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Int. Business Class & select wide-body N. America aircraft become 'Signature Service'

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Old Apr 13, 2018, 4:14 pm
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Last edit by: Chowtime
NEW! International Business Class Service Enhancements Eff. April 17 on Wide-Body Aircraft

Possibly to be rebranded Rebranded as Air Canada Signature Service Please see post #51 https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29644079-post51.html

I started this thread and wiki in advance of the rebranding launch in order to preempt the multiple new threads that will be inevitably started, and giving a bit more "glue" to the information mixed in several other threads, as we have already started seeing.

The main purpose is to have all the rebranding information housed under this one thread.

Over time, as the rebranded products and services become mainstay and the norm, I anticipate that topics will go under their regular main threads such as International J meals, amenity kits, etc. At the same time, there is nothing wrong with posting in the other existing threads as well.

My international flying has been limited as of late, so any feedback, information, details, opinions, etc. from the rest here would be appreciated!

Thanks,

- yyznomad



Press release courtesy of tcook052 in post #93:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29650400-post93.html

Originally Posted by tcook052
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/air-canada-elevates-premium-travel-experience-for-international-and-north-american-customers-679968583.html

MONTREAL, April 17, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today introduced its new Air Canada Signature Service, providing an enhanced and seamless end-to-end travel experience for customers flying in Air Canada Signature Class, the premium cabin of its wide-body aircraft. Available today for international customers and, starting June 1 on select flights within North America, the new service makes Air Canada the first North American airline to designate aircraft with lie-flat seats for premium customers on select non-stop, transcontinental flights within Canada and to the U.S., including overnight daily flights from Vancouver, Los Angeles and San Francisco to Toronto.

Air Canada Signature Service customers will receive priority service at every stage of the journey, including access to airport concierge services, expedited check-in and security clearance, priority baggage handling and preferential boarding. Customers will also enjoy Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access and, for eligible customers travelling to international destinations from Toronto-Pearson, access to the exclusive Air Canada Signature Suite, featuring à la carte restaurant dining from a menu created by celebrated Canadian chef David Hawksworth.

"Our new Air Canada Signature Service and Air Canada Signature Class brands reflect the ongoing refinements to our premium travel service. We know our premium customers travelling on longer flight itineraries place a high value on convenience and comfort when in airports or onboard an aircraft, and with Air Canada Signature Service we provide a level of service unsurpassed in North America on every widebody flight," said Benjamin Smith, President of Passenger Airlines, Air Canada.

"Customers travelling Air Canada Signature Class on international itineraries and, beginning in June, on select transcontinental flights within North America, will receive seamless Air Canada Signature Service. They will enjoy added amenities throughout their journey, from curbside-to-curbside and at all points in between."

Available starting today on all Air Canada international flights and beginning June 1 on select transcontinental flights within North America, Air Canada Signature Service and Air Canada Signature Class incorporate and elevate the award-winning attributes of Air Canada's International Business Class, featuring its next generation lie-flat suites. Air Canada Signature Service will be available on select transborder and domestic Canadian transcontinental flights when operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 777, Boeing 767 and Airbus A330 aircraft. This includes routes between Toronto and the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, and between Vancouver and the cities of New York-Newark and Montreal.

To note, Air Canada Signature Service with lie-flat suites to provide a full night's rest will be available daily on the following North American non-stop overnight flights beginning June 1.

Flight
Departs
Arrives
Aircraft
AC126
Vancouver 22:35
Toronto 05:55 + 1 day
Boeing 777
AC788
Los Angeles 22:15
Toronto 05:52 + 1 day
Boeing 787
AC754
San Francisco 22:45
Toronto 06:37 + 1 day
Boeing 787

Air Canada Signature Class also introduces new amenities to make the journey even more comfortable, including:

Updated onboard menu items from chef David Hawksworth, including for the first time on flights serving lunch and dinner in North America Air Canada Signature Class starting June 1, and a South Asian menu by chef Vikram Vij on flights to Mumbai and New Delhi, complemented by an expanded wine selection chosen by Air Canada sommelier Véronique Rivest; service on new restaurant style dishware and glassware;
For transcontinental travellers, enhanced wine and spirits, and the added option of espresso and cappuccino served with dessert or a new cheese selection, while for international travellers Air Canada will now offer Laurent-Perrier champagne; on all routes, customers will be able to enjoy the new Air Canada Signature Cocktail;
For international travelers, personal comfort items by Canadian brands, including enhanced amenity kits by Want Les Essentiels, with premium care products by vitruvi;
Mattress pads to enhance the sleep experience;
At Air Canada's Toronto-Pearson global hub, full fare Air Canada Signature Class customers departing on International flights will have access to the Air Canada Signature Suite. The suite is an exclusive airport retreat, where eligible customers can dine à la carte at a complimentary, full-service restaurant from a menu created by chef Hawksworth, or enjoy, Moet & Chandon champagne, fine wines and premium cocktails in an intimate, Canadian-designed and decorated setting;
For full fare premium cabin customers originating in Toronto-Pearson or arriving at Toronto-Pearson originating from a domestic flight with onward international travel, Air Canada will also provide Air Canada Valet Service, powered by BMW, starting later in 2018. It is the first dedicated service offered by an airline in North America for customers booked in a premium cabin, where a dedicated fleet of BMW sedans whisk customers over the tarmac to connect, making connecting at Toronto-Pearson truly exclusive and seamless.


AFAIK, credit goes to supremekai for posting this information (and providing a useful link to the image!) in the master Amenity Kit thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29633632-post110.html


NEW! International Business Class Service Enhancements Effective April 17 on Wide-Body Aircraft

Amenities - Service Items
  • Matress pads folded in plastic wrap and placed at Pods by Cabin Services for customers to lay out themselves
  • New amenity kit by Montreal-based WANT Les Essentiels including premium eyeshades, microfibre cloth and vitruvi lip balm and lotion
  • Redesigned menu
  • New dishware and glassware (no change to cutlery, cups, champagne glass in J or stemmed wine glass in PY at this time)
  • New premium skincare products by Vancouver-based vitruvi in the J lavatories: soap, hand loation, facial mist

Beverage Service
  • Mimosa offered as a pre-departure beverage on breakfast flights (replaces sparkling water)
  • New signature cocktail (1 mini of bourbon, 1 sachet of maple syrup (packets in bar carts), 1-part Sprite and 2-parts ginger ale, served over ice, stirred and garnished with 2 slices of lemon)
  • New Champagne brand

Meal Service
  • Garlic bread as a third selection (international only)
  • Spring/summer wine program
  • Chef Hawksworth's new signature dishes

*Please note: International and select route wide-body Business class will be rebranded on April 17 with a new name.




Please note that there have been anecdotal instances of new service/products being introduced prior to the official rebranding launch date:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29611852-post2081.html
Originally Posted by BarrieTravelGuy
I overheard a flight attendant and pax talking about some huge launch on April 17th. All new drinks (including Mimosas) as well as all new food menus. Has anyone else heard this? I didn’t see anything in here about it. What was interesting was that they were talking about a re-branding if Business Class... I didn’t know if it was just the food or something else.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29579069-post2051.html
Originally Posted by Rundosrun
When did AC switch to serving Laurent-Perrier Champagne Brut onboard instead of the stuff they normally serve. It seems the menus for flights in April are showing a change. Did I miss this?? I much prefer the new Champagne on offer.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29580786-post2056.html
Originally Posted by ACYYZ/SD
Two very notable changes there.
>After a long and successful run the Drappier is being retired and Laurent-Perrier Champagne is being introduced
>The Hawksworth Chocolate Fondant bids adieu in favour of a new dessert. Brown Sugar Tart with Custard.

The fabulously popular Duck Leg Entree makes a return.

FYI - the launch of the above has been delayed slightly till mid month (April).

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29635471-post2102.html
Originally Posted by lallied
I had garlic bread on AC34 on the 11th. Nice and herby. Not sure whether just SYD or the change as no mimosa and didn’t check bubbles . They also said will be mattress pads for J seats.

June 1 2018 - Post 288

North American Signature Service description now on AC.com

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29820459-post288.html

NEW - Detailed Trancontinental Signature Class Video Review
https://youtu.be/enlUZw_8po8
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Int. Business Class & select wide-body N. America aircraft become 'Signature Service'

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Old Jul 7, 2018, 6:27 am
  #436  
 
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Nice. Non frozen fruits.
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Old Jul 7, 2018, 6:28 am
  #437  
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Originally Posted by SparseFlyer
Nice. Non frozen fruits.
You don't miss striking the blueberries with your fork only to hear a metal-to-metal sound?
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Old Jul 7, 2018, 7:16 am
  #438  
 
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Originally Posted by yyznomad
You don't miss striking the blueberries with your fork only to hear a metal-to-metal sound?
No, but I miss my seat make hearing the crunch of munching on a single blueberry over the noise of a 320 engine lol
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Old Jul 7, 2018, 11:09 am
  #439  
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I got the chance to try a few of these enhancements last week when I flew WAW-YYZ

- Mattress pad: It's really thin and not nearly long enough for the bed. Frankly you can't really feel the difference between using it and not using it

- Signature cocktail:



I actually really liked it. The flight attendant suggested he just add Ginger Ale and not the Sprite as well and I think this was a good suggestion. It's definitely sweet but if you like Old Fashioneds it's a bit like that

Amenity Kit:



I like the bag but the contents were fairly basic. Also the lack of a comb is a really big oversight.
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Old Jul 7, 2018, 11:14 am
  #440  
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Originally Posted by CMK10



I like the bag but the contents were fairly basic. Also the lack of a comb is a really big oversight.
Well, to AC's (dis)credit, they haven't had a comb in their amenity kits for well over a decade now.

If you had flown LO on this route, then you would've had your comb in your amenity kit.
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Old Jul 7, 2018, 11:47 am
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Did no one ever use the wet wipes?
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Old Jul 7, 2018, 11:52 am
  #442  
 
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Asking again - Anyone find the socks too tight?
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Old Jul 7, 2018, 1:10 pm
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I thought it was fine.
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Old Jul 7, 2018, 7:39 pm
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I like the bag too. Its the best part of the entire amenity kit. I have a few of them, and they come in handy. One became my gym toiletry bag, another one became an emergency kit, etc. I really like the handle on the side too and the inner red accent is a nice touch.
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Old Jul 8, 2018, 4:31 am
  #445  
 
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I am amazed by this thread.

AC Signature Service exists on what -- 5 or 6 return flights to SFO/YVR/LAX?

The average person watching AC advertising around this would think that the entire fleet has gone to flat-bed-concierge-special-drink service throughout each and ever flight. "I'm a gonna go to Thunder Bay on a flat bed."
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Old Jul 23, 2018, 7:33 pm
  #446  
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Flew YYC-YYZ on 767 this afternoon and food and service seemed improved (including entertainment options). Not a vast improvement but very good nonetheless. Had curried sablefish which was tasty with the prawn appetizer which wasn't over salted (I never add salt to my meals). Service was very good and in charge recognized me. Concierge met me in YYZ after the flight to give me a thank you card and another Lindt chocolate bar for getting to 2MM last month (I have only flown on Jazz since getting 2MM).

Lastly, the seat area was spotless. It was a little worn but not at all the dirt that I am used to seeing. Kudos on that front too!

I know that this may not be "signature" but seemed to be intermediate between old ways and the new signature service . . .
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Old Jul 24, 2018, 8:55 am
  #447  
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Just noticed, boarding passes still say "business class/classe affaires."
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Old Jul 24, 2018, 9:51 am
  #448  
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i despise AC but these posts don't do much for me to try to justify to my employer Y+ over J LAX to YYZ especially if not on the red-eye. in fact, given the pitch on the 737Max vs Y+ on the 787, how can one even stomach on another dimes J on the 737Max. guess i am not supposed to care since it is not my money but i would rather my employer keep it than put it into AC's pockets.
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Old Jul 24, 2018, 12:30 pm
  #449  
 
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I am annoyed that AC still does not provide slippers on TATL flights even after the introduction of the "Signature Service".
IIRC slippers were provided only on TPAC flights and I was hoping this would change at some point.
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Old Jul 25, 2018, 7:25 am
  #450  
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Originally Posted by Stranger
Just noticed, boarding passes still say "business class/classe affaires."
On that note, what happens if your transcon YYZ YVR widebody gets a downgrade to a narrowbody? Everyone has to have their BPs reprinted?
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