This was our first long-haul trip on AS. My wife and I were on paid F tickets, which weren't all that much more than DL wanted for an L class ticket on a DCA-ATL-LAX-OGG and return itinerary.

On the DCA-PDX segment on 1/1/14 departing in the 5 pm hour, the first course was a salad comprising mostly of watermelon chunks and arugula. The entree was a choice of Alaska cod in a lemon sauce with Yukon gold roast potatoes and chopped broccoli or cheese ravioli. The dessert was a peach parfait. I didn't drink wine on the flight so I can't comment on the wine choices. I did drink a few Alaskan Ambers, which I rate as one of the best beers I've ever drank on an airliner.

On the PDX-OGG segment on 1/2/14 departing in the 11 am hour, catering put breakfast menus and lunch food on board. The first course was a mixed green salad with pieces of an orange colored tropical fruit, macadamia nuts and feta cheese (which was quite good). The entrees were either a chicken with curry sauce plate (which ran out before the FA reached us in row 4) or boneless kalbi beef rib pieces in a teriyaki-type sauce with white rice and an oriental vegetable (possibly bok choy). My wife thought the beef was tough but I thought it was really delicious. I cleaned my plate.

The dessert was a cup of a creme with chocolate and coconut flavors; this was very nice.

As far as beverages are concerned, I tried a Kona Longboard lager in the PDX Board Room along with my pancakes out of the awesome pancake making machine. On board, I had a couple of bloody marys (AS uses a different mix than DL's Mr. & Mrs. T) which I thought were really enhanced by the Sun Liquor vodka. I'm not a cognac drinker, but AS has cognac on board (I don't think DL does). After lunch, I tried the Crater Lake espresso vodka on the rocks, which I though blew Kahlua away. About an hour from landing mai tais were served in both cabins; my wife really liked hers. AS put a big chunk of fresh pineapple and a maraschino cherry on the drink skewers in F, and the pineapple dipped in the mai tai was an incredible taste.

My wife had the POG juice as her PDB, which she found "drinkable but not delicious".

The breakfast menus indicated that, if we had gone on an early morning departure, our entree choices would have been an omelet with shredded pork and rice or "our version of a moco loco" (scrambled eggs, low fat beef patty with sweet onions and pan gravy).

We really liked the way we were treated on AS; if we can't get the tickets we want on DL for long-haul Pacific coast destinations, we won't hesitate to book AS. I really, really hope DL does not acquire AS.