I had my first E2 experience last week on a 4hr transcon from the US to YYZ.

The aircraft was booked to about 35%. 91 seats open.

Thank goodness.

Unless you’re in the premium rows up front, or an exit row, (as was the case on my 1/2 empty YYZ-YOW leg), the seating is very tight and the overall atmosphere is very claustrophobic.

I have pics but not sure if they can be posted.

It would be awful with a full load.

It feels much more like a stretched Q400 than a narrowbody A32x or 737. The landing characteristics feel much more like a CRJ. Those familiar know what I’m talking about.

My full-sized roll on fit comfortably in their gate side sizing device, but would not fit perpendicularly in the overhead bins. This would eat up space on a full flight. Add winter hats, coats and bags and ugh.

The premium snacks were nothing special. Good, but nothing to get excited about.

Free booze for all but most road warriors I know rarely drink when on board. Good for occasional flyers.

The wifi is very good. I could stream content without issue, though the plane had 91 empty seats out of 133. That may have helped.

AC and WS premium is far better than Porter from what I saw. Way more space.

All in all, I’m not exactly sure what the hype is all about. I’d book them on shorter sectors but never on transcons.