When flying long distances, the battle between comfort, convenience and price becomes interesting. Air Canada offers both Premium Economy and Business Class cabins, each one offering a different travel experience and perks beyond standard Economy. But the treadoff is not so clear: is it worth looking out for Business Class awards or do you get enough value out of Premium Economy, when it comes to burning your points or miles?

In this post, we dive deep and put together a detailed comparison to help you decide which class best suits you better.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Air Canada.

In This Post

Understanding the Classes

The experience in both Business Class and Premium Economy differs depending on the flight length. North American Destinations include flights within Canada, as well as routes from Canada to the U.S. and the Caribbean. Narrow-body aircraft are common on these routes, and Premium Economy is not always available.

Long-haul destinations cover overseas flights to Europe, Asia, and South America, typically operated by wide-body aircraft like the Airbus A330, Boeing 777, or 787. For intercontinental flights, Air Canada offers its premium Business Class experience known as “Signature Class.”

Cabin and Seat Comfort

Business Class:

For intercontinental routes, Air Canada’s Business Class provides a fully lie-flat seat, converting into a bed up to 80 inches long, with a 1-2-1 configuration that ensures direct aisle access for each passenger. On most North American routes, however, Business Class (often domestic First) features a wider recliner-style seat with more legroom but does not offer a lie-flat option. These seats are typically arranged in a 2-2 configuration on narrow-body planes like the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 Max.

Air Canada Business CLass Seats.

Premium Economy:

Premium Economy provides a more spacious experience than Economy, with a pitch of 38 inches and a width of 18-20 inches, depending on the aircraft. Seats do not convert into beds but offer greater recline, padding, and adjustable headrests. On intercontinental routes, Premium Economy has a 2-4-2 or 2-3-2 layout, and for North American routes, it often features a 2-2 configuration, providing a more comfortable, semi-reclined seating experience.

Air Canada Premium Economy Class in wide-body aircraft.

Dining Experience

Business Class:

On intercontinental flights, Business Class passengers enjoy a gourmet meal curated by renowned chefs (although no chefs onboard), presented on fine tableware with a selection of entrees, appetizers, and desserts. North American flights offer a simpler, limited menu. In both cases, complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available.

Premium Economy:

Premium Economy offers a multi-course meal served on chinaware, along with a selection of wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. For intercontinental flights, an additional light meal or snack is provided before landing. On North American flights over two hours, passengers receive a complimentary meal, while shorter flights include premium snacks and drinks.

Air Canada Premium Economy Class entertainment.

In-Flight Entertainment and Amenities

Business Class:

Long-haul Business Class passengers have access to a large high-definition screen (18 inches) with noise-canceling headphones, while North American flights typically feature smaller screens. There are also amenity kits with essentials like skincare products, earplugs, and a premium pillow and blanket. Both routes offer a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music, and games.

Premium Economy:

Premium Economy features a 9 to 12-inch screen with access to the same extensive entertainment options available in Business Class, though noise-canceling headphones are not provided. On intercontinental flights, passengers receive a smaller amenity kit, which may include an eye mask, socks, and basic dental care items.

Priority Services & Airport Experience

Business Class:

Priority check-in, security, and boarding, as well as specially tagged baggage handling. Long-haul Business Class passengers also have access to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges, a quiet space to relax, work, and enjoy complimentary food and drinks.

Premium Economy:

Premium Economy passengers receive priority boarding and baggage handling, though they may not have access to expedited security or check-in depending on the airport. Lounge access is not included but can be purchased at select airports.

Price Comparison

Premium Economy can be significantly more expensive, especially on long-haul routes. This cost difference also applies when booking with Aeroplan miles, as Air Canada uses a region-based award chart:

Air Canada Flight Award Regions.

Since Premium Economy awards are not available on partner airlines, the leap from Economy to Business Class can be significant. However, when booking directly with Air Canada, there are often overlaps between Premium Economy and Business Class award pricing, meaning that, in some cases, you may need only a few more miles to upgrade from Premium Economy to Business Class.

Consider this example of a flight from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to London Heathrow (LHR):

AwardFares search engine results.

  • 23:40 (AC858): The difference between Premium Economy and Business Class is nearly 7.5x. Here, Premium Economy might be optimal, offering a significant upgrade from Economy without the high cost of Business.
  • 20:10 (AC856): The multiplier narrows to 2.5x, but both Premium Economy and Business are costly. If flexibility allows, Economy may be preferable for this route.
  • 18:05 (AC854): The mileage difference between classes is much smaller: Economy and Premium Economy differ by 2x, and Premium Economy and Business by 2.5x. Here, Business Class could be the best value.

Keep in mind that is quite common that airlines run promotions on Premium Economy revenue tickets, and in those cases, it’s usually better to keep the miles for Business Class redemptions and buy the tickets cash. (E.g., Air France, British Airways, and Lufthansa offer Premium Economy tickets for just a 20%-30% increase compared to their Economy fares).

In a Nutshell

Feature Business Class Premium Economy
Cabin Layout 1-2-1 (lie-flat seats on intercontinental routes); 2-2 (recliner seats on narrow-body aircraft) 2-4-2 or 2-3-2 (wide-body); 2-2 (narrow-body)
Seat Comfort Fully lie-flat bed (80 inches long) on intercontinental routes; recliner seats on North American routes Spacious seats with 38” pitch, 18-20” width, and greater recline
Dining Multi-course gourmet meals, fine tableware; simpler menu on shorter routes Multi-course meals on chinaware; premium snacks and drinks on shorter flights
In-Flight Entertainment HD screens (up to 18 inches), noise-canceling headphones, extensive entertainment options 9-12” screens, standard headphones, same entertainment options
Amenities Amenity kit with skincare products, premium pillow and blanket on long-haul flights Basic amenity kit (eye mask, socks, dental items) on intercontinental flights
Priority Services Priority check-in, security, boarding, and baggage; lounge access for intercontinental flights Priority boarding and baggage; no lounge access
Mileage Cost Higher miles required; may overlap with Premium Economy in some cases Fewer miles than Business Class; not available on partner airlines
Best For Maximum comfort, long-haul travel, or when miles are not a concern Budget-conscious upgrades, medium comfort on long-haul flights

FAQ

What’s Signature Class?

Air Canada’s Signature Class is the airline’s premium business class offering, designed to provide an elevated travel experience on long-haul international routes and select North American flights. This service encompasses a range of exclusive amenities and services both on the ground and in the air.

What is Air Canada Rouge?

Air Canada Rouge is Air Canada’s leisure airline, established in 2013 to serve vacation destinations with a focus on affordability and comfort. Operating as a subsidiary, it offers flights to various destinations across North America, the Caribbean, and select international locations. It offers Premium Rouge and Economy Rouge Classes and operates an all-Airbus fleet, including A319, A320, and A321 aircraft.

Can Premium Economy passengers access Air Canada’s Signature Suite lounges?

Access to Air Canada’s Signature Suite lounges is exclusive to Business Class passengers on select international flights and is not available to Premium Economy passengers without aditionaol fees.

What factors should I consider when deciding between Business Class and Premium Economy on long-haul flights?

Consider your budget, the flight duration, and comfort preferences. Business Class offers a more restful experience with lie-flat beds, while Premium Economy provides a comfortable, spacious seat at a lower mile cost for those looking for a compromise between Economy and Business.

Is Wi-Fi available in both Premium Economy and Business Class?

Wi-Fi is available for purchase in both Premium Economy and Business Class on select aircraft and routes. It is not included in the ticket price for either class.

How do I find the best deals for Air Canada award flights?

Tools like AwardFares can help locate and filter award flights, allowing you to find the best deals across multiple options and dates.

Get The Most Out Of Your Aeroplan Points

With AwardFares, finding award flights takes just seconds. Try it for free and see how easy it is! For access to even more powerful features like unlimited daily searches, alerts, seat maps, and flight schedules, explore our Gold and Diamond membership tiers.

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