World Traveller 73 
Review: Air Canada Business Class B737 Max 8, Calgary – Vancouver
On my recent returning flight from Calgary to Vancouver, I was fortunate enough to be upgraded into Air Canada Business Class on a short haul rapid air segment between the two neighbouring provinces. I would enjoy a short but fully serviced hop which included a full lounge visit to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Calgary, a full breakfast on board, along with a suite of priority services including free checked baggage. Read on to see what a short haul rapid air flight with Air Canada features on the West Coast.
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Review: Air Canada Business Class B737 – Max 8, Calgary International Airport – Vancouver International Airport
On my return segment flight back home from Calgary to Vancouver, I ended up bidding for an Air Canada Aeroplan E-Upgrade to upgrade myself into business class. My company travel policy only offered business class on flights of more than eight hundred and fifty kilometres. Accordingly, I was booked into economy class on this section.
I ended up signing into my Air Canada Aeroplan E-Upgrades account and listing for an upgrade shortly after purchase. My upgrade would end up getting cleared into business class at approximately twenty four hours prior to the flight departure.
Checking into Air Canada Business Class:
I had an early 6:30 AM Mountain Standard Time wake up from The Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown Beltline District. It was all the more earlier given that I was still operating on a 5:30 AM Pacific Standard Time when I got out of bed.
I drove myself to the Calgary International Airport and returned the rental car to Hertz. I was checked out without any trouble.
Entering into the Calgary International Airport terminal, I located the Air Canada check in area. Air Canada has reduced it’s footprint at Calgary International Airport as a result of cut backs and ceded a bit of retail territory to its direct competitor Westjet Airlines.
There was no wait at the Air Canada Priority check in counter. I was attended to immediately.
I ended up purchasing at Tumi Alpha suiter in Calgary, as a result of it’s no sales tax environment. I made the decision to carry on the suiter as a personal item, and I ended up checking my Tumi Alpha 2 rolling suitcase. This was accepted and tagged with a Star Alliance “Priority” baggage tag.
Given that I was flying Air Canada Business Class, I was entitled to two free checked bags up to fifty pounds. If that didn’t work, I was also covered as a result of Air Canada Elite status for two checked bags. You may also be entitled to one free checked bag on Air Canada if you hold select credit co-branded credit cards, such as the Air Canada Aeroplan Visa Infinite Credit card.
Locating the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge:
After completing the check in process, I proceeded through security to the B gates. There was no line at the verified traveller security check point. I find that the Calgary International Airport is somewhere between being a large airport and a small airport. It’s large enough that you’d expect it to have a full suite of services, but quiet enough that it’s often deserted.
The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Calgary Domestic is located right after security after crossing the C Train pathway. Access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Calgary Domestic was provided courtesy of flying in Air Canada Business Class on a complimentary basis. While I have reviewed the lounge previously in detail, I won’t do so again.
On this flight, had approximately forty minutes to kill off so I entered the lounge. The lounge was almost completely deserted for this mid morning visit.
I was really surprised to see that the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge was offering fresh made to order smoked salmon eggs benedict with capers and slivered onions. I enjoyed a serving as a snack, served with a self poured café latte while I waited for my boarding time.
I haven’t come to expect to much when visiting an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. They are typically overcrowded and the food hasn’t been all to exciting recently. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quiet nature of the Calgary lounge, along with a great snack prior to a flight.
If you don’t happen to have access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Calgary Domestic, you may have access to the Westjet Elevation Lounge – Calgary, or the Aspire Lounge – Calgary International with an American Express Platinum Card that offers Priority Pass Select membership. Please feel free to see those reviews if you’re interested in visiting a lounge in Calgary, but don’t happen to have access into the Maple Leaf Lounge.
Air Canada
AC 207 – Business Class (R)
YYC – YVR (Calgary International Airport – Vancouver International Airport)
Nov 1, 2024
10:00 AM – 10:38 AM
Booked: Boeing 737-Max8
Flown: Boeing 737-Max8
On Board Air Canada Business Class:
I have reviewed the Air Canada Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft on several previous occasions. It has become the bulk of my flying these days, on short to medium haul segments. Please see the following posts if you’d like a little more description of the features of the cabin.
- Air Canada Business Class: Los Angeles – Vancouver
- Air Canada Business Class: Vancouver – San Francisco
- Air Canada Business Class: Ottawa – Toronto
- Air Canada Business Class: Vancouver – Phoenix
- Air Canada Business Class: Calgary – Vancouver
- Air Canada Business Class: Vancouver – Ottawa
- Air Canada Business Class: Ottawa – Vancouver
Getting on board today’s flight, it is a combination of older and newer photographs. The Air Canada Business Class seats on a Boeing 737 Max are the newer slim line generation of seats. They offer a little more room over an economy seat, although you’ll never mistake them for a pod styled seat with a fully flat bed.
As in the past, I’m happy to report on the Air Canada Boeing 737 Max seats are actually more comfortable than their older Air Canada Airbus Series Business Class barcalounger style counterpart. I also found them more comfortable than the comparable puffy seat found in the Alaska Airlines First Class product.
I was seated in 2F today, a window seat on the right hand side of the aircraft. I was able to store my carry on baggage and had no issues stowing my luggage in the overhead bins.
The upscale interior offered next generation monitors that offered photographs of the destination. In case of this flight to the west coast, the images were of my hometown of Vancouver.
The Air Canada Business Class Boeing 737Max seat offered a little foot rest. Although the foot rest is a lot sturdier than versions that I have seen on the Airbus series of aircraft, it’s of limited use from a comfort perspective for a tall person like me.
The seat featured Empower charging based on a North American plug, and also offered a laptop storage contained underneath the centre arm rest.
The Seat Featured a recline option and a foot rest option. These features were accessed through level buttons on the wall of the seat itself.
There is also a seat extender for reclining comfort. You won’t mistake this for a fully flat seat, but it might make relaxing a little more comfortable.
The Boeing 737 Max featured individual air nozzles above the travellers seat. This is something that I always appreciate, since you’re able to control your own air flow, and make your flight just that more comfortable.
Pre Departure Services:
We had a pretty tame pre-departure beverage service. Today’s domestic pre-departure service was limited to a Naya bottle of water left on the seat.
While it is always better to have more service during the pre-departure phase, having a bottle of water is about what I’ve come to expect from Air Canada domestic flights in business class.
Departing Calgary International Airport:
We had an on-time departure at 10 AM from the Calgary International Airport.
It was snowing on my drive to the airport. As a result, we had a taxi over to the de-icing pad for de icing treatment. It was only November 1; early in the winter season but it goes to show that it’s never to early to be snowy when travelling in Canada.
After the deicing treatment was applied, we departed on runway 17. We had a southern track over downtown Calgary.
We had some really interesting cloud formations on the way out of town. The cloud bank had rolled right up to downtown Calgary, with only the tops of the skyscrapers peeking through the clouds.
After passing over downtown Calgary, we headed westwards towards the Rocky Mountains. It is always gorgeous flying over the Rocky Mountains and today’s flight, with fresh snow, was no exception.
I was treated to endless mountains covered in snow, as we made our way down to Vancouver. With views like this, I had no need to get into the entertainment on my iPad or on the Air Canada En Route entertainment system.
The Meal: Breakfast
Air Canada offered a full meal on this short flight. Despite the flight being only an hour and thirty minutes, and an hour and ten gate to gate, a full meal was offered for this short flight.
The meal service started with the usual towel service. Air Canada dropped off a nuked towel, that wasn’t very “spa like” in its quality.
Surprisingly, there was a full breakfast being offered on this flight from between 10 AM – 11:30 AM. While it wasn’t over a meal period, it was a treat to have a full meal.
Today’s breakfast was the familiar parsley omelette. There wasn’t a choice between entrees with the omelette being the sole choice offered. The parsley omelette was presented with sliced fruit on a tray, all at once.
Today is Air Canada flight offered a small fruit plate, along with a cranberry biscuit loaf and on Iögo yogurt. This was presented all at once.
I enjoyed this with a regular drip coffee.
The service on board was the usual Air Canada politeness; pleasant but not super interactive. Breakfast was cleared very promptly given our short flight time.
Landing at Vancouver International Airport:
After those beautiful mountains, it was time to descend to Vancouver International Airport. It was a stark contrast of wetness as I returned to Vancouver International Airport, arriving to a moist atmosphere.
We pulled up to Gate 47 at Vancouver International Airport. After a few minutes, I was able to de-plane. Without much wait in the terminal, I was able to pick up my checked bag. I was able to get to the Park and Fly Valet and home for the rest of my day off.
The Bottom Line: Air Canada Business Class
The Air Canada Business Class rapid air flight between Calgary and Vancouver was pretty straightforward.
Air Canada still offers many inclusions on it’s short haul flights, including a full meal service, along with access to a great Maple Leaf Lounge in Calgary International Airport.
World Traveller 73 
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