What It’s Like to Fly Air Canada Signature Class From Tokyo to Vancouver

Ground Experience

In Japan, all Air Canada flights arrive and depart from Narita International Airport Terminal 1. A dedicated Priority check-in counter welcomes Signature Class passengers and Super Elite members (Air Canada’s highest tier within the Aeroplan Elite Status program).

Per the airline requirements, service on all flights must be offered in both of Canada’s official languages (English and French) as well as the language of the destination. As a result, assistance was available in three different languages at check-in and throughout the journey.

Air Canada staff are consistently polite and efficient, striking a balance between friendliness and professionalism. This was especially noticeable on this particular trip, as Japan is renowned for its exceptionally high standards of service and politeness.

Signature Class passengers also enjoy access to exclusive lounges at select airports—18 in total across Canada, the United States, and Europe. At other locations, such as Narita, passengers can access Star Alliance lounges, including those operated by partners such as Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and ANA.

The Star Alliance Lounge

The United Club lounge serves as the Star Alliance lounge at Tokyo Narita Airport, welcoming guests from all the member airlines. The lounge space is divided into multiple seating areas, including sofa chairs, dining tables, and window-side seats with runway views. Wooden partitions and artwork create smaller, quieter sections, allowing for privacy even in a large space. Most sofa seats have power outlets and working tablets. Wi-Fi is complimentary.

In addition to seating, the lounge offers a business center with desks, private work booths, and phone booths, making it convenient for working travelers.

The food and drink selection is extensive, though not exceptional. Guests can choose from soft drinks, coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and sake. Food options include salads, sushi, udon, pasta, curry, dumplings, and desserts, with both cold and hot options served buffet-style.

A standout feature is the kids’ room, equipped with play areas, a crib, and its own restroom, making it especially convenient for families. Shower facilities are also available and quite useful before a long flight.

Onboard Experience

At boarding, Signature Class passengers receive priority and board via a separate jet bridge, making the experience feel exclusive from the very beginning.

Guests are escorted to their seats by a dedicated crew member. On this flight, there were three assigned to the Signature Cabin, all of whom were warm, attentive, and highly professional. One lavatory is reserved exclusively for Signature Class passengers and is located at the front of the cabin.

Signature Class features a 1-2-1 configuration across all flights, ensuring direct aisle access and enhanced privacy. Upon taking your seat, you are welcomed with the in-flight menu, along with a comfortable pillow, duvet, and mattress pad, and an amenity kit.

Amenities

Air Canada has recently partnered with Acqua di Parma for its amenity kits. For many years, the partnership was with Montreal-based maroquinier Want Les Essentiels, an excellent brand that was, unfortunately, sold in 2021.

The new in-flight amenity kit includes earplugs, an eye mask, a dental kit, socks, slippers, a hand cream sample, and a lip balm sample. I would have loved to see an eye makeup removal towel in there; it would have come in handy for the overnight flight, but I used everything else.

Seat Features

The seat, with lumbar support and massage function, converts to a fully flat bed: up to 80 inches (6’7″) long.

Quite comfortable, it offers lots of storage on each side and under the armrest, in addition to plenty of leg room. After the meal service, a cabin crew member helps turn the seat into a flat-bed. They put the mattress topper and the duvet and make sure the seat is fully flat. The flat-bed is quite narrow, but I was comfortable and able to sleep for a few hours. I just wish there were a privacy curtain for more privacy while sleeping, but that would be my only comment.

Entertainment and connectivity

Wi-Fi is available and complimentary for all Signature Class passengers, and it worked well throughout the entire flight. The movie selection was extensive and featured the latest releases; since my flight was on March 11, I was even able to watch two Oscar-nominated films just before the ceremony.

A large touchscreen TV, paired with noise-canceling headphones, completes the entertainment offering. A wireless remote also comes in very handy when you’re lying down and want to change the channel or turn off the screen. The seat can be adjusted for optimal comfort with four different settings, and a dedicated reading light makes it easier to read or browse on your phone.

Food and Beverage

Air Canada is known for taking its food and beverage offering very seriously, collaborating with renowned chefs and even Canada’s best sommelier, Montreal-based Véronique Rivest, who curated the wine list and pairings.

Before takeoff, you are offered a glass of Champagne, water, or any other drink you might prefer. The cabin crew will then invite you to review the menu and select your meal. Depending on the route, different chefs create the onboard menus, and Air Canada partners with four Canadian Michelin-starred chefs in total.

For the Tokyo–Vancouver route, the menu is signed by Chef Masaki Hashimoto, a Michelin-starred Japanese chef based in Toronto. Guests can choose between a traditional Japanese meal and a Western dinner, with one main course (from three choices), plus an appetizer and dessert.

My choice, from the Western menu, was the beef tenderloin as a main course, served with potato and pea mash. The appetizer was a seafood couscous terrine with asparagus, edible flowers, and green wasabi mayonnaise. For dessert, I had a cherry clafoutis with fresh fruit.

The standout dish was the appetizer, as the main course was slightly overcooked. However, the flavors were well-balanced, and overall, the meal was satisfying. The wine selection is particularly interesting, with two red and two white options served by the glass, none of which felt overly commercial or mainstream. Knowing the list was curated by sommelier Véronique Rivest, this came as no surprise.

I was able to taste both options before making our choice, which was a thoughtful touch. In the end, I selected a very enjoyable verdelho from Australia, along with an Austrian red to accompany the meat dish.

Snacks are available on demand throughout the flight, including granola bars, chips, nuts, cookies, and pretzels. Breakfast is served two hours prior to landing, though it can also be pre-ordered. I opted for the poached egg and spinach tart, chicken sausage, and tomatoes, accompanied by a cappuccino.

Air Canada serves cappuccinos and lattes in its Signature Cabin, which is a major plus. Not all airlines offer anything beyond filter coffee, even in business class, which is a shame in my opinion.

Overall Impressions

Air Canada offers a solid luxury product with its Signature Cabin. It has been thoughtfully designed and relaunched to deliver a consistent experience across all international flights. Guests can expect the same seat, cabin layout, menu structure, and amenities onboard.

The main variation lies in the chef behind the in-flight menu, which varies by route, while the wine list is carefully curated to complement each menu with thoughtful pairings.

As a Canadian carrier, Air Canada naturally concentrates many of its top-tier services in its home country. The Signature Suite can be experienced at the country’s three busiest airports: Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, and Montreal, along with a chauffeur service, and an additional Signature Class offering available as an add-on.

The friendly yet efficient and professional service, combined with a strong food and beverage program, is undoubtedly one of Air Canada’s greatest strengths.