Air Canada 787 Business Class Review: LHR to YYC (2026)

This review covers my original London Heathrow–Calgary flight, with a 2026 update based on subsequent Air Canada 787-9 business class trips, including Vancouver–Manila.

Although I have flown Air Canada’s 787–9 business class before, my previous experience at the time was limited to domestic flights. At the end of my first international trip in 2+ years, I finally tried the long-haul experience between London Heathrow and Calgary.

Here’s how the seats, service, meals and ground experience compared with my domestic flights, plus what has changed since.

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Details

2026 Air Canada 787-9 Business Class Update

Since my initial review, I’ve had the pleasure of flying Air Canada business class 787 products multiple times, including several international routes. I previously flew from Toulouse, France (where I checked out the amazing Airbus museum!) to Montreal, and once again, this aircraft reinforced why it remains my favorite metal in Air Canada’s fleet.

I find the 787-9 more comfortable than the Air Canada A330 and noticeably more modern than the 777.

Most recently, I flew Air Canada’s 787-9 business class from Vancouver to Manila aboard AC17. It was my first time visiting the Philippines, although Manila was really a stop on my way to Okinawa, Japan.

The good news? The Air Canada 787 business class experience remains largely unchanged.

The highlights remain consistent: the signature touch of home Air Canada provides, friendly and professional service, and the reliability of knowing exactly what to expect. The reverse herringbone seats continue to offer excellent privacy and comfort, converting into a fully flat bed with lumbar support and a massage function—perfect for long-haul travel.

The updated bedding package, which includes a pillow, duvet, and mattress pad, makes a noticeable difference in rest quality. On my Vancouver to Manila flight, the comfortable bedding was particularly welcome given the late-night departure and long journey across the Pacific.

On my recent flights, service has continued to be top-notch, with crews maintaining a good balance of professionalism and warmth. The in-flight entertainment system remains one of the best I’ve experienced, featuring a vast selection of movies, TV shows, music, and games on a large touchscreen.

Noise-canceling headphones are provided, but I typically prefer using my own. The addition of in-flight Wi-Fi is a plus, making it easier to stay connected where available. Aeroplan members can also take advantage of complimentary messaging on eligible Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft.

Updated Air Canada 787 Business Class Amenities

One noticeable change on my latest flight was the amenity kit.

Instead of the WANT Les Essentiels kit I received on my original London to Calgary flight, Air Canada provided a reusable amenities sac with a distinctly Canadian theme. Inside were items including socks and a red eye mask.

It wasn’t the most luxurious kit I’ve received, but I’m not mad at it. Unlike many airline amenity kits that end up sitting in a drawer, this is something I’ll actually use.

I also received a pair of black slippers with a red Air Canada logo. I wanted to take them home but also wanted to use them during the flight. Decisions, decisions.

My Latest Air Canada eUpgrade Experience

Getting into business class on my Vancouver to Manila flight was an adventure in itself.

I booked Premium Economy for 82,000 Aeroplan points. It was the cheapest non-economy award option I could find for my journey to Asia, which is how I ended up routing through Manila on my way to Okinawa.

I applied for an eUpgrade, hoping to secure a lie-flat seat for the long overnight flight.

With departure scheduled for 1:40 AM, I set an alarm to check in exactly 24 hours beforehand. Unfortunately, online check-in wouldn’t work.

After spending over an hour on hold with Air Canada, I eventually decided to head to the airport to sort things out.

The check-in issue turned out to be a request for proof of onward travel. Once I provided that, I was able to check in.

Once checked in, I was third on the upgrade list with only three business class seats available.

After sorting out check-in at the airport, I headed to the casino to meet some visiting friends and kept checking the upgrade list. Later, I was still third on the list with three business class seats showing as available.

I figured my chances were looking pretty good, but nothing was official until the gate.

Thankfully, my upgrade cleared.

The final cost was 17 eUpgrade credits and CAD $200, on top of my original 82,000-point Premium Economy redemption.

Not bad for a long-haul flight across the Pacific.

READ MORE: [Air Canada 787 Business Class Review: Vancouver to Manila — LINK COMING SOON]

What’s Next for Air Canada Business Class?

Air Canada unveiled its next-generation cabin designs in April 2026, including the new Signature Plus offering planned for its Boeing 787-10.

Following the cabin unveiling, the airline has provided a clearer picture of its plans for updated premium seating and enhanced amenities. If the new product builds on the strengths of the current 787-9, travelers can expect an even more refined Business Class experience.

For now, the 787-9 remains my go-to for comfort, service, and a consistently high-quality experience in the sky. Whether it’s the familiar feel of Air Canada’s premium service, the modern cabin design, or the reliable onboard experience, this aircraft continues to set the standard in the airline’s long-haul fleet.

Booking My LHR to YYC Flight

I typically don’t fly Air Canada internationally. Not because I don’t enjoy their service, quite the opposite. I just like to try other products out when leaving my home country as I fly Air Canada a lot domestically. Also, the redemption of Aeroplan is now on a dynamic scale for Air Canada flights so it is not an attractive option when using points.

So why did I end up on this Air Canada 787 business class flight out of London Heathrow? It was the only good option for me after my amazing Oman Air first-class flight from Muscat. When I looked at redemption options, however, it was not looking great. Business class was a staggering 200,000+ points minimum. Thankfully, there were plenty of eUpgrade options.

Using my tried and tested eUpgrade strategy, I booked the journey home to Vancouver via Calgary for 52,000 Aeroplan points—more than 150,000 points below the business class redemption I had been seeing. That was the underlying award booking; the eUpgrade was a separate part of securing business class.

2026 eUpgrade Update: I’ve continued to have success using eUpgrades, most recently on Air Canada’s Vancouver to Manila route. This time, I booked Premium Economy for 82,000 Aeroplan points and secured a business class upgrade at the gate for an additional 17 eUpgrade credits and CAD $200.

It wasn’t quite as straightforward as my London flight, but it was another reminder of how valuable eUpgrades can be, especially on long-haul flights.

London LHR Ground Experience

My time in London was at the beginning of the “post-pandemic” issues Heathrow was facing with flight delays. I experienced a bit of chaos upon arrival with heavy delays getting through customs.

Thankfully check-in for this Air Canada 787 business class flight was seamless. For the first time in 10+ flights on this trip, I was able to check in online and use an electronic boarding pass. Security took a breezy 10 minutes to clear leaving me with plenty of time to kill.

To avoid having problems like I had or to be informed ahead of time of any possible delays, you can check out FlightsLeaving for all departing flights from Heathrow.

 READ MORE:   Air Canada CleanCare+ at YVR and YYV Maple Leaf Lounges

London Heathrow Maple Leaf Lounge

From security, I made my way to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. It’s a good 15-minute walk underground to reach the satellite concourse, and it felt like a journey. Thankfully, from the lounge itself, the Air Canada gates are much closer.

The Maple Leaf lounge in London Heathrow is surprisingly good. Not to say that domestic versions are bad but after visiting the likes of Turkish Airlines’ flagship lounge in Istanbul and Oman Air‘s first-class lounge in Muscat, I wasn’t expecting much.

The Maple Leaf lounge has plenty of great seating options and the food was quite good with some subtle Canadian tastes mixed in – maple syrup with porridge (although not real maple syrup) and a preflight Caesar to name a few.

See here for my full London Heathrow Maple Leaf lounge review.

Boarding

My flight was delayed over an hour due to the weather but I wasn’t fussed. I had a long layover in Calgary before connecting to Vancouver and, although the lounge there is quite good, I was happy to enjoy the London Maple Leaf lounge a little longer.

When boarding started I was in my seat within minutes. Interestingly, there was no preflight drink offered. This makes Air Canada the only airline not to do this on my eight business-class flights on this trip. Flight attendants did distribute menus and took meal orders though.

Air Canada 787 Business Class Seats

Air Canada 787 business class seats are the best in their fleet in my opinion. I specifically booked a route through Calgary on a 787 versus a direct flight to Vancouver on a 777 because of this.

Seats are plenty spacious with a footwell that has storage space underneath. I use this for my camera bag and shoes.

On either side of the footwell are literature pockets. I use these to store my laptop and notebook. Interestingly, the storage options on Air Canada 787 business class seats are far better than what I found flying on Ethiad‘s brand new A350–1000.

Moving up to the armrest area, there is a deep storage compartment where I keep my phone, AirPods, and camera. This cubby also houses the entertainment system controller as well as a power plug and USB port for charging.

Below the storage compartment are the controls for the seat. Aside from adjusting the seat from upright to lying flat, there are massage functions. These are largely gimmicky in my opinion.

Lastly, on the right side of the seat is an adjustable armrest. Beside that is a storage pocket that can house a water bottle and your amenities kit.

Air Canada 787 Business Class Service and Amenities

On this original London–Calgary flight, Air Canada provided an amenity kit by WANT Les Essentiels. It contained the usual toothbrush and toothpaste, earplugs, and hand lotion. The included glasses-cleaning cloth was the one item I found unique.

Service

Overall, the staff was friendly and attentive throughout the flight. That said, there were some interesting moments with the service.

Firstly, the attendant that took my meal order came back three separate times to confirm what I had requested. Next was the absence of staff once meal service was completed. I get that there is a rush to complete meal service however I prefer to have my meal later on a flight, especially after spending time in the lounge.

This was not an option here. Anything after the meal service required using the call button.

Wi-Fi and Entertainment

On my original London–Calgary flight, Wi-Fi was provided by Gogo. Advertised advance prices were $6.50 for one hour or $21 for a one-way pass, with higher prices offered onboard. These are historical prices rather than a current quote. I didn’t purchase access on this flight, so I can’t comment on its speed or reliability.

In-flight entertainment includes a great selection of new movie releases and TV shows. The highlight of this includes a ton of great Canadian content options. Headphones are provided and are decent enough for viewing but not as high-end as those found on Turkish Airlines or Etihad.

2026 Wi-Fi Update: The prices above reflect my original flight rather than Air Canada’s current Wi-Fi offering. Air Canada now provides complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi for eligible Aeroplan members on supported North American and select Sun routes, with international long-haul availability expanding. Complimentary text messaging is also available on eligible Wi-Fi-equipped international flights.

For current availability and eligibility, check Air Canada’s official in-flight connectivity information before departure.

Air Canada 787-9 Business Class Review Food and Drink

As mentioned, the meal service was promptly after takeoff. I was not particularly hungry as I had just spent several hours enjoying the meal options at the Maple Leaf Lounge. Still, I ordered the paprika cod and it was just OK. The appetizer of smoked salmon was exceptionally good though.

Other meal options included a short rib dish and butter chicken, both by Canadian chefs that have partnered with Air Canada which is a nice touch.

Wine options included American and Argentinian wines. Interestingly, only one Canadian wine was on the menu and one Canadian beer despite plenty of good options out there. This is an ongoing gripe of mine with the lounges not serving better Canadian beers.

The dessert service is where this Air Canada 787 business-class meal service shines. The cart came by offering a cheese plate, peach cobbler, port, and digestif. I said yes to all of it and really enjoyed it.

Shortly before landing, a light high tea snack of finger sandwiches, scones, and clotted cream was served. This seems to be a nod to the departing city and a nice touch.

2026 Food and Drink Update: My latest Air Canada business class meal experience was a pleasant surprise. On AC17 from Vancouver to Manila, the menu looked very appealing, and I went with the duck leg.

It was very good.

Compared to the paprika cod I had on this London to Calgary flight, the duck was a definite improvement. Of course, menus vary by route and season, but it was encouraging to see the food holding up on another long-haul flight.

Final Thoughts on My Air Canada 787-9 Business Class Review

After spending a month trying some of the world’s best business class products, I had tempered expectations for my return flight on Air Canada’s 787. The experience reminded me why I enjoy returning to Air Canada after flying other airlines.

It wasn’t the most memorable meal or the most polished service of the trip, but the comfortable seat and familiar Canadian touches made it a pleasant way to head home.

My subsequent Vancouver–Manila flight reinforced the same strengths: a comfortable seat, good entertainment and a familiar onboard experience.

The reverse herringbone seat offers privacy, direct aisle access and a fully flat bed. On subsequent flights, the upgraded bedding made sleeping more comfortable, although I still find the massage function more gimmicky than useful.

Catering was mixed on the London–Calgary flight: the paprika cod was forgettable, while the smoked salmon and dessert service were highlights. The duck on my later Manila flight was more memorable, although one better meal doesn’t guarantee the same result on every route.

I missed having a pre-departure drink on the London–Calgary flight. The crew was friendly and welcoming, although service became less proactive once the meal was finished.

Connectivity has evolved since this flight. I didn’t test the Wi-Fi on the London–Calgary journey, so I can’t judge its performance firsthand. Complimentary messaging is available to eligible Aeroplan members on Wi-Fi-equipped flights, while internet access depends on the route and aircraft.

Looking ahead, I’m curious to see how Air Canada’s announced Boeing 787-10 cabin compares with the current 787-9. For now, my experience here relates to the existing product.

That all said, there was something undeniably comforting about ending my journey with a taste of home before actually being home. While Air Canada may not be at the absolute top of the business-class rankings, it delivers a reliable and comfortable experience that I’d gladly take again—especially if there’s a good Aeroplan eUpgrade option available.

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Air Canada 787 Business Class FAQs

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