Oct 3, 2016, 9:53 pm
Last edit by: YVR72
Note: please keep this thread to information on the refurbishment program and its progress; for discussion of which seats are best and other details about the interiors, please visit the seating information thread.
A330-300 Fleet Overview
AC currently has two configurations of 333:
A330-300 Fleet Overview
AC currently has two configurations of 333:
- Dream Cabin (16 aircraft): Latest 3-class configuration in line with the 787 and 777 fleets (seat map)
- The "Merlions" (2 aircraft): ex-Singapore Airlines 2-class configuration (seat map), which are expected to be reconfigured to the Dream Cabin.
- Important note: the front cabin on these aircraft is an angle-flat product in a 2-2-2 layout that was SQ's "regional" business class. On flights within North America, AC sells it as J; on international flights, they sell it as PY. These aircraft do not have the standard AC PY cabin
- Since October 2023, these aircraft primarily operate YYZ>BOG>YUL triangle, and YUL<>LAX.
Code:
32J 24O 241Y: 297 pax C-GFAF (931) Completed @HKG, Oct 01/23 - Dec 09/23 [69 days] C-GFAH (932) Completed @QPG, Aug 10/21 - Oct 05/21 [56 days] C-GFAJ (933) Completed @QPG, Nov 24/21 - Jan 12/22 [49 days] C-GFUR (934) Completed @QPG, Oct 08/19 - Feb 28/20 [143 days] C-GHKR (935) Completed @QPG, Oct 04/21 - Nov 25/21 [52 days] C-GHKW (936) Completed @HKG, Nov 27/21 - Feb 21/22 [86 days] C-GHKX (937) Completed @RFD, Sep 02/20 - May 30/21 [271 days] C-GHLM (938) Completed @HKG, Sep 30/22 - Dec 11/22 [72 days] C-GEFA (939) Completed @RFD, Dec 31/20 - Mar 29/21 [89 days] C-GEGC (940) Completed @QPG, May 17/22 - Jul 21/22 [67 days] C-GEGI (941) Completed @QPG, Jan 10/22 - Mar 11/22 [60 days] C-GEGP (942) Completed @QPG, Nov 06/19 - Jul 01/20 [238 days] C-GHKC (943) Completed @HKG, Feb 21/22 - May 05/22 [73 days] C-GKUG (944) Completed @QPG, Mar 02/20 - Feb 10/21 [345 days] C-GKUH (945) Completed @RFD, Oct 08/20 - Jan 12/21 [99 days] C-GOFV (946) SQ configuration C-GOFW (947) Completed @QPG, Feb 03/22 - May 20/22 [107 days] C-GXZD (948) SQ configuration
Air Canada Airbus A330-300 refurbishments
Apr 4, 2022, 5:38 pm
#1126
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2021
Programs: UA1k
Posts: 60
Apr 7, 2022, 2:12 pm
#1127
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan 50K/Star Alliance Gold, Accor Gold, base level Marriott/Hyatt/Hilton
Posts: 657
XM was revolutionary. Dream cabin included the best J seats out there (in 2014). IMHO, AC shouldn't be installing the same seat that a subpar airline introduced a few years ago, or that a practically bankrupt airline is introducing now, as part of a fleet renewal that'll take place in the next few years. They should be using the best seat out there, which will probably be something similar to QSuites or ANA's Room. The current seat as such is very average - above average for TATL, below average for TPAC. I guess it's competitive in the sense that it isn't making people choose US3 over AC, but it definitely isn't industry leading.
Apr 20, 2022, 1:59 pm
#1128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
My opinion is that 333 DreamCabin J for SS flights is the "worst" of the AC widebodies...
I did have some "Y ideation" recently when there was an equipment swap to a 333 from a 777.
I still went ahead with the eUp, but now waffling back and forth, especially since those bulkhead Y seats look quite spacious.
I did have some "Y ideation" recently when there was an equipment swap to a 333 from a 777.
I still went ahead with the eUp, but now waffling back and forth, especially since those bulkhead Y seats look quite spacious.
Apr 20, 2022, 9:48 pm
#1129
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
I really did not like the dream cabin on the 333. Just too narrow, and the compartment wasn’t large enough to fit what I usually store in there. And of course the IFE screen is smaller.
Touch screen seat controls were improved though.
Touch screen seat controls were improved though.
Apr 20, 2022, 11:51 pm
#1130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Would you still do 333 DreamCabin refurb J over 333 refurb Y, say, if you were at a point of needing to use your eUps sparingly? Asking for a friend.
Apr 21, 2022, 5:50 am
#1131
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
Apr 21, 2022, 11:01 am
#1132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Apr 21, 2022, 12:01 pm
#1133
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,767
I did an overnight flight on the new 333 cabin last month. Absolutely awful. I couldn't believe how little space there was, especially down around my feet. Vastly worse than the 777 pods.
But I'd still take J over Y any day.
But I'd still take J over Y any day.
Apr 21, 2022, 12:09 pm
#1134
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,226
This config would not be my first choice for any flight over 2 hours.
Apr 21, 2022, 12:29 pm
#1135
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
Programs: AC 75K, A3*G, AS MVPG, AA LT Gold 1MM, JL/JGC (OWS) , Marriott Titanium, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 3,697
And how tall and wide is the person in the Y bulkhead 😂
Apr 21, 2022, 12:52 pm
#1136
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: AC SE MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 904
I'm actually surprised at the negative comments towards the A330 J cabin. The new cabin updates the seat and TV, removes the air bag, and offers for J seats than the XM cabin. Whilst I agree that storage is limited, it is no reason to avoid this cabin. And for those mentioning the foot cubby, I ask how you feel that compares to SIA's J cabin?
Apr 21, 2022, 3:19 pm
#1137
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YVR, KUL
Programs: AC, MH, BA, AF-KL
Posts: 2,904
It's not easy to have 30+ J seats in the forward cabin of a 333 while maintaining aisle access for all. I'd gladly take a smaller footwell over, say, LH's 2-2-2 (also 30J in the same space).
Keep in mind, the original SQ config was also 30J but with an angled-flat product. No footwell issues there though
While I agree that the 787/777 pods are a tad more spacious, I won't go out of my way to avoid the 333s.
Keep in mind, the original SQ config was also 30J but with an angled-flat product. No footwell issues there though
While I agree that the 787/777 pods are a tad more spacious, I won't go out of my way to avoid the 333s.
Apr 21, 2022, 9:58 pm
#1138
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I've decided that since it will be my birthday, I will keep my confirmed eUp on the refurbed 333. But for future TCONS on a refurbed 333, I'll probably just stick with Y (or maybe PY).
Apr 22, 2022, 4:48 pm
#1139
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, AA Plat MM
Posts: 3,582
Am I the only one who finds these variations confusing? To date I've only flown on an AC A330 once in Y. Now I find myself with 4 upcoming flights on A330's with various configurations - and they keep changing. We initially booked the middle pair of J seats, based on good advice here, but one flight is now 1-1-1 in Business and we're seated behind each other. A domestic PE flight keeps switching between Row 13 and Row 14. 
Apr 22, 2022, 4:56 pm
#1140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Am I the only one who finds these variations confusing? To date I've only flown on an AC A330 once in Y. Now I find myself with 4 upcoming flights on A330's with various configurations - and they keep changing. We initially booked the middle pair of J seats, based on good advice here, but one flight is now 1-1-1 in Business and we're seated behind each other. A domestic PE flight keeps switching between Row 13 and Row 14.
I think what's more confusing is the equipment changes that AC is throwing at you.
