Trip Report: AC J YYZ-YYC

Date: 09-2013
Route: YYZ-YYC
Airline: Air Canada
Class of service: J (purchased in Y, then upgraded)
Aircraft: Boeing 763
Mile-High Potential in J: 0% - besides being a day flight, the cabin was only half full.  25% of passengers were women, and of the men, most had white hair.  This is unfortunately typical for AC flights.

The plane took off sideways, or so it seemed.

I was on my way from Toronto to Calgary and had used e-upgrade credits to upgrade from economy to business class.  I had chosen my flight with the intention of doing this, and knew that unlike the rest of the day, the 10am flight was on AC's 763 and had pod seating up front.

J Cabin - nice and bright, only half full on my flight.

You can see from this perspective the 3 rows of seats.  Also note the luggage bins above, which I found were tight to fit an international-sized carry on.

AC's pod seating

AC's pods are actually quite comfortable.  They lay flat and horizontal (180 degrees), allowing for either a nap or a solid sleep on a longer flight.  The controls are intuitive, and while the movies are a bit spotty, they've certainly gotten better over the last year.

The odd sensation at take-off is associated with the direction of the pods.  You aren't facing straight ahead as you would on other planes, so it can be a bit disconcerting.

Seat & TV control - note that the TVs are also touch-screen.

The TV, which pops out of the side consul.  Of note, the TVs must be stored on take-off and landing.  This can be a bit irritating if you don't realize it and are trying to finish a movie, so something to keep in mind.

Power outlet

The windows are a bit behind the seat and difficult to look out.  Definitely not the best seat for views, though I would sacrifice the views on some flights for not having to climb over my neighbor to get into the aisle.  Next to the window is a reading light, and there are also lights that you can activate from overhead.

Shortly after sitting down, the flight attendant came to take my jacket and offer orange juice or water.  This was a morning flight.  Normally in the afternoon and evening flights they offer champagne as an option, though my experience is more on the international routes and the champagne may be limited to international flights.

At this point they also distributed menus.  In my case the options were (i) an omelet with chicken sausage, (ii) pancakes, or (iii) a healthy option with yogurt and grains.  If you want more current menu options, a good place to check is here.

Along with your main course, a fruit plate, yogurt, and your choice of white or cinnamon-raisin bread was available.  This was served shortly after take-off, but slowly as we had a 4 hour flight.

First course - fruit plate with cinnamon-raisin bread

Second course - omelet with chicken sausage

The food wasn't bad, though I find it hard to either ruin a breakfast or make it spectacular at 40,000 feet.  As recommended in an earlier post, I did make use of those salt and pepper packages and found the taste much improved, but also found that I needed to drink quite a bit more to quench my thirst.

So I ordered coffee and baileys.

Twice.

No complaints.

In terms of other offerings in business class:

• Amenity kits: None.  Those are given out on trans-Pacific/Atlantic flights only.
• Bathrooms: Not noticeably better than economy.  No special amenities, extra space or windows.
• Service: Very good.  The flight attendants circulated regularly, were amiable and made the flight a pleasure.  I'm a big advocate for quality service in business class.  It's part of the package, and when it doesn't happen I'm challenged to differentiate between classes in terms of appeal.
• Snacks: Lindt chocolate, nuts and potato chips were offered twice during the flight.  They were also available upon request.

Overall, a good, quick flight.  We took off on time, landed on time, and I didn't feel stressed or irritated in between.  Based on this, I would say the YYZ-YYC AC J flight on the 763 is a solid domestic option.

If you have any specific questions about the flight, let me know!

Where am I?

Update: This shot was taken in Guilin, China.

Going off the main tourist track in China is highly recommended.  Get out of the big cities and head to more rural areas for a more authentic experience (not that big cities aren't authentic!).  I thought that Guilin and Yangshou were stunning examples of why we travel, not just the building below but the scenery in the area was spectacular.

***

This shot was taken with a tripod on a Canon 30D.  For photography geeks:

F-stop: f/25
ISO speed: 800
Exposure bias: -1 step
Focal length: 28mm
Flash: none

For all the little details, I find it amazing that I brought my tripod with me all the way there.  This is not an insignifcant distance from Toronto!  I am pleased about the picture though, which came out beautifully.  This is in a country where structures and gardens are often built to emphasize reflections.  I would encourage travelers everywhere to look in water and glass for shots that are a bit more unusual but give an interesting perspective.

I digress though.  Where am I?

Pulling the trigger

Sometimes the hardest thing about traveling is making the choice to go.

In university I had a friend I use to go to coffee with.  We would grab our tall, nonfat, extra hot, half sweet caramel macchiatos and sit at one of those wooden tables that seem to be standard on most campuses.  We'd drag our books out like we planned to study, then chat for the next hour about our aspirations, philosophical inclinations, and romantic leanings.  Occassionally we would also stray onto the topic of travel.  As it turned out, I was just planning my first trips to Europe and so was she.

My friend's dream was a trip to Scotland.  Her family had immigrated to Canada from there generations back and she wanted to see where it had all began.  She spoke of driving across the highlands, of visiting churches and graveyards, of stopping for a pint at a local pub, and really coming to terms with who she was.  Her plan was to save the money through university, then travel when she graduated.

She never went.

I think of her story as a tragedy, and it's one that is surprisingly common.  In many ways we look at travel as an investment, something that is hugely expensive and needs careful planning.  There are bookings to be made, routes to be planned, sites to visit (or not!), foods to try, and a million other choices.  Do you take a taxi to the airport or park in a lot?  If you park, which lot do you chose?  Does the country your visiting need a visa to enter?  Can you get it on arrival?  Do you need a letter of invitation?  Are there any medications you need to consider before flying?

The list goes on and on.

Perhaps it's because the list is so long or the investment so large, but we humans often have trouble pulling the trigger.

So for those of you out there who are challenged, let me tell you a secret: I can't count the number of times I've sat at my computer late at night with a ticket in front of me.  The lamps are on but my eyes are tired.  I've been looking at options for too long and I can feel the burden of my choice heavy on my shoulders.  The price tag is painful, but I can't stop.  With a deep breath, I close my eyes and click "Confirm".

That's right.  Even after booking countless flights, I still close my eyes and look away when I pull the trigger.  I still have the anxiety associated with the purchase, the doubts that what I'm doing is right, the uncertainty.  But the difference between my long ago friend and I is that final step, the commitment.

I think one day I'll look back on my life and consider my regrets.  When I do that, I'm sure that what I will regret most are the things I didn't do, not the things I did.  It doesn't make the choice any easier.  I'm still scared I'm making a mistake, but that's alright.

Travel is like that.  It's a commitment, it's a bit scary, it asks a lot of you, and it's entirely worthwhile.

So the next time you'resitting looking at a flight and you see a way to get halfway around the world for less than $1,000 CAD, don't think about it too much.  Instead, pull the trigger and see what happens.  I doubt you'll regret it.

Tough Travel Decisions: South Pacific Islands

So many pretty, pretty islands, so little time!

The South Pacific is littered with bits of paradise separated by vast spans of water.  The sand is white as snow, the waters crystal clear, and fish swarm the docks so thickly it seems impossible that they all fit.  On some of the islands you can spend the day walking the perimeter, barely running into another person.  The populations are small, the tourists few, and the opportunity to be lost in a dream is almost guaranteed.

But how to choose?

I can't say I'm an expert.  I've chosen my islands based on circumstance, convenience, and momentary desires.  I'm whimsical and frivolous, and most of the time there's only the bare minimum logic behind my choices.  I understand not everyone is that way though, so I was pleased when an analytical sort took a crack at outlining a methodology for choosing that perfect Pacific paradise.

Apparently Lonely Planet agreed, as you can find it on their website.

Enjoy the article, and best of luck choosing your paradise.  Even with a methodological approach, you'll still be spoiled for options.

Where am I?

Update: The picture below was taken in Carrick-a-Rede in Northern Ireland.  You might stop here along a path that visits Giant's Causeway and Bushmills for some whiskey sampling.

***

We parked the car in a small gravel lot.  Without the GPS it would have been difficult to know we had arrived.  A small sign posted next to two wooden fences welcomed us onto a beautiful country path.

On one side of the path were green pastures covered in grass so long it had tipped over to one side.  On the other, the cliffs dropped into sapphire blue waters that roiled with white-capped waves.  A soft breeze swept off the water, brushing against my cheek like a pleasant welcome from a long-lost friend.

After only a few minutes, the path curved up and around a rock face, then down towards a wooden suspension bridge that set my heart immediately racing.  How easy it seemed to be swept away.  How devious that once-friendly breeze now seemed.

So here's the question for those wild dreamers out there: where am I?

Airline Food = Yummy?

Have you ever looked forward to a meal on a plane?

Okay, okay.  Let's exclude Singapore Airline's first class "book the cook", Thai's similarly impressive inflight cuisine, and the like.  First class is special.  First class has Dom Perignon and caviar on request, some seats have doors, and several offer a Mercedes or BMW upon arrival to whisk you to the lounge.  If you aren't looking forward to that, there's something wrong with you.

Even in business class you can at least drown your taste buds with French champagne and freshly baked bread and butter.  There are cheese plates and fruit plates, pastries for desert and a detailed list of options for your main course.  Plus your seat usually turns into a bed.  So let's be honest, while you can complain about business class, it's likely you won't get many sympathetic nods.

Economy.  Now economy is where the sympathy lies.  Narrow seats built for midgets with a recline that is questionable at best, tray tables that leave you with room to think about moving but not actually accomplish much, and food that is highly questionable.  I mean, which of us has ever gotten on a flight and said to themselves: I'm really looking forward to that chicken or pasta!

Perhaps that's the problem.  That first question:  "Chicken or pasta?"

It's usually said nicely enough, but I can't say I've ever gone to a restaurant and ordered based on the main ingredient.  I want to know:

• What kind of sauce is the chicken served in?
• What vegetables come on the side?
• Is there meat in the pasta?
• Are we talking manicotti or linguine?

And those questions don't even address the starter and desert, though on a plane you usually don't have a choice anyways.

So, step 1 in my mind would be for airlines to give a brief introduction to the meal they are serving.  Do it over the loudspeaker, and sound enthusiastic.  It's amazing how perception can be shaped by tone.

Obviously there are more challenges to an airline meal though.  The food is cooked hours before, packaged, loaded on the plane and reheated at 30,000 feet.  The air at that height is pressurized and dry, dulling the taste buds so that besides limp and pasty noodles you don't actually taste the subtleties of the food as well as you would at sea level.  Layer on the cramped conditions and you have an environment that is not conducive for a good meal.

It's not all bedbugs and bleak horizons though.  Airlines are aware of these challenges and have worked over the years to address them.  An article this month on Roads & Kingdoms talks about the intricacies of airline meals, including advice like "make immediate use of those salt and pepper packages" and "if you drink wine, make sure it's the most powerful grape on hand"(if! ha!).  So there is hope, even if it does sound a bit like an infomercial at 3a.m. (i.e. follow these 3 easy steps, and you can change your life!)

Take it as you will.  For me, the highlight of a flight will never be the food.  It's all about the French champagne.  Bring on the bubbles and leave the bottle.  I have a ten hour flight and I'm not planning to land sober!

Where have you been?

Where have you been?

When chatting about travel, that's one of the most common questions asked.  It's an easy way to judge the interests of the person you're travelling with.  At the same time, you can establish common interests and areas to continue the conversation (or not!).  It's a great question in the beginning, but as you travel more you sometimes want the question to become "where haven't you been?"

No one ever asks that one.

A map can serve as a bit of a solution.  Save the picture on your phone, and you can flash it up on request.  The conversation flows from there, starting first and foremost with "cool map!"

Here is a website that specializes in helping you create your own map, free of charge of course:

Check it out!

I've added mine below.  Proof that I really do need to see more of Africa!

Where am I?

Update:  Claire from Zig Zag on Earth guessed right!  This is a shot I took during the Mass Games in North Korea (DPRK for those in the know).

The Mass Games are North Korea's answer to the Olympics, though as far as I could tell they had very little in common.  The sheer scale of the performance is impressive though.  At one point, up to 100,000 performers were coordinating their movements in a stadium-like setting!

For those of you interested in a truly unique experience, Koryo Tours specializes in bringing people into North Korea.  They have tours for Americans and for everyone else, with different lengths and locations based on interest.  I traveled with them in 2009 and was impressed with the tour, the guides, and the location itself.  Definitely one of the more unique places you'll see, and it's very likely you'll end up with one of the most seasoned tour groups you could come across.

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For your challenge this week, a scene from a show, but can you tell where?  Good luck!

Coming Soon: A Cure for Jet Lag?!

"How do you possibly do Europe in a weekend?  The jet lag would kill me."

I was chatting with a coworker.  Actually, I was trying to end a conversation with a coworker, but that wasn't going well.

The discussion:  The value of a weekend away.
The challenge: Jet lag.

Apparently even a two hour change in time zone is difficult.  Beyond that, a one hour flight is tiring.

"It's not just about the flight time, it's getting to the airport, going through security and customs, then being trapped in a plane for hours on end."

"One hour," I corrected.

"The time doesn't matter.  It's tiring jumping through all the hoops it takes to travel.  Add jet lag to that, and I can't understand why you would bother for just a weekend."

I considered.  I had dozens of answers, but I didn't really think they cared what my opinion was.  Some people just like to hear themselves talk.

I considered a bit longer.

"Jet lag, eh?" I finally said.

"It's the straw that breaks the camel's back.  You dream about going somewhere for years, finally get there, and are laid out for two days by the time difference.  What can you do when you're up at 2a.m. in a foreign city?"

"Party?" I suggested.  I got a blank look.  "I understand where you're coming from," I continued, nodding sagely.  "Jet lag can be a real challenge."

"You have no idea.  This one time when I flew to..."

I cued out at that point.  I'd heard the same story from the same person a few weeks earlier.  It always amazed me that people didn't realize how repetitive they were.  I beg of you, my readers, travel more, see the world, bring back stories, and avoid repetition!  Originality is a blessing to your listeners!

I thought about trying not to yawn, hid my boredom by taking a sip of my lukewarm coffee, thought about the new eye shadow I bought over the weekend, then reoriented on the discussions.

A suitable amount of time had passed and the repetitive bit had passed.  Now they were just whining about jet lag.  Again I looked for an exit that wasn't socially awkward.

Then I wished I didn't care about social graces.

Then I wished there was a drug that counteracted jet lag.  There was a drug for everything these days.  Lots of innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, and surely someone was looking out for the travel-worn road warrior.  Really, all those brains had to see the opportunity for a significant ROI with bringing an end to jet lag (and this discussion!).

As it turns out, I'm not the only one wishing on a star here.  Scientists at Oxford's Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences are also looking for a solution.  The testing is in mice right now, but there is hope that eventually we will be able to pop a pill that allows our body to reset much more easily to changes in time zones.

"Wouldn't it be great if there was a drug for jet lag?" I interjected into the conversation.

"It's been promised before," my coworker replied.  "They don't work.  Pipe dreams."

"Yeah, well I guess time will tell,"  I replied.  In fact, I think it will but I had no intention of getting into that discussion.  Cue exit.  "Speaking of time, I have to dash to a meeting..."

I dumped my half finished coffee in the garbage as I exited stage left, thinking it would be nice if the pharmaceutical industry also came up with a drug that treated the side effects of boring conversations.  That I would pay big bucks for!

Video: Facts that will make you want to travel

I'm suppose to be reading a very serious document.  Instead, I'm surfing the internet.  Sound familiar?

I thought I would share what was distracting me.  This is great for those of you out there that need another reason to travel (as if there aren't enough already!).

Check it out!

Extra! Extra! I'm a guest poster on Spa Travel Gal!!!

Exciting news!

As most of you are aware, I'm fairly new to blogging.  So I was super excited to be asked to guest post on a fellow travel writer's site.

I met Ava, the mastermind behind "Spa Travel Gal", at an lounge in EWR last April.  My one hour flight was delayed four hours and I was considered what exactly you do in a domestic United lounge for that length of time.

She was in the same boat.

We started chatting and traded stories.  Turns out I had met a kindred spirit!

I started writing this blog a couple months after that and it's been a wonderful journey thus far.  So here's one more adventure to report, this one about a spa I visited in Bali.  Hope you like it!

Check it out! 

Where am I?

Update: Zoe got it right!  The Reed Flute Cave in Guilin, China.  An absolutely gorgeous stop, especially for photographers obsessed with light.  They illuminate the rock formations with different colors, some of the ceilings soaring far overhead while others you could reach out and brush with your fingertips.  The part of the cave below is an ending point, but a spectacular one.

Bring your camera and have some fun, then head down the river to Yangshou for an adorably rural town that gives you a true sense of the charms of China.

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This week we're trying an indoor scene.  Just a very famous cave... but do you know where it is?