Flight/Origin-Destination: AC616 (YYZ-YHZ)
Date: Jun 14
Cabin: J
Status: SE

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Yes
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? Yes; no comments.
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Yes; it was offered and was efficient.
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? n/a

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? Yes
Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? yes water or juice
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)? Menus distributed on the ground; orders taken in the air.
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? A while. It was all done at once, i.e. no pre-dinner drink offered.
How was the quality of all the meals? Average.
Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? Not at all.

Onboard - Y 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?
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin?
How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe?
Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight?

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

Overall experience/any other comments: Sub-par service on this flight. Steak was terribly overcooked to the point that it was actually hard to cut/eat. Wine was served in the small glasses throughout and was only offered one refill on a 2+ hr flight. Had to ask for another glass--although there was 45 minutes left in the flight SD seemed hesitant, asked what I was drinking and ended up serving me the other wine instead. Never picked up my glass for landing. Clearly on this day, the SD didn't seem to me to enjoy her job.

Flight/Origin-Destination: AC878 (YYZ-ZRH)
Date: Jun 16
Cabin: J
Status: E

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Yes
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? Yes; no comments.
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Yes; it was offered and was efficient.
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? n/a

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? Yes
Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? yes champagne, water or juice
Did crew offer to hang your jacket? Yes
Were newspapers & menus distributed and meal orders taken (Please specify when meal orders were taken - on the ground or in the air)? Menus distributed on the ground; orders taken in the air.
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? Shortly after take off drinks were offered and meal followed shortly thereafter.
How was the quality of all the meals? My first choice, salmon was available and was very good. vegetables were not over cooked, bread was excellent - on par with bread in Paris (my personal benchmark). The breakfast offering was a fruit plate, yogurt, croissant, juice and hot beverage. The fruit was generally good, however the melon was not ripe enough to have any flavour.
Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? Yes.

Onboard - Y 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?
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin?
How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe?
Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight?

Post departure
If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? Yes, when I arrived at the carousel bags were already coming through.

Overall experience/any other comments: Flight attendants were polite and concerned about providing excellent service. I was booked in Y, but was one of the lucky few to be upgraded. The upgrade was at the gate and was done before boarding started. New AC amenity kit has mostly everything expected (I do miss the CP air razors and combs though).

IAH-YUL
 

Flight/Origin-Destination: AC 7998 IAH-YUL
Date: 21-5-2012 (Victoria Day)
Cabin: Y
Status: AC E

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Yes
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? Yes

If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? No delay.

Just one comment, no announcement was made in French. This kind of sucks especially for a flight that deserves Montréal.

Was the IFE activated on the ground? Yes, but I wonder why the Map functionality was not working. It is not the first time that I see this issue in some routes to/from the US.

Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? I don't remember

How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? Edible, but nothing beyond that.
Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? Yes.

Post departure
If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? No, maybe because it was the Victoria day holiday. It took close to 45 minutes before I could get my bags. I was lucky to have the priority tag on them.

Overall experience/any other comments
The main reason I decided to post my feedback was due to the service AC provided. I left a brand new iPad cover in the overhead bin and even if I reported the loss two days later AC's lost and found department managed to find it and mail it to me a couple of weeks later. I really appreciate the effort you guys did ^

Flight/Origin-Destination: YYZ-EWR (AC766)
Date: 28 May 2012
Cabin: Y
Status: None to speak of

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Yes.
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Yes
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Charming staff (where are the "lounge dragons" I read about?), good selection of snacks and beverages. Being Y passengers with no status we paid for lounge access.
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? N/A
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? Yes.



Onboard - Y cabin:
Were the crew professional & well groomed? Yes
If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? Yes
Was the IFE activated on the ground? Unsure
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? Beverage service commenced quickly.
How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? N/A
Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? N/A

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

Overall experience/any other comments
I would normally only comment on a flight when we are in J, but for the first time we requested mobility assistance for my wife. She doesn't need assistance for short walks or periods of standing, but our experiences entering the US is that American efficiency is grossly exaggerated. After my wife's painful experience standing in a queue for a full hour last year, we decided that it was appropriate to ask for assistance. AC could not have been better in handling this request. Well done AC!

Flight/Origin-Destination: YEG
Date: 15 June
Cabin: Y
Status:

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Yes
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient?
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks?
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient?
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/A

Onboard - Y cabin:
Were the crew professional & well groomed? Yes
If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? Yes
Was the IFE activated on the ground? Yes
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? 20 minutes
How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? Okay
Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? Yes

Post departure
If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? 5 days later, infant bag still lost

Overall experience/any other comments
Not a pleasant experience plus lost baggage.

Flight/Origin-Destination: YYZ-MCI-YYZ (AC8029/8028)
Date: 29 June/1 July
Cabin: Y
A/C Type: CRJ 100 and 200.
Status: P

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Only 1 small AC sign at the UA counters. I just used the Premier counter as the agent was processing AC pax.
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? None available but security was empty anyway
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? No *A lounge in Terminal A as far as I saw, not that I'd have access anyway.
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? No. It's a CRJ.
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/A

Onboard - Y cabin:
Were the crew professional & well groomed? Yes. Typical Jazz crew.
If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? N/A
Was the IFE activated on the ground? The window shade was open? :rolleyes:
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? 20 mins. Great service on the outbound with 3 drink/snack rounds. Only 1 on the MCI-YYZ flight as it's shorter.
How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? Buy on Board available. I brought my own snacks as "butter flavoured" pretzels don't appeal to me.
Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? 3 services on the YYZ-MCI leg. Only 1 on the MCI-YYZ leg. FA was lazy?

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


Overall experience/any other comments
These planes stink (specifically the old style "blue juice" lavatories). Thankfully I snagged the exit row seat as the cabin was rather warm until an hour into the flight on both flights. According to the FA I was chatting with, they are replacing each CRJ100/200 with a Q400 as they arrive. ^ The MCI-YYZ leg was on a CRJ200 which is slightly newer if that makes a difference.

AC107
 

Flight/Origin-Destination: YYZ-YYC
Date: Jul 5, 2012
Cabin: J
Status: none

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Y
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Y
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Y, Good, simple offering, but will be getting meal on flight.
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Y, all flights were boarded on time as per what was called out on the bp.
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/a

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? Y
Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? Y (water or oj)
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)? Y (in the air)
Did crew offer a hot towel prior to the meal service? Y
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service to be completed? 1:45 hrs
How was the quality of all the meals? Very good. I chose the omelet with ricotta and the red pepper sauce. I love that sauce. Then the nuts and drinks and then the ice cream and cookies. Offered more ice cream and or cookies.
Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? Y

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

Overall experience/any other comments:
Very attentive FA, No complaints.

AC203
 

Flight/Origin-Destination: AC203 YYC-YVR
Date: Jul, 2012
Cabin: J
Status: none

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Y
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Y
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Y, Good, simple offering, but will be getting meal on flight.
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Y, all flights were boarded on time as per what was called out on the bp.
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/a

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? Y
Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? Y (water or oj)
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)? Y (in the air)
Did crew offer a hot towel prior to the meal service? Y
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service to be completed? 45 min.
How was the quality of all the meals? Very good, however, no option, she just brought us the omelets with ricotta.
Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? N

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

Overall experience/any other comments: Alright. Of the 4 flights I had over these 10 days, this FA just did her job and did not touch the other 3 FAs on showing that she enjoyed her job. It was on of those scenarios when I would say thank you I woulndt get a "your welcome" or even a smile, just a blank stare.

Ac 506 yvr-sfo
 

Flight/Origin-Destination: YVR-SFO
Date: Jul 10, 2012
Cabin: J
Status: none

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Y
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Y
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Y, Good, simple offering, but will be getting meal on flight.
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Y, all flights were boarded on time as per what was called out on the bp.
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/a

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? Y
Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? Y (water or oj)
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)? Y (in the air)
Did crew offer a hot towel prior to the meal service? Y
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service to be completed? 1 hr
How was the quality of all the meals? Good (beef, as fish option was first to go). Had the cheesecake on tray also.
Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? Y

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

Overall experience/any other comments:
Very good.

Ac756 sfo-yyz
 

Flight/Origin-Destination: SFO-YYZ
Date: Jul 14, 2012
Cabin: J
Status: none

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Y
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Y
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? No, not avail, but they have a contract with the Delta int'l lounge in the A term. Very conv to gate, but no where near what the options are at a MLL, but as stated before I knew we'd be well taken care of on board.
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Y, all flights were boarded on time as per what was called out on the bp.
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/a

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? Y
Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? Y (water or oj)
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)? Newspaper while on ground, menus in the air.
Did crew offer a hot towel prior to the meal service? Y
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service to be completed? 1 hr
How was the quality of all the meals? Options were salmon, cannelloni, or chicken. I went with salmon. It was good, but the "creamed mustard rice" was only sampled, not eaten. I feel this is their attempt at saying they can't possibly call this risotto so let's call it creamed rice. As usual the ice cream and cookies later in the flight were plentiful.
Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? Y

Post departure
If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? Nope, even after a long line in customers, the bags were still 5 minutes after getting through customs and getting to the baggage area. Then what I assume were the sky checked items started coming off, there was about a dozen pcs.

Overall experience/any other comments:
FA excellent, at airport, the usual unpredicatble customs lines and spotty baggage delivery

Flight/Origin-Destination: YVR - HKG (AC007)
Date: 05/27/12
Cabin: J
Status: E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yHxy2jnmkA

Pre departure

Was check in quick and efficient? Yes
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Not Applicable
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Yes. They need to offer some sort of hot entrée, not just appetizers like nachos
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Yes
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? No delay

Onboard - J cabin:

Were the crew professional & well groomed? Yes
If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? No delay
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? Yes
Were newspapers & menus distributed and meal orders taken (Please specify when meal orders were taken - on the ground or in the air)? Yes, in the air
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) hour and a half? (I think)
How was the quality of all the meals? The beef was terrible - over cooked and tough as shoe leather! The rest of the meal was o.k.
Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? Yes

Flight/Origin-Destination: AC 252 YVR-YEG
Date: August 16, 2012
Cabin: J
Status: E (on AE reward ticket, status not on BP)

I fly this route all the time, but wanted to write it up because

a) I never fly 252, the late night 22:55 departure
b) I never see J with much empty space, on this flight though, I was the only one!

Pre departure:

Was check in quick and efficient? -- OLCI done in YLW earlier in the day.

Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? -- Not offered in Kelowna, but it was quick anyways. Moved onto earlier YVR flight for free because of a slight delay by GA in YLW. Time from getting to terminal to having a new BP in my hand was maybe 10 minutes.

Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? -- Used in Vancouver, where friendly agent tried to move me onto an earlier flight (delayed by over an hour), which was full. Lounge was busy before red-eye YYZ/YUL/YOW flights, but light snacks were available, with plenty of space to relax.

Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient?-- Sort of- The gate next to us was going to YOW, and an automated announcement for priority boarding was made. Then the agent at our gate stood up, without a PA system or anything, and yelled "AC 252 also, Star gold, Elite, Super Elite, and Executive class boarding now"..... So I just went up and that was it.

If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? --NA

Onboard - J cabin:

Were the crew professional & well groomed?-- I boarded to find 3 FAs sitting in J. They looked up at me and said "oh, that was fast". 2 ran back to Y to prepare, and one came up to me. She was pleasant, and looked very nice.

If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? --We left 45 minutes late, even though boarding began 25 mins before take off, The pilot simply said that they were still loading bags.

Was the IFE activated on the ground? Yes

Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? --No. This annoyed me, as the FA stood by the door talking to the pilot about how she was flying out on the same plane first thing in the morning and how he is DH to YYC and then going to Vegas the next day, yet couldn't give me (the sole J pax) a water in the almost hour that we sat at the gate....

Did crew offer to hang your jacket?-- No, I threw it in the overhead bin, but she never offered.

Were newspapers & menus distributed and meal orders taken (Please specify when meal orders were taken - on the ground or in the air)? -- The FA asked what I wanted to drink after departure on the ground, and had to double check what reds she had. She offered me a cab sav or a shiraz, and brought me a glass right after take off. No word on food on the ground though.

Did crew offer a hot towel prior to the meal service?-- Yes. She then gave me the salmon, with no choice. I was actually surprised to get an actual meal on the late flight.

Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service to be completed? (From takeoff to all items collected) -- Could have been 30 minutes, but she offered me a second meal, which I took, as well as more nuts, so almost an hour in total.

How was the quality of all the meals? -- The salmon was dry, but I was quite hungry. The presentation was nice, with cutlery wrapped in a linen napkin.

Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight?-- Yes-- The FA did go to Y to help with the service, so she wasn't there to top me up, but all I had to do was ring the call button and she'd be back.

Post departure:

If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time?-- Carry on only. I was walking out the terminal door within 10 minutes of landing.

Overall experience/any other comments

I am used to aerolotto and full J cabins, so to find an empty one was shocking. The FA told me that 3 pax moved onto an earlier flight, which was why I couldn't get on....It was quite strange having so much space to myself!

Something I didn't like was that the FA didn't close the curtain between J and Y-- Yes, I might be the only J pax, but it would be nice to do that. Also, not doing a pre departure drink did bring down the experience. That being said, my FA (the SD), was very friendly. She chatted during service and landing, smiled the entire time, and made me feel welcome.

It was a treat to end my vacation alone in J, but this is not a route that I would ever upgrade on, simply because of the short duration. Unless I have an odd number of eupgrades left and am on a Y/B fare, it's Y for me!

In the spirit of the new year and my first AC flight in almost 3 months I'm going to resurrect this thread. Hopefully AC still reads this forum.

Flight/Origin-Destination: AC140 YYC-YYZ
Date: 24 Jan 2013
Cabin: Y
Status: SE

Pre departure
Was check in quick and efficient? Concierge checked me in while I was driving to the airport, everything went very well.
Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Nexus
Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Place was packed like an Indonesian dinghy off the coast of Christmas Island with the LHR, FRA and a full YYZ flight in there. Had the hot pasta, carrot soup and some wine, all were satisfying.
Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Missed priority boarding.
If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/A

Onboard - Y 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? Yes
Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? ~20 minutes
How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? Ordered a trio; chicken wrap was okay, was tempted to try the risotto but decided I'd rather have a beer than splurge $20 on airline food.
Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? Once after first BoB/drink service, followed by second full drink service. Enough for a 3.5 hr flight.

Post departure
If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? No. Gate checked a bag at YYC, bag came out pretty late but this is YYZ we're talking about.

Overall experience/any other comments
I'm starting to feel flying is boring now.

Flight/Origin-Destination: YVR-OGG-YVR
Date:Jan 5 & 26, 2013
Cabin: Y :(
Status: Elite [Per Dictionary.com: noun: the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons.]

Pre departure

With a great deal of hope but little expectation I tried to book this trip on AE at T-356 days. Predictably, nothing available. Expected but infuriating. I decided to have a look at the cost of a purchased ticket, and found an attractive T+ price, and most importantly, afternoon departures both ways. Because of the latter, I grabbed it, even though it was almost a year in advance. Because of this, seats were wide open, and I snagged Preferred Seats both ways at no charge. I'm more or less happy despite no AE seats.

About 6 months later something in this forum prompted me to check the schedule. My afternoon departures are now 17:35 and 22:55. I specifically booked these flights to avoid the return redeye. Haven't heard a word from AC. After a couple of weeks I send an email to a customer service lady I have come to know through earlier glitches. She confirms the schedule change but says they don't always notify pax right away in case there's another change. (Yes, that's really what she said. A 9.5 hour change and they don't have the courtesy to tell people.) Eventually, around October/November I receive a notification, a full four or five months after the change. The notification mentions change of schedule, but neglects to mention change of aircraft and seats, which I didn't pick up at the time.

Because of lack of success using eUpgrade credits earlier in the year, I hold a glimmer of hope I can use the last of my credits on this trip.

Was check in quick and efficient? Yes, both ways. Small glitch with the automated checkin software at OGG.

Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Yes, outbound. Yes. No priority security at OGG, but we were early and missed the crowds. Other threads have warned about very lengthy delays at OGG security. We breezed through in 5 minutes.

Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Yes in YVR - average. No lounge in OGG. Pretty cruddy airport overall.

Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Yes and yes. Interestingly, in OGG it appeared that status pax were boarded before families.

If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? On time both ways despite poor overall AC OTP and poor OTP for these flights in particular.

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:
Were the crew professional & well groomed? Average except for one male FA on 058. He came scurrying through the departure lounge obviously in a hurry, looking rumpled, tie open at the neck like a hockey coach. I saw him once or twice on the flight, tie was still open. His appearance was unprofessional to my eye, but I tend to be a stickler for these types of things.

There was one pax who appeared to be a deadheading FA. She had enough carry-on to pack her entire household. There's no way I would have gotten away with what she had.

Seats I didn't realize it until we boarded, but my preferred seats disappeared into the ether. No notification, no explanation, no nothing. Just slam dunk. Three of the four aisle seats on these Pineapples have a large box under the seat right where your foot belongs, which severely restricts foot room.

On the outbound I waitlisted for u/g at T-96 hours. It appeared that almost all J was sold, so I didn't have much hope. Okay, fair enough. On the return Flight Stats showed R7 J9 at T-7 days, dropped to R3 J6 after the SE window opened and stayed there for a couple of days. Looking hopeful, I logged on a few minutes ahead of the E window opening. As the clock rolled over 96:00 I clicked and the website froze. It took me 3 or 4 minutes to get a response, and by then I'm waitlisted. Flight Stats still shows R3. By next morning, it shows R0 J4, which it remains for the next 2.5 days. Then J drops to 0. Screwed again. Am I expected to believe AC sold four J seats from OGG to YVR 36 hours before departure? If not, what happened to the four Js? Given to others who beat me by microseconds? The deadheading pack mule?

If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? No delay.

Was the IFE activated on the ground? The a/c were Pineapples, so IFE was crap. Same program both ways. On the return the SD announced that the program was loaded down below and they had not left a playlist, so he had no idea what we would see.

Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? ~45 - 60 min.

How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? We made a point of eating in the lounge at YVR and the restaurant at OGG. You can draw your own conclusions from that.

Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? Yes.

Post departure
If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? At OGG, no. Priority bags were ignored. My priority golf clubs came out almost dead last. At YVR it was good. I could see the golf clubs on the oversize belt even before the regular bags started coming. Got home and found a 20 cm gash in my golf bag.

Overall experience/any other comments

The product that I was delivered on this trip was a long distance from the product I was sold a year ago. I realize things change, but the lack of notification and the R games are simply unacceptable. After reflecting on this kind of treatment and the recent gutting of the E35 benefits, in particular upgrade credits I can't use and AE points I can't use, I have concluded that it just isn't worth it any more. I'm tired of the one way loyalty and it will therefore end. It just isn't worth the aggravation and abuse any more. If anyone at AC cares, you can PM me and perhaps we can talk.


However, if AC's game plan is to alienate the Elite, it's working.

Flew AC 794 LAX-YYZ the other day.

First time (ever) in Executive Class and my review is mixed:

Check In:

No priority check in was offered. There were signs at LAX but the desks were not staffed. Had to wait in the regular line with everyone else. Oddly there seems to be a lot of of new people flying AC as many had difficulty with the check ins (passports, baggage fees etc).

The check in agent did put a priority bag tag on my bag, and advised me of the MLL.

Priority Security was also not available (unless you were flight crew).

Lounge:

I have been to the LAX MLL before so I knew what to expect. Despite other negative reviews, I actually quite enjoy the lounge for its good runway views and the champagne! I have yet to find this on in any other MLL lounge and wonder if its because of the stiff competition from the lounge next door (Air NZ) or people expect it when being in the Entertainment Capital.

The lounge dragon was nice for a chance, but advised me that I don't have much time as boarding has already started (this was 60+ mins prior to takeoff). The lounge was not very busy and sure enough she paged everyone for last call to Toronto at 45+ mins to departure. Found that very odd as normally last call is 15 mins prior to departure. I do like how they page you for boarding (haven't started doing this in LGA).

Boarding:

Once again, priority boarding was really not offered. There were signs but no one at the desk. Waited in line with everyone else. Gate staff seemed in different.

Once on board, there was no greeting or checking of boarding pass (I know AC has been in the habit of doing this as of lately). However, I knew Exec class has a closet for Coats and business jackets.

While waiting to get to my seat I inquired with the SD about putting my business jacket and coat away and this is what really perplexed me. She abruptly responded that "is not my department and is why I have assistants to do that for me". I could not find these assistants she spoke of, so I just decided to put away my own jacket. It was at that time she ( the SD who said it was not her department) came up to me, snatched my jacket and coat out of my hands and said that I was not allowed to hang up my own items as it needs to be recorded properly! The SE that was seated next to me told me he couldn't believe his eyes as that has never happened before.

Pre Departure Drink was offered - however I was told I could only have apple juice as they did not have water or orange juice? I did see both being served later.

No headphones, pillows, or blankets were offered (another enhancement?). I had my own headphones so it wasn't a big deal. I did find a pillow to use stowed in the overhead compartment.

No newspapers were offered. Usually on Transborder flights a copy of the G&M is available.

Taxi-Takeoff:

Everyone was on board well before departure time which should have led to an early push back, but because of some duty free issues (some people not claiming them) it seemed like we were delayed which was a tad annoying.
Having flown AC in the past I have known they have always offered gate to gate entertainment. Apparently this has changed? The IFE was turned, and I had asked if it could be turned on. I was told they don't turn it on now until the air? I asked has this changed? And was responded that "this is how it has always been". The SD then came by and said she would make an exception to have it turned on the ground

Cruise:

IFE was very good as always.

Drinks - Standard drinks were offered. Disappointed no champagne. Cold nuts were served on these nice mini ceramic trays, and could have as many as you wanted. Only one drink order was taken at the beginning of the flight, any additional drinks you had to ask for (even for the water service they normally do every hour in Y). I hated having to ask that I just asked for water when I went back to Y to use the washroom.

Meals - consisted of beef, chicken, salmon, and a pasta dish. I had the beef tenderloin that was very good (and in choose in part due to the positive reviews on this site). It was cooked medium well with wonderful salad, and potatoes infused with chives and sour cream. A selection of cold buns was also served (I had whole wheat).

Dessert was freshly baked cookies and Ice cream and I can see why FTers are in love with these

Only two types of red were available. No white wine was offered.

Meal orders seem to have taken by Status as the SD started in the back and worked her way to the front. She did address some people by name but not others including myself.

Hot towels were provided as well.

Bathrooms:

I knew exec class had an exclusive wash-room to use, and the twos I tried to use it (the curtain was closed) the SD informed it was not available due to Flight crew milling about (Captain was out socializing, and then the FO). She had no problems though with first 3 sections of Y coming into the exec cabin to use the wash-room whenever they needed to.

I instead used the bathroom in Y and waited my turn. One of the FA's recognized me from being seated in J and asked why I wasn't using the bathroom there as there would be no line. I told her I was not allowed to by the SD. She seemed shocked by this. She did tell me if I needed anything to just come find her in Y and that she would help me. I thought that was a nice gesture.

Landing/Arrival:

We arrived early, with a nice smooth landing, cleared customs quickly and my bag was among one of the first off.

Overall the hard product of J was very good and liked the comfortable seats with adjustable headrests, meals and presentation, and the private exclusive feel of the cabin. IFE was good as always and the aircraft was well maintained for being an A320.

What I didn't enjoy was the soft product. I felt like I was a burden and it was clear they either knew I was a low status flier, or the SD was just having a very bad day, and being the youngest in the cabin, didn't feel the need to treat me at the same level as the rest of the J fliers.

I did not let her treatment towards me ruin my flight, but I can know understand why FTers make the distinction between the Soft Product and the Hard product. There clearly is a difference and it is not integrated well.

That's all from me, thought I would just detail my first ever J experience, and confirm some of the FTers suspicions about the dilution of J service.