Flight check: Vancouver to Honolulu on Air Canada

An Air Canada Boeing 767-300. Photo / Creative Commons image by Flickr user aero_icarus

Peter Hamling flies AC47 from Canada to Hawaii.

The plane: Boeing 767-300.

Class: Economy.

Price: Booked online on Air Canada's website the basic flight was C$306.50, but with a Canadian Airport Improvement fee, a USA Transportation tax, US Agriculture fee, Canadian GST, USA Immigration User fee, Air Travellers Security charge, and US Federal Customs fee the total was C$390.53, which converted to $466.11.

But wait, there's more ... another $25 at check-in for the privilege of checking-in your 23kg bag.

On time? About 20 minutes late pushing out from the terminal in Vancouver but an on-time arrival at Aloha state Honolulu; flight time a few minutes short of six hours.

In the cabin: Seats were selected at time of booking (no extra charge!) so no problems there. But the cabin temperature was very cold - our query to one of the attendants brought the unsmiling response that "that is how it always is". Air Canada does offer a pillow and blanket but that extra comfort costs another $7.

And if you're travelling with little people (we weren't, but just saying) don't expect the usual complimentary colouring books and crayons to keep them quiet. On this airline you pay $3 for those.

Entertainment: The standard screen set into the seat in front. A reasonable, if relatively modest, selection of movies etc. You can watch, but if you want to hear the soundtrack as well you provide your own headset or buy one from Air Canada for $3.25.

Service: Nothing remarkable here. The best I can say is that the four middle-aged women went through the motions without a smile between them.

Food and drink: Water, tea and coffee came free, everything else you pay for (remember, this was a six-hour international flight). The on-board menu was more than a little nondescript - just as well we ate in the airport before departure. Most "snacks" were $3 or $4, a lunch tray would set you back $13.50; beer or wine around $7. There is an option of course - you can take your own victuals on board.

Toilets: Adequate.

Airport experience: Vancouver (YVR) seems to be a very tidy and well-organised operation. Remember, that when departing there for a US airport you go through US immigration procedures before you board your aircraft. It does make for a smoother arrival at your destination.

Would I fly this again? Unlikely, unless Air Canada becomes more passenger-friendly.