After spending two amazing weeks exploring remote islands and scuba diving in The Maldives, it was sadly time to come back to reality. Since there is no direct flight between Canada and the Maldives, I had to fly via Mumbai and London back home. My first flight on Vistara was a short hop to Mumbai. My second fight with Air Canada was marketed as Mumbai to Toronto as a “Direct, 1 Stop” which means you still need to disembark in London so in no way is it a direct flight. However in my case, it wasn’t an issue since I planned to fly to London then change planes to take the direct flight from London to Montreal. It seems with the war in Ukraine, the plane can no longer fly direct from Mumbai to Toronto and needs to make a refueling stop in London.
Lounge
After landing at Mumbai Airport, I made my way through security then straight to the Adani Lounge. Air Canada passengers flying in Business Class receive complimentary access to the Adani lounge. However, access was not straightforward as I found out the hard way. Since I was on a layover and my boarding pass was issued in the Maldives by Vistara Airlines and not from Air Canada, it did not specify lounge access. This was a problem for the lounge agent in Mumbai and we couldn't enter the lounge. She said access is only allowed if your boarding pass specifies lounge access on it. She called the Air Canada desk using a flip phone to verify that we are allowed to enter. As Air Canada just has the single flight out of Mumbai Airport and we were several hours from departure, the check in counter was not open yet. Therefore no one picked up the phone and the lounge receptionist wouldn't allow us in. They told us to come back in a few hours. Pretty disappointing.
Access to a lounge is not guaranteed by Air Canada until their check-in desk opens. You may need to pay for another lounge like this overcrowded Loyalty Lounge.
Since I had a priority pass membership, I went to another lounge called the Loyalty Lounge which ended up being way too crowded and chaotic. There was a very long line just to get in. There were no seats available. After walking around for a while, we found someone leaving and grabbed a seat at the bar corner and just had a beer while regretting our decision. The Wi-Fi was also not working. We asked the bartender and he gave us a paper with a list of Wi-Fi codes and told us to try them until one works… We did not bother waiting in line at the buffet. This was just after Covid and there were people openly coughing on the food. We left early and just grabbed a seat at the terminal and waited until the Air Canada counter opened. It was far more calm and pleasant there. At that point, I inquired again at the Adani Lounge and they called Air Canada again and were able to reach an agent who confirmed that we can in fact be allowed into the Lounge.
The Adani Lounge was very comfortable with plenty of available seats! The food was decent too. There was a large bar in the center of the lounge where you could get cocktails, mixed drinks and a strong cappuccino as well. The bartender was exceptionally kind that I left a tip but they advised me that they are actually not allowed to accept tips. Additionally, there was also massage area. Although I did not personally partake in this service, it seemed like it would be a relaxing experience. We were approaching midnight at this point and I had the feeling that I would just fall asleep.
One important thing you need to know regarding the Wi-Fi access is that you require a phone number to receive a pin to login. Keep that in mind if you get charged for receiving text messages while travelling internationally.
When travelling, you can now purchase your esim ahead of time on the Airalo App and install it so you're connected as soon as you land and can call your Uber, use Google Maps and Whatsapp without searching for WiFi. If you sign up with my referral code C0887, you’ll get $3 USD off your first esim purchase!
The lounge also had a shower which I love during a layover. Despite my first flight being just under 2 hours, it was a sweaty trip that involved a beach walk and speed boat ride from Fulidhoo Island to Male Airport. We left the lounge a few minutes before boarding started. The Gate was not close to the Lounge.
Boarding
Boarding started a little early. As usual, there was a separate priority boarding line for Air Canada Business Class passengers which allowed us to board with minimal waiting. I did notice some people cutting in line to access the priority line to make it onto the plane early. Boarding was via a single jet bridge so we turned left after entering the plane.
The cabin was the standard grey-white combination found on most North American and European Airlines, unlike Etihad’s Gorgeous Cabin or Fiji Airways' Island Pattern Theme. The Boeing 787 features Air Canada’s Signature Class Cabin.
Each seat was topped with a pillow, duvet and mattress pad and an amenity kit. There was an airport agent lady yelling the boarding announcements which gave off a chaotic vibe. Immediately after, a crew member came by with a tray to offer us some champagne and water.
Boarding was fast! We chose windows seats
Champagne is served during boarding.
Seat
The seats were very comfortable with the latest tech. They are lie flats seats that allow for sleeping. There was a large TV, a remote, massage functions. You could also can adjust the firmness of the mattress/seat pad using the controls. The Boeing 787 has electronically dimmable windows that can be controlled by a button under the window.
There was a footrest and space underneath for your shoes
At 5 ft 10 long, I could fully stretch my legs
Amenities
An amenity kit is provided at each seat. These were the stunning new Acqua Di Parma kits which were a significant upgrade over the old and tired black kits they used to offer. The Acqua Di Parmma pouches feel much more upscale, better quality and generally more roomy. They also kept their shape and prevented the contents from being crushed. The kit includes lip balm, socks, lotion, a toothbrush, toothpaste and an eye mask. The travel pouch adds a much needed pop of colour in this 50 shades of grey cabin.
While style is a bit "bland",
At your seat, you will also find a pair of noise cancelling headphones (they are complimentary in the sense that it’s for flight use only, they are collected at the end of the flight). I always travel with my own Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones as they do an excellent job at turning the engine rumble and cabin noise into a quiet whisper.but these are always a welcome bonus. The business class cabin is at the front of the plane so it is already quiet but I highly recommend using noise cancelling headphones. If you are prone to headaches or migranes, don’t skip the headphones!
Complimentary Noise Cancelling Headphones
A pair of slippers are also provided
The business class cabin had one bathroom in front and 2 at the rear. To my surprise, there was also a window in bathroom. I never thought about it before but it made the bathroom feel more spacious and less like an airplane bathroom. We waited quite a while to take-off.
Food and Drinks
With departure around 4:30 am and arrival at 9 am, the meals on this flight were 2 breakfasts. There was no menu provided, just the flight attendant walking by, telling you the options and taking your order. I found the breakfast strange. There was an overly sweet yogurt bowl with granola, a stale bowl of fruits served with hot and fresh delicious Chana masala with flatbread (roti). The Chana masala dish was delicious and spicy! Finish your champagne first though as it tickles the tongue if you're eating spicy food at the same time. I paired the dinner with some red wine for bed. I did not eat the rest as it honestly was just good. The meal was served all at once in a single tray. The packaged croissant did not hold a candle to what Air France serves in their Business Class Meals.
After the 5 am breakfast, I turned down my seat into a bed to get some shuteye.
The rest flight was smooth with no turbulence. For the second breakfast you have the option of asking to not be woken up which was what I chose so I could get some extra sleep. I planned to go to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge during my layover so I was not worried about missing breakfast.
Once we landed at London’s Heathrow Airport, we had to go through security which took some time on this early Sunday morning. Afterwards, we headed straight to and go to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge linked below.
Conclusion
The flight was overall very pleasant but a few quirks made this below average. While the seats and amenities were excellent, the subpar food with lack of any menus or wine list diminished the experience. My main motivation for flying business class are always the lie flat seats and those did not disappoint. British Airways also flies this route so it may be worth checking out reviews of their flight for comparison before booking.
Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I may receive a small commission from sales of certain items. Thank you for supporting the blog.
You might be interested in these related posts:
During a layover at London Heathrow Airport, I had the opportunity to visit the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. The lounge offers a spacious and comfortable seating area with a view of the planes on the tarmac, a standard buffet with hot meals, a full-service bar and self-serve section. One highlight is the availability of several showers.The lounge offers a welcome break from the crowds at Heathrow Airport.