We reached the airport terminal a little bit less than 3 hours before our scheduled departure and went directly to the premium check-in area where this time there was not too much of a wait. Our bags got tagged until AMS so that will won’t have to pick them up in Vienna. The priority security was also fine with only a few minutes waiting time.


YYZ terminal, heading to Priority check-in


No queues this time...




And still no mention of Signature Suite access...Our boarding passes still did not show that we were eligible to access to the signature suite but we decided not to discuss about it to the check-in agent and directly proceed it.



When we arrived I showed our boarding passes to the signature suite reception and explained that despite having this mention not written on our boarding passes, we were eligible to entry to which the receptionist replied : “I am sure you do have access”. When then spoke for a few minutes and he told us that he was happy that the management finally issued a memo to clarify the access rules as he had to deny entry in the past to customers who were eligible for entry but that “his hands were tied”. He also added that he had lots of heated arguments with passengers about this everyday and recommended to file service complaints regarding those issues to Air Canada (I btw did this and almost 3 months later still got no reply !)


We then left our bags at the entrance and went directly to the restaurant where we got a corner table.

Service was as attentive as during our previous visit, and I opted for the same dishes as last time : The Endive salad as a starter and the cod fish as a main. Myriam also took the same starter and the mushrooms option as a main as she was not very hungry. We then finished the meal with the chocolate expresso cake and the Old fashioned sorbet. There were no additional desserts on the menu such as fresh fruits this time.


Departures that evening


Signature suite menu, the same as at the previous visit






Champagne to start


Winter salad


The Fogo island cod


Braised mushrooms




Dessert menu




Expresso chocolate cake

We left the lounge shortly before 6pm and while we were collecting our bags at the reception, Myriam noticed there were a few cooking books on display. As she is also a pastry chef, she asked to have a quick look at those and was immediately given one to take home ! A nice gesture from the staff !


Signature suite gift. One more cooking book at home (because we don't have enough it seems :-D

Priority boarding just started when we arrived at the gate.


C-FGEO

Air Canada 886 – Saturday, January 14th 2023
Toronto Pearson Intl YYZ – 18:40 scheduled, 19:30 actual
Vienna Schewechat Intl VIE – 08:45 scheduled,
Boeing 787-9 – C-FGEO – Seat 02K – Aisle – Business class


This time once again, we got the feeling upon entering the aircraft that the crew was not the best pick of the day. There were a few elderly passengers who needed assistance to enter the aircraft already, let alone placing their bag in the overhead compartment and the crew member serving the aisle was simply looking at them, it was actually another passenger next to them who offered to help. Likewise, we both bought a brand new winter coat the day before and wanted to have it hang in the wardrobe, something which is offered in most airlines without even asking when flying a premium cabin (heck, I am not writing those lines aboard an AA transcon flight in Business and even there the FA offered to place my rain jacket on a hanger !). On this AC flight, I just got the reply that “They will do that only for suits jackets”. That made it clear that this crew member won’t go the extra mile during this flight ! Eventually after take off, I asked again to another FA who took it to the wardrobe without any argument.

Finally, the overhead bins above our seats 01K and 02K were already full with the amenity kits and headphones, limiting the storage space for our belongings.


Seat 2K


For once, Mrs is in front of me (she once asked me : Why am I never in first row, she is becoming a plane nerd too :-)


Predeparture drink served with elegance


So I will keep my new jacket there then...

All the seat amenities were already on the seat when we boarded and a predeparture beverage consisting of sparkling wine or sparkling water, served in a plastic cup this time (!) was proposed. The captain informed us that we will have a slightly delayed departure and that we will have to de-ice the aircraft but that this delay will hopefully be picked up during the flight. By 19:05 we pushed back and the aircraft was de-iced about 15 minutes later; for a take-off around 19:30.


Push back from terminal


Defreezing the aircraft


Toronto

Fortunately, a less grumpy flight attendant did the service on our aisle most of the time, and a first bar service was done 30 min after landing. I opted for a glass of champagne and some sparkling water and it came with warm nuts.



On this flight again, I realized that I did not take any pictures of the menu, but I certainly still have it at home. The starter consisted in a tuna tataki and this time, I opted for the vegetarian option, a sort of cauliflower curry. Both dishes were ok. This time, there was no drama with having both cheese and dessert, and as a good Frenchman would do, I opted for the cheese plate and the fruit salad.






No drama to get both this time !

By 21:30 the meal service was over and I started to feel sleepy, I had almost 4 hours of sleep and woke up as we were near Amsterdam, breakfast was served shortly after and consisted in a fruit plate with cheese and Bircher muesli.


Woke up almost above home :-)


Breakfast YYZ-VIE


Approaching VIE


Total route YYZ-VIE


Welcome in Vienna, Home of Austrian Airlines

We landed ontime at 08:45 in Vienna, under light rain. Immigration took seconds to clear and we were at the terminal train station within a few minutes as we had no bags to pick up.


The shoe-box terminal 3 in VIE.


VIE Terminal 3 arrivals. I like the arrivals display

Another uneventful flight on AC, neither bad or good if you put aside this grumpy crew member at the beginning. The seat served its purpose and I was able to get 4 hours of solid sleep. We landed safely and ontime and the signature suite in Toronto still represents a standard for North American lounges, I am glad the access eligibility criteria have been clarified internally - it just took AC a few years to do so !…