Is Air Canada A Good Airline?

There are plenty of airlines available to choose from, but when it comes to overseas travel, safety, and comfort, people prefer renowned and trusted airlines. Air Canada is one such airline that promises to provide top-notch air travel services to its passengers worldwide. It is the flag carrier and the biggest airline in Canada in terms of size and passengers carried. To know is Air Canada a good airline for your next trip, let’s explore the services, fees, and perks offered by the airline in detail.

What Makes Air Canada Different From Other Airlines?

The airline offers scheduled and charter air transport for travelers and cargo to six continents. Whether you are traveling on Air Canada flights or with the Star Alliance partner, you will remain connected with the continent. The airline also operates a low-cost subsidiary called Air Canada Rouge. Here is what one can expect from the airline.

Flight Booking: You can reserve a flight online or via the mobile app 24 hours. Also, passengers can make bookings via customer service.
Check-In: The airline lets travelers complete the check-in procedure online via website or mobile app 24 hours prior to the departure. You can also check-in at the airport using Kiosks, a self-service device or with airport executives.
Boarding: Air Canada boards travelers as per the five zones, along with pre-boarding for those requiring help. Families and passengers traveling with musical instruments can board between zones two and three. The boarding zones will depend on fare class, elite status and co-branded credit card.
In-Flight Experience: Air Canada provides three service classes on most of its flights, business class, economy, and premium economy. The in-flight experience includes beverages and meals, based on your service class and route. Even the economy travelers get free wine and beer on flights within the USA and Canada. All travelers can enjoy movies, music and TV options in more than 15 languages. Wi-Fi is accessible on a few flights for a fee.

How Much Does Air Canada Charge For Different Services?

The airline charges a fee that can vary based on the services you select, ticket type and elite status. Air Canada can charge a fee for the following services.

Seat Selection Fee: You might have to pay approximately $14 for standard and basic fares within the United States and Canada.
Checked Baggage Charge: The airline can charge a fee of about $30 for the first bag and $50 for the second bag. This service is free for credit cardholders.
Extra or Oversized Bag: The fee starts at $100.
Change Fee: Differ based on time prior to departure and ticket type. Travelers can change their flights within 2 hours prior to the departure, and fees generally vary from $26 to $115.
Cancellation Costs: Not each ticket is refundable, and some offer a credit instead of a refund. For overseas travel, the cancellation charge can be approximately $590.
Wi-Fi: Air Canada offers in-flight internet service on limited flights between Toronto and Los Angeles or Montreal and Los Anageles, it costs between $6 to $8, based on whether you are connecting to a single device or need complete internet access.

Unique Perks Offered By Air Canada

Passengers wondering is Air Canada a good airline must also consider the perks provided by the airline. Here are some of the unique offerings that make Air Canada standout when compared to others.

Lifetime Elite Status: Passengers flying over one million LQMs (Lifetime Qualifying Miles), get lifetime 50K elite status.
Parental Leave Elite Status Extension: Passengers expecting a baby or welcoming a little one into their family can request the airline to expand their elite status. This enables passengers to keep their status during the time when they might not be able to fly frequently.
Aeroplan Status For A Friend: Travelers holding Super Elite status or 75K, can get 35K or 50K elite status, to a friend at the end of the year.
Status Pass: Passengers with 50K elite status or higher get Status Passes, which they can utilize to share elite perks with another traveler for the duration of their trip.

Air Canada Premium Offerings

The following are some of Air Canada's major premium offerings.

Air Canada Signature Service: It’s an end-to-end premium service with access to airport concierge services at various airports, lie-flat seats, lounge access, expedited check-in and safety clearance, preferential boarding and priority baggage management.
Air Canada Signature Suite: It has raised the standard with a five-star dining experience, setting a new bar for premium flights from North America. Signature Suites are situated at Terminal 1 of Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International Airport for select Air Canada Signature Service passengers flying to overseas destinations.
Maple Leaf Lounges: These lounges are a comfortable way to catch up on work or relax before take-off with amenities and services to make the pre-flight experience more productive and delightful.
Premium Economy Cabin: Provides more comfort and facilities and is provided on every wide-body aircraft: Boeing 777-300ERs and -200LRs, 787 Dreamliners, and Airbus A330-300s.
Preferred Seats: Air Canada provides preferred seats in the Economy cabin for passengers looking for extra space between seats and ease to board the flight earlier and exit sooner on arrival.

Specialized Services By Air Canada

The airline takes care of passengers comfort by providing them with the following services:

Family Travel: Passengers with kids or minors might take advantage of committed check-in counters at significant hubs, early boarding, fun meal options for children, and complimentary on-board travel goodies. Passengers can register their children online at Air Canada Skyriders for free to get additional travel goodies.
Air Canada Vacations: It’s a popular Canadian tour operator, providing all-inclusive packages featuring accommodation, Air Canada Rouge, roundtrip airfare on board Air Canada, and its Star Alliance partner, a wide assortment of cruises, excursions and tours, and Aeroplan flight rewards. Air Canada Vacations offers hundreds of destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, and the US to the frequent recipient of the Travel Media Agents “Choice Award for Favorite Tour Operator.”

What Online And App Services Are Provided By Air Canada?

Here is the list of the services you can access online via the Air Canada website and mobile app.

Flight Booking: Passengers can look for hotel stays and car rentals along with purchasing flight passes, gift cards, and much more online.
Self-Service: These features are accessible for purchasing upgrades and itineraries.
Check-In: You can check in and verify your flight status 24 hours before departure and confirm your contact details. Also, kiosks at the airports offer self-service upon arrival at the airport.
Self-Manage: Travelers can manage their itinerary during irregular operations and severe weather using the Self-service Rebooking and follow the travel alerts.
Stay Connected: You can stay connected with the airline via real-time mobile app updates. Also, you will be automatically registered to get alters including time and gate information.

Other Things To Consider About Air Canada

Following are some of the other essential things which you can consider:

Safety Ratings: Another way to know is Air Canada a good airline is to check its independent safety ratings. AirlineRating.com examines and compares airlines security records. As per its rating Air Canada has secured the top position on the list, depending on incident data from IATA (International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association.
Customer Satisfaction: Along with the official ratings, passenger satisfaction can also show if the airline is good to fly with. For instance, TripAdvisor has around 30,000 reviews from travelers on whether the airline is good. Even though Air Canada has received an average, the airline is a passenger’s Choice Winner.

How Is Air Canada Loyalty Program Beneficial For Passengers?

The loyalty program of Air Canada is known as Aeroplan. Members of the program can earn points by traveling, spending with over 50 travel partners of Aeroplan (through the Star Alliance and others) or using Aeroplan's co-branded credit card. Passengers can redeem the points for upgrades, flights, vacation packages, etc.

The loyalty program of the airline has five levels of elite status: Aeroplan 75K, 50K, 35K, 25K, and Super Elite. Travelers can earn elite status on the basis of how much they spend and either the distance or number of segments flown.

Final Words

Air Canada is a great and reliable airline for passengers, particularly in the United States and Canada. The airline services six continents, and its Star Alliance partner network can provide you with even more destinations worldwide. The airline charges reasonable fees for its services and provides competitive fares to the passengers. However, Is Air Canada a good airline for you totally depends on your preference and comfort. To know more about the airline and its service, visit the Air Canada website or contact customer service at 1-888-247-2262. Also, you can dial +1-866-738-0741 to talk with a 24/7 available flight expert.