Flight test: Air Canada

Comfort For anyone tall, getting an exit row seat for the long haul is worth the extra price. Passengers are sparse at the rear of the plane, allowing many to stretch out across three seats. I try a standard economy seat and it feels roomy by cattle-class standards. A pillow and blanket are provided. The Embraer to Winnipeg is a small plane and feels cramped after the 777. However, seat pitch is not too bad and by that stage, I could sleep anywhere.

Entertainment Air Canada has a great range of TV shows, new-release movies, classics and "contemporary" films, which include favourites Die Hard and Gladiator. The EnRoute system is not the easiest to navigate (TV shows are often not listed in the correct episode order) but the biggest problem is each choice is preceded by about a dozen advertisements. Most seats on the 777 have USB and power outlets. On domestic flights, Air Canada only offers headphones for purchase, but you can use your own in the standard jack.

Service Canadians like to complain about their national carrier's service just as much as we complain about ours, but the experienced cabin crew is cheerful and friendly throughout the flights.

Food and drink The first leg is a long flight so we're given three meal services. For the first, I opt for chicken with pasta, sweet corn and celery salad, a small cake and a bread roll. Beef and mashed potatoes is the alternative. The second meal is a turkey and cheese roll with a couple of biscuits, served about six hours into the flight. Breakfast, about an hour before arriving in Vancouver, is a choice between pancakes and an omelet. It's all palatable, but not particularly good. Food has to be purchased on the domestic Embraer.

Flight frequency Air Canada flies direct from Sydney to Vancouver daily, recently increasing to 10 times a week for the northern hemisphere ski season.

Tested by Craig Platt, who flew courtesy of the Canadian Tourism Commission.