|
Flight/Origin-Destination: YVR-SEA (AC8097)
Date: 2013-08-30 Cabin: Y Pre departure Was check in quick and efficient? N/A - Connection Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? NEXUS line... was slow. Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? YES - the front desk agent seemed confused. When I arrived he asked "how may I help you" when I presented my BP and MLL pass. Also, it would have been nice to know the gate (E-95) was a 10+ minute walk from the MLL. Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Yes, the gate agent was wonderful. 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, the FA explained the issue with the log book well. Was the IFE activated on the ground? N/A Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? 5 minutes How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? yay juice. 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? N/A - carry-on only |
Originally Posted by w0rldtravlr
(Post 21369653)
the front desk agent seemed confused. When I arrived he asked "how may I help you" when I presented my BP and MLL pass. Also, it would have been nice to know the gate (E-95) was a 10+ minute walk from the MLL.
However, if it took you 10+ minutes, we have very different walking speeds :p |
Flight/Origin-Destination: YVR-YYC (AC202)
Date: 2013-Sep-09 Cabin: J Pre departure Was check in quick and efficient? Yes, barring the odd hiccough that the baggage-conveyor was refusing to start when commanded. I left it to the bag-hurlers to work out. Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? NEXUS card possession entitled me to a nifty little green sticker, which for the first time ever in my life resulted in my being shunted by the document-checkers into my very own personal screening-chute. In, through, and out in under two minutes. Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Yes, and had a nice chat with one of my favourite dragonets (they're all nice to me, but some I've been acquainted with for many more years than others -- to the extent of catching up on the latest news from retirees of whom I am still rather fond). Food included wobbly oblate spheroids which, upon closer inspection, turned out to be boiled eggs. Cinnamon-pot was, as usual, hiding by the oatmeal-crock instead of by the coffee-pot. I travel with my own little jar of cinnamon anyway, since that improves the 'flavour' of machine-made coffee. Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Yes, and the gate agents at C-51 were kindly to an old, winded, wobbly lady who'd just hoofed-it all the way round through the maze of twisty little hallways all alike. One hiccough has the need to dodge the phalanx of excessively-helpy green-vests who could not seem to comprehend that I knew where I was to go. I finally did a little soccer-pitch side-step, saying, "just let me go get on my airplane and you can keep arguing without me." If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/A Onboard - J cabin: Were the crew professional & well groomed? Yes. The SD was howlingly-funny, very pleasant chap indeed! If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? N/A. Captain made some sort of quasi-audible annnouncement about baggage, but we did not seem to be held-up thereby. Was the IFE activated on the ground? Haven't the foggiest, don't use the blessed things. Don't own a tellie at home, either, for that matter. Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? 15 minutes, perhaps? The SD was extracting enormous packages of coffee from the coat-closet, and that seemed to take some time beforehand. How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? Ah, my favourite Army-issue omelette, with both water and juice glasses pre-filled on the tray. Strange pseudo-sausage like usual -- perhaps it's been upgraded to a miniature haggis? Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? No, but I did however receive my customary double-Scotch in black coffee, which went down fine as always. Post departure If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? Connections duly made for the tinyplane hops to YEG and thence onward to YQU, where my priority-tagged B-bag arrived dead last of all on the roundabout conveyor, as it always does in YQU. I suppose that red-tags are there regarded with the same suspicion as Star Trek's expendable characters, the red-shirts. Anyway, my bag arrived, which is what matters. All-in-all? An entertaining journey, of which the first segment was amongst my better experiences of flying AC (or QK, or ABCDEFG or whatever-it-is these days). Not a bad deal for $147.22 (and 4 credits) all-in. -- Elane She of the blankets and Scotch-spiked coffee |
Flight/Origin-Destination: SEA-YVR (AC8088)
Date: 2013-09-11 Cabin: Y Pre departure Was check in quick and efficient? I checked in online initially and tried to print my BPs at SEA the night before as I was arriving at SEA from another flight... the kiosk had no love for me. A very friendly agent printed my BPs for me. Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Used the TSApre line even though it wasn't operating and I wasn't eligible flying on AC. TSA agent saw my NEXUS card and waved me in anyway, drill Sgt at the belt said they were "doing something special today". whatever. Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? I went to the TUMI store instead. Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Yes, all 8 passengers boarded effiently. If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/A Onboard - Y cabin: Were the crew professional & well groomed? Yes. Though the F/A sat in 1A reading her book during taxi, then popped into her jump seat for take off. As soon as the double chime sounded she moved back to 1A and went back to her book until the seat belt sign was turned off. If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? We were delayed while ground operations located and delivered coffee. Everyone heard the guy complaining about a broken down truck. Then an engine failed to start... Captain scurried out in a frantic manner "ugh. won't start", exited the aircraft and did something, came back, stated "we're gonna try it again" and disappeared into the flight deck. We pushed, and the engines started. There was no real explanation.... Was the IFE activated on the ground? N/A Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? From seat belt sign off till the end of the chapter the F/A was busy with. How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? yay juice. 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? N/A - carry-on only. |
Flight/Origin-Destination: YVR-YUL (AC150)
Date: 2013-09-11 Cabin: Y Pre departure Was check in quick and efficient? Stopped at the international ticket counter as it was empty and I needed a BP for my YUL-YTZ segment. The 2 agents had difficulty doing a re-print of my BP, but were very candid about the problem, personable, and pleasant. Please clone these people and ship several copies to YYZ. Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Used the NEXUS lane. NEXUS lane really needs to start operating like TSApre.... but that's a different thread. Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? No, went to have (real) breakfast instead. Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? I head it announced but general boarding was underway by time I queued. Noticed PAX flashing 2/3/4 year old E tags and using the Priority lane. 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? An instrument wouldn't calibrate or align or something, resulting in a 90 minute delay and the A/C returning to a gate. Regular announcements were made and the SD handled the "I'M SO IMPORTANT! DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" passengers very well. We were given updated connection information around top of decent to YUL. Thankfully a 18 minute connection in YUL is possible..... though it would have been very helpful on arrival if the SD had asked everyone to remain seated so those of us with an 18 minute connection could deplane first... 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? 30 minutes? How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? Didn't indulge. Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? Once or twice ? Post departure If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? N/A - carry-on only. |
Flight/Origin-Destination: YUL-YTZ (AC7525)
Date: 2013-09-11 Cabin: Y Pre departure Was check in quick and efficient? Had my BP from YVR (see previous post). At the gate I got an email (myMessages) with a note my intermarry was cancelled but the link to the full message would not load properly. (Found out later that I had been rebooked on a later flight). Not knowing this I went to the gate to board and the GA had a hard time boarding me. I had been bumped from my preferred seat (all she could see is that I had been "seat changed" she said). So she stuck me at the back of the bus and shoo'd me onto the plane. Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? N/A - connection Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? No time. Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? N/A - arrived at gate 5m to departure. 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? No delay. Was the IFE activated on the ground? N/A Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? Didn't pay attention, was watching the lightning. How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? The Lindt was Lindt and my 200ml of Diet Coke satisfied my aspartame addiction. Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? No, but they did collect garbage 4 times. Post departure If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? N/A - carry-on only. |
Route: LAX -YYZ
Date: early July, 2013 Flight #: AC794 Depart: 08:55 Arrive: 16:41 Equipment: A320 Cabin: J Seat: 3A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3R-3b5rKJA Pre departure Was check in quick and efficient? Yes, area was busy but only short wait in priority line Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? security not too busy when arrived, got through in about 10 minutes Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Yes - the usual morning selection, ’continental’ breakfast (toast, cereal, but no eggs or bacon, … etc …) 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? no Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? Yes Did crew offer to hang your jacket? not applicable, didnt have a jacket 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) approx 60 minutes How was the quality of all the meals? I got my selection: I went with the pancakes and sausage (it was o.k.). Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? Yes Summary _______ The load was 10/14 in J and the Y cabin seemed pretty full. Service was good and arrival was on time. My bags had priority tags and were among the first bags out. Overall, an enjoyable AC flight free of incident. |
|
Flight/Origin-Destination: AC195, YUL=>YVR
Date: 20 Oct 2013 Cabin: J Status: NZ*G/Star Alliance Gold Pre departure Was check in quick and efficient? No problems that we can recall. Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? We don't recall whether we used priority security. No complaint about security screening. The security staff identified a bicycle tool (which we thought we had packed in checked baggage) with too large a blade to be taken on board, but they were courteous and professional at all times. Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? We used the lounge. No comment re service, food and drinks, but the lavatories, both men's and women's, were too small for the size of the lounge. My wife had to queue for one of only two stalls. I had to be a contortionist just to get through the crowd to a urinal. Sorry if it's TMI. Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? We used the priority boarding queue. This efficiently moved us into a long, slow queue within the airbridge. As we finally approached the aircraft door we heard cabin staff asking passengers to clear the aisle so as not to cause any further delay. If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? N/A Onboard - J cabin: Were the crew professional & well groomed? No; tidy but not well groomed, and we didn't find them professional. If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? N/A Was the IFE activated on the ground? No Was a pre-departure beverage offered on the ground? No Did crew offer to hang your jacket? Yes (my wife's jacket). Unfortunately they didn't offer to retrieve it when we landed, and they didn't tell her where they had stashed it, which rather negated the advantage of disembarking from J class. Were newspapers & menus distributed and meal orders taken (Please specify when meal orders were taken - on the ground or in the air)? Newspapers - yes. Meal order taken on the ground. Did crew offer a hot towel prior to the meal service? We do not recall. Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service to be completed? (From takeoff to all items collected) We do not recall. How was the quality of all the meals? Mine: poor. Hers: appalling. Did the cabin crew continiously top up the beverage of your choice throughout the flight? We do not recall. Post departure If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? Yes (bags were checked right through to YKA) Overall experience/any other comments The standards of service on this flight fell so far below anything we've encountered for so long that I wrote a letter (on paper) to Air Canada Customer Relations detailing our concerns. (There's a lot I couldn't fit into this forum's format about careless, offhand and sometimes hostile cabin crew, poor entertainment system and more. I'm happy to provide the entire text of the letter but don't want to provoke a TL;DR response.) I got a reply (by e-mail) a couple of weeks later from an AC Customer Relations person who offered -a vague, generic apology; -no indication that she recognised that there was any particular problem; -and a pair of $100 discount vouchers for our next AC booking provided that we booked within 12 months. The AC CR person would have been well aware that we are New Zealanders and that there would be a good chance we couldn't make use of the vouchers (which were a pretty cheap token to begin with). I e-mailed back that the explanation and the offer were inadequate, and she basically told me to get stuffed. So it ends? |
Flight/Origin-Destination: YYZ-YVR (AC153)
Date: 2014-05-17 Cabin: Y Status: UA 1K Pre departure Was check in quick and efficient? The agent (AC Priority line) was very pleasant but had trouble operating the computer software... Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? No mention of priority security by agent (Amex Platinum booked tic, etc). Used NEXUS line. Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Yes, it was a bit busy. Went to Plaza Premium for hot breakfast instead. Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? The boarding area was a bit disorganized. Nobody was in line when I arrived. There were two sets of queues setup, one of which seeming led to the windows, not the gate :confused: A few people were being wheeled on in wheelchairs as Priority Boarding was called.... ended up 4th or 5th on board? whatever.. lol. On board, boarding seemed to progress slowly then suddenly there was a flury of "hurry up, sit down, put your bags away, OMG there's no bin space, be kind to your neighbor with the bin space" announcements. If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? No delays 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? 30 minutes How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? Didn't indulge Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? 3 times I think Post departure If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? N/A - bags checked through Side note: The cabin crew seemed grossly unprepared for landing. On final, approx 3000' ASL FAs were still wandering to their seats...and making announcements "the landing gear is down! please sit down!". There was no real walk through prior to landing to check seat belts or items being stowed. About 30 seconds later PAX, unprepared for landing, got out of their seat which sent FAs running (sliding?). We went around (had a nice tour of YVR by air), Captain made an announcement that go around was due to a vehicle inspecting the runway.... which seemed a little odd considering the insecure cabin :rolleyes: I really like the current configuration of the Y cabin on AC's 77W and 77L. I'm sad to hear Air Canada is going to ruin them all by going to 3-4-3 :( |
Flight/Origin-Destination: YVR-LAS (AC 1898) - rouge
Date: 2014-05-17 Cabin: Y Status: UA 1K Pre departure Was check in quick and efficient? N/A, connection. Not an Air Canada problem but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE lobby for Global Entry in the trans-boarder connections hall. Did you use priority security (if eligible) and if so, was it quick and efficient? Not offered in USA connections area Did you use the Maple Leaf lounge and if so, any feedback in regards to service, food and drinks? Yes, but left for the Plaza Premium louge for better food. Was priority boarding offered (if applicable to your status) and efficient? Don't know... arrived at the gate 1/2 way through boarding. If there was a delay, did the gate agent provide timely updates? No delays... Other Pre-Departure The AC mobile app offered an upgrade on this flight. It offered "Business Class" in exchange for CAD$386. That's right, "Business Class". Premium Rouge, especially on an rouge A319, is nothing like business class and it is horribly misleading to make such an offer. The app should say "give us $386 and the middle seat will probably be empty**". **but we also claim that people like flying rouge... your experience may vary. Onboard - Y cabin: Were the crew professional & well groomed? The "fun / hip" script the crew is given makes it impossible to achieve any impression of professionalism. These "cute" phrases were delivered so awkwardly they just sounded unprofessional and incompetent. The complete lack of coaching/guidance through PAs on how to stow baggage on a narrow body aircraft meant that bin space was full with ~60% of PAX on board due to sideways roll-a-boards and silly items in the bins. Not that I can blame people for stowing their laptop bag in the bin.... If you put it under the seat in front of you there would be no space for your feet. If there was a delay, were you provided with timely updates? N/A Was the IFE activated on the ground? HAHAHAHAH IFE HAHAHA. Ha. not funny. :( Approximately how long after take off did it take for the first meal service/Onboard cafe to begin? 30 minutes How was the quality of the meal/Onboard cafe? The 150ml of diet coke I was offered and consumed was consistent with other diet coke I've enjoyed on airplanes in the past. Did the cabin crew offer water regularly throughout the flight? maybe once? Other on board notes: At first I didn't think the seats were too bad. Then the person behind me got up to use the lav and I realized that what I thought was lumbar support was actually his knees pressed into my back. The rouge A319 is horrible. I'm 5'9" and slim.... yet I felt cramped, uncomfortable, and claustrophobic. The 2.5 hours on this flight felt like an eternity. Everyone on the plane was asking in disbelief if it was legal to have seats so close together. The "entertainment" via Wi-Fi is half baked and performs poorly. The FAs need to give better instructions on how to access it.... The app will not continue to play audio if your device locks... so just to listen to music, the screen has to be on.... which kills your battery. There are no power outlets? really? And this is meant to be viable on a 6 hour flight YYZ-SAN? The quantity and quality of content offered was also disappointing compared to the mainline system. Also, many people had not downloaded the app.... why not offer a web based front end for it? Or at least a captive portal? Post departure If you have checked baggage, did it arrive within reasonable period of time? The instructions given by FAs on bag collection was horribly vague. It was a rambling rant about AC moving terminals and duty free and bags and trains and the weather.... As a result, over half of PAX with bags went to T1, only to have to shuttle back to T3 to get bags. Back at T3, some bags had been taken from the carousel already. Someone wearing a un-branded uniform (it was her safety shoes that initially made me think "this person might work here") was demanding bag-tags in exchange for assistance. When asked who she was (i.e. airline employee?) before surrendering my baggage receipt, she flung her ID around so it was face out and scoffed and sneered. Gee, thanks. Those of us who's bags were not at the carousel were told to go get our bags from "the office". You know, the unmarked room that looks identical to the 6 other unmarked rooms in the baggage hall? :confused: Oh, and a week later and mileage still hasn't posted, though the other mainline flights that day have long ago... Traveling on a Canadian passport, I'm embarrassed this airline has the maple leaf on it's tail. I'm sad to see the only option for non-stop service on many routes to now be rouge. I will gladly connect to avoid this clown car experience whenever possible. |
Ben and Ben,
When it works, it works. I tend to be a lazy, sarcastic, sometimes caustic poster here. But flying west to east, flex x 2, an earlier flight .... GA was polite, professional, went to see a supervisor and got us on an earlier (5 hr long) flight and moved our J to that J. SE, MM, etc. Sometimes I think your GA staff does notice, and does care. Kudos. |
Originally Posted by InTheAirGuy
(Post 23352264)
Ben and Ben,
When it works, it works. I tend to be a lazy, sarcastic, sometimes caustic poster here. But flying west to east, flex x 2, an earlier flight .... GA was polite, professional, went to see a supervisor and got us on an earlier (5 hr long) flight and moved our J to that J. SE, MM, etc. Sometimes I think your GA staff does notice, and does care. Kudos. |
Originally Posted by Ben Lipsey
(Post 23352373)
Glad to hear you had a good experience. I work with some very dedicated and passionate people, and if you'd like you can shoot me an email at [email protected] I'd be happy to pass on your comments.
|
Something seriously needs to be done with the crabby crew types who seem to not give a d@mn about anything. A crabby crew, and especially a bad SD can make or break a flight experience.
Even though European carriers are pretty horrible, crews have been always consistent - not once have I encountered indifferent/uncaring crew on European carriers (primarily *A, but I have also experimented with OneWorld!) |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 9:25 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.