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.  

US Airways 605: PHX-YYC

This will probably be my last flight on US Airways. Ever. 

Not because US Airways sucks. Not because they;'re a US based carrier, but because they’re merging with US airways and I probably won’t be around to fly them again before the merger, which is seemingly taking forever to complete.

Tail N677AW will be taking me from PHX to YYC today. A 10-year-old A320-200 that started it’s career with the now defunct American West Airlines, transferred to the soon to be defunct US Airways and will eventually end up with American Airlines. Interestingly, upon entering the aircraft, I noticed a decal of the airlines that eventually formed to make US Airways - America West, Pacific Southwest, Piedmonts, and Allegheny.

N677AW was slightly late incoming from it’s previously flight so the pre-flight drink only consisted of water. I’m very pleased with the crew’s handling of the slightly late departure. The crew, very cognizant of the delay, was able to herd passengers on board in the quickly and efficient manner. 

After an efficient boarding process, a short taxi, and then takeoff, first drinks were served alongside warm nuts. Meal options for this flight were a chicken with white sauce and a ravioli dish. I asked for the chicken.

When the meal was served, I though to myself that of course it would come with rice! Although Look at that nice burned crust on top of the rice and see how the sauce browns around the edges? US Airways slash American aren’t winning any aesthetic points here. 

To my surprise, the rice wasn’t too dry or crunchy and actually did not stick the plate. The chicken itself was dry and the beans made were so overbuild that I definitely lost nutrients putting them into my body. 

Although the meal itself was lackluster, the service was stellar and my small breakfast and light lunch I had earlier in the day made it so I was still very hungry after the entree, so in a !!BLOG FIRST!!,  I ordered a second meal.

As I type aboard the flight after the 2nd meal, yes I feel fat. I feel too full, and there is a tinge of regret in my thought process, however, I chose the ravioli as a second meal and it really should have been my first choice. 

The ravioli, more specifically, the artichoke ravioli, was delicious. Nice and cheesy and mouse, with no dry bits. I thoroughly enjoyed every fat increasing bite. Not only did my 2nd meal really satiate my appetite but it also came with a pretzel bun. Yum, I love pretzel buns and not some white bread crap my first tray came with.

Finishing the meal off with a freshly baked cookie :)

A few more notes from the meal:

- The provided vinaigrette, although labeled Balsamic should really be ‘Balsamic’, When you list balsamic ingredient last before xanthan gum, then you’ve really killed the credibility of the dressing.No hints of balsamic were in the dressing. Sorry, but it was more of a sour vinegar ranch dressing. 

- When asking for my second meal, the FA hesitated and made it abundantly clear that one should not expect a second meal, but because J was not full, it would be okay as enough meals were loaded. 

Overall, apart from the bumpy flight, the service was excellent and I enjoyed the flight up to Calgary.

Ciao,  US airways.