Find cheap Air Canada flights

Air Canada is the largest airline in its namesake country and also one of the major international carriers in North America. A member of Star Alliance, Air Canada operates flights to more than 200 destinations worldwide, with significant hubs in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.

Cabin classes, seats & legroom

Air Canada has two-cabin and three-cabin aircraft, for a total of four main cabin types. It typically flies its two-cabin narrowbody planes on North American short-haul routes, while its three-cabin widebodies usually fly the long-haul international routes and some transcontinental ones. The economy cabin is also split into two types of seats (Preferred and standard) and two fare types (standard and Basic Economy).

Signature Class

Signature Class on Air Canada is the airline's business-class product with lie-flat seats. This cabin class can be found on widebody aircraft most commonly flown on long-haul international flights and some transcontinental ones. The individual pod-style seats are arranged in a reverse herringbone pattern, and every seat has direct aisle access. Something I appreciate is that these seats are standard across the fleet, so you always know what to expect.

Business Class

Business Class, somewhat confusingly, is the name for Air Canada's North American first class cabin. Seats are not lie-flat as in Signature Class, but rather spacious recliners arranged in a 2-2 configuration with plenty of leg room. You'll find Business Class seats on narrowbody aircraft.

Worth mentioning: Air Canada flies its two-cabin Boeing 737 MAX 8 between Toronto and London, so you might have recliners rather than lie-flat seats for that Transatlantic flight. I'd do my best to avoid these flights, as I'd prefer a lie-flat seat on a redeye flight.

Premium Economy

Premium Economy is the second-tier cabin on Air Canada's three-cabin planes. Its seats are similar to Business Class in the sense that they have extra recline and legroom, but they're significantly narrower. They're offered in 2-3-2 and 2-4-2 on widebody aircraft. There is, however, an interesting exception: Air Canada's widebody A330-300 aircraft has Premium Economy in a 2-2-2 layout as the plane's top-tier cabin, subbing in for Signature Class and Business Class.

Economy

Economy seats on Air Canada's fleet have between 76 and 86 cm of legroom. There are, however, Preferred Economy seats at the front of the cabin that offer up to 10 extra centimetres of legroom. Preferred Economy seats require an additional fee, unless you have elite status with Air Canada or are flying on a Latitude fare. You can buy a Preferred Economy seat at the time of booking or upgrade after booking.

There are five fare classes within the economy cabin: Basic, Standard, Flex, Comfort and Latitude. Each tier becomes increasingly more expensive, but it also comes with increasingly better benefits. For instance, Basic and Standard economy tickets both do not come with free seat selection, but Flex, Comfort and Latitude do. Basic tickets cannot be changed; Standard tickets can be changed for a fee; and Flex, Comfort and Latitude tickets don't have change fees.

Normally, I advise against booking basic economy tickets because they're extremely restrictive. In the case of Air Canada, if you're not looking to earn elite status, basic economy might be okay. The key here is that you accept that you will earn fewer Aeroplan points than you would on a Standard ticket. You also can't change your flights, not even to receive a future flight credit.

Check-in

Air Canada offers several check-in options: online, via their mobile app, at airport kiosks, or at the check-in counter. Online and mobile check-in open 24 hours before your flight, while in-person check-in begins four hours before your flight. For those travelling in higher fare classes or with elite status, priority check-in desks are available.

If you're checking a bag, you can only do so as early as four hours before your flight. If you're earlier than that, you'll have to wait with your bag at the departure terminal until check-in opens. Also, pay attention to checked-bag cutoff times, which range from 45 minutes for domestic Canadian flights to 90 minutes for international flights. Personally, I'd check bags on the earlier side just to be safe.

Boarding

Boarding is done by zones, with passengers in Signature Class, Business Class, Premium Economy, and those with elite status boarding in the earlier zones. If you're travelling with a family or with a musical instrument, you'll board between Zones 2 and 3. Preferred Seat passengers board before standard economy passengers; Latitude fares also get to board in Zone 3. If you're in Zones 4 and 5, you may have to gate-check your carry-on bag.

Lounges

Air Canada has a network of Maple Leaf Lounges across Canada and select international airports. Entry is granted to passengers flying in Signature Class and Business Class, as well as to Aeroplan Elite Status members and Star Alliance Gold members who are flying Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner flight. If you're travelling on a Premium Economy, Latitude, Comfort or Flex fare, you can purchase lounge access.

Signature Class passengers travelling through Toronto or Vancouver can also visit the Air Canada Signature Suites, which provided an elevated lounge experience. Guests are treated to a complimentary sit-down meal that includes cocktails and Moët & Chandon Champagne, though there's also a buffet for more casual fare. If you're a Signature Class passenger, I'd highly recommend this lounge over a Maple Leaf Lounge, as it's quieter and more luxurious than the Maple Leaf Lounges.

Wi-Fi & entertainment

Wi-Fi is available on some, but not all Air Canada flights. You can check the availability on the Air Canada website starting at five days before your flight. If it is available, messaging is usually free for Aeroplan members (it's free to sign up), while full internet costs extra. Top tier elites with Air Canada's frequent flyer program are offered Wi-Fi subscriptions as a perk.

As for entertainment, Air Canada's in-flight entertainment systems have hundreds of movies, thousands of TV episodes and more than 100 music albums available. On some flights within North America, Air Canada even offers live TV. I love that Air Canada has movies in more than 15 languages, since the airline has a very international audience.

Dining

Meal service varies based on cabin type and route. On North American routes, boxed meals are available to purchase in the economy cabin, while plated hot meals are served to Business Class passengers on flights longer than two hours. On international flights, economy passengers are served complimentary hot meals if they're departing North America and boxed meals if they're flying to North America.

Signature Class passengers receive plated hot meals on all flights, but interestingly, Premium Economy passengers only receive boxed meals, though this can include a hot dish. This is a bit of a downgrade compare to Premium Economy cabins on other airlines, and I wish Air Canada would offer a plated meal in Premium Economy. Still, the extra leg room and priority boarding might make this cabin worth the price.

Amenities

Signature Class passengers receive an Acqua di Parma amenity kit containing some of the brand's body products, like hand cream and lip balm, as well as an eye mask, a glasses-cleaning cloth, a dental kit and socks. They also receive premium bedding to make their lie-flat seat even more comfortable during the flight. Premium Economy passengers receive a basic amenity kit with an eye mask and a dental kit.

Loyalty program, points & elite status

Air Canada’s loyalty program, Aeroplan, allows members to earn and redeem points on flights and upgrades. Elite status is achieved by accumulating Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) or Status Qualifying Segments (SQS), along with Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD). Benefits of elite status include priority services, lounge access, and complimentary upgrades. Since the program is free, I advise all Air Canada passengers to sign up for a membership.

I've found that Aeroplan is one of the better plans when it comes to scoring high-value business-class redemptions, both on Air Canada and partner airlines like Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and United. You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan; it's worth signing up for an Aeroplan account if you have an American Express credit card.

Credit cards

Air Canada offers several co-branded credit cards with various financial institutions. Perks vary per card but can include bonus Aeroplan points, free checked bags and Maple Leaf Lounge access. These cards often come with annual fees, so it's worth considering how frequently you fly with Air Canada to determine if the benefits justify the cost. Generally speaking, it's only a good idea to get an airline credit card if you're very loyal to that airline.