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 Danny, Sam and Danny’s parents bathed in luxury in premium economy, I sat at the back with the cattle on this Lufthansa LH494 flight from Vancouver to Frankfurt on a Boeing 747.

I’m kidding. Premium economy is not super deluxe, and regular economy is all right!

The cabin

The economy cabin has 3-4-3 configuration. The seats are mostly grey with touches of blue and yellow. All very soothing. 

As you can see, the legroom is decent. The padding of the seat is good for an economy seat. Unlike the flight from Munich to Montreal, I did not feel uncomfortable after so many hours.

Food

Food and beverage service started with a 4 PM treat, being two Oreos in the same packaging we had on The Canadian. The person responsible for catering providers sales at Oreo must do a great job. 

Dinner offered a choice of beef or pasta. It came with bread, a salad and a cake. As far as economy meals go, this was very okay. Real cutlery is a nice touch. 

Breakfast was a wrap with tomato and cheese, a yoghurt and a granola bar. Again, what you’d expect. Not great food, but far from bad.

During the flight we received enough drinks and water. 

Entertainment

In-flight entertainment (IFE) systems are so elaborate these days. You don’t know what to choose. As it was June and thus pride month, there was a myriad of LGBTQIA+ themed films, including Belgian film ‘Close‘ by Lukas Dhont. 

I had some extra entertainment. My neighbour’s seat was broken, and couldn’t unrecline (is that a word?). So halfway through the flight, a flight attendant tried to fix it. It didn’t work. The neighbour moved to premium economy.

So?

An unsurprising flight, which is good. Flying economy long-haul is really not bad nowadays. And with premium economy prices and certainly business class prices, it’s back to that reality for now. 

The crew was nice and friendly, the service was good, if not spectacular. 

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.
4. Flying Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and Air Canada Brussels – Munich – Montreal – Halifax in minimal economy.
5. HALIFAX | Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
6. REVIEW | The Westin Nova Scotian Halifax.
7. NOVA SCOTIA | Sampling Halifax.
8. REVIEW | VIA Rail Canada night train 15 ‘The Ocean’ from Halifax to Montreal.
9. QUEBEC | Meandering Montreal.
10. REVIEW | InterContinental Montreal.
11. FORMULA 1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal track walk.
12. MONTREAL | Dining solo at Monarque felt like being part of a tv show.
13. MONTREAL | Exporail – Canadian Railway Museum in Saint-Constant.
14. REVIEW | VIA Rail train Montreal to Toronto in business class.
15. ONTARIO | Touring Toronto.
16. REVIEW | Little Canada museum in Toronto.
17. TORONTO | CN Tower.
18. REVIEW | Residence Inn by Marriott Toronto Downtown / Entertainment District.
19. CANADA | Train excursion to Niagara Falls.
20. THE CANADIAN | Day 1: boarding in Toronto and crossing Ontario.
21. THE CANADIAN | Days 2 & 3: Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
22. THE CANADIAN | From Jasper via the Rocky Mountains to Kamloops and Vancouver.
23. Life on board VIA Rail’s The Canadian: eating, sleeping, showering and keeping busy.
24. Is the four-day The Canadian night train journey something for you?.
25. REVIEW | VIA Rail’s The Canadian four-day night train from Toronto to Vancouver.
26. Discovering Vancouver.
27. REVIEW | Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront Vancouver.
28. BRITISH COLUMBIA | Introduction to Whistler.
29. REVIEW | Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre.
30. VANCOUVER | Granville Island.
31. VANCOUVER | St. Lawrence Restaurant.
32. REVIEW | Hotel Belmont M Gallery Vancouver.
33. Vancouver & Whistler 2023.
34. REVIEW | Lufthansa Premium Economy Vancouver to Frankfurt.