Business DC to Vancouver?

[dreamer320]

We're doing an Alaskan cruise at the end of July rt Vancouver. We're strictly economy people, but have decided, after a rough year health-wise, that we're going to try to do business class for longer flights from now on. My husband isn't a big fan of flying to begin with, and hates being cramped.We've been doing premium economy, which is fine for shorter flights.

 

Having decided that, I now realize that coast-to-coast flights are often (usually?) not on the type of aircraft that provides much of difference between economy and business as overseas flights do. Is there a line that gives the upgrade more bang for the buck? We could also fly into Seattle, as we'll have pre- and post-cruise days. We'd be driving to either IAD (preferred) or DCA from Richmond, but would rather not go to BWI due to distance.

 

Thanks for any assistance.

[fbgd]

Lived in Richmond for many years and now live in New York. No question the best option cross country to Vancouver is on Cathay Pacific. They have a non-stop flight between JFK and Vancouver that continues on to Hong Kong so whilst you'll have to nip up to JFK you've got Delta to help you out there.

 

I've only flown Cathay Pacific in First Class and they're supremely good. If you're looking for a treat or have only flown US carriers then you won't be disappointed. I have flown their Business Class seat before though as American Airlines use the same one on some of their 777 aircraft. Still a flat bed with direct aisle access but First is a big step up, IMO.

 

 

JFK-YVR in First Class (As of a few weeks back CX now use Terminal 8 at JFK not Terminal 7 as pictured in this report)

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/04/13/review-cathay-pacific-first-class-777-300er-new-york-vancouver/

 

YVR-JFK in First Class:

http://www.sfo777.com/content/cathay-pacific-first-business-lounge-yvr

http://www.sfo777.com/content/cathay-pacific-first-class-yvr-jfk

 

Business Class:

http://www.airlinereporter.com/2015/05/flight-review-cathay-pacific-business-class-flying-across-north-america/

[em-sk]

Air Canada narrow body aircraft have a business class cabin (and what US based airlines call First Class) is a slightly bigger seat and better in flight services (meals and wine etc.), It is all comparable.

 

The Air Canada wide body aircraft are all configured with International Business Class seats that open out into a flat bed if you desire. This would be anything that shows up as a A330, 767, 777 or 787.

 

The problem Air Canada has is for many of the flights to/from Asia the wide body aircraft would sit around Vancouver for 20 hours doing nothing. Instead they operate them on trans-continental flights to Montreal, Toronto, or Newark. Many of the flights to Toronto are on wide body aircraft. If you get on one of these aircraft the business class seats are the same as international business but the meals are standard domestic business class.

 

This is what the wide body business class service is like:

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/onboard/cabin-features/transcontinental-business-class.html

 

 

If you want to save some money. What Air Canada also does is the A330, 777, and 787 have a premium economy cabin. This is very similar seat to what the US Airlines and Air Canada sell as business class on the narrow body aircraft. Since they don't offer premium economy in North America these are sold as economy (and have catering the same as economy) and the seats can be booked as a economy+.

 

This is what the Premium economy cabin is like (you do not get the fancy meal and drink on the north american flights)

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/onboard/cabin-features/premium-economy-class.html

 

Also out of Vancouver on international wide body aircraft is Cathy Pacific and Philippines Airlines to JFK.

 

I am not certain I would want to backtrack from DC to JFK. You could do DC to Toronto and connect onto one of the wide body aircraft to Vancouver.

Edited February 10, 2017 by em-sk