My business class tickets came with access to the Maple Leaf Lounge, priority security, and priority Zone 1 boarding, all of which I enjoyed throughout my travel journey. I didn’t actually check the cash fares for these tickets, but anything above $600 would’ve exceeded our target valuation of 2.1 cents per point. (Initially I’d booked Vancouver to Ottawa direct for 25,000 points, but opted to cancel that ticket and add a few days in Toronto at the last minute, separately making my way to Ottawa afterwards.)Īnything in the ballpark of the “old” Aeroplan price of 25,000 points for a one-way transcontinental flight in Signature Class is considered a win in my books. I booked the outbound from Vancouver to Toronto for 27,500 Aeroplan points + $33.73, and the inbound from Ottawa to Vancouver (via Pearson) for 24,900 Aeroplan points + $54.38. If I’m going to pay the surcharge for a domestic business class ticket, I always look for a widebody aircraft with Signature Class. I’m used to it and don’t mind it, so when I splurge on a business class redemption, I’m sure to make it count.įor both my outbound and return journeys, I booked on a Dreamliner. Whether visiting family in Ottawa or shuttling to school in Montreal, I grew up flying transcontinental in economy. Impressions from My First Flight of the Pandemic Era.