Air Canada

Pros

• Competitive pricing on specific routes, such as Honolulu to Vancouver or early morning flights from Toronto (YYZ).
• Extensive non-stop long-haul network, including direct flights from Vancouver to Bangkok and Sydney.
• Efficient online lost-item recovery process reported by some users.
• Offers flexible payment options like Klarna, Affirm, and Flex Pay.
• Provides basic snacks even on lower-tier economy flights.

Cons

• Strict enforcement of liquid rules, sometimes requiring duty-free purchases or water bottles over 100ml to be discarded or checked.
• Reports of lost luggage and reliance on AirTags for location tracking.
• Maintenance-related delays and cancellations can lead to missed connections and difficulty securing compensation.
• Billing complications for pets in cabin, particularly when itineraries involve multiple airlines.

Caveats

• The airline may not take responsibility for missed connections if subsequent flights are booked with different carriers.
• Standby travel is described as highly unpredictable, working well until it doesn't.
• Compensation for delays is often contingent on the airline acknowledging the cause was within their control, which users find difficult to obtain.

Best for

• Travelers seeking direct long-haul flights from Canadian hubs.
• Budget-conscious flyers who can find specific route deals.
• Passengers who prefer booking directly with the airline for better control over their itinerary.

Avoid if

• You are traveling with duty-free liquids on international routes where strict enforcement is likely.
• You have a tight connection involving multiple airlines not on the same booking.
• You require high certainty regarding pet-in-cabin billing on codeshare flights.