Air Canada 737max on a Domestic Red-Eye
Oct 23, 2018, 11:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,506
Air Canada 737max on a Domestic Red-Eye
AC 158 Calgary - Toronto
Air Canada's 737max is a new addition to the fleet and one which I deliberately scheduled to take just to try it out for a transcontinental flight. Its racoon eyes looked like another new aircraft type although it is a narrowbody. New improvements could also push it across the Atlantic. I guess it would be better than sitting in a HD 777.
With some time to go before boarding, I walked around the terminal and found a new, brighter construction with little carts transporting passengers around running on a BRT-like set of lanes. There was a station with benches right before the arrivals exit. Bright red lights turn on to warn passengers as one of the carts near as they must cross the vehicle lanes to get to the exit, or to the gate. For a less-trafficked airport, perhaps this sort of space-sharing can still be safe.
With empty gates everywhere, I could take a close-up of the horrible zoned boarding lines and why Air Canada can screw up boarding even for a narrowbody.
Boarding commenced late and it seemed quite full tonight. The cabin had a new plane smell and everything looked quite refreshing. The seats were comfortable with a large TV screen. The IFE was, however, not turned on and would remain off for the entire journey.
I don't think passengers were hungry on this overnight flight, but there was a bistro menu in the seat pocket anyway. Air Canada only provides complimentary water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee for these domestic flights. Despite being a red-eye, blankets were not provided. The joy of flying in North America ...
The flight deck greeted us and explained the late boarding was due to maintenance being on the aircraft after it had arrived. They were only able to get on the plane shortly before our boarding and we would need to wait another 10-15 minutes for security checks before we could depart. We were also told there would be some "light chops" in the first part of our flight, then smooth afterwards.
I dozed on and off and 3 hours passed fairly quickly before we were descending into a clear Toronto sunrise.
Since it was a fairly full flight, I waited until arrival to take photos of the new plane's cabin.
What surprised me were the many rows of these supposedly elite seats at the front part of the Economy cabin. There didn't seem like a noticeable amount of additional legroom, and it was still 3 seats a row. Is this another excuse to milk a few more bucks from the passenger?
There were a few rows of Business Class up-front. No lie-flat beds here.
Good morning, Toronto, 17 minutes late.
We were let off into a busy concourse where it was a straight line walk to the exit. There are actually 2 exits. For those with checked bags, they need to head downstairs to the baggage claim. Since I was hand-carry only, I could continue on to the upstairs exit, then escalator down to the curb.
More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/ac8224158.htm
Air Canada's 737max is a new addition to the fleet and one which I deliberately scheduled to take just to try it out for a transcontinental flight. Its racoon eyes looked like another new aircraft type although it is a narrowbody. New improvements could also push it across the Atlantic. I guess it would be better than sitting in a HD 777.
With some time to go before boarding, I walked around the terminal and found a new, brighter construction with little carts transporting passengers around running on a BRT-like set of lanes. There was a station with benches right before the arrivals exit. Bright red lights turn on to warn passengers as one of the carts near as they must cross the vehicle lanes to get to the exit, or to the gate. For a less-trafficked airport, perhaps this sort of space-sharing can still be safe.
With empty gates everywhere, I could take a close-up of the horrible zoned boarding lines and why Air Canada can screw up boarding even for a narrowbody.
Boarding commenced late and it seemed quite full tonight. The cabin had a new plane smell and everything looked quite refreshing. The seats were comfortable with a large TV screen. The IFE was, however, not turned on and would remain off for the entire journey.
I don't think passengers were hungry on this overnight flight, but there was a bistro menu in the seat pocket anyway. Air Canada only provides complimentary water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee for these domestic flights. Despite being a red-eye, blankets were not provided. The joy of flying in North America ...
The flight deck greeted us and explained the late boarding was due to maintenance being on the aircraft after it had arrived. They were only able to get on the plane shortly before our boarding and we would need to wait another 10-15 minutes for security checks before we could depart. We were also told there would be some "light chops" in the first part of our flight, then smooth afterwards.
I dozed on and off and 3 hours passed fairly quickly before we were descending into a clear Toronto sunrise.
Since it was a fairly full flight, I waited until arrival to take photos of the new plane's cabin.
What surprised me were the many rows of these supposedly elite seats at the front part of the Economy cabin. There didn't seem like a noticeable amount of additional legroom, and it was still 3 seats a row. Is this another excuse to milk a few more bucks from the passenger?
There were a few rows of Business Class up-front. No lie-flat beds here.
Good morning, Toronto, 17 minutes late.
We were let off into a busy concourse where it was a straight line walk to the exit. There are actually 2 exits. For those with checked bags, they need to head downstairs to the baggage claim. Since I was hand-carry only, I could continue on to the upstairs exit, then escalator down to the curb.
More photos on my website : https://www.globalphotos.org/ac8224158.htm
Oct 23, 2018, 5:04 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BTR/MSY
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,258
Those seats look at as bad as the one's on American's 737-8 MAX, albeit American is too cheap to put an entertainment system in theirs.
I loved your pictures, especially the sunrise ones. What do you use to shoot?
I loved your pictures, especially the sunrise ones. What do you use to shoot?
Oct 23, 2018, 8:14 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan Airmiles AMEX-MR Alaska Airlines
Posts: 692
Flew the same plane type on AC from YYZ to SFO. The avod system is really good and responsive. The real bad part is the toilets in the back - so narrow and the sink ... good god, could it be any smaller??!
Oct 24, 2018, 1:14 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: May 2011
Location: London
Programs: *A G, OW S.
Posts: 996
These planes are already used on Trans Atlantic services! YHZ-LHR - downgrade from a 767 and LHR-YYT - swapped for an A319 which feels like a downgrade. Business is sold as premium economy.
The services and offerings are now comparable with WestJet but of course AC charge far more money.
The services and offerings are now comparable with WestJet but of course AC charge far more money.
Oct 24, 2018, 6:15 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,506
Oct 25, 2018, 7:22 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
Luckily I have not been on one yet....one poster mentioned his dog's water bowl was bigger than the sink
Nov 23, 2018, 2:26 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: YOW
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 583
Nov 27, 2018, 11:06 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,058
