At the start of 2025, I visited Ireland for the first time and spent a month exploring the country. To get back to Toronto, I flew Air Canada Flight AC801 from Dublin Airport (DUB) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the flight departed Dublin at 9 AM on Sunday, January 26, 2025, and landed in Toronto at 11:15 AM local time, with a total flight time of 7 hours and 15 minutes.
This review covers everything from booking to landing—including the in-flight experience and what to expect on this transatlantic route.
Flight Details
Airline: Air Canada
Route: Dublin (DUB) → Toronto (YYZ)
Aircraft: Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Flight Number: AC801
Date: Sunday, January 26, 2025
Departure Time: 09:00 AM (DUB local time)
Flight Duration: 7 hours 15 minutes
Arrival Time: 11:15 AM (YYZ local time)
Cabin: Economy Class
Seats: 26A & 26 B
Distance: Approximately 3,285 miles (5,285 km)
Onboard Wi-Fi: Available for purchase
In-flight Entertainment: Seatback screens + streaming options
Meal Service: Complimentary meal and beverages
Cost: $762 CAD per person
Overall Rating:
Booking Experience
I started searching for flights in September 2024, using Google Flights and Skyscanner to compare options and find a budget-friendly direct route. After finalizing my choice, I booked directly through Air Canada’s website. This allowed me to log into my Aeroplan account for easy access to my details.
For two passengers (I was traveling with my boyfriend), the total cost was $1,525 CAD, which worked out to $762 per person for a round trip with direct flights. Considering this was an international flight, I was quite impressed with the price. The booking process was seamless, and I received an immediate confirmation email with all the key details: booking reference, receipt, cost breakdown, flight information, baggage allowance, and more. As always, Air Canada’s booking system was smooth and reliable.
Booking Experience Rating: 5/5
Baggage Policy for Air Canada AC801
For this transatlantic flight Air Canada allows:
✔️ One carry-on bag (max dimensions: 21.5” x 15.5” x 9”)
✔️ One personal item (max dimensions: 17” x 13” x 6”)
One thing I love about Air Canada is their carry-on policy—there’s no weight limit as long as you can lift your bag into the overhead bin unassisted. For checked luggage, we decided to share one suitcase, which cost $75 CAD when added during check-in. While the carry-on flexibility is a win, it’s surprising that a transatlantic flight doesn’t include a checked bag
On our way back, after a month of shopping (especially Christmas gifts!), our bag ended up 7 kg overweight. Instead of repacking at the airport, we decided to avoid the chaos and pay the $169 overweight baggage fee and move on.
For full baggage policy details, check out Air Canada’s website.
Baggage Policy Experience: 3.5/5.
Check-in Process
Check-in with Air Canada was super smooth. On the day of my flight, I received an email reminder with a direct check-in link, reference number, and baggage details. Online check-in took less than a minute, and I instantly received mobile boarding passes, which I saved to my Apple Wallet and the Air Canada + Aeroplan app.
Pro Tip: Download the Air Canada + Aeroplan app. It’s a great tool for checking in, accessing boarding passes, tracking flights, and even previewing seat maps.
At the airport, the bag drop was hassle-free with minimal wait times. The only delay was paying for our overweight luggage—something we expected.
Check-in Experience Rating: 4.5/5
Pre-Flight & Boarding
We departed from Gate 303 from Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport, which had such an impressive selection of dining and shopping options. There was a Guinness bar, a food hall with made-to-order omelet stations and full Irish breakfasts, several cafés and more -seriously putting my local airport to shame! We grabbed a meal deal (sandwich, snack, and drink for €9) and headed to the gate.
Pre-Flight & Boarding Rating: 5/5
Seat Selection & Comfort
We chose seats 26A & 26B (window & middle seats on the right side of the plane). The Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s Economy Class has a 3-3-3 layout. Fortunately, the flight wasn’t full, so we had an empty seat next to us. The highlights included:
✔️ Seat pitch: 30 inches
✔️ Seat width: 18 inches
✔️ Features: Recline option, adjustable headrest
✔️ Amenities: Blanket, pillows & headsets.
The extra space and comfortable seating made the flight very relaxing & comfortable!
Seat Comfort Rating: 5/5
Meal Service
About 1.5 hours after takeoff, we received a meal. I chose the vegetarian tomato pasta, which came with a bread roll, butter, cheese, salad, and a brownie, plus complimentary alcoholic beverages.
The meal was delicious! 2 hours before landing, we received a snack—a choice of chicken or vegetarian pastries. I went for the pastry, which was decent – especially for plane food.
Food & Beverages Rating: 5/5
In-Flight Entertainment
Each seat had a personal screen with an extensive selection of movies, TV shows, audiobooks, music, and games. Air Canada partners with Apple TV, Audible, Disney+, and Hayu, offering a solid content lineup. The entertainment system also supports 15 languages, with subtitles available. I watched three movies during the flight, thanks to the solid entertainment options.
In-Flight Entertainment Rating: 5/5
Connectivity
Air Canada offers:
✔️Free messaging for Aeroplan members (iMessage, Meta Messenger, WhatsApp)
✔️Power outlets between seats to charge decices
✔️Paid Wi-Fi options
Connectivity Rating: 4.5/5
On-Time Performance
In December 2024, we were notified that our flight was delayed by one day (originally scheduled for January 25 but moved to January 26). Since we didn’t have a flexible fare, we had no choice but to accept the change. Unfortunately, this meant canceling our non-refundable train from Toronto to Montreal. It was frustrating, but these things happen. Despite this, the January 26 flight departed and landed on time.
On-Time Performance Rating: 2/5
Cabin Cleanliness & Service Quality
The cabin and washrooms were spotless, and the crew was friendly and professional. Flying with Air Canada is always a great experience in terms of service.
Cabin Cleanliness & Service Quality Rating: 5/5
Final Thoughts on Air Canada AC801
This flight was comfortable, smooth, and well-priced, and overall I would score it a 4/5. The seat comfort, meal service, and entertainment were excellent, but the unexpected schedule change was a letdown. Despite this, Air Canada delivered a solid transatlantic experience and I would absolutely fly with them again!
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