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 22, 2022, 7:49 pm
#1141
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
Retroactive Pipedream... if only AC refurbed 333 as 1 x 1 x 1. Again, retroactive pipedream. Probably other logistical issues I didn't raise or think of. But again, wishful thinking.
Replace aft J with PY and now they need more J seats to cram in.
It's 333 DC J still better than the gawdawful 1st gen 777HD J cabins (remember those?)... but yeah the 333 refurb J is probably the only mainline widebody J seat that I would prefer in its XM version.
Replace aft J with PY and now they need more J seats to cram in.
It's 333 DC J still better than the gawdawful 1st gen 777HD J cabins (remember those?)... but yeah the 333 refurb J is probably the only mainline widebody J seat that I would prefer in its XM version.
XM333 = 27J, DC333 = 32J
5 Seats can be difference of being upfront vs. being banished to the back.
Especially for those who uses eUPs
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. 
Just be glad you never flew AA 77E with 3 configs or CX 333 with its 6 or 7 or 8 different configs, and most of the time the config can be switched up to the day of departure.
Apr 23, 2022, 6:13 am
#1142
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,605
Totally agree with this. Way better than having a 788 on the route where the chance to upgrade is close to zero unless the upgrade is requested well in advance of the flight.
Apr 23, 2022, 8:04 am
#1143
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
But I did bring up the point, just not explicitly.
Apr 26, 2022, 8:31 pm
#1145
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: YSJ
Programs: AC SE(w/*); NEXUS
Posts: 139
So... Was it nostalgic? or new? Keen to hear where I have a booking in July showing the "old" configuration for seat selection... Assuming it doesn't get swapped, this far out.
Apr 26, 2022, 8:37 pm
#1146
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: SE 100K
Posts: 935
Very dated / worn out. Bit weird going from the new(est) pod back to that with the lack of privacy and seeing everyone / the entire cabin.
But comfortable enough for a TCON. Had breakfast and slept a solid 3 hours.
Apr 27, 2022, 5:09 pm
#1147
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
The Lions in faux-J didn't over much privacy, compared to DreamCabin seats. And of course, that front cabin was super tired and falling apart.
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).
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).
The more annoying thing is losing my selected seat each time.
Apr 27, 2022, 5:18 pm
#1148
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, AA Plat MM
Posts: 3,582
I just received my fourth change to a YYZ-YYC flight yesterday - started as 777-300, then A330 1-1-1, then A330 1-2-1, now back to A330 1-1-1. At least this time we got seats across the aisle instead of opposite sides of the plane. Your point is well-taken, since sometimes the original seats are no longer available by the time the advice arrives. As an infrequent AC patron I was puzzled as to what was happening.
Apr 27, 2022, 5:49 pm
#1149
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: YSJ
Programs: AC SE(w/*); NEXUS
Posts: 139
This is what I was trying to say a few posts ago, but was beginning to think it never happened to anyone else. I just received my fourth change to a YYZ-YYC flight yesterday - started as 777-300, then A330 1-1-1, then A330 1-2-1, now back to A330 1-1-1. At least this time we got seats across the aisle instead of opposite sides of the plane. Your point is well-taken, since sometimes the original seats are no longer available by the time the advice arrives. As an infrequent AC patron I was puzzled as to what was happening.
I just received my fourth change to a YYZ-YYC flight yesterday - started as 777-300, then A330 1-1-1, then A330 1-2-1, now back to A330 1-1-1. At least this time we got seats across the aisle instead of opposite sides of the plane. Your point is well-taken, since sometimes the original seats are no longer available by the time the advice arrives. As an infrequent AC patron I was puzzled as to what was happening.
Apr 29, 2022, 6:49 pm
#1151
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, AA Plat MM
Posts: 3,582
If that's YYC I hear you. I have flights next month to/from there and none started on A330's. Now they all are, and the seating config changes every week or so.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Aug 31, 2022 at 1:53 pm Reason: Remove large quoted image
Apr 29, 2022, 7:39 pm
#1152
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite, UA Silver, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 72
Actually, this is YVR from what i can tell. should be the horseshoe that goes all the way into the international side from domestic.
Apr 29, 2022, 10:43 pm
#1153
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: 6,233
Apr 30, 2022, 3:39 pm
#1154
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,605
I don't think that's surprising. They are doing transcon runs between flights to Europe and South America. Keep in mind there are double the number of A330's in the fleet compared to a few years ago.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Aug 31, 2022 at 1:53 pm Reason: Remove large quoted image