hloverdos

We are looking to flying to Athens, Greece. My father has some mobility issues and want to ensure a more comfortable trip as well as easy access to washrooms on the flight. Flights from Toronto or Montreal are with Air Canada Rouge and Premium Rouge is available. However, if you fly with a stopover in Europe service is provided with Air Canada and its partners and Business Class is available. Is Premium Rouge the same as Business Class in terms of being at the front of the plane with ease access to washrooms, more leg room, etc.? Looking for advice.

YXUFlyboy

Premium Rouge is a premium economy product internationally. Not lie flat - 38" pitch with recline. No IFE, but they will give you free tablets. Improved catering, but not international business standard. 767-300ER is a relatively comfortable bird - it's a decent product but definitely not business class standard.

Jumper Jack

How much price difference are we talking about here

RangerNS

Premium Rouge is essentially identical to North American Business class, with the exception it is an iPad, not seat back display. The iPads are arguably superior to the screens on anything but the MAX (or the rare NA flight with pods).

Non-Pod "up front" on overseas flights is marketed as Premium Economy, or on Rouge, Premium Rouge.

Actual lay-flat International Business Class would be better.

Premium Rouge vs International Premium Economy would be essentially identical.

Now, the new MAX throw a wrench into that comparison. The seats and IFE are good, but some find the entire craft cramped, aisles, and especially washrooms. MAX IPE vs PR on a 32x is not a bracket that has been put to a vote. Various snobs here would avoid either, pod or nothing. On the other hand, obviously, 90% of people aboard aircraft with pods don't sit in them, old, young, cheap and rich.

RangerNS

Follow up: depending on "mobility issues", involve the Air Canada medical desk. I wouldn't presume to infer anything more than old age or a healthy level of pride, but if they have applicable free services and/or discounted tickets for a companion, no reason to leave anything on the table.

ACYYZ/SD

Premium Rouge on the 767 has 4 rows of 6 // total 24 seats. The left side of row 1 would have the most convenient access to the lavs - perhaps 8 feet away?

Academic

It looks as if Business is quite a bit more expensive than Premium Rouge, but you can guarantee having lie flat seats and a much more comfortable flight.

Symmetre

Premium rouge will definitely provide better comfort than a regular economy seat, especially for someone with mobility issues. AC mainline business class will be better still, but to Athens will require a stopover somewhere and changing planes. That being the case, the direct flight from YYZ or YUL in premium rouge could be better choice all things considered.

rankourabu

Except you can't. Seating within Europe will be in coach seats.

OP, did you look at Transat Club Class, nonstop, and probaly cheaper than Rouge.

songsc

Aselwyn

its not as good as a lie flat bet in buisness but Premium Rouge is probably your best bet vs changing onto LH or Aegean or another European carrier in business since its just Economy seating with a blocked on middle and food. in this case your probably best in Premium Rouge

5mm

Srklaw7

What about food and beverage service how does that compare?

Admiral Ackbar

It doesn't, at least when I flew YUL-SJO last year on the 767. Better than Y rouge but nothing like international J

jasdou

Which is why Premium Rouge is sold as PY on international routes and not J.