Air Canada 737 Max 8 Business Class Review – Almost Perfect

Despite its terribly turbulent start, the Boeing 737 Max 8 has penetrated the skies in force and is now one of North America’s most popular short-haul aircraft. There are 40 Boeing 737 Max 8 Air Canada aircraft operating routes between one and seven hours across the continent. As such, I have had the pleasure of experiencing Air Canada 737 Max 8 business class several times, the latest being a trip between Montreal and Mexico City, then Mexico City to Vancouver.

For this Air Canada 737 Max 8 business class review, I will return to a memorable flight between Houston and Vancouver. This was the final leg of a wild Aeroplan booking, one that got me access to Emirates A380 bar in the sky and a surprisingly good experience with Ethiopian Airlines. All though I would have preferred a pod-style seat found in Air Canada’s 777 or 787 aircraft, this Air Canada 737 Max business class flight turned out to be the perfect way to cap off my Africa trip.

Boeing 737 Max 8 Air Canada Flight Details

Ground Experience In Houston

After a long layover spent adjusting to the time zone, we departed the hotel with plenty of time to enjoy the lounges at IAH. Air Canada flies out of Terminal A at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which, upon arrival, appeared to be in the worst shape. I would later find that extensive renovations were underway throughout the airport until 2025, so take this into account, as these can delay you getting to the terminal and your gate.

Air Canada 737 Max 8 Business Class Check In

Although there was a dedicated business class check-in, we arrived at the hectic airport to find the Air Canada queue empty. We were checked in and on our way to the lounges within minutes.

IAH Business Class Lounges

Our first stop was the American Express Centurion Lounge; however, it was short-lived. We were about 4 and a half hours early for our flight and, as such, were turned away at the lounge. Thanks to my “Centurian Jail” experience in Las Vegas, I was aware of the 3-hour time limit before your departure but I thought it was voided if you were connecting. What I didn’t know is if your connecting flight is the next day, the 3-hour rule comes back into play.

Thankfully, there are several other options at IAH, and I ended up at the United Lounge for an hour before returning to the Centurion Lounge. The Amex lounge is the better of the two thanks to the great food and drink service; however, it was VERY crowded. The United Lounge was surprisingly good and less busy, so I will stay there next time.

For my whole experience on both lounges, check out my dedicated IAH American Express Centurian and United Club Lounge reviews.

Air Canada 737 Max Business Class Boarding

After enjoying a couple of excellent Bloody Marys at the Centurion Lounge—though, I have to admit, they didn’t quite measure up to the Caesars at the Maple Leaf Lounge in San Francisco—we headed toward our gate. As luck would have it, boarding had just started. Thanks to priority boarding, we were able to bypass the crowd and head straight to the front of the line. In no time, we were comfortably settled on the plane, ready to start the next leg of our journey.

Air Canada 737 Max 8 Business Class Seats

The first thing I noticed upon boarding my first Air Canada 737 Max business class flight was how modern and stylish the seats were. The grey and blacks make for a classy-looking cabin and, compared to other Air Canada business class products like the CRJ, are the best-looking seats in the fleet.

There are bottles of spring water waiting for passengers, along with earbuds. More on that below.

Sitting down, you will next notice the massive inflight entertainment screen. This is a highlight for sure and something that sets the Boeing 737 Max 8 Air Canada business class apart from the competition.

Another distinctive feature of the Air Canada Boeing 737 Max 8 business class is the broader armrests between seats, creating a more comfortable space. Moreover, the design includes a larger drink area, setting it apart from other 737 versions. An added convenience is the small storage compartment under the armrest, suitable for stowing a small purse or a tablet. However, caution is advised when using this space for valuables due to its concealed nature. I use the flashlight on my phone before deplaning to ensure I haven’t left anything behind.

Inside this compartment, you will find power outlets (both USB and an outlet) along with the headphone jacks. This proves incredibly convenient for charging devices during the flight, with the option to leave them securely stored – a practical feature, provided you remember to retrieve them upon disembarking. The bulkhead row seats also feature leg rests, with the release button conveniently located on the side panel next to the recline button.

Air Canada 737 Max 8 Business Class Seat Map

Looking at the Boeing 737 Max 8 seat map, Air Canada offers business class, prefered ecomony, and economy seats. The Business Class section on Air Canada’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 boasts 4 rows in a 2 – 2 configuration, accommodating 16 passengers. Noteworthy are the spacious and comfortable seats, measuring 21” (53 cm) in width and offering a generous pitch of 38” (97 cm).

During our journey, my travel partner and I occupied the bulkhead seats, which provided an additional two inches of pitch, enhancing our overall comfort. The seat’s recline capability, up to 6”, makes for one of the better non-pod style business class seats.

Air Canada 737 Max Business Class Service & Amenities

Boeing 737 Max 8 Air Canada Service

Air Canada’s Boeing 737 Max 8 Business Class kicks off the service with a hot towel – a simple touch many airlines skip these days. This is followed by handing out the menus. Shortly after take-off, drinks are offered and served with mixed nuts.

Throughout my Air Canada 737 Max 8 business class review, flight attendants were attentive and friendly. I always appreciate this on Air Canada flights as it is often some passengers’ first experience with Canadian hospitality. It’s always nice to be the face of this, and I hope this is something Air Canada emphasizes with their staff.

Air Canada Boeing 737 Max 8 Business Class Amenities

As with most short-haul flights, there are no amenity kits provided on Air Canada’s Boeing 737 Max 8 business class. However, the service still offers a range of thoughtful touches to enhance the experience. Upon boarding, passengers receive complimentary water bottles, and the flight includes free earphones for the in-flight entertainment system. Additionally, business class travelers enjoy hot meals, snacks, and a full bar service, ensuring a comfortable and satisfying journey even without the extras typically found on long-haul flights.

Air Canada 737 Max 8 Business Class Food & Drink

The drink menu is conveniently on the back of the dinner menu. Unlike other carriers that bundle them with the dinner tray, Air Canada gets a nod for serving drinks separately right after takeoff. On this flight, I opted for a Caesar, something I am also happy to have on my way home.

Meal options on this Air Canada 737 Max business class flight were a Cheese Tortellini and a Ginger Chicken dish. I opted for the Ravioli with a Bubble Stash IPS. Both were quite good. That said, the star was the blueberry cheesecake.

I also had a good pasta dish on my recent flight between Mexico City and Vancouver. My travel partner had the chicken on both flights, which was dry, so the takeaway here is that pasta is always a safe bet.

Air Canada 737 Max Business Class Entertainment

As mentioned above, the Air Canada Boeing 737 Max 8 Business Class has an impressive in-flight entertainment system. Large individual entertainment touch screens provide a personalized viewing experience at each seat, including those in the bulkhead.

Since we were seated in the bulkhead, our in-flight entertainment screens were positioned a bit farther away than those mounted on the seatbacks in standard rows. While this design enhances the feeling of spaciousness, it does come with a small trade-off. Accessing the touchscreen in the bulkhead can require a bit of a stretch, especially if you’re used to the convenience of systems with handheld remote controls.

In this case, the absence of a remote means passengers need to reach forward to interact with the screen, which might be slightly inconvenient during the flight. However, the trade-off for extra legroom and a more open feel makes this a minor inconvenience, particularly for those who prioritize comfort over ease of access.

Like all Air Canada in-flight entertainment systems, the catalog of movies and TV shows is extensive. I love the inclusion of Canadian content. There are plenty of great Canadian shows, and this is an excellent way to get it out there. That said, the real entertainment on this flight was the view, especially as we crossed the Rockies and approached Vancouver.

One standout feature of the Boeing 737 Max 8 Air Canada business class entertainment systems is the ability to filter movies by length. This provides a tailored selection based on the remaining duration of the flight. This thoughtful touch ensures passengers can quickly identify and enjoy films that perfectly align with their available time, enhancing the overall in-flight entertainment experience aboard the Air Canada 737 Max 8 Business Class. I like to queue a list of TV shows and movies while waiting for them to take off. The system on Air Canada makes this super easy.

With all the positives covered, there is one glaring down side to the Air Canada 737 Max 8 business class entertainment system, the headphones. Although complimentary, they are the same as you would get in economy class, and they are terrible.

Aside from comfort, they are barely audible over cabin noise. It would be nice if Air Canada provided its business class passengers with a noise-canceling headset like other carriers. Until then, I recommend carrying Bose QuietComfort headphones or AirPod Pros along with this Bluetooth dongle, which allows you to connect to the system.

So, is Air Canada 737 Max 8 Business Class Worth it?

Thanks to its stylish, comfortable seats and large in-flight entertainment screen, Air Canada’s Boeing 737 Max 8 business class stands out as the best option for short-haul flights in their fleet. The spacious seating, enhanced recline, and attentive service make for a premium experience that surpasses the CRJ and A320 alternatives. I would gladly choose the 737 Max 8 again, even for longer routes like my flight through Mexico City, which is one of the longest routes Air Canada operates with this aircraft. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend opting for the Max 8—especially if comfort and in-flight entertainment are high on your priority list.

Now, if only Boeing could stay out of the news…

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