Information on Air Canada Flights

Offering flights to more than 180 destinations across six continents, Air Canada is Canada’s flag carrier and largest airline. It operates out of three main hubs (Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport) and is a Star Alliance founding member.

I have flown with Air Canada several times on vacation to British Columbia and the Yukon and rank the airline highly for efficiency and service. This is not a unique opinion: Air Canada has won Skytrax awards for being both the cleanest and the most family-friendly airline in North America.

A host of different fare classes

Air Canada’s fare class system is somewhat complicated. I’ll describe the various options as simply as possible here, although you should check the terms and conditions of your ticket carefully as rules, exclusions and benefits all vary slightly depending on your destination. First, there are five types of Economy Class tickets.

These include Economy Basic, the most budget-conscious option (expect to pay for checked luggage), Economy Standard (which permits changes for a fee) and Economy Flex (which permits changes for the cost of any fare difference and includes a complimentary checked bag and free advanced seat selection). Economy Comfort tickets offer the same perks while also being refundable.

Then there’s Economy Latitude, which includes priority check-in and baggage handling, two checked bags, exemption from sports equipment handling fees and an Air Canada Bistro snack box. Premium Economy tickets (when available) include a complimentary meal and larger seats in a dedicated cabin with more recline and extra legroom.

The most luxurious option on Canadian, US and Sun Destination flights to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America is Business Class. In addition to all previously mentioned benefits, expect the most spacious seats – lie-flat seats are available on some aircraft – and complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges. It’s also worth noting that the rate at which Aeroplan members earn points and status-qualifying miles increases with each fare class.

International flights with Air Canada

Luggage rules differ for long-haul international flights. With the exception of Basic Economy, one checked bag is included for all fare classes. This increases to two checked bags for Economy Latitude, Premium Economy and Business Class tickets.

Air Canada Signature Class

Business Class on Boeing 787, Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 flights to and from Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and South America is now known as Air Canada Signature Class. This is a premium luxury experience defined by dedicated check-in counters, fast-track security and boarding, and priority baggage handling. Passengers may also use the exclusive Air Canada Signature Suite lounges at Vancouver International and Toronto Pearson International airports.

In addition to the gourmet all-day buffet and quiet work areas, one expects from a premium lounge, Signature Suite guests are entitled to a complimentary a la carte meal, signature cocktails or Moët & Chandon Champagne, and a personalized concierge service. On board the aircraft, Signature Class seats offer a massage function and can convert to a 6’7” bed complete with a pillow, duvet and mattress pad.

Choose a Preferred Seat for extra space

Although I typically fly economy, I do consider it well worth the extra expense to book a Preferred Seat when flying with Air Canada. That’s because both my husband and I are above average height and Preferred Seats are located in the exit rows, select bulkhead rows and (on some flights) the first few rows of the cabin.

They offer up to four inches of extra space in between seats, while bulkhead seats offer more knee and legroom, too. Booking these seats is possible for a fee in any fare class, but if you’re an Aeroplan Elite member or have an Economy Latitude or Economy Comfort ticket, you can book yours for free pending availability.

On-board amenities and entertainment

Air Canada stands out for the quality of its onboard entertainment, with over 2,500 hours of movies, series, games and music available on most flights. This includes movies in more than 15 languages, while select North American flights even offer Live TV channels so that you can catch all the latest news and sports in real-time.

High-speed in-flight Wi-Fi is also available on most Air Canada flights and can be purchased with cash or Aeroplan Points. Whether you choose a one-hour, one-way or monthly pass, you’ll get the best rates if you book in advance rather than waiting til you’re on board. I also recommend becoming an Aeroplan Member for access to free texting. Supported services include Apple iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

In-flight dining services

Air Canada offers complimentary meals for all fare classes on international flights. If you’re flying domestically or on a US or Sun Destination flight, complimentary meals are offered to Premium Economy and Business Class passengers only while Economy Latitude passengers receive a complimentary snack box. All other economy class passengers on these short-haul flights can purchase snacks and meals from the Air Canada Bistro menu.

This menu focuses on fresh ingredients and makes an effort to include options for all dietary requirements. For this reason, special meals are only available for Premium Economy and Business Class passengers on short-haul flights. All passengers can book a special meal on international flights with a meal service but must do so a minimum of 24 hours before departure. Options range from kosher to Hindu, halal, vegan and diabetic.

Aeroplan Loyalty Program

Air Canada’s loyalty program is called Aeroplan. Members earn points on everything from flights to car rentals and hotel bookings, while Aeroplan credit cards allow you to earn on everyday spending, too. If you use your Aeroplan credit card for purchases with Air Canada and its partnered retailers (including Starbucks, Journie, Uber, Uber Eats and LCBO), you can double the amount of points earned.

Points can be redeemed for flights, extras and upgrades as well as for products and gift cards on the Aeroplan eStore. In addition, members achieve Elite Status by earning qualifying miles, segments and dollars on eligible Air Canada and Star Alliance flights. There are five tiers of Elite Status: 25K, 35K, 50K, 70K and Super Elite. Each one offers different Core Benefits ranging from priority check-in to lounge access.

Those with 25K or 35K status are automatically awarded Star Alliance Silver status, while those with 50K, 75K or Super Elite status become Star Alliance Gold members.

Maple Leaf Lounges

In addition to the Signature Suites mentioned above, Air Canada operates a series of award-winning Maple Leaf Lounges at 16 airports across North America and Europe. Certain passengers including Business Class, Signature Class and Premium Rouge ticket holders as well as Aeroplan Super Elite, 75K and 50K members and Star Alliance Gold members qualify for free entry. It’s also possible for most economy class ticket holders to purchase access.

My family and I did so on an extended layover at Vancouver International Airport and were very grateful for the quiet atmosphere in which to unwind after a transatlantic flight. We made the most of the high-speed Wi-Fi, ate our fill at the complimentary buffet and even freshened up with a quick shower before catching an onward flight to Whitehorse.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Club

Frequent travelers may wish to join the Air Canada Maple Leaf Club. The first tier of membership, Maple Leaf Club Canada, offers complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada. The second, Maple Leaf Club North America Plus, includes access to more than 60 affiliated lounges in Canada, the US and Europe; while Maple Leaf Club Worldwide includes access for you and a guest to more than 210 lounges globally.

Traveling with children

Having flown with both of my children since they were a few months old, I know how stressful flying with babies and toddlers can be. Air Canada makes a considerable effort to make the experience as enjoyable as possible with several policies geared especially toward young families.

First, bookings that include children under the age of 14 are eligible for free standard seat assignment regardless of fare class, to ensure families sit together. Second, families with children under the age of 6 are automatically entitled to early boarding. Once you’re on board, you’ll find in-flight entertainment programs especially for kids, while infant and child meals are available on all flights with a special meal service.

If you’re flying internationally with a baby under 25 pounds, I recommend arriving early at the airport to ask for a bassinet. These baby beds attach to the bulkhead and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of departure. Finally, all children aged 11 or younger are entitled to check one stroller and one car seat in addition to their regular luggage allowance, for free.

Air Canada Rouge

Air Canada also offers lower-cost flights for leisure travelers via a subsidiary airline called Air Canada Rouge. This airline offers two main travel classes: Economy, and Premium Rouge for priority check-in, security and boarding, Maple Leaf Lounge access and complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi and dining.