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Introduction & Booking
In early August, I flew from Toronto to Delhi for a work trip. I’ve done several long hauls in Air Canada Economy (like Tokyo to Montreal), so I knew going in that it wouldn’t be a comfortable flight. And I was right.
I booked Economy Flex directly with Air Canada, as one leg of a multi-city itinerary: Toronto – Delhi and Kathmandu – Bangkok – Vancouver. All in, the whole thing came to $3,257.52. I stick with Air Canada for one main reason: status makes work travel slightly more comfortable (key word: slightly).
I lost my 35K status in January; I didn’t fly enough in 2025 to keep it. This year, I’m chasing 25K back. The eUpgrade credits are the real reason. They’re the one perk that actually changes how a long-haul feels.
Airport & Boarding
I gave myself three hours at YYZ, which felt generous until I remembered this is Pearson. But credit where it’s due: bag drop took about 5 minutes, and security took about 15. I even had time to sit down at Lee Kitchen, a Thai restaurant in Terminal 1, near gates E73/F73. If you’re flying out of T1 and want food that doesn’t taste terrible, this is the lone respectable option.
The flight boarded on time, and I waited until final call to get on. No need to sit in an Economy cabin longer than necessary.
Gate E75 at YYZ
Boarding at Gate E75
Boarding Flight AC42 Toronto – Delhi
Boarding Flight AC42 Toronto – Delhi
Cabin & Seat
The plane was a Boeing 777-200LR, an ultra-long-range, wide-body aircraft with a 3-4-3 layout in Economy. I sat in 23A, a window seat. I always opt for a window seat because I like to look out the window, and it provides more comfort when trying to sleep or rest.
View from Seat 23A on Air Canada Economy
The seat itself was standard for long-haul Economy: about 17 inches wide with 31 inches of pitch. A small pillow and blanket were already waiting for me when I got to my seat, and the seat-back pocket held the basics but not much more. The seat-back entertainment system had a solid lineup of movies, TV shows, and games, and there was a power outlet built into the seat, which came in handy for keeping my devices charged over 14 hours.
Seat 23A – Air Canada Economy
Seat 23A Seat-Back Entertainment – Air Canada Economy
Economy Cabin on AC42 to Delhi
One thing that really annoyed me is that the light panel above me didn’t have a cover on it. Mine seemed to be the only seat in the section missing one. So while everyone else had a properly dimmed panel, I got a bright blue light shining directly over me, and I’d forgotten my eye mask, like a rookie, so I had to use the blanket to put over my head to make it darker (I’m sure I looked as dumb as I felt). Not sure if that’s by design, but I was not happy about it.
Lighting over Seat 23A
Meals & Service
I’ve eaten a lot of Air Canada meals in pursuit of this status, and this was, without exaggeration, one of the worst ones I’ve had.
For dinner, I had:
- Appetizer: cucumber, mint, and yogurt salad
- Main course: chicken korma with cumin basmati rice, okra, onions, tomatoes, and spicy peppers, served with naan bread
- Dessert: vegan carrot cake
Air Canada Economy Meal 1
Economy food is never great, but this one still found a way to underperform that already-low bar. Everything came out a little sadder than usual, and I didn’t even finish half of it.
I missed the mid-flight snack of veggie wraps and cookies because I was asleep. No regrets there; I doubt I missed much. For breakfast, they offered egg bhurji, aloo bhaji, and plain paratha. I declined. It didn’t look appetizing, and I wasn’t willing to risk feeling unwell before a work trip.
During meal service, the crew offered a full range of beverages: red and white wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, juice, coffee, and tea. I skipped all of it and stuck to water, as I usually do on flights. My one request for Air Canada: add iced tea to the list. I’d drink it every time.
The crew were friendly enough, but nothing stood out; typical Air Canada service, for better or worse.
Points Earnings
Since this was a work trip, I had to book on the company card rather than my own, so no credit card points on this one. The flight still earned me 5,296 SQC, 1,324 EDQ, 7,222 LQM, and 4,105 Aeroplan points.
Points Earnings from AC42
View from Seat 23A
Takeaway
Not every flight needs to be memorable, and this one definitely wasn’t. It got me to Delhi, it counted toward my status, and it reminded me to always pack an eye mask on long-haul flights…a lesson I really should know by now.
