Flight/Origin-Destination: AC576 LAS -> YUL
Date: June 15
Cabin: J
Status: SE
Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? -- Super fast, always seems to be at LAS.
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? -- N/A
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? -- N/A
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? -- Priority boarding was offered over the audio, but the gate was set up with only one lane, the Priority lane, and the normal lane didn't exist (terminated in front of the desk). Agents didn't care about Priority boarding, half the flight got up and went into the priority lane after the pre-boarding announcement. I had J ticket and SE status and couldn't even get anywhere near the priority lane to board. I asked the gate agent where's the priority line, and he just kind of waved in the general direction of the mob, then made an announcement that it was pre-boarding only. Nobody moved, so I just said to hell with it and stepped under the ribbons and cut in front of the gate lice so I could pre-board with the rest of the J ticket holders. One of the worst examples from Air Canada for gate management yet.
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? -- yes, and yes.
Onboard - J cabin:
Were the crew professional & well groomed? -- Yes.
If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? -- Yes and yes.
Was the IFE activated on the ground? -- Yes.
Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? -- Yes.
Did crew offer to hang your jacket? -- N/A
Were newspapers & menus distributed and meal orders taken (Please specify when meal orders were taken - on the ground or in the air)? -- Yes to all, meal order taken on the ground and SE prioritized.
Did crew offer a hot towel prior to the meal service? -- Yes.
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service to be completed? (From takeoff to all items collected) -- can't guess at the timing but I found it to be prompt and as soon as was feasible after takeoff.
How was the quality of all the meals? -- very good.
Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? -- Yes.
Post departure
If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? -- mine did, but some non-priority baggage came out first, then the entire luggage carousel ground to a halt right after my bag popped out. I ran away of course.
Overall experience/any other comments[/QUOTE] -- the flying experience for me has been routinely excellent, while the gate experience is routinely problematic. I want to continue to hammer home that Air Canada has a problem managing its gates. It's almost like a different airline on the ground and in the air. Priority boarding when offered must be offered correctly, and letting passengers fight it out is not the way to handle the situation. Perhaps the pre-boarding announcement needs to be sorted out, instead of starting with "This is a pre-boarding announcement" (boom everyone gets up) it should start with "We would like to invite passengers with small children and star alliance gold to approach the gate for pre-boarding. All other ticket holders, please remain seated until your row is called."
As soon as people hear the words "pre-boarding announcement" they take off and possibly this is the trigger for chaos.