My last flight of this trip would be back on Air Canada’s narrow body aircraft. While I listed for an upgrade, I wasn’t high enough up the list. As such, I would end up back in the preferred economy seat that I had originally purchased. While Air Canada Economy Class isn’t all too exciting, I figure that I would comment on the Air Canada Preferred Seat and whether it is worth splurging for the indulgence.

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Review: Air Canada B737-Max, Ottawa International Airport – Vancouver International Airport

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After a flight out of Iqaluit on Canadian North Iqaluit – Ottawa, and an overnight stay at the Fairfield Inn Ottawa Airport, it was time for a simple trip home.

I regularly fly this route for work reasons. While I had listed for an upgrade using Air Canada Aeroplan E-Upgrade instruments, I wasn’t successful. Most recently, the trans continental upgrades are quite popular. I would end up being #12 on a list of more than twenty on this Monday morning.

Departing from Ottawa International Airport:

After arriving to the airport, I visited the Aspire Salon Lounge Ottawa courtesy of Priority Pass. While I didn’t have access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Ottawa on this visit, the Aspire Lounge was more than satisfactory for this short visit.

Our Air Canada Boeing 737-Max was parked at gate 14 at the Ottawa International Airport. The Ottawa International Airport terminal was not too busy this morning. It was a short walk up from security over to the gate. I boarded with Zone 2, courtesy of Air Canada Aeroplan elite status.

Air Canada
AC 341 – Economy Class
YOW – YVR (Ottawa International Airport – Vancouver International Airport)
June 9, 2025
Scheduled: 9:35 AM – 11:51 AM
Booked: Boeing 737-Max
Flown: Boeing 737-Max

On Board Air Canada Preferred Economy Seats:

I had selected an Air Canada Preferred Economy Seat which was located at the front of the aircraft in row 14. The Preferred Seats offer a little more leg room, which was appreciated for my tall 6 foot 2 inches frame.

The Air Canada Preferred Seat offers a little more legroom. Unfortunately, the seat is still compact in the shoulder and waist area, and as a taller person, I still find it compact and snug in these areas.

I would again end of having most of the row to myself on this early morning flight. If you can find yourself without a seat mate, this is the best benefit that you could possibly ask for in a preferred seat.

The preferred seats offer ample under seat storage, in addition to Empower seat power, along with USB-A charging.

Each seat offered a setback monitor. I played around with the flight information to learn that today’s flight would be approximately four hours and forty seven minutes from Ottawa to Vancouver.

The captain provided a public address announcement with our flight plan cruising at 37,000 feet altitude on the way over to Vancouver, with the usual wishes for a smooth flight.

In Flight Meal Service:

Air Canada offers a buy on board in flight meal service with various menu items. I don’t typically find the food offerings on Air Canada to be particularly worthy. I had a bit of a laugh that Air Canada sells the over used and tired Parsley Omelette for $17.95 CAD.

Instead, I didn’t go for any buy on board items, having had two breakfasts at the Fairfield Inn Ottawa Airport and the Aspire Salon Lounge Ottawa. As such, I ended up sticking with free coffee and a complimentary Biscoff biscuit.

Since the flight time was over four hours, on the second service, I broke down and purchased some Pringles potato chips, along with a ginger ale.

It was touchdown a short while later on the west coast.

I disemarked pretty quickly and headed home after this short seventy four hour trip to Iqaluit, Nunavut.

The Bottom Line: Preferred Seating on Air Canada.

Air Canada preferred seating was more comfortable than a regular economy class seat for this trans continental flight from Ottawa to Vancouver. The seat offers a little more leg room, but is still snug in the shoulder and waist areas.

While the catering wasn’t exactly a high point on this flight, I ended up sticking with coffee and soft drinks which made the time go by

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If you’ve flown Air Canada, do you aim to seat yourself in a Preferred Seat?

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