I love everything about travelling. Even things most travellers hate, like waiting at the airport, passing through security checks and running from one terminal to the other are part of an exciting experience for me. If there were only one thing I dislike about travelling, it would be long flights. Stuck in a tiny seat for twelve hours, not knowing where to put your legs, not being able to stretch them full length is one thing. Having your head bob all over the place when you sleep and waking up with a torticollis is another. Therefore, I was SO excited when we took the flight from Toronto to Seoul in Business class.
The entire flying time is 13 hours, although it didn’t quite feel like it. The aircraft is an all-new Boeing 787. This model of airplane had only been in service with Air Canada for little more than one year which is already an advantage, since the seats were in good condition, the carpet smelled new and the entertainment screens were more efficient.
I’ve found Air Canada’s service to be courteous and personalized, offering a large variety of drinks and food options. However, one disappointment was the taste of the meals I opted for. Although the appetizer smoked salmon was tasty, the filet mignon was rather dry and bland. The next morning, I tried the Korean Tteokbokki rice cakes and they turned out very mushy… maybe I should have chosen the omelet instead. I know I’m being picky here: this is airplane food we are talking about. Overall, the food was much better than what I’ve experienced in economy class (you could ask for fruits and warm snacks like noodle soup anytime during flight) but obviously this is not what we would upgrade to Business class for.
The major difference is of course the pod-like seats we were offered. They are spacious, each accompanied with a footrest and lay completely flat to make a bed when desired. The pod configuration also gives you much more privacy from your neighbours. The sleep quality was relatively good. It doesn’t beat being in your own bed of course, but could be compared to staying in a rather bumpy hotel 😉
In the end, this is what makes a 13 hours trans-pacific flight feel like a short hop. I almost hoped the flight would be longer, almost…
Other little perks include: larger and cleaner washrooms (which is huge for me), slippers so your bloated feet feel more at ease and a small pouch of goodies like this:
Travelled beginning of October 2016