Thinking about upgrading your flight and wondering is Air Canada Premium Economy worth it in 2026? Sitting between economy and business class, this cabin promises extra comfort, better food, and priority perks—but at a noticeable price jump. The real question is whether those upgrades actually improve the experience or simply look good on paper.
In this Air Canada Premium Economy review, I break down what you truly get for your money, from seat comfort and legroom to dining, service, and airport priority benefits. I’ll also explore Air Canada economy vs Premium Economy, highlighting where the differences matter most and where expectations should be kept in check.
This review is based on my Air Canada Premium Economy flight between Montreal and Vancouver, with a quick update from a Premium Economy upgrade on the Cancun–Montreal route—two very different journeys that help show when this cabin makes sense and when it might not.
Find the Best Deals on Air Canada Premium Class Here!2026 Update: When a Premium Coach “Upgrade” Isn’t Really an Upgrade
Since first writing this Air Canada Premium Economy review, I’ve been upgraded to Premium Economy a couple of times over the past few years after failed attempts to maximize Air Canada eUpgrade credits for business class (something I cover in detail in my guide on how to maximize Air Canada eUpgrade credits).
On paper, that sounds like a win. In reality, these upgrades moved me from a paid aisle seat in economy to a middle seat in Air Canada premium coach, which raises the real question many travelers ask: is Air Canada Premium Economy worth it when seat selection is taken out of the equation?
Unless you specifically value the hot meal, extra legroom, and included drinks, the benefits can feel marginal—especially now that economy passengers already receive complimentary beer, wine, and snacks on Air Canada flights thanks to competitive pressure (see Air Canada’s update on complimentary beer, wine, and snacks in economy). With those perks now standard, the gap in the Air Canada economy vs Premium Economy comparison has narrowed more than ever.
For me, aisle access matters more than legroom on flights over an hour and a half. Easy movement, washroom access, and not having to climb over seatmates outweigh the Premium Economy extras. In both cases, the benefit was minimal—and I would not have chosen a middle seat in Air Canada premium coach over an aisle seat in economy.
I’m also not entirely sure whether you can decline an operational upgrade like this, which is something I plan to ask at the gate next time it happens. With Air Canada status, you already get priority boarding, better odds at overhead bin space, and often a seat closer to the front for easier deplaning—further reducing the value of a middle-seat Premium Economy assignment.
This most recent experience came after spending a relaxing few days at the Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe, which made the contrast even clearer: comfort matters, but how that comfort is delivered matters more. Everything else in this review—from food to service—remains unchanged.
How to Book Air Canada Premium Economy?
New York is an expensive city. As noted in my three days in New York write-up, it felt like we were gouged around every corner. So why, oh why, would I want to pay more money on this trip and upgrade my seat home? It boils down to being impatient.
As our connecting flight to Montreal was delayed later, I got bored. This boredom led to keeping tabs on the last-minute upgrade fare for our flight from Montreal to Vancouver. It started out laughably high, to say the least:
What I can only imagine was a glitch later turned into a decent deal. Just before take-off from Newark, the price dropped to $210 USD. With a swing of over $22 million, it seemed like a hell of a deal 🙂
Even with the huge discount, I wondered if Air Canada Premium Economy is worth it. Upon touchdown in Montreal, I realized it wasn’t.
Does Air Canada Premium Economy get Lounge Access?
If you ask, “Does Air Canada Premium Economy get lounge access?” you may be disappointed to hear that it doesn’t.
With a short turnaround in Montreal, I didn’t think I would have time to check out the Air Canada lounge. To my surprise, the lounge at YUL was next to my boarding gate, so I thought I would pop in for a pre-flight cocktail. This was quickly squashed. Air Canada Premium Economy does not get you access to Air Canada lounges.
This would typically make sense; however, I thought otherwise after flying Norwegian Airlines’ premium economy service and getting access to the LAX OneWorld lounge.
Still, this is similar to other premium economy services such as Westjet Plus or Porter Airlines Reserve. As such, I suggest carrying a credit card that gets you Priority Pass access so you can get into Plaza Premium lounges or equivalent.
Details
Route: Montreal to Vancouver
Aircraft: Boeing 787-8
Seat: 14H
Highlights: Large screen on the entertainment system.
Low lights: No lounge access...
What Are the Seats Like in Air Canada Premium Economy?
Much like Norwegian Airlines Premium Economy, seats are in a 2-3-2 configuration. If you get a middle seat, in my mind, that voids any value in upgrading. Be sure to select/change if you can.
The seats on this Air Canada Premium Economy review are comfortable, with plenty of legroom. No complaints here! I like the use of dark greys and blacks with red accents. This clean, modern look is very similar to what you will find on Air Canada’s 737 Max 8 business class, which I also love.
What Is Air Canada Premium Economy Service Like?
Service on this Air Canada Premium Economy review was overall fine, but not transformative. There isn’t a dramatic difference between Premium Economy and economy or Air Canada premium coach, which matters when you’re asking is Air Canada Premium Economy worth it.
That said, one clear positive is that staff are generally more attentive in Premium Economy. With fewer seats to look after, this is understandable—and it shows. I never had an issue getting water or a drink when I wanted one, and requests were handled quickly. Flight attendants also came through the cabin offering snacks, which is a nice touch and something you don’t always see consistently in economy.
Even so, the broader Air Canada economy vs Premium Economy service gap has narrowed over the past few years. With complimentary beer, wine, and snacks now standard in economy on many routes, the inflight experience feels closer than ever. On this flight, I did still find myself asking more than once for a second beer—hardly a dealbreaker, but enough to stand out given the price difference.
Where Premium Economy continues to shine more clearly is on the ground. Priority services can smooth out busy airport experiences, and at Toronto Pearson, I appreciated having access to the calmer, quicker pre-flight option of the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson—a solid alternative when lounges are packed and you just want a decent coffee and a quiet space before boarding.
In the air, though, Premium Economy service feels more like a refined version of economy rather than a true premium leap. If inflight service alone is your reason for upgrading, expectations should be set accordingly—the real value still lies in the seat, the space, and the ground experience rather than a dramatically different level of onboard attention.
Air Canada Premium Economy Menu
When you board, you get a small Air Canada Premium Economy menu, which includes a couple of main choices. This is similar to what is offered in short-haul Air Canada business class flights. I had a chicken piri-piri, and that was just OK. Erin had cheese tortellini in a tasty vodka sauce. Overall, the meal service is far better than WestJet Plus boxed lunches, something to consider if you are debating between the two Canadian carriers.
- READ MORE: Is Westjet Premium Economy Worth It?
The drink menu was just OK as well. They embrace Canada’s cocktail, The Caesar, but miss the mark with their beer selection. With Canada having some of the best craft beer in the world (I’m biased, of course), I wish Air Canada would get on board with this. Other airlines, such as Porter, do.
The second meal before landing consisted of a snack – plain chips and Kit Kat bars, the same as Air Canada business class.
- READ MORE: Air Canada Business Class Review
- READ MORE: Turkish Air Business Class Review
What Is the In-Flight Entertainment Like?
One area where Air Canada premium coach continues to improve is in-flight entertainment hardware. In this Air Canada Premium Economy review, the screens in Premium Economy are now noticeably larger, brighter, and more responsive than what’s shown in the photos from my original review.
If you’ve dealt with the laggy, slow-to-respond entertainment systems still common in Air Canada economy, the difference here is immediate. Taps register quickly, menus load smoothly, and the overall system feels far more modern.
Content itself remains unchanged. Movies, TV shows, and music are the same as economy, making this a hardware upgrade rather than a content upgrade. Free Wi-Fi is now available across the fleet for both economy and Premium Economy passengers, so connectivity is no longer a differentiating factor between cabins.
For a visual reference of what Air Canada’s newer screens look like today, check out my Air Canada 737 MAX 8 Business Class review—the Premium Economy displays now feel much closer to that newer generation of hardware than what appears in my earlier photos.
When comparing Air Canada economy vs Premium Economy, the smoother performance and larger screens are a small but welcome upgrade, though still not enough on their own to answer is Air Canada Premium Economy worth it.
What are the Amenities like in Air Canada’s Premium Economy?
I am usually the last to board a plane, but with the rise in baggage fees comes the rise in those wanting to beat them. Premium Economy at least gets you priority boarding, guaranteeing your carry-on is not checked due to lack of space.
Beyond that and the included checked bag fee, there is no amenity perks with flying Air Canada Premium Economy.
My Air Canada Premium Economy Review Verdict
So this should not come as a surprise when asked if Air Canada Premium Economy is worth it, and I say no. Unless you are checking two bags, avoiding a middle seat, and it is a last-minute deal, I don’t see the point. In the end, I paid an extra USD 200+ for more room and a hot meal.
If lounge access was included, maybe I could justify the price. Otherwise, this service should be priced around what WestJet charges for their premium offering day off – $99.
- READ MORE: Is Westjet UltraBasic Worth It?
- READ MORE: British Airways Premium Economy Review
- READ MORE: Is Porter Airlines Good? Check out my full Trip Report
What say you?
Is Air Canada Premium Class Worth it to you?
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