Flight/Origin-Destination: AC922 YYZ-MCO
Date: Sat 25 June 2011
Cabin: J
Status: E

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient?
NA - connecting flight with boarding pass printed at home.



Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient?
NA - was a connecting flight


Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks?

Yes. Food - some cheese to put on the bread would be nice!


Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient?
Boarding was NOT efficient. See below.


If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates?
There was a delay, but it seem more due to gate attendants than anything else. The boarding pass seemed to indicate a boarding would begin 35 minutes prior to departure. It appeared that really not much was done for the first 15minutes of that period, at which point they seemed to start calling individual passengers (perhaps to assign seats?). Whatever the reason, actual boarding did not start till perhaps 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This was further slowed by one of the two gate attendants spending considerable time taking a wheelchair passenger to the plane (that a great thing to do, but left the gate further short staffed).

Bottom line: something went terribly wrong in terms of organization. They either started doing what needed to be done way to late, or should have had 3 gate attendants. Whatever the issue, it caused half hour delay which, besides inconveniencing everyone, must have cost AC a small fortune. What does half an hour of a staffed A320 cost?

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

If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates?
Yes - seemed to try and do everything to get the plane in the air ASAP which was much appreciated.

Was the IFE activated on the ground?
Yes
Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground?
Dont remember.
Did crew offer to hang your jacket?
NA
Were newspapers & menus distributed and meal orders taken (Please specify when meal orders were taken - on the ground or in the air)?
Newspapers on the ground, meal orders in the air (as I said, they tried to get going ASAP).

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)
Didn't get the time, but is was done efficiently.

How was the quality of all the meals?
Fair to good. The beef was tender on this flight - less so on others. The strawberry cheesecake a particularly nice desert.

Did the cabin crew continuously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight?
Yes - until I indicated I had enough.


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

Overall experience/any other comments
Good flight and crew. Only issue was with the gate boarding situation. Probably cost you way more than it cost me!