Air Canada Rouge 1848: YVR-SFO

My previous disdain for Rouge was outlined in this previous post. Amongst the negative text, I mentioned new seats in business class were to be installed and this flight was the first time I had the opportunity to try and I must say, the business class cabin on rouge now feels like a premium product. 

The 2x2 recliner seats with AC and USB power now match mainline comfort and quality, enough for me to forget the abyss of the economy cabin behind me. The menu on the flight was also premium with a full three choices of meals and dessert! For a two hour flight, not bad AC!

C-GKOB, an A319 servicing AC1848 will take us into SFO flying over the western coast of the United States in under 2 hours. 

My first choice at glance was the beef, but hell, I always get the beef. Time for something new right?

On one of my previous flights, I ate two meals, a first, but also another first for trying pasta on the plane. It was delicious, so I’m hoping it will be the same on this flight.

First served was a glass of white wine from BC, a sauvignon blanc alongside nuts and a sparkling water. I was not afforded many details on the wine, or perhaps I did not listen. I found the wine light and crisp, perfect accompaniment to the nuts. Perhaps my tastes are changing?

Shortly after, I finished the nuts and along came the meal tray. The side salad appeared very 'Air Canada like' topped with bulb fennel and as always, the greens are crisp fresh! The ravioli itself was, as I expected, moist and I was actually surprised with the sauce. The actual product did not match the expectation based the on the description on the menu but it was not a boring flat red sauce but  vegetable filled delight. Full of tomato, onion, diced bell peppers and spices, and topped with what I suspect to be a mozzarella cheese.

Tiramisu, which I believe I’ve had before, was served for dessert. Excellent for a non-mascarpone version of Tiramisu, but I grew up on mascarpone tiramisu where there really is no substitute. 

A random note as I wind down the meal service: It’s weird to fly rouge after mainline which is the case today. It’s like jumping into the early ranks of flight attendants. I swear no one that works the rouge cabin is over 25. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I feel a difference in attitude amongst the employeea. Maybe it’s the hats. 

I’d have to say of all the rouge flights, this is the best service I’ve had. Very attentive and energetic. I'll likely fly rouge again without much negativity - that is, as long as I'm flying J. 

Air Canada 221: YYC-YVR

Tripcase is a fantastic application. 

It’s the first time I’ve mentioned it on the blog but if you travel often or even little, it can be such a trip saver. 

Many times, I have received pop-up notifications with gate changes or even delays before the airport updates flight information or the crew updates an annoyed passenger armada waiting for pushback. 

This little app gets a mention today because it told me of a delay with my flight to Vancouver 8 hours for the flight. The flight changes such that my connection to San Francisco would have been likely impossible. What was once an hour and half connection became 21 minutes. Simply not enough to transfer to the transborder area at YVR. 

What irks me more is that Air Canada did not follow up with a phone call from the concierge. Granted, the day must have been crazy for them given the thunderstorm induced cancellations. I suspect my flight was only delayed as Air Canada needed to up gauge the tiny Embraer 190 jet to a goliath 777-300ER to ease the early morning cancellations. 

I should have known from the awakening thunder in the morning there would be flight troubles. I have learned a lesson. 

After a quick call to concierge, my flights were pulled in 2 hours and I was back on track to meet my connection in Vancouver. 

The Embraer 190 regional jet runs regular flights between YYC and YVR. Business class was configured 1-2 and I was seatedon the right side unlike my original flight which had the single seat in row 2. 

The short flight was stocked with short snacks. This was actually the first time I’ve traveled such a short distance in Business class with Air Canada so I was surprised to even see a snack. 

The flight attendant shoved the tray on my table after looking annoyed that I did not understand her pantomime that was apparently, “open your damn tray table!”

The cheese plate was actually quite well stocked with the typical cheese plate suspects. Cheddar, Swiss, and Brie coupled with carr’s water crackers and melba toast. Grapes, a slice of tomato, and cucumber were also found alongside a garnish of wilted lettuce

We landed in YVR on schedule, however my changed flight did not with a total delay of two hours from it’s originally scheduled time landing in YVR at the time of my connection departure.