fourteen people that were listed for upgrades were cleared into Business Class. This left eight on the list without the opportunity to get upgraded.
Checking into Air Canada Business Class:
It was a bright and sunny day when I arrived to the Vancouver International Airport. I parked at Park and Fly Valet Vancouver and was dropped off by the shuttle bus. It as a short walk over to the domestic terminal.
To save my phone battery, I picked up a boarding pass re-print at the kiosk. The Vancouver International Airport authority has recently relocated the Trusted Traveller security screening check point upstairs. It’s almost been a private affair every time I’ve passed through, with no wait at the screening checkpoint. I eventually located my departure gate at Gate 47.
While I was waiting at the gate, I got a push notification through the Air Canada app. My economy seat had cleared into a business class seat just a few minutes after the flight had closed one hour before departure. My seat assignment was moved from a window (18F) to an aisle (3D). However, I wasn’t really complaining considering it was only a short one hour and ten minutes flight.
Air Canada
AC 212 – Business Class (R)
YVR – YYC (Vancouver International Airport – Calgary International Airport)
Oct 28, 2024
Scheduled: 1:10 PM – 3:40 PM
Booked: Airbus 320-200
Flown: Airbus 320–200
On Board Air Canada Business Class:
At the gate, boarding was called with Boarding Zone 1 being called first. My ticket was processed and I headed down the jet bridge.
I stepped onto the very familiar glacial blue cabin of the Air Canada Airbus 320-2 cabin. The Air Canada Business Class cabin used to be state of the art, but it’s looking a little tired these days with a lot of wear.
The Air Canada Business Class Cabin on the Airbus 320(2) offers 14 recliner seats, with four rows on the right hand side of the aircraft, and three rows on the left hand side of the aircraft. The top of the left hand size of the aircraft offers a storage closet, instead of a pair of seats.
While the seats aren’t super spacious, they do offer a substantially more amount of room than an economy seat. While it wouldn’t make much difference for a short haul flight under two hours, a longer trans continental flight, you’d certainly notice the difference.
My assigned seat 3D was showing quite a bit of wear, with a map pocket that wasn’t able to hold an iPad under it’s weight. The seat also offered a foot rest, which my long legs didn’t end up using.
While the seats are showing a bit of wear and tear, they remain comfortable for short to medium haul flights. The seating isn’t state of the art, but it’s far better than what you might expect in economy class.
Pre Departure Services:
The pre-departure services on Air Canada domestic remain pretty tame by comparison to United States carriers. Unlike the usual open bar beverage offered on the large American three, there was a chilled bottle of Naya water waiting at the seat.
It’s always nicer to offer a customized pre-departure beverage, I’ve grown accustomed to getting only water on these flights.
Departing Vancouver International Airport:
We had our usual departure route from Vancouver International Airport. We had a long taxi over to runway 26L, which meant a departure out over the water. Since we were leaving in the early afternoon, we didn’t have any wait to depart.
In Flight Entertainment:
While we were climbing to altitude, I played with the Air Canada in flight entertainment system. On the positive side, all of the Air Canada aircraft offer in seat back monitors for entertainment. This is a great feature which is missing from most of the American domestic carriers.
On the downside, the entertainment system on this generation of aircraft is exceptionally slow. you’ll spend a great deal of time waiting for the system to respond to your touch screen commands. You’ll also possibly experience “freezing”. At the worst case, perhaps the occasional hard reboot required from your flight attendants.
I ended up setting up the moving map to track my flight from Vancouver – Calgary.
I’ve been spending more time in Air Canada cabin’s these days and I’ve recently started packing along an iPad to bring my own entertainment. Aside from setting the map, I didn’t bother with exploring any movies on board in the Air Canada En Route entertainment system.
The Meal: A Snack
The in flight service started with a brief warmed towel service. Despite the shorter flight, Air Canada still goes through the motions of offering a towel service.
Our rapid air flight from Vancouver – Calgary was scheduled at one hour and thirty minutes. This meant that we were in the air for approximately one hour and ten minutes.
Despite this short flight of only four hundred and twenty eight miles, Air Canada offers it’s business class customers a short snack. During this afternoon flight between 1 PM – 3:40 PM, it was a snack offering instead of a full lunch meal.
Today’s snack was a slice of cheese and pepperoni pizza that was softly warmed. This was presented on a tray, all at once. Most travellers got two small pieces of pizza, where I ended up getting a plate with one larger piece.
A beverage service was offered. I ended up sticking with Sprite soft drink, which was served with some ice and the remaining can on the side. I was also offered some Krispy Kernel Roasted Salted Almonds as an accompaniment.
I do have to applaud Air Canada for offering a meal tray service on such a short flight. I’d be quick to point out at United Airlines has cut out First Class meal service on all domestic and trans-border flights under 850 miles. As a result, you’d have to be flying twice as long in order to get a meal in the other Star Alliance carrier south of the border in the United States.
The service on board was the usual Air Canada politeness; pleasant but not super interactive. Staff were available for drink refills, although my can of Sprite kept me full until I arrived to Calgary.
Landing at Calgary International:
With the flight being really brief, it wasn’t long before we were navigating into Calgary International Airport.
We had a pilot announcement to expect some bumps on the way into Calgary, as is usually the case given the city’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains.
We arrived to Gate C52 in the Domestic Terminal at Calgary International Airport and deplaned without any issues. Headed for the rental car desk for a Hertz rental before heading over to The Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown Beltline District for the week.
My Thoughts on Air Canada Business Class:
Air Canada Business Class offers a more spacious seat, along with a suite of priority services. While this short flight didn’t offer a whole lot, it was nice to have a snack meal offered in business class.
Simply, I’ll take a business class seat over economy any day. Today was no exception that rule.
World Traveller 73 
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