Over the past decade, I’ve flown countless times with my boys. You may have come across my previous posts about airplane activities or snack packing lists. We are absolutely thrilled that travel is back on the agenda, and I recently had the opportunity to experience all of Air Canada’s classes of service while traveling with my 8-year-old! Instead of merely describing what it’s like to fly on Air Canada with kids, I’ll share our journey through visuals. Below, you’ll find photos of our experiences in Signature Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class—all with kids in tow.
It’s essential to keep in mind that traveling within Canada (and North America) differs significantly from overseas travel. In Economy Class, don’t expect complimentary meals and blankets; food is generally available for purchase, and pillows and blankets are rarely provided. However, Air Canada does offer some benefits for families, such as complimentary seat selection. Canadian regulations require that children sit with a parent, so if you don’t pay to select your seats, they will assign seats together—typically after ticket purchase, possibly even the next day.
Arriving at the Airport
Dedicated Check-in:
Some airports provide family check-in services for Air Canada flights. Unfortunately, the one in Vancouver was closed when we arrived. I hope these services will return to full capacity soon, as anyone traveling with kids knows that waiting to check in and manage luggage can be tough with little ones in tow.
Preboarding:
Families traveling with children under 6 can benefit from early boarding on Air Canada. This is especially useful for those traveling with car seats, as it provides extra time to settle in. Personally, I prefer to board last unless I’m in a rush, as it keeps my kids from sitting for too long before takeoff. Regardless of your choice, I’ve always found the Air Canada staff to be friendly and accommodating to families.
Air Canada Goodie Bag:
Air Canada typically offers goodie bags for kids, and my favorite item is the over-ear headphones. Earbuds tend to be difficult for kids under 10, as they often fall out, frustrating the little ones. The latest goodie bags also included coloring materials and a tic-tac-toe game.
Air Canada Signature Class with Kids
Air Canada refers to its First Class cabin as “Signature Class,” which features the highly sought-after lay-flat seats. I first experienced Signature Class a few years ago, and you can read my review here. Although many passengers might informally call it First Class or Business Class, it is indeed Air Canada’s top-tier service. I mention this because individuals often search for terms like Air Canada business class or Air Canada first class with kids, and I want to ensure they find the right information!
Challenges of Signature Class for Families
While Air Canada’s First Class layout promotes privacy, I find it more suited for solo travelers. It’s not ideal even for couples, as they can’t converse without getting out of their seats. That said, the comfort level is outstanding—10/10—especially for overnight flights.
The complication arises when traveling with young children. My boys have vastly different temperaments. Mattias is quite independent and enjoys his own space, whereas Markus prefers company and feels more at ease with close contact. After experiencing Signature Class, I can confidently say I would do it again, although I found myself getting up to check on Markus multiple times. When he was younger, this setup would have been nearly impossible for us. However, Mattias would have thrived in that environment, exploring on his own without needing my assistance.
Since we know our kids best, I share my experiences with both boys because their needs differ greatly. If you have a cuddly child like Markus or one who loves to engage in conversation, I suggest considering Premium Economy for family travel.
If you’re looking for advice on seating arrangements in Air Canada pods with kids, here are some helpful tips:
Option #1: Middle Seats in the Same Row: Choose seats in the middle of the plane, allowing you to reach across the small partition to assist your children. However, a downside is that you can’t help with seatbelts or buttons without walking around the cabin to be beside them.
Option #2: Middle and Window Seats: In my experience, the adjacent window seat was slightly behind mine, making visibility easier. If you sit in the middle seat and your child is in the window seat just behind you, you can easily get up to assist them with just one step.
Option #3: Middle Seats, One Behind the Other: This option also provides easy access to your child. You can stand up and take one step to be beside them, though you won’t be able to turn around to see them while sitting. In contrast, the previous option allows for visibility if you look behind.
Air Canada Premium Economy with Kids
After discussing Air Canada’s highest service level and its challenges for families, you’ll be pleased to know that Premium Economy provides a vastly different experience than Economy Class. The term “premium economy” can be misleading, as I often associate it with airlines lacking a proper first class. However, Air Canada’s Premium Economy mirrors much of what Signature Class offers but without the pods and high-end headphones. If you want extra space for kids, Premium Economy delivers on that. You can expect enhanced service, better food, and glassware instead of plastic trays. I absolutely love the Air Canada glassware!
Among the benefits of Air Canada’s Premium Economy for families: there are two seats together. I was seated in front of Markus, which worked well because I could easily reach back to him. While side-by-side seating would have made things simpler, this arrangement suited us perfectly. Premium Economy seats also recline significantly, making it easier to relax and nap than in Economy Class, and the headrests are fully adjustable.
Air Canada Economy Class with Kids
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Economy Class; in fact, it’s our usual mode of travel. I try to secure a window seat whenever possible so the kids can lean against it, although they sometimes have difficulty getting comfortable with the small pillows provided.
I always avoid bulkhead rows when traveling with my children because the armrests there hold the tray tables and do not lift up. We prefer to raise our armrests and snuggle up for additional comfort. Although bulkheads provide extra legroom, kids generally don’t require it, and the tray table situation can be inconvenient.
Air Canada Kids Meal
Air Canada allows you to pre-order kids’ meals ahead of your flight. It’s crucial to book these meals in advance, not during check-in. There are several benefits to ordering a kids’ meal when flying with Air Canada. For starters, special meals typically arrive first. While this means kids may have their meals for a while, it serves as a good distraction.
Keep in mind that if you are on a codeshare flight (for example, you purchased your ticket through Air Canada but are flying with another airline like British Airways or Lufthansa), your meal choice may not transfer to their system. However, you can use your booking number on their website to select your special meal, or you can contact Air Canada reservations to add a note to your booking.
Kids’ meals usually consist of more child-friendly options, like pasta with tomato sauce, but often my kids will just snack on the bun instead. At times, they even prefer the adult meals! Therefore, if my meal includes rice or potatoes, I might switch with them for the pasta—because anyone who’s flown often knows: when given a choice, go with the pasta!
You can find a dedicated section on Air Canada’s website that details their kids’ meal options.
Learn More About Air Canada
Air Canada is the largest domestic airline in Canada and ranks among the top 20 airlines globally. As of summer 2022, Air Canada has expanded its summer schedule, announcing the resumption of service on 34 routes to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The airline’s international network spans 67 airports from its hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, as well as Calgary and Halifax, encompassing a total of 96 routes. As travel steadily resumes to pre-pandemic levels, I’m sure Air Canada will continue to add flights back to its schedule!
Image Credits:
Header photo courtesy of Air Canada
Lindsay Nieminen is based in Vancouver, Canada, and shares her travel adventures on this website. She is passionate about showing others that traveling the world is possible, even for those with young children or as single parents. Her goal is to inspire families to seek out adventures, whether at home or abroad, by providing information on how nearly any destination can be a family-friendly excursion.
