Air Canada Business Class Review: Chicago to Vancouver on Points
A few months ago, we flew Air Canada Business Class from Chicago to Vancouver, booking three seats using 198,000 Aeroplan points + $86 in taxes. Cash fares for the same seats were $1,357.70 each, so this redemption worked out to about 2.0 cents per point (cpp) — a strong value if you care about the “value” of your points and miles redemptions.
At just over four hours, it’s a long enough flight that the onboard experience can really make a difference. I was curious to see how Air Canada’s Business Class compared to other flights we’ve been on, including economy, economy plus, and premium economy. Spoiler: it was fine and the crew was friendly, but not quite the luxury experience the price tag suggests (or is asking for if you pay cash).
Here’s my honest Air Canada Business Class review, including what we paid in points, what the experience was like from booking to landing, and whether it’s worth the splurge.
How Much Does It Cost to Fly Air Canada Business Class?
Prices for Air Canada Business Class vary depending on route and demand. For shorter flights within North America, airfares usually run between $1,200–$1,500 one-way, while long-haul international trips can climb to $3,000–$5,000+ each way.
For our Chicago to Vancouver flight, cash fares were $1,357.70 per seat. Instead, I booked three tickets for 198,000 Aeroplan points + $86 in taxes total, which comes out to about 2.0 cents per point (cpp), which is a decent redemption if you track those things. To get those Aeroplan points, I transferred points from my American Express account.
Quick story here as to why we booked Air Canada for this flight – we had previously transferred AmEx points to Aeroplan for a mixed-class fare to Europe, thinking we’d found a great deal. Only to very quickly realize the business class was the short inner-Europe flight, so we decided to hold those points for something else.
When we decided to go to Vancouver, we figured why not see the options on Air Canada? Even going from a major city like Chicago to Vancouver, the flight time options were somewhat limited, and many routes had us looking at a layover. Obviously, we chose the direct flight.
Saving over $4,000 is great for us, but I definitely had higher hopes for the flight experience.
Booking & Check-In Experience
I booked through Aeroplan, and about 10 days before our flight, Air Canada emailed me inviting us to pre-order our Business Class meals — something only available for Business passengers on this route.
We checked in online the night before but couldn’t get our boarding passes, so we went to the Air Canada priority check-in desk at O’Hare. The line was short and efficient, though our Known Traveler Number didn’t populate on our boarding passes, so we couldn’t use TSA PreCheck.
Since Air Canada is part of Star Alliance, Business Class passengers can access United Club lounges when flying on Star Alliance flights. We also have a United Club credit card, so we would have been able to access the lounge regardless of flying business class on a Star Alliance partner.
We stopped at the United Club near the F gates, which was quiet and comfortable, with coffee, snacks, and plenty of seating — nothing fancy, but perfectly acceptable for what we needed. The food was somewhat limited, with only make your own tacos as the offering. I normally like that option, but the only toppings were salsa and sour cream – you’d usually hope for more.
Boarding started on time, with priority boarding for Business Class and elite travelers, and the gate staff were friendly and efficient.
Seat & Cabin
The Air Canada Business Class cabin on this route has a 2–2 layout with recliner-style seats. They’re wide and comfortable for sitting, with good legroom and a generous recline, but no lie-flat feature.
For a four-hour flight, I found it comfortable enough — but it’s not ideal if you’re hoping to stretch out or sleep. Each seat had power outlets, USB ports, and a personal entertainment screen. The screen, however, had a sign pasted over it telling passengers to connect to Wifi and use their personal devices for entertainment.
The cabin was clean, but the front bathroom didn’t have a changing table, which could be inconvenient for families traveling with infants and toddlers (like us).
Food, Drinks & Service
This was where Air Canada stumbled a bit.
About 10 days before the flight, I got an email to pre-order our meals. The regular meal choices were sesame chicken or ricotta lasagna, and Air Canada also offered a long list of specialty meals, including:
- Asian Vegetarian Meal (AVML)
- Vegan Meal (VGML)
- Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal (VLML)
- Kosher, Halal, and Gluten-Free options
- Child Meal and Baby Meal
I decided to pre-order the Vegetarian Meal, and the flight attendant confirmed my order right after takeoff. I’d read reviews of what to order, and none really spoke highly of the food on Air Canada.
Shortly after reaching cruising altitude, flight attendants came by with hot towels, followed by wine, soda, or water, and a small bowl of warm nuts (cashews and almonds). About an hour into the flight (around 5pm CT), dinner service began — and only Business Class passengers were served meals on this route.
Those who chose the regular entrée (sesame chicken or lasagna) were asked if they wanted bread. My vegetarian meal already had a roll on the tray, still wrapped in plastic. The entrée itself was a vegetable curry with rice — it was not very flavorful and was pretty basic in presentation. My side salad also had a giant scoop of what appeared to be hummus but it was way thicker than any hummus I’ve ever had and the taste was slightly off.
P2 ordered the lasagna and he didn’t really have anything good to say about it. The kids’ meal for our youngest traveler came with fruit that was still mostly frozen, which was definitely a miss. I don’t even think we have unrealistic expectations for airplane food, but the food in Air Canada Business Class left a lot to be desired.
Service throughout the meal was excellent, though. The crew was consistently friendly and attentive, offering several rounds of drinks and checking in frequently .
About an hour and a half before landing, they brought around a snack tray with chips, KitKats, and other light options — a nice surprise given that the meal options weren’t great.
In-Flight Experience
The plane itself was pretty old. The seats looked worn, and as I mentioned earlier, the screens on the plane weren’t available for use.
Between the meal and the steady drink service, the flight passed quickly. The Wi-Fi was infrequent, and requested that we connect several times throughout the flight.
The seat recline was fine for relaxing but not great for napping, and while the cabin felt calm, it didn’t have the quiet, cocooned feeling of Air Canada’s long-haul Signature Class.
This experience definitely didn’t compare to other higher-end flight experiences we’ve had, including when we’ve flown United Premium Plus.
Arrival in Vancouver
We landed on time, and priority baggage handling worked as advertised — our bags came out first. Immigration was smooth (with a separate line for families), and we were out of the airport within 35 minutes.
Is Air Canada Business Class Worth It?
If you’re redeeming Aeroplan points like I did, yes — it’s a pleasant way to travel between the U.S. and Canada. But if you’re paying the full cash fare, it’s harder to justify for a recliner seat and below average meal.
Pros
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Attentive, friendly crew
- Snack service, and frequent drinks
- Great value when using Aeroplan points
Cons
- No lie-flat seats on this route
- Inconsistent details (frozen fruit, plastic-wrapped bread)
- Meal service options do not taste very good
- Plane was old and outdated
Final Thoughts on My Air Canada Business Class Review
For a four-hour flight, Air Canada Business Class delivers a comfortable but not luxurious experience. And let’s just say I’m glad we flew United Economy Plus home from Vancouver. The crew stood out as a highlight, but the overall product feels closer to economy than a true premium cabin.
If you can snag a good points redemption, it’s might be worth it to you. But if you’re paying over $1,300 for the seat, I’d save my money — or hold out for a route operated by a widebody jet with lie-flat pods.
Quick Summary
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Seat Comfort | Recliner seat, spacious but not lie-flat |
| Food & Drinks | Nice pre-order option, not great quality, frequent service |
| Service | Friendly and attentive throughout |
| Entertainment & Wi-Fi | Fine selection, okay Wi-Fi |
| Value (2.0 cpp) | Strong Aeroplan redemption |
FAQs
Does Air Canada Business Class have lie-flat seats?
Only on select widebody aircraft used for long-haul and transcontinental routes. The Chicago–Vancouver flight uses a narrowbody jet with recliner-style seats.
Do you get meals in Air Canada Business Class?
Yes — full meal service and drinks are provided, and only Business Class receives meals on most transborder flights.
How much does it cost to fly Air Canada Business Class?
Expect $1,200–$1,500 for shorter North American routes, and over $3,000 each way for international long-haul flights.