In May and June 2023, we travelled from east to west across Canada. From Halifax in Nova Scotia to Montreal in Quebec, to Toronto in Ontario, to Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia. Along the way some night trains and commuter trains, the Niagara Falls and – imagine this – a bus journey. A true Trans-Canada Train Trek.

While my travel mates flew premium economy, I flew ordinary economy. Why? The price. Danny paid some 1,100 euros per person for the seats. But he could only book for four. When I looked for he same premium economy seat, the price was around 1,800 euros. And I just paid 654 euros for my economy flights. So…

But! I did not pay to choose my seat, which is included in the Y+ offering and I did not check and thus pay for luggage. Danny could check two bags so he checked in mine. If I had to pay those premiums, my price would have been closer to the 1,100 euros.

Brussels Airlines

There is nothing to report (extra) for the Brussels Airlines flight from Brussels Airport to Munich. These flights as are standard as they go. Airbus. Drinks and food not included. Hard seat. 

Flying the goose

Lufthansa flight LH 474 from Munich to Montreal was the main event. So what is it like, in the back? I chose seat 30A when checking in, but a plane change meant I sat in 28A.

Luckily, and I’m guessing it would have been so if I had kept 30A, the seat next to me remained free. So my row compagnon and I had some extra freedom of movement. I did sit ‘on the wing’ and just in front of the toilet facilities. Did it influence the limited recline? I can’t compare. 

Economy on that Airbus A350-900 is arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration. The colour palette is surprisingly light with a light bleu, while the current outside LH livery is so austerely white and dark bleu. 

Legroom is quite allright and the padding is quite generous. The in-flight entertainment screen is large. The IFE selection is generous. Over 350 films alone, plus tv shows, podcasts, music, games, maps… the works.  

And the catering. It was quite late to starts but sequence was:

• drinks and salty snack.
• main meal: chicken or ravioli. I chose ravioli.
• Tea or coffee, which I didn’t get.
• A bottle of water.
• Another round of drinks. I had tea now, which was served in a reusable plastic cup. 
• A ‘light snack’, being a cheese and tomato sandwich.

That’s quite generous. We were also informed we were welcome to go to the galley for some drinks in between.

So, the goose?

It was a decent economy flight. My experience was marred by an early headache and it took a while before we got some water so I could take a painkiller. 

And after a while I did not know on which butt cheek to sit or to recline my seat or not. 

Air Canada

Danny wrote already about the belated Air Canada flight on the Bombardier *cough* Airbus A220 from Montreal to Halifax. 

So, economy?

Getting an upgrade was unavailable so I did fly economy. It was okay, really okay. Yes, business class is much nicer, but post-COVID-19 (the eternal excuse) way too expensive.

2023 Trans-Canada Train Trek

1. REVIEW | Brussels Airlines Brussels to Munich in Economy.
2. REVIEW | Lufthansa Premium Economy Munich to Montreal.
3. REVIEW | Air Canada Economy Montreal to Halifax.