It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed the Air Canada Express Canadair Regional Jet – 900 series aircraft in business class. There are a few of these floating around in the Air Canada Express system. With a quick two day work trip to Regina, I would end up testing out this particular aircraft type on a brief two hour flight from Vancouver to Regina.

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

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I had a quick two day business trip to Regina, Saskatchewan. Since this was a quick turn trip, I was seeking a non stop flight. There was only one carrier that I was able to get there and back on a non stop routing; Air Canada. If I had flown Westjet, I would have had to take a connection in Calgary.

It has been quite a while since I’ve travelled on an Air Canada Express flight in business class. As a result, I thought that I would briefly review the experience on this narrow body Canadair Regional Jet aircraft.

Departing from Vancouver International Airport:

I arrived at my usual two hours before flight at Vancouver International Airport. Using a Nexus Card, I had no wait at security screening. My boarding card offered priority security screening, but there wasn’t a long line anyway.

I stopped briefly at the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Vancouver Domestic. I’ve reviewed this lounge several times before so I won’t be doing so again. This lounge was accessible as a result of the business class of service of my ticket, and there were no additional fees to visit.

Air Canada Express
Business Class
YVR – YQR (Vancouver International Airport – Regina International Airport)
AC 8190 – Business Class (P)

8:10 AM – 11:14 AM
March 20, 2024
Booked: Canadair Regional Jet – 900 Series
Flown: Canadair Regional Jet – 900 Series

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. You’ll get a little more leg and shoulder room, but its not a whole lot extra.

If you are a solo traveller, there is a single row of seats on the left hand side of the aircraft. I don’t mind these seats, but I do find them to be quite exposed without much privacy.

I found my seat 2F. I tucked myself into the seat. On arrival to the seat, I realized that the Canadair Regional Jet one of the only jets in the Air Canada fleet that does not offer an in seat back monitor for entertainment purposes.

I quickly started downloading and refreshing my downloaded Netflix content. I had mixed success with this while in the plane as my cell signal was not very strong. Otherwise, it was going to be a pretty austere trip to Regina.

The Air Canada Express Regional Jet offered two individual seat nozzles and a reading light. It’s always a more comfortable flight with air nozzles and this flight was no exemption.

While the seat offers a little extra space, there isn’t a whole lot of extra seating room in business class. I was fortunate to be able to get my carry on into the overhead bin. This left the space under my seat for my feet.

Pre Departure Services:

Air Canada serves a simple pre-departure beverage, a tiny bottle of Naya Water that was waiting on the seat. This is unlike most US carriers that offer an open bar beverage. There was no further offer of an extra drink.

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.

The breakfast menu featured a choice of two hot entrees, with the usual parsley omelette making it’s usual flagship appearance. A French Toast option was also available, without any meat.

The second page of the breakfast 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.

For a two-hour flight, the menu service was reasonable overall. There’s not a meal plan as extensive on most of my First Class flights within the US. On my short haul US flights, I’d be lucky to get a snack basket. As a result, having a full meal available was a definite advantage.

We got underway and were up an over the Canadian Rocky Mountains fairly quickly. The mountains were looking pleasant on this March morning… completely covered in snow, with a little bit of cloud.

The Meal: Breakfast

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

The in flight service started off with a warm towel service. This isn’t typically expected on domestic flights. It was a nice touch, even if the towels are looking a little worn.

The Air Canada Express Canadair Regional Jet tables are pretty tiny things. I unfolded my table in preparation for the main event.

Given that this was a morning flight, I started off with a coffee. The Air Canada Coffee is good, but not great. I find that it is never usually very warm by the time it gets to the seat. Coffee today was served with roasted salted nuts; a little bit of a strange morning combination.

Despite my better judgement, I went with another parsley omelette. This was served with Air Canada fresh fruit, an iögo yoghurt, the usual ciabatta roll and the omelette itself.

The parsley omelette is pretty much the same no matter how you slice it. This one was presented with chicken sausage along with tomato cumin chutney. It was it’s usual dry self, with softly crisp hashbrowns.

It’s great that Air Canada offers a full meal on a short two and a half hour flight. It’s a far cry ahead than our American counterparts that usually offer a snack basket instead. I would rather that the food be just a little more tasty and engaging. This is especially prevalent in the breakfast department, where I think that Air Canada can get a bit more creative with their breakfasts.

Landing at Regina International Airport:

We left those beautiful Rocky Mountains behind as we descended into Regina International Airport. It was pretty flat and grey as the ground started it’s thawing state.

We arrived into the quiet Regina International Airport. I had checked a bag for this trip as a result of some business needs. The bag was put out quickly and I was on my way pretty quickly.

I would end up returning home on a similar Air Canada Business Class: Regina – Vancouver flight two days later.

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 extra space.

The main benefit is a little extra space and a smallish meal that you’ve probably bad before on another flight. While the meal is something that isn’t offered on comparable two hour flights within the United States and even on my last United Airlines Transborder flights.

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If you regularly fly Air Canada Express Business Class, do you spring for business class over economy on short flights ?

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