Review: 15 hours in Air Canada Premium Economy from Dubai to Toronto

Booking: Air Canada Premium Economy Boeing 787-9

My flight from Dubai to Toronto aboard Air Canada Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was the middle segment of a three-leg journey. I had departed from Kuwait and was en route to Ottawa, my final destination.

To maximize my Aeroplan point earnings while staying within budget, I booked an Economy Flex ticket through the Air Canada website using my TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite credit card. The total fare for my multi-stop itinerary, which included Ottawa – Toronto – Dubai and, 10 days later, Kuwait – Dubai – Toronto – Ottawa, came to $2,682 CAD.

Air Canada 787-9

The difference between booking Economy Flex and Premium Economy was $1256 CAD. Instead, as an Aeroplan 35K status holder, I decided to try my luck with eUpgrade credits. I used 10 of them to bid for an upgrade to Premium Economy, which was granted at the last minute just before boarding closed—a welcome surprise for the long flight!

AC 57 Gate Area – DXB

Jetbridge to AC 57

Cabin & Seat: Air Canada Premium Economy

Air Canada’s Premium Economy cabin on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features a 2-3-2 seating configuration across three rows, offering a total of 21 seats in the cabin. For the 14.5-hour flight, I was seated in the middle seat of the back row.

Premium Economy Seats – AC 57

Upon boarding, I found a small pillow, a blanket, and a travel essentials kit waiting at my seat. The kit included a sleep mask, earplugs, toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, and a small carrying bag—thoughtful touches that made the flight feel a bit more comfortable.

Pillow and Blanket

Air Canada Premium Economy – Travel Essential Kit

The Premium Economy seats were spacious and adjustable, providing more recline than an Economy seat. My seat offered ample legroom, even with my backpack under the seat in front of me. However, while extra legroom is generally seen as a perk, for someone with shorter legs like me, it can lead to discomfort. Without proper support for my feet, they tend to dangle, which results in strain and back pain during the long flight.

Air Canada Premium Economy – Legroom

The in-flight entertainment system, a personal screen on the back of the seat in front of me, offered a solid selection of movies, TV shows, games, and a live flight map. I also had access to power outlets to keep my devices charged and a small side table to place personal items like my headphones or water bottle, keeping things organized and within reach.

Power outlet and Side table

Bottle of Water

In-flight Entertainment system – Seat 14E

Meals & Service: Air Canada Premium Economy

The cabin crew on board were welcoming and attentive throughout the flight. They took my dinner order before departure, and about 45 minutes into the journey, the meal service began. I chose the chicken dish, which included:

• Salad: A fresh mix of lettuce, cucumber, celery, olives, tomato, and bell pepper
• Main Course: Panko-crusted chicken parmesan, served with creamy truffle linguine and asparagus
• Dessert: Chocolate marquise with a hint of orange zest
• Beverage: A choice of beer, wine, or a variety of non-alcoholic drinks

As a somewhat particular eater, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meal. The glass dishes, metal utensils, and large serving tray added a touch of sophistication, elevating the experience well beyond the packaged meals typically served in Economy class.

Dinner Meal – Chicken

While the dinner was a definite step up from the Economy class, the subsequent meals didn’t maintain the same standard. Around nine hours into the flight, we were offered a snack: a cheese, tomato and onion focaccia sandwich alongside a date bar. Unfortunately, I found both underwhelming and couldn’t finish them.

Snack on 15 hour flight

Breakfast – served about 90 minutes before landing – consisted of a fruit salad, a cheese and chive omelette, shredded potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and baked beans. This was the same meal served to economy passengers, and while it was decent, the plastic packaging and smaller serving tray detracted from the overall experience.

Breakfast Meal

Throughout the flight, the cabin crew offered a range of beverages at least five times, which I appreciated, and I took advantage of each round.

Takeaway

Air Canada’s Boeing 787-9 Premium Economy provided a relatively comfortable experience for my flight from Dubai to Toronto. The food was generally decent, the service was attentive, and the seat was more comfortable than a standard Economy class option. The upgrade enhanced the overall experience, making it a step up. However, given the price difference of ~$1250 between Economy and Premium Economy, I didn’t feel that the benefits of Premium Economy justified the price. I am glad that my eUpgrade bid worked because I wouldn’t choose to pay for it out of pocket.

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