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!

Booking flights: A bit of a treasure hunt

Last night I was laying on my sofa.  The TV was on mute, images flashing by in quasi-meaningful ways, my laptop perched on my knees while I investigated what wonders the internet had on offer.  In the process, I reran an old search on kayak that I had been eyeing about a week ago.

Sometimes I like to check flight prices or routings; see where I can go and how much it's going to set me back.  Sometimes I'm lucky and a truly ridiculous route pops up, one of the ones you just have to shake your head at because no one in their right mind would ever book it.

For example, did you know you can go from Toronto to Belize via London, U.K.?

Really!  Thank you British Airways!

Of course these crazy options come with equally crazy price tags, but they're useful to know about when it comes to booking an award flight where cost is less an issue and crazy routings make for cool layovers.

When I reran my search, I took a quick glance at the cities and dates but didn't look at much else.

The flights came up.  The lowest cost was $868 CAD from YYZ to BZE with one connection in IAH.

I was a bit disappointed.  You see, two weeks ago I could have gotten that flight for just shy of $600 CAD.  The Avianca option via SAL had been $622 CAD just the other day.  Now I was looking at over $200 CAD more.  I could argue that the flight with Avianca wasn't really an option for me, that I was looking at the United flight which had jumped to $741 CAD earlier in the week, but a 50% increase in price over a  two week interval was pretty stunning.

Then I noticed the booking class.

$868 CAD was the price for business class.

Well!

Well, well, well!  Not bad!  My $741 CAD United flight wasn't gone, but for $127 CAD more I could take that same flight in business class.  Of course it's only North American business class so it's nothing spectacular, but there is food involved, larger seats, and 50% more qualifying miles which will push me into their next tier.  Definitely worth it for me!

As it turned out, the friend joining me from the west coast was able to book the sale prices and we are set to meet in IAH.  A beautiful solution to a girl's getaway!

So my advice is this: play with your flight options before you make your choice.  You would expect that the results will be consistent, but sometimes you'll be surprised.  It's a bit of a treasure hunt, but if you strike gold you won't regret the time spent.

Airport Experiences: In Love with SIN

I think I’m in love.

There, I’ve said it.  It’s not what you think though.  I’m not in love with Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome, I’m still waiting for him to show up.  No, don’t laugh but I’m in love with an airport.

Crazy?

Yeah, I know.  I SO know.  But after a lifetime of airports treating me as one of the many, how can I not be enamored by the first one who pays attention to my needs as an individual? 

Let me gush for a minute here.  Girly, yes, but guys should hold on as well because it’s not all pink bows and pantyhose. 

My affair is with Changi International Airport (SIN).  Located in Singapore, this gem of an airport comes with a city touted as a shopping and botanical garden haven with the best collection of five star hotels I’ve ever come across.

Why indulge in SIN?  How about:

1.       Shopping

Sure, they have duty free shops for your booze, chocolate and cosmetic addiction, but SIN’s shopping experience is more similar to a mall than to your average airport.  High end offerings include Tiffany’s, Miu Miu, BLVGARI, Bally, Burburry, etc., but you also have options for those not wanting to drop hundreds or thousands on a single item.  On a recent pass through I picked up a really neat shirt at Cotton, a shop in T2 where the average price per item is about $10.  Bring your credit card anyways, it’s fantastically fun shopping here. 

Note: even though security for SIN is at the gates, most flights allow passengers to bring liquids they have purchased in the airport on board.

2.       Orchid Garden

Can you imagine sitting in an airport admiring the flowers?  Perhaps watching the coy as they swim past, while reading a few chapters of your favorite book.  The orchids themselves are a gardener’s dream, with both standard varieties and hybrids on offer.  Gardeners use with caution or risk missing your flight.

3.       Sunflower Garden

This is a simple outdoor garden on the roof of Terminal 2.  Along with the rows of sunflowers and a bit of fresh air, the airplane geek in you can stretch his wings and enjoy fantastic views of planes as they taxi to the gates nearby.

 

4.       Distractions for Children

Have a screaming, bored, overly energetic, troublesome child?  Perhaps more than one?  Need a distraction to keep from murdering them?  You have options!  My favorite was an area where crayons and paper were set out, with the option of creating your own art or doing one of several rubbings.  All I saw were happy children and happy adults around this table.

5.       Movie Theatre

Recent Hollywood blockbusters on offer 24/7.  It’s a small theatre with couches laid out in front of a large screen.  Show times are listed outside, and passengers come and go as they please.  This is a great area to kick back, put your feet up, and catch that movie you were sorry you missed.

6.       Gaming

Guys, this is the point at which most of you will start looking for flights.  The Entertainment Zone has several blocks of PS3s available with 2 controllers each and multiple games on offer.  Additionally, there is a LAN gaming room set behind glass which offers the ultimate indulgence.  All free, of course.

7.       Relaxation Zone

Every traveller knows there’s a point where you just need to sit down for a bit.  Perhaps take a power nap, or just rest wickedly tired feet before going at it again.  Comfy chairs abound in creative nooks around the airport, offering both brief and prolonged respite from the trials of vacationing.

8.       Personal TVs and group videos

Missing your TV?  Not a problem.  TVs abound in SIN.  Just take a seat, grab the remote, and enjoy.

 

9.       Digital Postcards

Feeling disconnected from the rest of the world?  Wanting a Facebook post that will truly inspire jealousy?  How about a digital postcard which you can email to yourself or post on the giant backboard for other passengers to see?  Say cheese!

10.    Internet Voice Chat

Now that you’ve seen and done it all, it’s time to rub it in.  Call your lover, call your friends, or call your parents and tell them all about it using these internet voice chat consoles.  Just don’t spend too long, there is so much more to see and do before your flight!

Of course there is free WiFi throughout the airport, as well as computers if you haven’t brought your own. 

Obviously this is a big airport, and I can hear you whining about the distances you need to cover.  Trains run between terminals at 4 minute intervals, and there are guides available to help you map out your course.  If you’re wondering how long it will take you to get to your gate, consider one of the electronic maps which not only gives you step by step directions, but offers a “print” function so you can take them along.

I know!  Cool, right? 

Post indulgence, there are a plethora of options for munchies, transit lounges where you can sleep it off, a pool on the roof where you can work on your tan, and a gym where you can train for round 2.  Better yet, just keep going as my list doesn’t cover half of what is actually available.

So here’s to avoiding all the advice we ever heard about love at first sight and not falling for the first pretty face.  Screw waiting, screw patience.  We want what we want, and we want it now.  So here’s to falling in love with SIN.  I have, have you?

Wicked Weekends: Montego Bay, Jamaica

             
“Any interesting plans this weekend?” a co-worker asked as we headed for our cars, laptop bags flung over our shoulders and jackets buttoned tight against the cool Canadian spring.

                

“I’m going to Jamaica,” I said, after an appropriate pause that suggested my reluctance to share.

                

She glanced sharply at me, laughing.  “For the weekend?  How far is that?”

                

“Four hours each way.  I’ll be on the beach by one o’clock tomorrow, back in Toronto by eight Sunday night.  The perfect weekend.”

               

“You’re going for two days?”  Again the laugh, then an observation that I was crazy, that I should spend more time there.

                

“It’s not that far,” I shrugged, “and I’m not much for resorts.  I just need a little sunshine.”

               

“Take pictures,” she ordered as we parted ways.  They always say that.  Take pictures, like they need proof that I’d gone.  Funny thing was, if no one asked I wouldn’t have said a word.  Travel isn’t about other people, it’s about enriching yourself. 

                

A few years ago I was considering driving from Ottawa to Boston for a three day weekend.  I was researching the best route to take, and was surprised at how opinionated people were about a simple road trip.  One post stuck in my head, the author held the opinion that unless you could spend at least double the time in a place it had taken you to get there, it wasn’t worth the effort.  At the time I thought that was reasonable.  Travel can be tiring and is a lot of work to organize and engage in.  Today, I only smile when I think about it.  If everyone took that simple piece of advice, weekend trips to the Caribbean would be common.  It’s really not that far.

                

So why did my co-worker say I was crazy?  It wasn’t the first time I had received that observation.  I flew to Myanmar last winter via Dubai, Karachi and Bangkok, leaving on a Thursday evening and walking back into the office the following Wednesday morning.  I was gone five days total; five fantastic, frivolous, fascinating days.  That was a crazy trip.  Jamaica was just a bit of sunshine to wash away the blues of a spring too slow in arriving.

                

I arrived at the airport shortly before the flight, changed my seat to a window near the front, sauntered through security, grabbed a latte from Starbucks, and boarded my WestJet 737 bound for Montego Bay.

Shortly before takeoff a man stopped at my row and took the aisle seat.  We were three to a row and the flight was full, however we were lucky to have the middle seat vacant.  Sitting down, the man immediately introduced himself.  I noticed he had no book or headphones with him, and from the way he started chatting with the flight attendant I just knew I was in for some interesting stories in the hours to come.

                

Life and travel have taught me again and again, pounded the point into my head perhaps, that everyone is the main character in their own story and each story is interesting in its own way.  I’ve sat next to CEOs and VPs, students dreaming of changing the world, HR managers with stories about the crazies they interviewed, and recruiters who asked for my business card.  Because of this, while some people might avoid plane chat, I smiled and jumped right in. 

                

This time I was meeting Joe, who had the honor of having helped Stompin’ Tom Connors write his famous song “Big Joe Mufferaw”.  It was when he was sixteen, and the success of an evening spent writing had obviously shaped the subsequent years of his life.  Today he lived in Toronto, renting apartments in the west end while enjoying the occasional vacation in Jamaica. 

                

The descent into Montego Bay was spectacular, the plane seeming to float over crystal clear waters and white sand beaches.  As I stepped out into the sunshine, the warmth surrounded me like a blanket, welcoming me from Toronto and promising that the bad weather hadn’t been quick enough to follow me down.  I immediately wanted to strip off my long sleeved shirt, run for the waves and throw myself into the surf.  Security suggested this would be inadvisable before customs. 

                

I spent twenty five hours in Jamaica that weekend.  My total transit time was about seven hours each way (14 hours total).  If I followed the advice of that post I had read so long ago, I wouldn’t have gone.  But life changes us, and this weekend was worth it for me in those first moments of sunshine. 

                

Why?

Because when I think about it, it’s the things I didn’t do that I most often regret.  And because I really enjoyed walking into work on Monday morning with a smug expression and just a bit of a sunburn.

Hotel recommendation: Coyaba Beach Resort & Spa

I was really impressed by this little resort.  Fifty rooms total, and very personalized service.  The staff were phenomenal from the moment I stepped out of the taxi, whisking my bag away while offering a drink and a cool towel, taking me to my room which had obviously been upgraded, and patiently pointing out features of the resort.

The room had two beds and the patio doors opened onto the beachfront.  On a corner table a bottle of water and a loaf of banana bread were arranged in a basket, a bright pink flower tucked between them.  Outside, I was within steps of the crystal clear Jamaican waters.

The resort probably had twenty guests the night I stayed, adding an intimate flair to the experience.  I sat for hours in the sunshine, reading a book as the wind caressed my cheek in a soft welcome to this beautiful island.  I thought of Big Joe and where he might be, I thought of life and if I was really happy with where I was, and I smirked when I thought of the snow that would be falling in Toronto this weekend while I was away.

No regrets.

Website: http://www.coyabaresortjamaica.com/

Rate: $170 CAD per night through Expedia

Special inclusions: Fresh banana bread on arrival and high tea in the afternoons

Location: 10 minutes by car from Montego Bay Airport (MBJ)

Awesome Search Engine: Kayak Explore

Though I use kayak.com all the time to check flight prices, I only recently came across Kayak Explore.  This is a fantastic option when you're itching to fly, but can't quite decide where. 

To use it, choose the city you want to depart from, the month you'd like to depart in, your budget, and the flight time.  It then gives you the cheapest flights available that meet that criteria. 

There are several websites out there that offer a similar idea, but the interface kayak uses is absolutely intuitive and links back to their main search engine.  The inability to choose specific dates or a specific network to fly on (for example, Star Alliance) are limitations, but this is otherwise a fantastic and fun option to help pick where to go on that next frivilous (or serious) trip!

Papers, please?

I was longing for a hot shower and a good dose of greasy Canadian take-out as I walked the long but familiar hallways of Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Cliché, I know, but I was glad to be home. The last week had been an epic adventure, but the whirlwind pace and long transit was catching up fast. Though I can truly say I love travelling the remote wilds of Africa, the comforts of home had acquired a certain shine.  My friend Mo, just then trailed at my heels, appeared to silently agree.

We hit customs with the rest of the plane, turning down the resident’s line and patiently waiting our turn.  We bantered back and forth wearily, mostly about what our dinner options were.  It was trivial, but it kept the wait from becoming a torturous exercise in patience. 

“Let’s go up together,” I said as we neared the front.  “If they pull us over, it will be because we were in the middle of war-torn Africa.  It would be a hassle if one of us gets pulled and not the other.”

He shrugged, looking like he couldn't care less about anything that didn’t involve a bed. I knew he normally would have tried to get a smile out of the customs officers, perhaps even a laugh, but the long flight and the stomach bug he had picked up had knocked the oomph out of him. I took his passport and customs card, going up to the counter when it came free. 

Though I was trying to hide it, I was exhausted as well.  Nonetheless, I plastered a smile on my face as I slide our collection of passports and paperwork onto the desktop.

“Hello.”

“One passport and one form per agent,” the customs officer said coldly, hardly glancing up.

Rude asshole. I blinked, paused, then licked my lips to keep from growling what I thought of him. I reached out to remove Mo’s paperwork, but just as I was about to lay hands on it the officer yanked it towards himself, huffing.

“I’ll make an exception.  Just. This. Once."  It sounded like a movie line delivered by a B grade actor.  I even imagined I could see the agent's condescension encased around him like a second Perspex shield.

I felt Mo stiffen behind me, standing taller and more alert.  He wouldn’t interrupt, but he knew the opening of a verbal sparring match when he heard one. 

I took a deep breath, firmly reminding myself not to react.  Customs guards have too much power.  I’ve seen them use it arbitrarily far too often.  In the past I’ve been kept waiting just long enough to miss my flight, have watched a grown man bring a lone teenage girl to tears because her grandmother wasn’t picking up the phone, and looked the other way when a wheelchair-bound woman was denied entry because her visa had a crease in the corner.

My smile faded as I waited for his questions.

“Where are you coming from?”

I might have said London at this point.  We had transited there overnight and before that we’d been in Cairo for twelve hours.  That would have been easy though. The agent was being a jerk and I was itching to challenge him on it.

“Eritrea,” I answered.

The officer sighed, his eyes shifting slowly from his computer screen to my face.  “Not the city, the country,” he said slowly, as though I was ignorant not only of his question but of the whole re-entry process.

I wasn’t ignorant, but I was stunned.  You would think a job requirement of a customs guard would be to know the names of each of the countries around the world.  Obviously not.

“Eritrea,” I repeated flatly.  

He scowled, deciding finally to give me his undivided attention.

I considered snidely educating him on behalf of my beautiful and fascinating Eritrea. 

“It’s a small country on the horn of Africa, across from Yemen and bordering Djibouti, Sudan and Ethiopia,  at war with each of those three countries, by the way.  The capital is Asmara, and it has some of the best espresso on the continent thanks to once having been an Italian colony.  It’s one of the 197 countries recognized by the United Nations, and as a Canadian customs guard I would think you’d know that.”

As satisfying as it would have been to spit that out, teaching geography isn’t my job and I wasn't looking for an appointment with the back room.

“It’s a small country in Africa,” I said, mimicking a shade of the condescending tone he had used with me. I didn’t break eye contact with him and waited for whatever came next.

“The purpose of your trip?” 

“Vacation,” I said shortly.  I was enjoying my one word answers.  Ask me something hard, asshole.

Like a chess player realizing they cannot possibly win, he broke eye contact.  I was satisfied to see him looking somewhat chastened. 

I watched critically as he stamped our paperwork and handed it to me.  

He didn’t welcome us back to Canada, nor did he meet my gaze again. 

Canadian customs isn’t all bad.  I’ve had some fantastic experiences and spoken with some really fascinating officers, but that isn't the norm.  Is it unreasonable to expect a smile, a touch of courtesy, and a bit of knowledge about places beyond our own borders?  Customs officers are our first point of contact for foreigners who have often traveled immense distances and spent thousands of dollars to see a country I’m proud of.  I would hope that we would make an effort to make those first moments after a long, tiring journey, good ones. 

But more than that, I would really like to feel I’m welcome when I’m walking back across my own doormat. 

Where to begin...

Stand in front of the departures board at Frankfurt International Airport and be inspired.

From here, the world is possible.  Within hours you could be on a flight to any corner of the globe, perhaps if you're lucky with a glass of French champagne in your hand.  Some of the places are worth visiting for their names alone, others you would be challenged to place on a map, but from this finite list the possibilities are endless.

Sometimes when I'm transiting FRA I'll visit that massive board, watching as the times and places flicker, mumbling the cities softly to myself like the names of past lovers who could tempt me again.  Often I'm joined by students who drop enormous red backpacks at their feet, or businessmen with their smart black rollers and briefcases.  For a moment we're all captured in this place, knowing twelve hours from now we'll be thousands of miles apart.

More than once I've passed here as that weary traveler heading home, my bag a little dusty and my curly brown hair closer to an afro than is reasonable in public. I glance at the rows of ticket counters before peering up to examine my options.  One day I know I'll abandon that homeward-bound ticket.  I'll choose a place on this board, one I've never been to before, and I'll march up to the airline agent, snap my credit card down on the counter and purchase a seat.  I'll just go, because that would be the best way to start an adventure, wouldn't it?

Until then I have more organized trips planned that still manage to surprise and delight.  All the same, if you ever see a girl standing alone under that signboard looking indecisive, do me a favor and tell her to 'just do it!'.  It may not be me, but I like to think that none of us would regret making that leap.