Flight Reviews! Germany Trip!
Hi all and welcome back to Brooke In The Air! I thought it was time I posted my official written reviews on my Air Canada flights. I was honestly disappointed with lounges on offer. The flight to Germany from Toronto was insufferably hot leading to no rest whatsoever. The food was very good though! And the staff/crews were amazing!
Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ-900, C-FJQZ
Flight 8740
Air Canada
Signature class
Cleveland to Toronto (CLE - YYZ)
Aircraft: Bombardier (Mitsubishi) CRJ-900
Seat 12F
Thoughts: while originally booked in Business class through to Frankfurt for both legs of Trip, the Air Canada representative was very helpful and apologetic and while I couldn't sit in first class/Business class on the hop to Toronto due to a technical scheduling error, she did ensure I received proper miles and Signature class service the entire trip. The flight to Toronto was quick, only about 34 minutes from wheels-up to wheels-down. Nevertheless, the lone attendant performed very well with the demeanor of a seasoned flight attendant who had traveled this route many times before. She served refreshments in the form of either water or juice. I abstained as I still had my coke from earlier. The seats themselves were cozy and very comfortable, consisting of a plush leather with movable headrests. Honestly its more than we deserved for a 34 minute flight across Lake Erie. Overall score: 7.5/10.0
An Air Canada Airbus A330-300, identical to the aircraft I flew to Germany. I didn’t get a good photo so enjoy this panoramic photo courtesy of the Star Alliance.
Flight 840
Air Canada
Signature class
Toronto to Frankfurt-am-Main (YYZ to FRA)
Aircraft: Airbus A330-300
Seat 4K
Thoughts: Despite a lack of sleep on my part, this long-haul International flight was quite enjoyable. The power outlets worked expediently, and the seat controls were perfect. There were noticeable differences between this A330-300, the mainline Air Canada Boeing 777-300ER, and the pride of the Air Canada fleet, the 787-9 Dreamliner. You can easily tell this aircraft is old, outmoded, and outdated. This particular aircraft is over 32 years old and it shows. The seating ground boards are scuffed, and more disturbingly, the in-flight entertainment (IFE) glitched and went offline with 2.5 hours remaining in the flight. But the flight attendants and crew were in fact very attentive and extraordinarily helpful and kind. The food was fantastic and filling, and Signature class showed once again why it is the best in North America. The amenity kits, as always, were a nice touch, this time by Aqua Di Parma though the bag was cheap. The only truly negative aspect of this flight is that it ran extremely hot leading to a lack of sleep.
Overall score: 6.8/10
My aircraft for the trek to Toronto-Pearson, the Air Canada Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in the older “toothpaste” livery. FRA-YYZ.
A better side view of my 787-9 Dreamliner
Flight 843
Air Canada
Signature class
Route: Frankfurt (FRA) to Toronto (YYZ)
Seat: 1A
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Thoughts: this flight was fantastic by comparison to the flight to Frankfurt (YYZ-FRA). The subtle differences between the A330-300 and the 787-9 Dreamliner could not be more apparent. This plane did not rattle as the A330-300 did. The flight ran cool which was refreshing. The meals were a bit disappointing in their selections with a choice of beef, chicken, salmon, or vegan dishes. The seat functions were fantastic and much more responsive than the Airbus aircraft. The IFE screen was responsive and thrilling even though the selection of entertainment was identical to the first flight, which is to be expected after all, since it is such a short duration between my flights. The famous Dreamliner windows were on full display unfortunately it was a late flight. The crews on both long-haul flights were amazing and extremely attentive and saw to every need Signature class passengers had. I did find a used earplug in my suite, but other than that, the cleanliness was excellent.
Overall score: 7.7/10.0
A row of Air Canada Express CRJ-750/700s & 900s and ERJ-175s at Toronto-Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Flight 8729
Air Canada
Signature class
Route: Toronto (YYZ) to Cleveland-Hopkins Airport (CLE)
Seat: 1F
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ-175
Early dawn at YYZ from the Air Canada transborder Maple Leaf Lounge - Terminal 1
Thoughts: All alone in business class. That's the dream, yes? Unfortunately the Bombardier CRJ-750 is a cramped, dinky little airplane and its business class product is really just a slightly uprated economy class. According to the Purser, they had just wheeled this aircraft out of the hangar which might explain the dilapidated condition of this aircraft. The IFE screen was archaic with an outdated USB port clogged with dust and dirt. The screen was supposedly a touchscreen however it lacked any real intuitiveness and took a few seconds to register user input. If I have one nice thing to say about the IFE, it's that the flight map actually offered more information than, ironically, the long-haul flights. The Purser was actually extremely kind though, gracious and helpful. Meal service was offered to business class passengers but I declined, since it was just an omelet. Eggs and myself do not get along though Tech Minion will be posting his review.
Score: 5.8/10.0
That’s it for this week. I have another short trip coming up in two weeks! I’m heading to Newark via Dulles - Washington DC and back from Newark - NYC/LaGuardia via Nashville on Southwest Airlines. I’ll be comparing Southwest to mainline legacy carriers.
New videos are up on my YouTube channel! More soon! Remember to like, comment, and subscribe! See you in the air
