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The Air Canada A220 amenity all airlines should add

Jan. 23, 2020
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3 min read
Air_Canada_Airbus_A220_Inaugural_Flight_Zach_Griff_ZGriff - 48
The Air Canada A220 amenity all airlines should add
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Air Canada's new A220-300 is filled with passenger-friendly improvements.

From large overhead bins to 19-inch wide economy seats, there's lots to love about the new plane. As an AvGeek, I really appreciate the large windows and highly customizable moving map on the IFE.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7jsG4PFddg/

Air Canada just took delivery of its first A220 in Dec. 2019, and the plane started commercial service a few weeks later on Jan. 16. I was on the inaugural flight and loved almost every minute of it -- except for the prolonged weather delay that caused me to misconnect. Nevertheless, flying on the A220 was a thrill that I wouldn't want to pass up.

Having flown on this plane type before, I thought I knew what to expect. After all, I've seen many of the new amenities already. However, there was one new feature that's unique to Air Canada's A220. And that's USB-C charging ports at every seat.

When it comes to charging devices in flight, you've historically needed to use either an AC power outlet or USB-A port. The latter is the standard rectangular port that's used to charge most small electronic devices.

However, tech companies like Apple and Google are transitioning from standard USB to faster and more efficient USB-C charging. The latest iPhone already sports this new port for charging, and it's rumored that the next gen phone will ditch the Lightning connector in favor of it too. On most planes, fliers need to carry a dongle to convert the traditional USB outlet to support the USB-C cable. On Air Canada's A220, however, you could leave it at home.

Some of the benefits of USB-C include that the cable is reversible and carries more power, all with a smaller connector. On the inaugural flight, I found that my iPhone 11 Pro Max charged much faster than when using the regular USB port. And when I tried plugging in my Pixel, it showed that the new ports support rapid charging. And then I really put this unique amenity to the test -- I tried using it to charge my 13-inch MacBook Pro. While it successfully kept the laptop powered, it charged the computer much slower than using a traditional AC power adapter.

All in all, the addition of USB-C ports is a notable improvement for tech-savvy travelers. If you're carrying the latest gadget, chances are that it supports USB-C charging.

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As airlines reconfigure old planes and take deliveries of new ones, it's important that they add this new charging port. Within a few years, traditional USB will be obsolete. So, along with all the other improvements that we'll see in the 2020s, let's hope that inflight USB-C charging ports continue to be one of them.

All photos by the author.

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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.