Flight: AIR CANADA 98
Route: YUL-BOG
Cabin: Business
Times: 22:30-04:00+1 | Dec 18, 2022
Equipment: Airbus A330-300 | C-GFAF
Seat: 2A
Air Canada has 16 Airbus A330-300's in their fleet and 15 of them have been retrofitted with the Dream Cabin layout in a one two one configuration. Fin 931 (C-GFAF) is the sole remaining Blue XM configured aircraft in their fleet and seemingly neither Air Canada nor I was excited about it. Up until about five hours before departure we were scheduled to fly a retrofitted aircraft and the Air Canada app displayed a one two one seating map on the app. That plane ended up getting delayed in FLL so we were swapped to the dreaded aircraft, C-GFAF, but the seat map didn't change. I assumed this was a bug with the app, but no, Air Canada's system did not catch the change until after half of business class had boarded.
As a result we were asked to deplane and wait while they reassigned everyone's seat numbers. I retained my original seat, 2A, but there were quite a few passengers who were moved that were understandably upset over the last minute change. We boarded (again) and I settled into my seat and enjoyed a nice glass of sparkling water prior to takeoff. No menus were loaded so one of the flight attendants simply asked everyone their choice and after much consideration I opted for the beef. And then we waited. And waited. Apparently there was an issue with a cargo door closing that ended up delaying our departure by a little over an hour past our already delayed departure time. Delays are a part of travel, but the complete lack of information from the flight deck during this time was less than idea. A little communication goes a long way.
The old Blue XM seats certainly are showing their age, but they still lie flat so I can't complain that much (but the moving map not working was a little disappointing). The dinner service started with a warm towel followed by warm nuts and a glass of tomato juice. That was followed by a salmon tartar appetizer that was delicious and easily the best fish I've had in the sky. The main course, steak and potatoes, was also quite good. Not as good as the tartar, but the beef was cooked relatively well (although it was a bit well done for my liking) and the potatoes were good. Dinner ended with the option of some fruit, cheese, or a apple tart. I took the cheese offering which was quite tasty and then put my seat into bed mode.
After a few hours of surprisingly good sleep I awoke to the notice of our imminent decent into Bogota and prepared for arrival.
Seat 2A
PDB
These seats have certainly seen better days
Really Air Canada? Ads?
Blue XM cabin is... blue!
Warm towels are back!
Warm nuts and tomato juice
The tartar
A little well done, but still quite good
Air Canada's new amenity kit!
The "mattress pad" and proof that the XM seats lack any amount of storage space