On a trip from Vancouver (YVR) to Montréal (YUL) I flew on Air Canada’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 in Business Class. The plane is smooth and quiet, and despite the washrooms being as small as everyone says they are it did not impede my ability to pee.
Service was excellent and overall I think the aircraft is fine, I just would not want to be in the economy section for a flight more than about 4 hours. Although it is important to note that nearly half of the economy cabin is preferred seating, offering increased legroom over the standard economy seat, still in a 3+3 configuration though.
Business Class Cabin
The business class seats on the Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX 8 fit into the category of Premium Economy on an international flight. The 2+2 seating configuration is spacious and the recline is respectable on these seats. The added bonus of a retractable leg rest on each seat is a much-appreciated feature and adds an extra bit of comfort on longer flights.
The seats are wide, wider than Air Canada business pods (but without the lei-flat features). The center armrest of the seats conveniently has storage, large enough for a tablet or small laptop, and there power and earphone plug are also hidden in here. I was able to fit my sweater in here, along with my water bottle keeping them off the floor and out of the way.
The materials are high-quality, the things you touch feel nice, and the places you put your body are firm enough to reduce muscle fatigue but soft enough to be cozy.
The entertainment system is new, featuring a large high-definition screen, it’s very responsive and has new features with the flight duration showing at which points in the flight you’ll receive food. A welcome addition so you can plan your sleeping.
Economy Class Cabin
I did not fly in the economy cabin, but here are some photos I snapped before it filled up. Nearly half of the cabin is preferred seating, offering additional legroom in a 3+3 configuration. Similar to the Dreamliner, storage space is good on this aircraft allowing bags to be stored vertically vs horizontally, making more room for everyone.
