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In this experience we look back at our travel experiences over the December 2022 holiday season. We got where we were meant to go, and fortunately did not incur any of the long delays that many other travellers encountered. December 2022 saw serious weather systems in North America. That was combined with large volumes; technology, crewing, and baggage issues. People thought that the labour issues from the summer of 2022 had resolved themselves, but they were still ongoing. First, Vinod planned a trip to San Diego from Vancouver. He decided to fly to Los Angeles and rent a car, which turned out to be an important factor. The Vancouver-Los Angeles route is a competitive and frequent route. In the week before Vinod's flight there was a major winter storm in Vancouver. Vancouver does not get the same amount of snow as other Canadian airports. On the day before his flight there was another massive snowstorm. Would Vinod be able to make the flight to Los Angeles? He checked the schedules of his plane and the weather of the city where it was going to be before his flight. All flights at YVR cancelled. Airport closed. All arrivals were halted. But what about flights departing? Vinod's flight was still operating. The US departure terminal at Vancouver was mayhem. Vinod learned that the passport scanning terminal could have problems with infant tickets. Flight crew also get stuck when the weather goes sideways, so there was a slight delay. It might have led to de-icing employees getting to the airport, since the capacity to de-ice was less than 50 percent on this wintery day in Vancouver. It took Vinod 3 hours to have his plane de-iced. Vinod looked out on the tarmac, various trans-Pacific flights were stuck on the tarmac, unable to deplane their passengers or get to a gate. Geoff shared a story of crews getting stuck in Ft. McMurray, Alberta from the same storm. Vinod has a love hate relationship with LAX. Right now it is on the hate dial. Vinod was very lucky to make it out that day on a critical feeder route. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 027. "Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Holiday Travel Horror Stories." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts.  Meanwhile, Geoff was scheduled to fly from Toronto on December 24. He had been watching the storm system that affected Vinod, along with other record cold systems moving across North America. Then there was a weather warning for freezing rain and then a blizzard warning. However the morning of December 24, the flight was showing on time. The temperatures had dropped with strong winds. The airport was holiday busy, the lounge was full but seating was still available. The flight was slightly delayed due a baggage issue, but arrival was not too delayed. Geoff's return flight involved a review of food at Calgary security - what happens with solid honey? Calgary had thick heavy fog, and the inbound flight was delayed. The first officer was delayed on arriving due to the fog. The turbulence was very strong, to the point where the crew had to take their seats. Otherwise the return was uneventful, but since the flight was late priority was given to those connecting. Vinod's flight back to Vancouver was much more stressful than it normally was. It started well, with burgers and plane spotting, but went downhill starting with the car rental shuttle bus. Vinod was supposed to meet a work colleague who was connecting - but logistics prevented it from happening. Vinod needed to take apart his child's stroller and put all three parts through the x-ray machine. The stress of the day fuelled into Vinod's child for the return flight, which arrived at Vancouver at the furthest gate from Canadian Customs. Vinod got a good laugh as some American pilots were shamed to get back in the line to exit the customs hall. It is important to book the right routing during periods of travel uncertainty. If Vinod had booked the San Diego flight, there is a much stronger chance it would have been cancelled. Also in late December 2022 would have had to probably land at LAX anyway due to the aviation fuel leak limiting flight distance at San Diego. Geoff and Vinod share their love for San Diego airport. News Items: travelweekly.com article Delta will spend $1 billion for free WiFi -- and a whole lot more  simpleflying.com article Police Arrest Man Involved In Air India Inflight Incident    If you have a story about flights to Los Angeles, holiday flights, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience we discuss that infamous club a mile high. We look back to the golden age of travel with beautiful flight attendants and pilots and exotic locations. Now add that to four- and five-star hotels, and crews from around the world it can lead to romance and attraction. Don’t screw the crew...well at least not yours. The captain and crew manager would keep an eye on their crew during layovers, otherwise there was the risk of people making bad decisions. Cancun was a location where crazy stuff would happen complete crews from multiple countries, beaches and alcohol. Sometimes crews would hook up with hotel staff, sometimes there would be action at the beach bar. And sometimes it just went too far...and people ended up getting fired. Crews need to be aware at all-inclusive resorts if they are interacting with their passengers. At some airport hotels, there are party rooms for crews. Vinod shares his experiences at LGA and LAX. Vinod thinks back to a pool in Colombo with an Emirates crew and thinking "one day". There is a serious side to the glamourous interactions. Accusations of assault and misconduct exist, and some airlines have pilots and flight attendants sleep at different hotels. Crew and passengers connect -- Vinod shares a couple of experiences where the individuals ended up getting married. Working for an airline expands the possibilities of international relationships. Vinod shares a story of how he outsmarted Tinder. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 039. "Crew Life Between Flights. Crew Layovers." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts. We look at passenger activity in the cabin and remember back to when people were shocked that amorous airline advertising led to amorous activity...who knew?! Vinod shares a memory of his first flight and learning that sometimes you just ignore the oblivious, but sometimes you can have some fun. Are you kidding me? On a Nanaimo flight? In the middle of the day? Oh it was time for fun for Vinod and the crew and a couple of passengers who were passionate in the lavatory. Technically amorous activities in the lav are illegal due to air law - in the event of loss of cabin pressure, there is only one oxygen mask. Often Vinod would discover the evidence after the fact like wrappers and blister packs of pills on the floor. Vinod shares a memory of when the call bell was ringing multiple times but not from the cabin...and the pilot advised there was banging coming through the wall to the flightdeck. The Mile High Club is probably a bucket list thing for some people. And we haven't even discussed private aircraft. However, in 2023, many things have changed. News Items: simpleflying.com article "Aircraft Making Stops For Fuel Due To San Diego Shortage"  businesstraveller.com article "JetBlue to launch daytime New York JFK-London Heathrow service"    If you have a story about aviation relations a mile up or on the ground, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience we are happy to share an interview with a fan of the show, Stephanie, about her experience with a flight from Vancouver to Montreal to Lisbon. This took place during the summer 2022 travel chaos. Stephanie was travelling to Lisbon, mixing business and pleasure. When her and her mother arrived in Lisbon, their bags had not made the connection in Montreal and did not reach Lisbon. They took the time to create the tracking file and met up with others whose bags were missing. She traded information with another traveller who flew from Vancouver. Stephanie had the dilemma of buying clothes due to lost luggage "Are we trying to buy clothes that will get us through a few days, or clothes that we will love a long time?" Stephanie took the time to buy new luggage as well, bright orange. Just what is the value of the item in your bag? On the final day before her return trip to Vancouver, Stephanie got a text message from a stranger with a picture of her bag "Your bag is sitting next to carousel four. Here's a picture of it." Meanwhile the tracker stated that tracing continues. Stephanie and her mother had to leave Lisbon with double baggage, and a shout out is given to the check in staff in Lisbon. Stephanie is still trying to get the full compensation back for the replacement items - the airline would only compensate for one person. We look at key components of Stephanie’s story. An agent can check where the last bag scan happened. She treated the baggage staff with respect. She teamed up with someone to help search for baggage. She did not have much packed in carry-on for clothing in case of lost bags. Make sure you take your medication with you in carry-on. Information on the baggage tag is critical. Do you know the value of your bag’s items? Do you have extra lost baggage coverage? Are there government protections? If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 016. "South by Southw...wait what's happening with our flight and bags?" It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts.   News Items: simpleflying.com article "An Avgeek's Perfect Christmas Present: The World Of Airline Gift Cards" travelandleisure.com article "Frontier Airlines Eliminates Phone-based Customer Service"   If you have a story about lost baggage, travel insurance claims, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

Vinod and Geoff have taken some long flights in 2022 and have taken various items onboard. Our take-on items have evolved over the years. As we recorded this experience the 2022 holiday season is approaching, and we wanted to share our inflight recommendations for yourself - or perhaps as a gift idea for someone. Full disclosure - these are our own recommendations, and we are not receiving any sponsorship from any of the products mentioned. We start with headphones, earphones, headsets, and earbuds. There are various products out there but be aware that there is a difference between noise cancelling and noise reduction. You may also want to look at buying a set of audio adapters - in case an airline has a unique audio plug. And if you’re travelling with a battery powered headset, don’t forget to bring a spare battery. We ask what does someone use to watch onboard? Tablets, phones, e-readers - what happens if there is no screen in the back of the seat in front of you. Vinod remembers back to when WestJet removed seatback screens. How do you watch your device properly - are you going to be able to view it while eating a meal, for example? Remember as well to have a power bank for your device, since you don’t know how easy it will be to find power to recharge when you arrive. Vinod always keeps a device plugged in during his flight. Have something with you, online or offline, for the flight. Vinod has a book that is permanently tucked into his luggage. Rest on a flight is key - we look at neck pillows, and Vinod shares a story of his unique Danish neck rest. Vinod shares his disgust of people who walk barefoot into the lavatory and has recommendations for in-flight footwear. He also shares his experiences of hotspot passengers returning to a Canadian winter wearing only flipflops. Shoes without laces can be very useful - either for passing through security, or since your feet swell during flight. When you arrive in your destination, do you have the proper power plug adapter? It is much easier these days than back when we needed a box of different plugs. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 026 "More from the mailbag. The baggage above you - overhead bins." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts. We discuss baggage and bags. It may be useful for you to have a bag for the back of the seat to put your stuff in - also since seat pockets are often really unsanitary. If you have a rollerboard bag, it may be worth it to get the wheels changed with inline skate wheels. What should you wear during flight. For long haul flights, you may wish to consider some loungewear. Always bring a clean set of base layer clothes with you as carry-on, just in case there’s a baggage problem, or something happens to your clothes during flight like spills. Vinod shares a dripping lime pickle story. Packing cubes are a great suggestion for people who want structure in their bags, and also for privacy in case security or customs goes through your bag. Water bottles - if you have one you might have to wait for service to fill it. Vinod always takes a sealed bottle of water from the flight. If you use a messenger bag, we recommend getting one that fits over your luggage handle. If you bring food on board, it is usually a good idea to bring something with added protein. AirTags - after the global luggage chaos of 2022, using these can help you keep track of where your bag is. Flying with children - "keep it simple stupid". Are you going to be able to walk the aisle or get in the lavatory with your child and the bag? Connecting clips and lattices - a recommendation when you need to link your bags together. News Items: cntraveller.com article "9 airlines with premium economy cabins worth splurging on" skift.com article "Boeing Getting Crushed on Trump-Era Air Force One Deal"   If you have a story about your preferred inflight essentials, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

As we continue on from Experience 065, the wayfinding and signage often leads us to the curbside. Vinod and Geoff think back to their childhoods and how much the curbside has changed. Even with all the changes, people can still get all twisted around at the curb in their own backyard. Geoff shares an experience from Regina, Saskatchewan of a wrong-way driver. There are various options that one can encounter when you get to the curb after your flight. The curbside experience can be impacted by something as simple as the airport geographic layout. We look at trains, which can be a lot of different things in different countries. Connecting to the train can be confusing as well. Vinod shares an experience from San Francisco connecting to a train by bus. Continuing with buses, Vinod shares his amazement at the number of buses at US airports. There are “Rocket” buses in Toronto connecting to the airport. And make sure you have an ability to pay for your transit since some places still require coin change. Vinod shares his memories of crew buses. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 015. "Railway to Runway - your train and the plane." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Geoff and Vinod discuss rail to rail transport which exists in numerous cities. Ride share is an evolving method used at various airports. Vinod shares his experience in Brazil of an Uber lounge while waiting for his ride. We save taxis for the end. Vinod shares his experience of using airport taxis in Russia to avoid the dodgy drivers. Geoff shares his experience of haggling over fare in Mozambique. Vinod shares his “not quite a real taxi” experience in Spain. Vinod also shares an experience from years ago with taxi queues. Geoff and Vinod share memories of Cairo taxis. Remember that there are curbside minders who will make you move along or you will be ticketed. Vinod shares the unique car rental return situation in Calgary. Vinod and Geoff remember the parking shuttle scene from “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”. News Items: simpleflying.com article "8.5 Hours: The World's Longest Boeing 737 MAX Flights"   If you have a story about curbside experiences, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

As seen in the Northern Hemisphere summer of 2022, many travellers have returned to travelling. However, quite often passengers check in their brains and don't bring their brain into the airport. This is why wayfinding and signage is so important. Sometimes there is common signage across a country - the black and yellow UK signage, for example. Sometimes signage is difficult to read – Vinod shares an experience from a number of years ago in Salt Lake City. Often signs are unilingual, and often signs are unclear what a passenger needs to do (for example: does the sign mean straight ahead, or go up to the next floor level?) Looking through crowds to see signage can be difficult. Understandably, the signage can define the passenger experience. Many airports have a check-in zone with a big letter to show the aisle. Vinod and Geoff share their love of the departure flipboard sign in Frankfurt. Signage details starts right on your ticketing information. And if you need to deal with ticketing, it could be in multiple locations. Moving along to pre-board screening and security, are there other scanning locations that will get you through more quickly? Lavatories and eating – sometimes the signage intent is very unclear. Vinod shares a story of finding a Japanese breakfast in Tokyo. Some airports don’t announce the gate until a short period before departure, which can lead to a mass rush of passengers. At the gate itself things can go sideways with signage. Vinod shares a story of changing a gate three times in Hanoi. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 023. "Sometimes the situation just goes bad. Making the most of the experience." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Sometimes signage is a simple as something like lettering. The boarding card has to also correlate with the wayfinding. A passenger gets to Customs and Immigration – are there restrictions on which citizens use which queues? And once you leave the airport, what is the signage for your transportation?   News Items: simpleflying.com article "Air France Will Cease Transportation Of Research Animals When Its Contract Expires" onemileatatime.com article "Ouch: Both Pilots Of Ethiopian Airlines 737 Fall Asleep, Miss Approach"   If you have a story about airport signage, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

Vinod and Geoff have returned from their summer adventures, and their meetup in London Heathrow for Experience 063. After all of the concern we had for meeting up at Heathrow, it ended up being very anticlimactic. Vinod shares some interesting insights into how providing certain destination information could affect a London cab driver’s ability to take airport fares later in the day. Geoff and Vinod rave about the terrific new Elizabeth Line in London. Geoff’s flight from Toronto was quite late leaving for Copenhagen. We will do a future experience on when should you really show up when your flight is tremendously delayed. He shares his experience of the flight. Geoff shares his experience of checking in at the Priority Pass International Lounge in Toronto. Indeed sometimes it is just nicer to find a quiet gate than going to a lounge. Geoff then flew onward to London from Copenhagen. Copenhagen Airport has a practice of passengers scanning their boarding passes to enter a waiting room and then board, instead of scanning when boarding. Vinod shared his experience of flying from Vancouver to Heathrow. What a coincidence -- one of the pilots on the flight was a friend of his. For the avgeeks, it was a non-ETOPS flight, and the landing was greased in...so smooth. Geoff continued on with Eurostar from London to Brussels and then onward to Cologne with a German ICE train. The Eurostar was fine, but the ICE train was so full Geoff sat in by the door in the vestibule for 2 hours! Geoff had some experiences with the German trains not being very German. First, a fire on train line. Second, technical issues before the train even starts the journey. Third, random stops in the middle of nowhere in Bavaria. Geoff reviews his flight from Vienna to Frankfurt with neighbouring passengers not having to return their beer bottles before landing. As Geoff was checking into his flight to Johannesburg, he learned that Lufthansa only issues baggage stickers at certain desks at Frankfurt -- not all check-in machines. We give a shout out to friend of the show Paul Papadimitriou -- Geoff and Vinod both met him in person in London, and great times were had by all. Paul you’re welcome to visit Canada any time. We talk about the tight connections that are often faced in Frankfurt, knock on wood no problems for either Vinod or Geoff...yet. Geoff flew to Johannesburg in a 747-800 upstairs in business class. When Johannesburg is busy with international flights, it’s busy. Geoff continued his adventure through South Africa to Kruger National Park and onward to Mozambique. He had a super early flight from Maputo to Nampula with an onward land journey to Ilha de Moçambique. Geoff’s return to fly out of Nampula was an adventure in itself. Police checks, racing to the airport, honking horns, and arrival after check-in desks closed. Did he make it? Narrator: He did. Then Geoff continued onward from Maputo to Cape Town via some connection adventures in Johannesburg. Geoff returned from Cape Town to Frankfurt, and then homeward bound to Toronto. Toronto’s baggage situation was uneventful. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 020. "Go or no-go? When Vinny and Geoff's rail travel plans went sideways." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Vinod’s return to Vancouver saw waves of people sent through to security at Heathrow, and people who aren’t managing the queues properly. Security made Vinod put his stroller through the baggage scanner. When he arrived in Vancouver there were no issues with the baggage, but there were no baggage carts. There was no random COVID testing openly visible for either Vinod (or Geoff in Toronto). Geoff noted that in Mozambique there were staff matching your claim sticker with the baggage tag. Geoff also had very favourable reviews of the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Frankfurt -- which, depending on your departure time, may be a better lounge option that the Lufthansa lounges.   News Items: flightradar24.com article "SPAR19 becomes the most tracked flight of all time."   If you have a story about 2022 trips you’ve recently had, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

Vinod and Geoff met up and recorded this special experience live from London Heathrow Terminal 2. Heathrow on a Friday afternoon was much calmer than Vinod and Geoff had expected. Vinod has never been through immigration at Heathrow faster, and Geoff was quickly through the e-gates. Vinod’s bags were delivered quickly. Geoff’s took a bit longer but still fairly quickly. Geoff and Vinod were meeting up with our guest interviewee from Experience 038 - Paul Papadimitriou. It is great to be back travelling again. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 019. On the RTW road with Vinny and Geoff. It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts. If you have a story about your trips in 2022, or any other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

Vinod and Geoff are jumping into the travel chaos this summer – and are getting ready for the backlogs and delays that could ensue. Outside of the airport and airline backlogs, there are backlogs with passport offices around the world. Vinod had to get a new first passport for his child in Vancouver, Canada. He discusses his hellish journey through the backlogs, the processing that didn’t happen, the phone wait times, the overnight queues to get passports processed, the backup plans to drive to another city. “When do I really need to panic?” was in full effect. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 036. Epidemic Unplugged. What's happening and what does the future hold? It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Geoff shares his experience of trying to get entry visa information to Mozambique. Multiple requests to multiple locations in English and Portuguese. No answer. Vinod shares a memory of getting a visa for Vietnam. Remember – watch out for sketchy companies with visa and passport services. They may only be providing information and not getting you the physical document. Airports are crazy busy. Vinod shares a situation at Heathrow where the airline ran out of hotels for customers who had missed a connection due to a late flight. Remember even if you show up super early, some airports are doing flow control. Geoff looks back to the summer of 2020 when there were hardly any passengers in Toronto Pearson. As advised by our friends at AvTalk – “Arm yourself with everything you can in your arsenal” to help you get through airport chaos. Look at the arrival time of your flight. What else is arriving when you do? Geoff and Vinod share their travel plans. Geoff to Europe and Africa (including a 747 upgrade), while Vinod has first flight with a child to the UK. Vinod reminds us that there is a weight limit for a basinet and that children have to be on lap during turbulence. We’ll record live on location somewhere for Experience 063. If you have a story about your trips in 2022, or any other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on  . Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience we are happy to bring you an interview with a wonderful guest Dee Leon. Dee met Vinod while working at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. When he told Vinod that he had sold Airbus in China, Vinod knew an interview was a Seat 1A priority. Dee worked for Airbus in the 1990s as the aviation market in China was just waiting to evolve with exponential growth in the local market. It was not an easy start for Dee as Boeing had a very strong presence in the Chinese market. This had started back when Nixon had visited China in his Boeing 707. Chinese aviation had copied Boeing through the 1970s and 80s. The selling of confidence for Airbus at the very beginning was more important than selling product. We ask Dee what the selling factors were, if Airbus sent other items with the aircraft (e.g. simulators) and what was the first success. China was previously not a hub and spoke system. And in the 1990s, the domestic bullet train was not yet a competitor. We ask what the environment was like in neighbouring countries at the time. What exactly did "do a demonstration" entail? And what was the leasing market like in China at the time? How was Dee's travel life like? How did physical aircraft get presented? And what did Dee do when a translator was not available for a seminar -- an incredible amount of reading followed! We ask about Dee's love for aviation as a child. Did he think that Airbus in China would be as successful as it is now? Dee has an interesting take on favourite airports along with personal travel recommendations. His favourite Airbus product may surprise you. Seat 1A appreciates the wonderful and candid interview with Dee. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 038. Layover with a Special Guest. An Interview with Paul Papadimitriou. It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts. News Items: simpleflying.com article "Bakkafrost: The Faroese Salmon Farm That Plans To Reduce Food Waste By Flying Fish In A Boeing 757." flyertalk.com article "Delta and American Express Turn a Retired 747 Into Credit Cards."   If you want to share a shoutout to Dee, have a story about aviation industry sales, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

As the Northern Hemisphere arrives at summer 2022, many travellers are getting things figured out. Travel is back – but it’s a madhouse. People have had long delays and wait times to rebook their plans. From 2020 to 2022 it has been a toss up of who or what is providing support to customers. Take all of these issues and multiply them "world-fold". There are many customer service issues that will arise. We ask, "What do you do to plan for customer care"? Why is there a long hold? In many cases the support can only come from the provider - which isn't always the easiest to determine. Is there enough staff to hire, have experienced staff left the industry? The situation of experienced staff leaving an industry goes far beyond just the travel industry. When you call, have the knowledge and the request with you. Vinod shares a story of getting caught up in a loop with a point upgrade credit. Aeroplan...if you're listening... Geoff shares an experience of getting stuck in a "shadow ticket" loop and it eventually getting fixed. Vinod shares a frustrating experience with a gift card and trying to utilize it for control of family seating. Geoff shares props with Lufthansa for a quick response to a call he had with them. In most cases, airline call centres are regional. Due to this regionality, there can be a disconnect between global staff and local realities. Vinod shares a story of how he used local knowledge to his advantage and building a personal connection. These days, patience is virtue. Be adult and cordial – you will likely get further. We also look at the current situations with massive queueing and lineups in person – in various cities worldwide. Since many people haven’t flown recently their attitudes are amped up. Take the time to analyze the peak periods of the airports that you are visiting. If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 011. Flight delays, cancellations, diversions, and the airline's obligations. It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Vinod and Geoff share their travel plans for the summer of 2022. Geoff with Canadian, European and Southern African journeys, while Vinod has a first trip to the UK with a baby toddler. We’re packing patience - and are making sure to have the paper copies as backup! News Items: simpleflying.com article "Ryanair Passenger Spends 5 Days In Zagreb Airport After Traveling With Wrong Passport." reuters.com article "Canada's busiest airport battles delays ahead of summer travel."   If you have a story about travel customer service stories, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience Vinod shares his experience of flying to and from Beijing in the first quarter of 2022. Due to Chinese regulations he was required to be in a closed loop separate from the general public. That included flights. In pre-pandemic times there are many flights between Vancouver, Canada, and various cities in China. Currently there are none. So...how do you get a Canadian (and others working with Vinod) into China? Due to complexity of the situation, Vinod only got his booking confirmation four days before departure. He needed to follow very specific timelines for COVID testing. The routing had three stops: Vancouver to San Francisco to Tokyo-Haneda to Beijing-Capital. All of his timings for entrance were based off the final leg of his flight. His flights took place in January 2022, while airspaces were still normal. The flight into Beijing was restricted without any general public on them. Due to China being the end destination, online check-in was not possible. As he departed Vancouver with Air Canada, the region was still under the impact of the Omicron variant and the airport was eerily quiet. When he arrived in San Francisco, it was as if there was no pandemic at all. Then Vinod boarded an ANA flight to Tokyo-Haneda. The amount of legroom was amazing on an incredibly clean plane with impeccable service. Vinod had a very early arrival into Tokyo. He had stayed at Haneda in the summer of 2021. Then he left for Beijing on Japan Airlines and was blown away by the service, an incredible premium economy seat and one of the best in-flight economy meals Vinod has had in a long time. As the plane took off, Vinod could see his hotel room from Summer 2021. The plane took a very scenic route with beautiful views of Tokyo and Mount Fuji. And then, he landed in Beijing. Terminal 3 was sequestered for Vinod and other flights coming into the closed loop. There was throat and nasal COVID tests -- Vinod has never had a worse nasal test than this one. Surface sanitizing was everywhere, the ramp crew was all wearing PPE, and all that sanitizing had aged the new terminal vey quickly with corrosion and white gunk everywhere. Plexiglass became opaque -- which made for a humorous moment at immigration. He picked up his bag and boarded a bus. As an avgeek, the experience was incredible Vinod -- riding airside at Beijing Capital. As they travelled on the highway the bus had a police escort. Two hours later Vinod ended up at his hotel and waited for his test results, at which point he was able to continue in the closed loop. 38 days later... It's time to go home. There were limited slots and passenger load factors available for Chinese flights. Based on these limitations, Vinod had a round-the-world return to Vancouver -- of about 39 hours door-to-door. Beijing to Doha, Qatar, to Toronto, to Vancouver. Upgrades were available for a reasonable price, so Vinod took the upgrade. And three days before departure, he learned that the Qatar Airlines flight had an upgraded interior. Leaving China was much easier than arriving. Yet again, the airport was empty -- with no services open, except for one solitary water fountain. They boarded early. In Vinod's words, "When I stepped on that [Qatari] aircraft, I thought I was going to cry." He had a suite with a door with incredible levels of service and quality. The bed, the food, even the lavatory -- Vinod had a pinnacle level of experience. Then he arrived in Doha for early morning transfer rush hour. Vinod had to stand aside for a few moments and let his brain recalibrate. After some duty free shopping, he boarded his very long Air Canada flight 059 to Toronto. It was February 24, 2022, and normal routing was no longer available over Ukraine. Once the flight reached the Red Sea, it made a hard left turn and then flew up through western Turkey. The flight kept going and going and going...eventually landing in Toronto. Canadians can be chosen on landing for a random COVID test...Vinod was chosen. Now what? "I have to do the test, but I have connection bags." His bags may have been a bit over the limit and his carry-ons were maxed out. Oh no, Air Canada has a sizer and scale! But he was connecting -- issue solved. After being in a zombie-like state on the last domestic Air Canada leg, Vinod finally arrived home in Vancouver. News Items: skift.com article "Canada’s WestJet to Buy Sunwing Airlines." simpleflying.com article "Woken From Deep Sleep: Lufthansa Resumes Airbus A340-600 Flights." If you have a story about travel to China during COVID-19, round-the-world trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience we look into what happens during inflight checks. We hear those announcements "the crew are doing their checks." What does this mean? And what about "arm doors and cross check"? Before passengers are even allowed to board the flight a crew has to do preflight checks - the previous crew has left the plane and has not checked items when they left. The minimum equipment list has to be met. One thing the staff is checking is safety equipment - like batteries, fire extinguishers and flashlights. Things have to be replaced that passengers may have taken. Coordination occurs with mechanic teams and groomers. The emergency slide has to be checked. If there are life vests, each seat has to be checked. The on-board medical equipment is another item that needs to be checked. In some cases there's a life raft which can take a bit of work to check. It's easy to replenish an aircraft at an airline's home base. Downline at a remote station is another story. What happens if certain branded equipment or food may not be available? First flight of the day US safety checks have their own challenges. Vinod had to once complete an entire 737 by himself. What if a crew times out, or hands over? Has the plane been left unattended? What happens with inoperable seats? What's happening in the flight deck for checks? How are the catering and service levels? How is the lavatory? And if a plane is turning back the same day from a remote station, is there enough food for the return? Vinod shares an experience with checks in Cuba. It's not just the plane being checked - it's also staff. Is everyone in good flying condition and in proper uniform? Does everyone have their appropriate manuals with them? Vinod reviews what arm doors and cross check means and shares a story of a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles. News Items: ch-aviation.com article "Croatia's ETF Airways on war path with Bremen Airport." simpleflying.com article "Auckland Airport Baggage Handlers Arrested In A Major Drug Bust." simpleflying.com article "Why easyJet Does Not Operate Flights Where Trains Are 3 Hours Or Less." simpleflying.com article "Football Fans Stop LATAM Plane Departing After Flight Cancelation." If you have a story about inflight checks, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience we look at airline and airport staff security. What do they go through to keep you safe? When you walk around an airport, you see all sorts of different coloured passes. What do they mean? Generally, getting an airport security pass is not a small thing. There are high levels of security checks that are done before as pass is issued. There are different levels of security pass that are also issued, and biometric data is recorded when issuing these passes. A passenger could experience similar levels of clearance if they are applying for a frequent traveller program. Geoff and Vinod share eye scanning stories. At most checkpoints there is some sort of screening component. At some airports, there isn't the volume of traffic or infrastructure, so rudimentary security checks are done instead – including crossmatching to lists. Sometimes security clearance has to be completed upon landing and transfer. Some country's crews had to clear security a second time. If you're flying at a home base for an airline, you may not even see the crew at the gate – they'll clear at their crew centre and then are transported to the plane. Suppliers have to go through the same check, as do their vehicles. In remote locations (such as the Canadian Arctic) sometimes security check ins aren't needed for certain destinations. A similar situation could apply for private planes with a fixed-base operator (FBO). However things can go very wrong with security. Drug smuggling, money and diamond heists – some of the situations even end up as famous movie scripts. There are some airports that have interesting approaches to security – like alligators in Orlando, Florida. In the days of ID cards, there were many places attempting to fake the ID. Vinod shares his experience of a famous location in Bangkok...they even had a catalogue! Depending on the country, some airports will permit crews to use the crew line, even if they're not in uniform. Vinod shares a story of crew liquids exemptions in Dublin and having to unpack his bags at security. Just remember, all the staff you see will have been through a check – maybe even an hour ago. News Items: simpleflying.com article "A Boeing 707 For $2,500? Kenya To Auction 73 Abandoned Planes." skift.com article "These 4 Airlines Made More From Upsells Than Ticket Sales in 2020." If you have a story about crew security, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience we look at in-flight entertainment (IFE). What is its history, how has it evolved, and we share our experiences. People board a flight with the intent of being entertained while in flight. Vinod remembers back to his youth and seeing the projector as he boarded the plane – he knew there probably was a movie on a long flight. Geoff remembers watching in-flight edited movies as a kid. As they grew older, they would both look in the in-flight magazine to see what was playing. Airlines put a lot of investment into their IFE as a key factor to retain passengers. We go back to 1921(!) to learn about the first ever in-flight movie. Vinod and Geoff remember the stethoscope looking headsets. Vinod shares a memory of flying into Tampa where the flight ended before the movie (which was not a happy situation for one passenger in particular). The evolution of the IFE continued – monitors attached to the panel above and then LCD monitors that came down from the panel above. Vinod remembers the logistics of running the LCD system and keeping passengers from using certain overhead bins where everything was running. There was a shift into TV-on-demand with certain airlines. In certain cases it required that you put your credit card into the seat back to pay for extra movies or special channels. Vinod shares his memories of working at WestJet when they were switching from inflight TV to Wi-Fi and were renting tablets. Today many systems are Wi-Fi based. A common situation that Vinod encountered as flight crew was people coming on-board unprepared and completely dependent on the IFE. Pro-tip – make sure that you travel with some sort of offline tech. Vinod shares the "fun" he had when certain seats had IFE that didn't work. Remember when flying ultra low-cost carriers, there is a very good chance that you won't be getting any IFE, and sometimes you may be a captive audience to a performing in-flight crew. The amount of power and wiring for an IFE system famously led to a tragedy with Swissair 111 off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. The 787 also saw runaway batteries when it first launched. Content is regionalized, with cultural sensitivities. Th quality of both video and audio entertainment has come a long way. There are also many different camera views that are now available on many aircraft. Video games are also an option in the IFE – with some airlines offering the controllers. Remember: Always bring something with you - because you never know when the system is not going to work. News Items: simpleflying.com article "British Airways To Finish Its 777 Club Suite Roll Out Next Year [2022]." businesstraveller.com article "Ryanair launches 'Day of Travel Assistant' and new refunds commitment." If you have a story about in-flight entertainment, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/.

In this experience we look at the world of Duty Free. What exactly is duty free, and what is it not? As we picture a classic duty free shop, there's a reason why so many of them look so similar – there are a small number of operators handling most of the duty free business. Vinod remembers his childhood and the mystique of the cart rolling down the aisle of a widebody plane. In many airports, duty free is an experience that comes immediately after clearing security. Some airports save the duty free for arriving passengers. And remember, not all shops after security are duty free – some are just selling at a lower price than the high street. Where you get your duty free item is dependent on the layout of the airport. If you're in a mixed zone (e.g. domestic/international), you'll get it the gate. If you're in the same zone as other passengers, you'll get it at the shop. We look at scenarios that Vinod faced as a groundside agent – like what happens if a passenger is denied boarding? Vinod was amazed how many passengers forget their duty free at the gate – and shares a crazy VARIG story. What happens if flights get cancelled? And just what did Air France crews do to cause a change in the duty free in Cancun, Mexico? We look at the reason for those red sealed bags at the duty free. Vinod shares the absolute insane day he had when the liquids restrictions came into effect. Geoff shares his experience with a bottle of duty free at Buffalo Airport, while Vinod and Geoff share stories of people who were not able to get their duty free through security upon arriving. You need to know where you're connecting to and from. We leave the airport for a few moments and talk about the crazy amount of duty free bought on European ferries. Duty free offers many products or sizes that aren't available anywhere else – but this has evolved with pre-purchase. What are the cheapest duty free locations that Vinod has encountered? On board a flight, how does duty free work? Some airlines have incentives for duty free sales – some by crew and some by individual. There was a time when cash was paid for duty free – but which currency? Meanwhile, crews have to watch for people consuming their own alcohol on planes. Vinod shares a vintage memory of a flight to Paris – with people hanging from the overhead bins. The experience in the shop is becoming more multisensory. And if you're on the plane, remember to have your payment method ready for when the cart passes by. News Items: simpleflying.com article "The Largest Boeing 777X Customers Revealed." simpleflying.com article "Exciting: Two Airlines Announce The A380 Return This Week." simpleflying.com article "Nature Starts To Reclaim Mexico City’s Canceled New Airport."   If you have a story about duty free shops, duty free service in the air, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/.

In this experience we look at the history of smoking on flights. Geoff and Vinod remember smoking on flights, the ashtrays in the seats, and the turning off of the no smoking sign. A question that Vinod was (and still is) asked is, "Are the smoke detectors in the lavatory real?" Absolutely. The purpose is all about putting out the live flame. But if smoking is not allowed on flights, why are there still ashtrays in lavatories? While Vinod never caught anyone in the act of smoking on the flight, he had numerous cases where passengers had been smoking just prior to his interaction. If passengers are caught smoking, it's a chargeable offense. Vinod shares a story of a Mountie that had to fly to Mexico for a day, due to supervise a passenger who had been caught smoking on charter flight. We open the history books on smoking on flights. When and where did it end? (Hint, much more recently than you may think.) We take a look at a few plane crashes. Firstly, how smoking played a role in the investigation of a 1985 Japan Airlines crash. Next, we look at the 1973 Varig flight that showed the need for early detection of fires in the lav. We finally look at the 1983 Air Canada flight which showed the need for smoke detectors and fire suppressants in the lav. Fire on board is a scary, scary, thing. Vinod shares his story of a random Portuguese charter in Edmonton. In general, private carriers do a lot of what they want. Smoking lounges still exist in various countries – Geoff shares his experience from Frankfurt and Vinod shares his experience from Tokyo. We look briefly at a US Supreme Court case where onboard smoking was one of the key reasons for the trial. Pro tip – if you see or smell smoke, let your flight attendant know. There were attempts in the US to start a smoker's airline, however it never was able to get in the air. These days the only place you'll see cigarettes in an airplane is in duty free. News Items: airlineweekly.com article "Los Angeles Airport Approves New Terminal, Concourse for 2028 Olympics." businesstraveller.com article "Dubai International launches food and duty-free ordering service for passengers If you have a story about smoking on board, fire on board, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience we look at the world of official protocols and flights. With elections and world leader gatherings, there are official protocols for flights. Different governments have their own aircraft. The most famous of the aircraft is Air Force One. Other governments have official aircraft as well – often not looking too different than planes in their air force. Other countries use existing airline's aircraft. Some countries spend a lot on aircraft, and then can't keep up the payments. And Russia uses its own domestic manufacturers. Encountering these aircraft has some unique circumstances. Geoff having an Air Force One ground stop while working as a baggage handler in Calgary. Vinod having Air Force One ground stops in Hawaii while working as flight crew. Geoff having a delay at Newark due to an Air Force One ground stop. Sometimes there will be a collection of planes in a location where they normally wouldn’t be expected. Vinod shares his experience with the G20 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 2012 – and shares the level of clean and polish from the Japanese crew. Vinod and Geoff both share experiences from the 2002 G8 in Calgary. Geoff was working on the ground, Vinod was working another event in Calgary and decided one day to stop by the airport – and was greeted by a motorcade, a comical need for keys, an unexpected LOUD Russian flyby and the impressive size of a Globemaster C-17. Vinod shares his experiences with the British Royal Family flying on British Airways commercial flights. Protocols were at their highest levels. Baggage for Prince Harry was in the Boeing 777 bulk pit when it arrived in Calgary and Vinod had to escort the baggage. Vinod also had to handle the departure – and even got to hang out with Prince Harry. If you're at an airport and there are planes there that don't seem like they match with the location, maybe there's a global event going on. Remember that there's absolutely nothing you can do if you're waiting for the global leader. Check the news to make sure there isn't any global leader event happening at the airport you're visiting. News Items: flightradar24.com "Qantas performs longest-ever commercial flight" simpleflying.com "Tata Sons Wins Air India Bidding Process: What Comes Next?" If you have a story about your experiences with leaders and flight delays at global events, royalty on flights, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience we look at the world of teams and flights. As we learned in Experience 051, Vinod flew back to Vancouver with the Canadian Olympic Team. What a great atmosphere it was for him to enjoy. This is not the first time that he has flown with Olympic athletes or teams for that matter. On flights with teams, it's not just athletes. There are usually coaching and support staff also on the flight. As well, normally there are also supporting family or partners on board. National flag carriers will often sponsor national teams. When the athletes arrive at the airport, they come with the luggage related to their sport and the check-in process is the same as any other passenger. The teams are often processed with the group check-in to avoid any issues or problems with the non-team flying public. The teams usually sit together. On the ramp, the baggage handlers will see a large quantity of similar bags carrying similar items. On wide-body flights, often the team baggage is reserved into a few containers. There are examples of teams being boisterous and loud, but many times this happens on the return flight. Vinod remembers having to deal with teenagers on flights, the insane boarding process and not getting much help from chaperones. Geoff wonders if US college football teams have the band equipment and the team equipment on the same flight. Helpful tip – groups are usually seated at the back of the plane. We also look at what happens when teams charter flights. Some airlines have a speciality product specifically for sports charters. What does the check-in process look like? Usually teams will fly right after the game. On these team flights there is usually very good catering, and often with not too much alcohol. Geoff remembers back to when the NHL pro teams would fly commercially scheduled flights. What happens with teams flying on commercial flights – usually other passengers don't know. Vinod shares his experience working a flight with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League and Geoff shares his experience with Calgary Stampeders. We return to the ground for a moment with Vinod sharing a family experience from the Eurostar and a vey rowdy English rugby team. For the most part though, professional teams are professional. Some teams board at remote stands or with a fixed-base operator (FBO) at private terminals for technical or logistical reasons. These operations are very fast. Geoff shares a story how ramp staff always loved team planes that landed at the private terminals for the food leftovers. Sometimes bus or coach service is used for teams on shorter trips. In many cases it's not the team that are problematic, it's the fans of the teams. From large amount of alcohol orders or trying to bring their own alcohol on board, to starting brawls with other team's supporters – fans can be challenging. News Items: simpleflying.com article "Football Teams And Cable Cars: What Does Emirates Sponsor?" New York Post "Aussie athletes allegedly got drunk, caused chaos on wild flight home from Olympics."   If you have a story about team travel, team charter, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

In this experience, Vinod shares his story of his flight back from Tokyo to Vancouver after the Summer Olympics. As mentioned in previous experiences, Vinod acquires a lot of stuff when returning from the Olympics. He had a lot more luggage than when he left for Tokyo. He arrived at Narita, having to make his way back across the terminal. The first half of the terminal was empty – but then there was a mass of athletes from the US and Canada – at holiday volumes. There was a lot of studying the queues, where to go and wondering if he was in the correct queue. An interesting thing happened on the luggage scale – did Vinod's bag lose weight? The duty free shops were ram-packed full of athletes, trying to buy something to take home – since they had been restricted to the athlete accommodations. All of these bodies had to empty somewhere and since the flights were all boarding in the same area – it got hectic and busy really fast. The crowds were too large to hear the announcements over the public address system. Finally, after Vinod's plane arrived, delay information was placed on a visual display. Meanwhile, Vinod had Japanese Yen coins to spend – where better than at one of many vending machines. And why not ice cream? Vinod returned to the hold area – flights were ready to start boarding, so Vinod got to the front of the queue. What's this United Boeing 737 doing at Narita? Vinod asked Geoff to do some digging into why that plane was there – and discovered a Micronesian legacy from Continental Airlines. Vinod was on one of Air Canada's original 787s, and the meal service got processed very quickly. Compared to his flight to Tokyo, mixed drinks were available on this flight. Looking from his premium economy seat through the curtain, Vinod could see that the business class experience was elevated from when he had flown to Tokyo. Vinod arrived at Vancouver and given his unique status as a non-athlete at the Olympics it caused some confusion about testing. This process has improved and is now quite efficient. Vinod shares a tip about what you need to do if you don't want your bag to auto-connect. Vinod appreciated the distancing in Canada and was thankful he didn't need to spit in a tube after waiting six hours. News Items: simpleflying.com article "Miami Becomes First US Airport To Test COVID-19 Detector Dogs." breakingtravelnews.com article "Amadeus trials auto bag drops at Heathrow airport" simpleflying.com article "GOL Made To Pay For Female Employees’ Cosmetics." If you have a story about overseas travel during COVID-19, COVID testing on arrival, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/