I have not been paid by any entity in any way (financially, benefits) to write this Air Canada Express CRJ-900 Economy review. Take precautions when traveling; please stay safe and consult local, state, and national authorities for guidance on traveling.
Not long after going to Mexico City and checking out all the incredible sights and culture, and of course my stay at Le Meridien Mexico City Reforma and adding the new Mexico City Felipe Angeles airport to my list, I found myself journeying back for another fun trip. This time, my travels would take me from the U.S.-Canada-Mexico in a North American tour on my way back to North America’s largest city.
Quick Take: Air Canada Express CRJ-900 Economy Review
| Category | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Seat Comfort | 😐 6/10 |
| Dining & Beverages | ✅ 7/10 |
| Service & Crew | ✅ 7/10 |
| Lounge Access | ✅ N/A |
| Value for Points/Cash | ✅ 9/10 |
The Air Canada Express CRJ-900 Economy cabin is pretty straight forward, with few frills and comfort.
Flight Details
Airline: Air Canada Express
Flight: AC 8820
Route: Washington National (DCA) – Montreal (YUL)
Cabin Class: Economy Class
Aircraft: Mitsubishi CRJ-900
Booking Method: Cash
Cost: $283.48 (one-way)
Date: October 2, 2025
Flight Time: 1h 20m
Preflight Experience at Washington National
Air Canada flies out of Terminal 1, the more outdated terminal at DCA. This morning I arrived to the terminal and checked in, verifying my travel documents in order to get my boarding pass.
For those that don’t know DCA too well, all the lounges and nicer restaurants are over in Terminal 2. There you can find the Centurion Lounge DCA and if you’re a Star Alliance Gold member, the United Club DCA.
Instead, you get stuck with the oldest terminal at the airport, with no lounges and a really unsatisfying line-up of stalls. At least there’s a Dunkin!
Seat on the Air Canada Express CRJ-900
Air Canada Express offers standard economy seating on the CRJ-900, with a tight squeeze. In economy, you’ll find 31 inches of pitch with a 17-inch seat width.
For reference, I’m 6’1. The cabin is in a 2-2 configuration, and is otherwise pretty standard and bland.
Dining & Beverages
Once we were up in the air, service began. The flight from Washington, DC to Montreal is pretty quick, so I was surprised to see any service at all.
The flight attendants came by with a cart offering a morning bar and refreshments. I opted for water.
In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity
Air Canada offers in-flight WiFi and entertainment, with service provided by Bell.
As a United MileagePlus member on an eligible Air Canada flight, I had complimentary WiFi for the flight.
Final Verdict: Air Canada Express CRJ-900 Economy Review
There isn’t much else to say on this economy experience on Air Canada Express. It’s plain, no frills, and straight to the point. As is expected, the seats had tight legroom, making it difficult to imagine enduring this for more than 1.5 to 2 hours. All-in-all, not terrible, but nothing to write home about.
Overall Rating: 7.25/10
What are your thoughts? Have you flown Air Canada Express Economy? Let me know in the comments!
As always, Live Life One Trip at a Time!
