Flight/Origin-Destination: 137/115 YYZ-YVR 18:00
Date: July 25, 2011
Cabin: Y
Status: E

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Requested u/g at T-4 days, it cleared right away. First time this year in 6 attempts. Checked in at T-23 hrs on my iPhone. Worked fine except web response was slow. Rec'd a call at 10:12 am saying flight delayed 3.5 hrs, agent offers me J at 16:00 or Y at 17:00. Can't make 16:00, so I say I'll accept 17:00 if she can find me an aisle seat. She does. I check in from the iPhone and request an upgrade (might as well). Check-in confirmed, but it's not clear whether the upgrade request went through. At 11:32 I get a message that new flight is delayed by 1:40. Okay, only 40 min behind the original departure time, so I switch back to Day Plan A. At 12:20 I get another message, delay is now 1:00, not 1:40, which puts me at the original departure time on the old flight. Arrive at Gate at 17:25 on the off chance that the u/g clears. From the looks of it, no hope. I see the flight crew, cabin crew, but at 17:30 still no a/c - there's no chance this bird flies at 18:00. A/c arrives at 17:35. Crew doesn`t board until 17:48. By 18:10 I`m aboard. IT`S AN AMIGO! Get to my seat and I`m beside a mother with a lap child. Wonderful. While sitting on the a/c I get a message that departure time is now 18:20. At 18:25 Captain announces that ramp crew has been reassigned and we now have to wait for another crew. At 18:37 we push back.

Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Yes. Only about 6 people ahead of me, but very slow. Only one other regular line open.

Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Yes. Only 2 agents at the desk, both busy rebooking (or something) with other pax. By the time I get to the desk (5 min) there are about a dozen people waiting to get in. Once in, everything is as usual. Tried to work but too many people yacking on cell phones to concentrate.

Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Yes and yes, but slightly encumbered by the number of standby. Problem with seat assignments (not mine) due to a/c swap.

If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? There was, and nothing was ever said while I was in ear shot. Correction: As I watched out the window at the arriving a/c there was an announcement that the a/c was arriving and that boarding would commence "shortly".

Onboard - J cabin:
Were the crew professional & well groomed?
If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates?
Was the IFE activated on the ground?
Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground?
Did crew offer to hang your jacket?
Were newspapers & menus distributed and meal orders taken (Please specify when meal orders were taken - on the ground or in the air)?
Did crew offer a hot towel prior to the meal service?
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service to be completed? (From takeoff to all items collected)
How was the quality of all the meals?
Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight?

Onboard - Y cabin: It`s an Amigo.

Were the crew professional & well groomed? Average.
If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? No, other than the text messages - see above.
Was the IFE activated on the ground? What IFE - It`s an Amigo.
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? One hour.
How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? I decided to wait until I got home at midnight EDT.
Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? Yes, if twice is regularly.

Post departure

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

Overall experience/any other comments: On top of the delayed departure, the routing went way south to avoid weather, adding another 20-30 minutes.

All in all, one of the worst flights I`ve had in a long time. BTW, I`m still sitting on 39 u/g credits, 1 for 6 this year. I feel enhanced.