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| - I know AC might seem humdrum to Canadians as there aren't a lot of choices within Canada, but as is usually the case when comparing anything Canadian with its American equivalent (admittedly a low standard), the overall experience in AC feels more civilized and less objectionable than that of any American airline.
In economy class, for example, there aren't many frills, and the seatback entertainment systems are from another era, but at least AC gets the job done. The staff and your fellow passengers are usually polite in that classic Canadian way.
In business class, AC isn't necessarily world-class, but the experience is far superior to that of any American airline, whether their having offered lie-flat seats in private configurations for several years now, or offering excellent, attentive service and a good array of food options, for example on-demand burgers, dim sum, or noodles - in addition to the regularly scheduled entrees - on flights to Asia. In fact, in a cozy seat with enough food and drink and with my feet propped up on an ottoman, I worked straight through a 12-hour flight to Asia.
As for their Maple Leaf lounges, they're merely OK. A slight step up from United's lounges, but not quite at the level of, say, Lufthansa's. But they're generally clean, modern, and comfortable, whether at Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, or Halifax.
If you're a Star Alliance elite member, make sure you enter your account number when buying a ticket or checking in on their website. Otherwise, they might not recognize your status, and they might charge you inappropriately for baggage and seat assignments.
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