AIR CANADA'S "PRIVATE JET?" Flying an Empty A330 from Toronto to Montreal

In February, I had quite an interesting flight with Air Canada, on their Airbus A330! A maintenance issue, two hour delay, and aircraft swap on this evening flight resulted in one of the most unforgettable avgeek experiences I've had with Air Canada.
See what I thought of their A330 Business Class, on this short hop from Toronto to Montreal!
Better look at the IFE: • TRIP REPORT | Air Cana...
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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.alexpraglowski.ca
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FLIGHT INFORMATION
Airline: Air Canada (ACA/AC)
Aircraft: Airbus A330-343 (A333)
Flight Number: AC422
Seat: 7A
Livery: New (2017)
Engines: 2x RR Trent 772B-60
Registration: C-GFAF
Route: Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) - Montreal-Trudeau (YUL)
Callsign: AIR CANADA 422 heavy
Runway used: 06L (YYZ) - 24R (YUL)
Date filmed: February 2019
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© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2019
This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission.
MEDIA: Please contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.

[@daniel_shea]

I had a similar experience with Air France in the late 70s on a 747 from Montreal to Paris. I believe there were fewer than 30 of us aboard. A once in a lifetime experience, that's for sure. Another great video Alex.

[@SkyblueAviation]

Such a cool and unique experience you had right there! It’s great that Air Canada allowed everyone to move up into Business class, I would for sure never refuse such an offer! Great trip report Alex! ✈️

[@busterobe]

Skyblue Aviation what did you expect it’s in 🇨🇦

[@marks6663]

It is not a question of allowing it, they requested the passengers move so that it would be easier to serve them, rather than walking all around that large cabin.

[@eric.vice.01]

You made me feel very old when you said "20 year old Airbus 330". I remember when she was new. And I still haven't been on one.

[@daverothwell4579]

Agreed with the kudos to AC for upgrading the other passengers. Good on the crew for that gesture. A great treat regardless of the short haul. Very few of us can fly as a “Pod Person” so this was brilliant!

[@Samester48]

“I realised I had been taken pictures of the aircraft instead of boarding” Not as bad as me - I was in YYZ waiting for a domestic flight when I saw the AC A319 retro “Trans Canada airlines” livery, C-FZUH land on flight radar. Found and waited at its gate to get the rare picture; just when it pulls up my name is called over the airport intercom saying I need to board my flight NOW 😂 Had to sprint to my gate and didn’t get the picture :(

[@vintagesupermarkets5210]

I've been on C-FZUH twice!

[@canadianplanespotter]

You, Jeb Brooks, and Wingin' It with Paul make up a trio of formidable trip reporters! Reading the screen gets tiring after awhile, so a voice over is a superb way to go about these kinds of videos :)

[@MagicalBacon]

My three favorites!

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

Don’t forget Dennis Bunnik Travels! 😉👍

[@tgn2502]

xXNutella destroyerXx come on hes not bad

[@dragoner3211]

@@tgn2502 he is bad, he makes the worst trips ever. Have you seen delta biz trip? He Just lied

[@tgn2502]

xXNutella destroyerXx oh yeah that one i like delta aswell yeah that was probably too unfair

[@thomaslichtschlag7904]

Some 25+ years ago I flew on Qantas in a big private jet from Sydney via Jakarta to Singapore. It was a 747SP and we were only 6 passengers on that flight. We were all upgraded to Buisness class in upper deck (12 seats only). We all spend more time on flight deck with the pilots than in our seats. At these days this was still possible. As bonus we had a volcano eruption on the way above Indonesia and the pilot made a 720 around it for a good view and nice pictures. Flight Jakarta to Singapore was with 3 Pax only.

[@Ben-xe8ps]

Must have been nice. Curious though why they didn't let the 6 of you occupy the First Class seats in the nose section and I think the Business class upper deck was 16 seats, 4 rows 2 X 2.

[@qmam]

Moving people to the business class makes sense from safety standpoint as well. In case of emergency it is easier to evacuate one section of the plane than 17 people scattered around a big plane. Nice gesture and smart decision.

[@blackbikerboots123]

WOW what a unique experience Alex, the flights I take often from Winnipeg to Toronto are usually busting at the seams, amazed they don't have to strap a few people out on the wing lol

[@tracksidebc5854]

Another great video Alex. That A330 sounded like a squeaky bucket of bolts! As to a “private” jet, I had one flight on a Wardair 747, a red eye from Calgary to Toronto with only 52 onboard, supposedly an equipment move. One of the passengers was Max Ward who invited everyone to the upper deck for a round of drinks. Best flight I’ve ever had.

[@Matt-jc8rq]

Much respect to you and the other business class passenger to allow the other people to come up and join you. That shows true class because there would be a lot of people who would have said no.

[@thereallincolntakanashi]

Air Canada? 777 out? A330 in? PRIVATE jet? SIGN ME UP! 😂😊😇

[@jordynp942]

boeing be better

[@bartoszkrawczyk3946]

@@jordynp942 especially with crashing 737 Max, and 787 that has more maintaince hours than flight ones.

[@marcs990]

Great video........ The scenery you shot after take off was breathtaking. It was a nice gesture to upgrade all PAX to business class but I think this also made it easier for the crew to have all 17 in one small part of the plane. Even so I must of been a great experience for them. Keep up the great vids n I’ve just fully subscribed to your channel.

[@brutaladr641]

What a sound of the engines! ❤

[@marriedGary]

great Job Alex! We recently Flew AC Rouge from YQT to YYZ. We were upgraded to their business class as they brought in a different A321-200 and didn't have quite as many seats. It was awesome, especially since our 1.5-year-old infant lap child got to run between my seat and my wife's while our 3 and 5 year old could have shared one seat. On the way back it was a former WOW A321-200 and the interior was still purple. The economy seats weren't too bad but I've been forever spoiled in that business seat!

[@amtrakharry]

That was great Alex ! Seeing that snow out the window was kind of freaky till I remembered that it was February you filmed this in! Thank you for sharing !!! :):):)

[@stephclarke6850]

So glad they moved everyone up!

[@GermanKorb]

That was a nice, special flight! Loved the trip report! You nailed it this time. All the 17 passengers were lucky to be upgraded to business class. That was a nice treat! Also, nice meal for such short flight!

[@slimemaster3302]

Last week Tuesday I flew on a air Canada A319 as a youth traveler in premium class in a special livery, from Montreal to Calgary I loved it and also that's so cool I wish I flew in business class love vids keep up the good work

[@jasonheise4946]

Awesome to hear that Air Canada asked the economy passengers to join the business class passengers in business class. Even more impressed that you and the other passenger were asked before hand and that you both said yes. There are so many people that would have tried to bargain or been upset that they paid for business class and the others didn’t... great on you and the other passenger, I bet that “yes” made a lot of peoples day/week/year.

[@MrTrazz09]

Good thing air canada didnt downgrade the aircraft to a bombardier..since there were only 17 pax..

[@airforce_12553]

i think according to the video the reason the A330 was used for the flight was due to maintenance, as AirCanada has their maintenance base at Montreal for the A330

[@zainrashid7438]

I don’t like bombardiers too much noise and too small

[@honesthostsreviews3816]

They needed to get it in for maintenance anyways.

[@honesthostsreviews3816]

And you would be pissed as a consumer if you bought business class and got it on their bombardier.

[@thefidgetspinner2007]

@@zainrashid7438 my fav plane is the a220 mainly because I like small planes and i like bombardier because its based in the same country i live in

[@LeonelEBD]

Km midway tru this vídeo and had to stop come here into the comments and say that you surelly made this vídeo a pleasure to watch. Keep up the good work

[@davidwolf226]

I'm a bit surprised that for the month of February you had such a clear, beautiful night for this flight. It must have been a bit surreal walking around that big plane with no occupants in coach. Oh, and that sound you were wondering about... it was just the number 1 engine rattling around on that pylon. I'm sure they tightened a few bolts later on.

[@bse67]

What a great opportunity... a great video, thank you.

[@aviationraps9983]

I wish that would happen to me! Lol

[@Vuelogs]

Woah pretty amazing experience here, Alex! Great work again!

[@wakeupcall2665]

Once again, Alex, a very good video. I really like your voice, and you always mention the things that matter, and not going on and on and on. And your filming is just a pleasure to look at. I worked for a quarter of a century myself as cabin crew, hung up my sky suit for good in 2019. So, thank you for the work you put in there.

[@AshmewStudios]

Why can’t I ever get upgraded from economy...:(

[@mikenewton83]

Zocc *_Stonks_*

[@yannisl8259]

@@mythical106 wait, is there legal crime?

[@D_W4LIFE]

Actually economic passengers that get upgraded posses certain cards and are members of special programs so they can have some advantages such as upgrades and other stuff.

[@TheMasterhomaster]

Rarely does anyone get upgraded from economy. Less than 0.1%. Just like in the video, the flight was a rare exception.

Ashmew, just book Economy Plus or Business class.

[@sophieacapella]

Wow! What a cool experience! 👌😎

[@malcolmnevers4534]

Very nice video. It reminded me of Christmas 1981 when I flew from Tampa to Montreal on Air Canada with just the crew. It was a DC8 and was the red eye flight. The plane had to be back in Montreal for a morning flight that was full. Boy, the looks I got when I walked up the ramp and I was the only one. Keep up the awesome videos.

[@brianmcdonald6519]

Great video!! Every time I hear of someone being upgraded, I remember the time it happened to me. I got upgraded from economy to first class, and it was NOT an empty plane!! It was also an AC flight!

[@manondumouchel5298]

Thank you Sir for your Trip Report, well done..Enjoy your video

[@DanielSander]

Another brilliant TripReport Alex. Can’t wait until I visit Toronto at the end of the summer.

[@AhmedAli-lk7qp]

what was that sparks in the engine from 12:26 onwards

[@panzerwaffle1674]

@Gary Dodgson rocks do get sucked in all the time

[@larou14]

J'ai voyagé avec Air Canada et j'en suis fort content car tout a été parfait, aller et aussi le retour ! Personnel très très aimables. Bref, bon voyage !!! 👍

[@frogggie6969]

Awesome. Your a very lucky guy to do what you do. Nice plane even tho its an older config. Cant wait for your next journey🍻

[@charliecameron3256]

So nice that they upgraded everyone just because they could! What a cool flight to be on.

[@aidanherbel7436]

That looks so fun!!

[@yolamontalvan9502]

I flew once in an empty Air Canada plane from Toronto to Montreal. The trip was from Montreal-Toronto-Lima, and then returned Lima-Toronto-Montreal. I guess this explain why. There must have been only 5 passengers. Now there are direct flights Montreal-Lima.

[@nicknelson6229]

Love the Trent engine roar. I recall a flight in 1998 on Canadian Airlines where I was bumped on a DC-10 to business. They had it all, porcelain plates/bowls/cups, metal cutlery and hot towels. And whatever booze I wanted.

[@rwnordmark]

I am glad you had such a unique experience. I hope I can do that some day.

[@MarcusFeyFey]

What an exceptional trip - and your report! In the end, lucky for you I hope. Moving everybody to J class was probably also easier for the FAs in terms of service than walking around in Y. Great for everybody - if you can manage those 2 hours.

[@zRealityy]

You are lucky that they dont cancel your flight. I did 5 times MTL TORONTO and 3 times I needed to book last min tickets at 23:55 on westjet and they never apologized 😂

[@jeremiahnewmon3430]

we did the vid go to the beginning??

[@zRealityy]

Jeremiah newmon wtf?!

[@TheHDAviation]

Such a cool experience, sure looks strange seeing the whole economy section completely empty! Thanks for the great flight review.

[@nateleech3887]

Really great video Alex! I was once on a crj from PHX-AMA with only about 11 people on board. Very quick boarding lol. Loving the content. I like the uniqueness of your channel. Maybe you could do a trip report on an AC route to Houston or Dallas?

[@northernlight696]

I was one of 2 passengers in 1974 or 75 on an Air Canada dc-9 around flying the leg from Halifax to Moncton en route to Montreal. The flight left a 6 am, so maybe the departure time had a bit to do with it. At the time, Air Canada was government owned and subsidized.

[@MTAviationPhotoFilm]

A lot of times, after fixing a plane, we would repo it home. It was always nice having the plane to yourself. Sometimes I would go sit up with the pilots, other times I was to tired from fixing the plane and would just sleep

[@heygirlhey941229]

That's super cool that they invited you into the cockpit!

[@jfk-od2wy]

Excellent night photography out the window!

[@adampolak2210]

What a treat! Can’t wait to see their 330s with the new cabin retrofit

[@ellomate..]

Very cool. Nice of the Y Pax to get the surprise upgrade and for both of you J lax being cool with it. They must have enjoyed and been very surprised on such a short route! The FAs definitely did not have to do that even though it makes service easier as it’s such a short flight. Nice of the crew to do this, I’ve flown on emptier widebody flights where they have not! Love your reports, thanks for sharing Canadian aviation

[@FireAngelZero]

I live in New England but last year my wife and I drove to Toronto and did some plane spotting, it was an amazing experience seeing the AC's taking off and landing, this video totally brought back memories of my trip to Pearson Intl'. Great review as well. It's definitely amazing you guys got an A330 to less than 20 passengers.

[@remaaviation7179]

pretty cool experience, great video!

[@CJetsPlanespotting]

Lovely video, as always!

[@ryanrichardson5951]

This is actually so cool

[@martok55]

My dad tells the story of flying from PDX to I believe EWR on a United 752 on September 13, 2001. Early morning flight, one of the first back up on the sky after the closures of September 11. He was one of three passengers on the entire flight. One of these days I need to try the AC business product. Usually I try for (and get) LH 1st on my transatlantic travel. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@Motown222]

What a cool experience. I'd have geeked out for sho.

[@rationalraven8956]

Pretty cool, if I'm in a lounge and I don't have any time constraints, I don't mind getting delayed at all, I love having extra time to just hang out in the terminal

[@blackpastaa_4468]

that engine sound 😮😍😍 ha ve you already uploaded the full takeoff?

[@DeltaBravoTango]

Love it! I flew yul to yyz yesterday night on the new livery AC A321-200 we got delayed for 30 min and it was a cool flight.

[@Benjamin_Rowley78]

Love the video

[@jjaus]

At last! A reviewer taller than me! (6'4") It annoys me when other reviewers talk about leg room when none of them are over 6'. They can't help that, but they could measure the pitch and the length of the bed. Subscribed.

[@charleswellsiii]

I think the strange sounds that started at 10:32 was the horse in the baggage compartment freaking out. I hope he's okay.

[@Fluterra]

charleswellsiii It’s not a horse. These sounds are common on Airbus planes. All kinds of creaks from the plastic interior.

[@cptcrogge]

There have been flights which got actually aborted mid-air due to horses onboard.

[@cptcrogge]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/epqbp2hrar2LodU (Horse flights happen daily all around the world btw, just check Air Horse One)

[@mylosairplanefan]

That was an interesting trip. Nice video!

[@dennisdalessio8238]

Great video. thanks

[@jmurphy1973]

Quite some time ago, My wife and I flew from MSP to DTW on a Northwest Airlines B757 with maybe ten other people. Pretty cool to have the plane pretty much to ourselves. Of course, we all got the royal treatment from the crew

[@profisy7272]

wow really nice!You are really lucky!

[@Armoredarthur]

Awesome gesture for the AC crew

[@annarozycki7647]

lovely video ...steady camera .....and this "sound?".....like I was myself flying.......

[@acfarob69]

I love your camera...takes great pictures. You make Pearson look pretty lol

[@patbcm]

The AC 330’s will be fitted with the new signature class starting this November. With the departure of the 767 there will be a single product across the wide body fleet.

[@juliandelconde6662]

It kind of reminds me to what Virgin Atlantic offers on their A340s, nice vid and what a cool experience

[@naturallyherb]

Looks great! You probably hit a funny time since this route is very busy and almost always packed.

[@PRAVIN1CA]

Nice experience :-) good detailing Great choice allowing people to shift business cheers for kindness !!!

[@bobjohny8004]

Nice takeoff thos lights are amazing 😉

[@flyerinsight]

Nice trip report my dad traveled with the same plane FRA to YUL in March

[@elation8101]

I had a similar experience with an 777 from YVR to YYZ. We had 70 passengers though. Originally scheduled to fly at 9am but took off at 7pm. Everyone else was rescheduled to earlier flights. No complaintary upgrade though since they coulnd't fit 70 people in business class.

[@ThePowerofJames]

Alex uses his height the way Jeremy Clarkson does to show comfort, I like the idea, but at 5'7" there isnt many seats I dont fit in ;)

[@bobbyvalentino4488]

What a lucky day for those who paid for economy and taste the first class experience

[@raeannlaitres-wilson4794]

That’s very classy to upgrade the economy passages!

[@johnbradley8685]

Hope ya had a good flight... See you around.

[@AhmedIbrahim-mv8kc]

I find it cool that the economy cabin is pitch black as the plane is in the air

[@ZK-APA]

Ahmed Ibrahim the flight attendants can control the lighting zones, so most probably they left it off

[@Dinosaur7878]

i have finally found alex's firsts video with a outro music

[@RM.....]

Very cool

[@leezinke4351]

That awesome 😊

[@tgvettes]

I got to do something similar back in the 80's I got to fly a new 767 with only 7 people on delivery flight. it was pretty cool

[@drvanvuuren8087]

This is amazing. Imagine you got so lucky you get an A380 all to yourself, and get a complimentary upgrade to First class!!!

[@nywaterny]

Nice video... Squeaky landing for sure. Wonder if the light weight on the cabin floor caused this? It's always nice having unique experiences due to chance!

[@MileHigh_Aviation]

Wow your lucky!!

[@afcgeo882]

People were re-booked so they can make their European evening connections. You didn’t need that.

[@chikku807]

isn't it weird that they'd have to connect through mtl to catch a flight to Europe? I'd think most flights from Mtl to European destinations would also be available directly from Toronto

[@afcgeo882]

@@chikku807 They are, but often just one a day, so if you miss yours, you’d be re-booked. YUL also has flights to francophone destinations YYZ doesn’t.

[@carsonlee7554]

I love that engine roar

[@dmairplane]

DANG this is so cool

[@joshofcywg8162]

Very neat

[@MrRiderOfficial]

Would love to fly on a A380 or 777 but the A330 is the largest plane i flew on with an 8 Hour fligth

[@adventureswithbl2497]

Such an eventful flight however, I wouldn't mind if it happened to me! Free business class upgrade...who wouldn't want that!

[@dixienormous3262]

Man, with almost no weight onboard, that was a rocket on take off!

[@davidgirgis6299]

I was on that excat plane in 2017 from YYZ-ZRH!!!

[@InfiniteSpaceMedia]

Does this mean that if you ride standby this is practically a guaranteed free flight?

[@alpiansyah4220]

Awesome ... Air Canada's , cool ❤❤❤👍👍👍👍

[@patrick5896]

I’ve been on the new 777 it was great 👍🏻