Last year I wrote that I dislike the Max so much I couldn't even imagine flying a TATL in it. Having now completed my first YHZ-LHR trip on this airplane, I totally stand by that comment.

Pros: A 7-hour direct hop does beat flying west to YYZ or YUL to make a connection, which with reasonable layover effectively doubles the total trip time. Hearing the "cabin fully boarded" announcement on a TATL flight only 20 minutes after they started is also pretty nice.

Cons: The longer you're onboard the narrower and more cramped it feels. And with a 7 hour flight, the washroom trip can no longer be avoided. Next time I'll remember to pack a shower cap.

Take-away: PY definitely not worth the extra money. I flew eastbound in PY as it was the same price as Flex, but refused to pay double for the return leg and sat in an exit row instead. In all honesty, there wasn't much difference between them. Neither were especially comfortable after the fourth hour or so. In every respect, the Max is just a smaller version of the utterly horrid 777HD, and that becomes more apparent with every passing hour onboard.

I do like the shorter travel time though, and will just have to hope YHZ-LHR becomes one of the first routes for the 321XL. With lie flats and even a minimally wider hull, it will represent a night-to-day improvement over this flying sardine can.