Review of Air Canada flight London Toronto in Business

Airline Air Canada
Flight AC869
Class Business
Seat 11A
Aircraft Boeing 777-300ER
Flight time 07:18
Take-off 30 Jul 15, 08:42
Arrival at 30 Jul 15, 11:00
AC   #20 out of 96 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 377 reviews
hometoyyz
By 4140
Published on 23rd September 2015
When last we saw each other, your humble scribe had just arrived into LHR from JNB on South African (http://flight-report.com/en/report-11591.html) with a fairly short connection window for my flight on home to Toronto Pearson.

Okay, so thanks to good on-time performance by SA, it wasn’t super-tight, but as I was walking off my SA A330 ride to London, there was quite a bit less than an hour left before boarding started for my AC flight to Toronto.

Which brings us to the connecting experience at Star Alliance’s odd new “not-on-home-field” hub at Heathrow’s T2. For those unfamiliar with it, basically all of Star Alliance at this point has taken residence in “The Queen’s Terminal,” although it seems to me I saw an Air India plane at another terminal during a run through here this summer. The idea is simple — even though there’s not a native British Star Alliance member anymore, there a lot of Star Alliance flights to Heathrow from near and far. Star Alliance promotes this oddball hub as part of its “the way the Earth connects” tagline and marketing strategy.

There are two parts of T2 at LHR — the “main” T2A which houses arrivals, departures, and connection facilities, as well as gates for Star Alliance (and a few other) flights within Europe, and T2B, a satellite terminal that hosts all long-range Star Alliance flights — basically everyone who’s not from Europe, and even some closer-in airlines that fly big planes to Heathrow despite the short distances.

The two are connected by an underground tunnel that runs under the tarmac.

So when doing a longhaul-to-longhaul connection on Star Alliance, which is pretty common, one arrives into T2B, has to make one’s way over to T2A to clear transit security, and then boogie on back to T2B for the connecting flight. Not exactly a model of efficiency.

Doing so involves going down a couple of escalators to get below ground.

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On my way down, I get an interesting perspective on my ride back to Toronto, which is now actually above me as I descend for the trip across to T2A.

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From there, it’s into a fairly long tunnel that links the two Terminal Twos. There are moving sidewalks that run the length of the tunnel, with frequent breaks that politely remind you to be cautious as you approach the end of the walkway.

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Once you’ve made it to the other side, it’s time for some more escalators.

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Then there’s paths for T2 connections — you’ll go through a security check, and if you’re continuing on a longhaul flight, you’ll have to show your boarding pass to an agent for a quick confirmation. Then one more escalator, and you’re release back into the “wild” of T2A, quite near the security entrance point to T2 airside, and the Plaza Premium lounge here.

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A short walIk through the terminal, and you’re back on the path to T2B, which — surprise surprise, involves a looooong escalator ride down.

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And then — I bet you didn’t guess this one — there’s hallway over to T2B. At this time, it’s adorned with a kind of a history of Heathrow, which links major happenings at the airport with major happenings in British and world pop culture. The Queen and Prince Charles opening various terminals are commemorated, as are events like the foundation of Star Alliance, and the arrival of the first A380 (from Singapore) at Heathrow. Apparently, the only thing memorable about the 90s for Britain was the Spice Girls. Definitely not their finest hour.

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Having been thoroughly edutained throughout your roughly five minute walk across the tunnel, it’s time to go up one elevator….

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… and then one more …

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and then finally, one is free to roam about T2B, where there are lots of opportunities to check out some heavies. Take, for example, this uniquely Heathrow site of an SQ A380 pulling into the gate while a BA A380 taxiis behind it.

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There’s also this plane, which brought me up from South Africa.

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But T2B is mostly quiet at this time of the morning — there are a couple of other AC planes and a few UA birds as well, but nothing that’s exactly super-exciting. Fortunately, it seems to be just about boarding time for my flight home to Toronto, so it’s time to go stand in line.

Indeed, almost as soon as I show up, they call pre-boarding for Zone 1. A quick passport check and a boarding pass scan, and I bid adieu to T2 for another day.
We board through door 2L, and I make the right turn down the port aisle for seat 11A on this 777-300ER, the same seat I had on my eastbound flight.

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As I reviewed the seat more thoroughly here (http://flight-report.com/en/report-11008.html) I shan’t say too much here. Brief summary — old but still very good lay-flat seat, and because of the closet next to it, 11A and K offer fantastic privacy. But stay away from it, please. It’s mine. All mine.

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As usual, service beings with a choice of orange juice or champagne, and there’s a bottle of water already hidden away in a cubby below the armrest. I wonder how many passengers every day fail to notice this? The seat is set up with a blanket and pillow — which are quickly tossed into the de facto storage area behind the closet — and an amenity kit, the same one as the one dissected for your viewing pleasure in the perviously-linked outbound report.

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Menus are passed out before departure. This is the one AC LHR-YYZ route that gets it right, in my humble opinion. Other flights, which depart later in the day, offer a full meal on departure from LHR, and then a lighter snack meal in the form of an English Tea service, before arrival. The Tea service is okay, but nothing too exciting — a few bland finger sandwiches and a scone with some clotted cream. But with this flights early morning departure, and the fact that I suspect many passengers are connecting from early-morning arrivals into Heathrow, AC opts to offer a simple breakfast service after departure, and save the big meal for closer to arrival into Toronto, when it’s basically timed as an early (and hearty) lunch. I really prefer this way of doing it, and find it helps get me back on a North American meal schedule much easier than the lighter pre-arrival meal.

Boarding is relatively quick by Air Canada’s standards, and we’re soon off and on our way — there seems to be far less congestion for takeoffs slots at this time of the morning.

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Once in the air, service begins with a hot towel.

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Then the breakfast is served, all in one tray, with a choice of blueberry muffins or croissants from the bread basket. The muffin is the same as AC offered as an option on the outbound, and is quite good. The fruit and yogurt are about as expected. And the omelet is quite good — nothing exciting, but with a bit of cheese to it, it strikes a different note than the ever-present AC domestic J omelet. All in all, a fine meal, especially as it’s only been a few hours since I last had a pretty hearty breakfast with SA, so I’m feeling a bit like a Hobbit here.

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I decide to wrap up the breakfast service with a bit of a morning treat — a coffee with a (very generous) slug of Baileys in it.

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With that done, I settle in, recline my seat, and watch some movies. Sadly, I didn’t take notes, and didn’t bother taking pictures, as I discussed the IFE at some length in the outbound report, so I don’t recall what I watched. I also nap a little bit to try to realign myself with EDT back home.

Before I know it, hot towels are being handed out again, so it must be just about lunchtime.

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Lunch starts with the salad and appetizer. The appy is very simple but pretty tasty, particularly the halibut. And the salad is at least a different arrangement of mixed greens than what AC typically offers ex-Canada. Unfortunately, it’s still the same ever-present balsamic and olive oil dressing.

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A bun is also offered from the bread basket. The picture is blurry and the bread itself is thoroughly forgettable. AC really struggles with bread, it seems.

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Wanting to get a familiar Canadian taste, I opt for a Caesar with lunch. It’s about what one expects from a Caesar on a plane, where neither Tobasco nor Worcestershire are available, so one has to rely on the miserably failing “extra spicy” Clamato mixer to attain the proper level of kick. It does not.

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And then comes the main. Ahhhh yes, the main. Were I poet, I would write praises to the sky of this dish. You see, I love lamb. My wife, however, is not a fan. So I rarely get a chance to have it. When I see it on a restaurant menu, I usually go for it. And when I see it on a plane menu — as I did on my SA flight up to Heathrow — I usually go for it. And this one does not disappoint at all. With the crusting, it’s maybe a little salty, and it’s maybe a little bit greasy, but it’s exploding with lamby flavour goodness, it’s not overdone, and it’s fantastic. Seriously, by far the best entree I’ve ever had on an Air Canada flight.

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As this is the “full” international meal, cheese and crackers are next up, accompanied by port. As usual, this is a highlight of the meal for me, although it comes in a distant second on the highlight reel after that delightful lamb dish. Have I mentioned it was pretty good?

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Lunch ends with a trio of small scoops of ice cream. This is okay — it’s hard to find anything wrong with ice cream — but at a time when AC’s international business class desserts have generally been on the upswing, I find it a little bit of a disappointment compared to some of the cakes I’ve had on a routes ex-Canada.

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With lunch over, we’re pretty quickly on descent into Pearson, and things are packed up and put away for arrival into Toronto. Soon, it’s pretty obvious we’re lined up for arrival as we pass over Downsview Airport.

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We settle down onto the runway, and after a short taxi, we pull in next to this EgyptAir 77W with its lovely livery. They’re another Star Alliance carrier I’d like to try out at some point in the not-do-distant future.

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We’re quickly let free, and before the long walk back towards customs and immigration, I pause to take a goodbye shot of my ride across the pond this morning.

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That wraps up another South African adventure for me. Yes, I did kind of power through this final report at a quicker pace than I usually go, but because I’d just talked about the exact same product in a recent report, I figured I’d go for something resembling brevity in this case.

Thanks for joining me on this ride!
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Verdict

Air Canada

8.6/10
Cabin9.0
Cabin crew8.0
Entertainment/wifi8.5
Meal/catering9.0

London - LHR

8.0/10
Efficiency6.5
Access7.5
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.0

Toronto - YYZ

8.6/10
Efficiency7.5
Access9.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness9.0

Conclusion

Definintely my favourite AC LHR-YYZ flight -- the timing is great, the meal service is preferable to the other options and it shaves about 10 hours off the time it takes to get home from JNB compared to the time it takes to get to JNB. But let's be honest here... the lamb alone made my day.

Information on the route London (LHR) Toronto (YYZ)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 7 avis concernant 2 compagnies sur la ligne London (LHR) → Toronto (YYZ).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Air Canada avec 7.5/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 7 heures et 42 minutes.

  More information

6 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 147058 by
    Benoit75008 7191 Comments
    Thanks for your report,

    Time to rest after this second long leg!!
    LHR is a bit messy, i have impression to be in FRA with those long paths.

    AC is offering quite a good service for business passengers. Better than before.

    Nice view on CN Tower before landing.


    See you!
    • Comment 325621 by
      hometoyyz AUTHOR 539 Comments
      Yeah... going from Toronto to Johannesburg for what amounts to about 36 hours is a little tiring. But with pretty good flat bed seats all the way, it's actually quite enjoyable. At least after the first night. I still hate the Toronto to London bit.... too short to get a real night's sleep... too long a layover from the morning arrival into LHR and the evening departure.

      I didn't even notice the CN Tower in the background. Good catch. I'm spoiled by my hometown, clearly....
  • Comment 147086 by
    beijinner 157 Comments
    Thanks for the report and the comments about LHR T2.

    The idea of the new T2 - Queen Terminals is quite nice, and T2 is really refreshing regarding to the old terminals but they should really had implemented a security in T2B for peoples going LH to LH as you pointed. That's really the lacking point of this new terminal.

    Catering looks quite nice and I must say that I am really impressed with AC on this FR.

    Hope to read you soon for new adventures!
    • Comment 325622 by
      hometoyyz AUTHOR 539 Comments
      Thanks for the feedback. Don't get me wrong, T2 is still pretty good. Just that longhaul to longhaul connection is a bit of a pain, and could have been an issue had my SA flight run even a few minutes late. (Of course, there are a whack of other LHR-YYZ flights throughout the day... but still.)

      AC's catering is pretty good in J, but noticeably better ex-LHR than ex-YYZ. Of course, that could also be an observation based on the fact that I'm quite regularly on AC out of YYZ, so the catering, which changes very little, has become very familiar.
  • Comment 147105 by
    Chatokay 277 Comments
    A quite nice report, thanks for sharing.

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