Flight/Origin-Destination: AC048 HNL-YVR
Date: 2011-06-19
Cabin: J
Status: E

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Yes to both, and extra credit to HNL check-in staff for actually enforcing the carry-on limits.

Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Yes, line moved as quickly as a line full of tourists can.

Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? N/A Given directions and invitation to use RCC by check-in staff.

Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Yes. General boarding was in progress when we arrived at gate, but priority line was in place and enforced by GA's.

If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/A, on-time departure.

Onboard - J cabin:
Were the crew professional & well groomed? Yes.

If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? N/A

Was the IFE activated on the ground? No. IFE was inoperative for entire flight. Compensation vouchers were issued.

Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? No.

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)? Newspapers and menus offered on the ground, meal orders taken in the air by SD. Absolutely no priority given for SE/E, meals orders taken back to front (although there did not seem to be too many "status looking" travellers in J. Which, in retrospect, should have made taking orders by status easy)

Did the 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) From wheels up, it took 45 minutes until drink service was completed, 1 hour before trays started to come out, 2 hours before trays were cleared and 2:45 before dessert service was completed. Far too slow for a night flight, people want to eat and sleep.

How was the quality of all the meals? Good.

Did the cabin crew continously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? No, beverage service was infrequent, not to mention they ran out of two of my choices (Heineken and the Bordeaux)

Post departure
If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? N/A

Overall experience/any other comments
Although the crew was friendly and professional, they were far too slow. On night flights, I believe dinner service should be expedited as passengers wish to sleep as much as possible. I did note that at least half of the cabin wasn't awake when dessert service did finally come. And it does irk me that as a J passenger, I have to wait 40 minutes to get a drink and mixed nuts. That's far too long.

The Service Director was in the Y cabin throughout meal service, which was disappointing. The 2 FAs he left for the service seemed overwhelmed, which led to the drawn out service. Of course, Hawaii is a plum route, so the entire crew is "senior", and speed is no longer appears to be a priority to them.

Overall, a disappointing flight.