dannyg1001

I am flying for the first time with Air Canada in a few weeks (providing my passport arrives!!!).

I have flown UK - Canada loads of times but I always use Air Transat. Just wondering if anyone has used Air Canada recently and what you thought of them?

Im especially interested to know what kind of in flight entertainment they have.

Thanks
Danny

Canada2006

Great in the air, huge choice of films.

Awful ground staff.

dannyg1001

Good to know, im assuming you get personal screens right?

Do they have any games available on the in flight entertainment?

BlackIceBoy

I flew with them 2 months ago...brilliant entertainment system via personal screens. However, I took my laptop and plugged myself into the power socket provided. The choice is yours.

Check out the flash multi-coloured lights that change the inside of the cabin!

Souvenir

Yeah, personal screens with lots on offer. Headphones are free, as is food and booze. There's nothing wrong with Air Transat but we're talking two completey different types of airline.

The staff, on the ground and in the air, are very variable. Older women and screamers tend to be the best, as is the case with all airlines.

Canada2006

Are some airports worse than others? Service at Montréal has always tended to be shabby in my experience.

dannyg1001

Good information thanks everyone!

So are the touch screen systems new? I heard a rumour that they upgraded recently?

Sounds pretty cool. Every Canadian I ask seems to HATE Air Canada.

Canada2006

Touchscreen.

Americans hate Air Canada too.

They've recently started nickel and dime-ing people for every small extra. Add on to that the poor customer service at the airports and high prices.... yeah, not much to like really.

Hence WestJet are taking their market share.

Souvenir

Montreal is a crap airport full stop. I've always found AC staff at Heathrow to be fine.

Souvenir

I think they've re-vamped many of their long-haul aircraft recently. The route I use (Ottawa-London) is served by 767s. They have changed a lot over the last year or so.

There is a big difference between AC domestic and international.

MikeUK

Their internal flight are a rip-off and service is quite variable, largely IMHO due to lack of real competition

Internationally they're better

englishrose1

I will try again. I flew out with on the 8th April 2009, first time. Full flight due to easter. Excellent experience. I have flown with many airlines and have to say that are as good as Virgin if not better given that there seemed to be a constant flow of drinks throughout the flight. There were a good choice of movies depending on what you like. Food was ok, but that depends on your palate. I also liked the personal screen and power socket. Leg room in ecomony was better than I expected. I will use them for my final flight as when I eventually move over here. Nowadays a lot of the airlines are cutting back on inflight services, Air Canada do not seem to following this route. I was really impressed.

Souvenir

Until not all that long ago, AC's international flights were also piss poor (you had to pay for everything). The reputation has stuck, which is rather unfair.

Cookie

Flew with Air Canada 2 weeks ago from Halifax, NS to LHR. Aeroplane had decent legroom (I am only 5ft 1 in though). The aeroplane interior was very clean and in good order - plane only 9 years old. I thought the seats had plenty space (I am vertically challenged) and there was a huge selection on the seatback touchscreen TVs. See here for current listings:

http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/entertainment

I brought my iPod earphones and used them instead of the free issue set.

Food was free as were soft drinks. Overnight 5.5 hours flight served up toasted ciabatta sandwich soon after take-off and also a breakfast of either hot pancakes, fruit, yogurt, etc or vegetarian omlette.

On the way back on a daytime flight we were given a choice of deli sandwiches and later served beef stew or chicken dinner, pudding, bread roll, etc. You can of course pre-pick a special dietary meal online.

BristolUK

Why?All my visits and final arrival were there...bit of a trek from plane to immigration/baggage control but no more than Gatwick...otherwise everything else was as everywhere else.