The YOW Expansion

I had a real taste of the Phase II expansion of YOW's airport
expansion program. It's not quite finished, but it's very nice and
will really improve the experience of travelling by air in Ottawa.

No more long walk to the old terminal, especially valuable for Maple
Leaf Lounge users who often make that long trek twice, once to get to
the lounge and once to back to the gate.

No more Toast kiosk. Shortly after the expansion opens, a brand new
Irish pub will open. Plus a new news stand. There are also plenty of
opportunities to expand retail and restaurant services.

And sadly, no more stairs to nowheres.

The opening event tonight was very good. Lots of great food, drink,
and lots of great guests. And very high quality entertainment too.
Nikki something.

Please enjoy the new part of the terminal. You'll know you're there by
answering yes to these two questions:
-Is it after March 13, 2008?
-Am I at a YOW gate numbered >18?

(Note: these questions may be rendered invalid by any future expansion.)

Didn't take my own advice

You may recall me recommending the salad and seeds whenever
frequenting the Maple Leaf Lounge. Today I was there before and after
11, which means their "breakfast" stuff was out first, then their
"lunch" stuff. I did not have salad, but had chicken noodle soup. My
assessment: lots of noode, lots of soup, not much chicken. Shoulda had
salad.

Another YYZ connection

Thus far, this has been an excellent connection through YYZ. Even the
flight was ok, as it was less than half full (E75) so everyone had
their own row.

We arrived at gate 160, which is about as close to the customs hall as
you can get. There was no one else in customs, I was second in line,
and the agent was fast, pleasant and polite. We were also on baggage
carousel 10, which is essentially right at the bottom of the
escalator. And my bag was about the 3rd one to hit the carousel.
Something strange is going on. But I guess with all the negatives of
travel, sometimes you should just shut up and enjoy the pleasant
experiences.

Well that was a short night

Back to hotel after midnight (could have been much much later) and
then the wake up call at 3:50 am. Ouch. I played Texas Hold Em again
last night (and played craps... I still don't get it), but I did not
get any good hands.

This morning, I missed taking the correct exit coming to the rental
car return area, so I ended up going through the toll plaza(s) at DFW.
Fortunately they didn't charge me... Maybe they know their signage at
the north end is weak. No signs for rental car return. (Well, maybe
there are and I just didn't see them.)

I'm departing from Terminal D, which is very very nice. And new. I had
a coupon for a free coffee and baked good from Au Bon Pain, but it's
at the opposite end of the terminal, and was not open when I was
there. Probably opens at 6, which is too late, as we're supposed to be
boarding at 6 (it's now 6:06). So since I couldn't get my free
breakfast, I had to use my remaining $5 strategically. After a grande
bold and a McGriddle and a donation to Ronald McDonald Children's
Charities, I think I ended up with 35 cents left.

I also had a new experience at security screening today. There was
zero waiting when I went through, and luckily I didn't beep. But the
did ask me to go through the air puffer. I'm not even sure how to
describe it... And I don't really know what it's looking for. But you
step into this phone booth-like chamber, which talks to you, telling
you to enter, stand still, and then exit. And of course it blows a
series of puffs of air all over you. It's actually quite startling.
The woman after me even let out a bit of a noise when it puffed her.

In keeping with the airport art theme, I'll post some photos of DFW
art, including Superman's Fortress of Solitude.

Flight home tomorrow

I was originally scheduled to fly home tomorrow at about noon, which
was good because there's a late dinner and after-party tonight. But
then I had a meeting added in the afternoon that I had to get back
for. So I changed to a 630 am departure from DFW. But now that meeting
is cancelled, and I'm still on the 630 flight, which will be preceeded
by little if any sleep.

I'll live. But I'll be grouchy.

Wordology

I am quite certain that the current speaker at this conference was
intending to say "juxtaposition". And he said it twice. But that's not
really what he said. I'm just trying to figure out if it was "just a
position" or "jet stop position". Either one is good.

Texas hold em

I just nailed a full house. Jacks over sixes. Boo-yah.

I can't believe I'm writing this

I'm currently watching armadillo racing.

Remembering Dallas/Fort Worth

I used to live in Dallas... University Park actually. I worked (ok, it
was an unpaid internship) in Arlington. I had forgotten how big the
DFW Metroplex is.

After arriving here yesterday, I drove from the airport to downtown
Dallas, then up to the Park Cities. Broke into the old apartment, only
two steps from the street. Actually, I just drove by the old place and
took a picture (corner of Milton and Hursey). I also grabbed lunch at
what I thought was Ball's Burgers, but was actually a hole in the wall
a block away from Ball's. It was still good.

It has been 10 years since I lived here, and about 7 years since I was
here last. A lot has changed (like this "hotel", the Gaylord Texan...
It's somewhat large), but there are a lot of reminders of what life
was like here too. Some things that I saw yesterday that bring back
memories:

-Whataburger
-Giant Texas flags
-Left exits at DFW airport
-Mega-interchanges
-Jack in the Box
-El Fenix
-Southern Methodist University
-Peggy Sue's BBQ
-Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket
-Dallas Morning News & FW "Startlegram"
-Tight commercial development along Hwy 183
-The old drive home past Texas Stadium
-East Northwest Highway

I was awed by the 183/161 interchange, and even more by the Central
Expressway/635 interchange.

I'm sure there's more... Texas always feels very comfortable to me.

What would you expect?

Of course, when I returned to the hotel after buying replacement
clothes, there was my suitcase waiting for me in the room. Argh.

All fixed

$152 later, who needs luggage? Thanks Tommy.

No luggage

[Cue sound of sad trombone noise: wah, wah, wah, waaaah]

It's supposed to be on the next flight and then delivered to me.
Interesting system here at DFW for United. They do have baggage agents
in the bag claim area, but most of the info is entered by the
passenger (moi) at a kiosk. The kiosk prints out a receipt.

Fortunately, ORD-DFW must be a busy corridor for UA, so it shouldn't
take that long.

One other neat thing I don't think I've seen before. After all bags
were unloaded, UA put a small piece of metal as an indicator on the
carousel (from below). So you don't waste time waiting for bags that
ain't coming.

Arr @ DFW

Now if only this BlackBerry would stop turning itself off.

Waiting for luggage.

Tight cnx

We were late getting out of Ottawa, so late getting into Chicago. It
appears that I have made my connection. But it was close. I had to
dash from gate F5 in T2 all the way to B22 in T1. A bit further out on
F and that could have been the furthest walking connection possible
for UA at ORD. (Gate B22 is the furthest gate in the B concourse.)

So I made it. But I think it's very unlikely that my luggage (which
ridiculously must be re-screened here) will be joining me on this
flight.

YOW Gate 4

Those ramps are a much longer walk than I was expecting. It was Disneyesque.

D'Oh

Could have skipped past 30 people if I'd been flying with carry-on only.

(Side note: groups of people are able to buy duty free. Sending a
couple of people in while someone watches and moves the bags.)

Pre-Clearance

U.S. Customs pre-clearance at Canadian airports is a great thing. It
allows you to arrive in your U.S. hub essentially as a domestic
passenger. It facilitates quicker connections and, because you are not
forced to arrive at an international terminal in the U.S., you are
also not forced to change terminals as frequently.

One of the downsides, especially in Ottawa, which is a spoke to these
hubs, all the airlines want to depart YOW around the same time (as
early as possible) in order to connect to their banks of flights at
their hubs. So each morning, there's a crush of passengers checking
in, then going through security, then Customs, then into the holdroom,
then onto their flight. There are departures to LGA, EWR, BOS, PHL,
IAD, ATL, DTW, ORD, & CLE. Sometimes there are early flights to MCO or
FLL too. (And those people tend to arrive early at the airport
anyway.) Soon there will also be AM flights to DCA and MSP.

So as you can imagine, it gets busy. Lots of bodies funnelling through
a small space for both security and Customs, all in a relatively short
time period... about 90 minutes.

Once, the queue snaked out behind all the checkin counters, up the
window wall, back down the checkin hall past the washrooms (restrooms
if you prefer), the currency exchange, the Second Cup, the north
entrance, and to the Air Canada domestic checkin kiosks. That's far.
Imagine standing in that line, hoping you'll make your flight.

Lucky for me, I don't have to imagine it. Because that day is today,
and I am in said line, and have been for close to half an hour.
Probably 5 minutes from actually dropping off my bag now.

I'm not worried though. There's enough time to get through still, and
either way, I'm pretty sure there are a few UA ORD passengers behind
me in line still. (Thank you Star Alliance Gold.) I wouldn't be
surprised if we left late, but even that's OK as long as I make my
connection to DFW in ORD.

Stay tuned.

MCO Art

YYZ Art

More YYZ Connection Factoids

When making an international-to-domestic connection in Toronto, always
-- ALWAYS -- use the level 2 screening point. In fact, you should just
always use it, even for Toronto originating traffic. It's usually (in
my experience) a shorter queue.

And if it's an afternoon connection, always get salad with lots of
seeds and sun-dried tomato dressing in the Maple Leaf Lounge. Normally
I'd have a Crown Royal and Diet Coke too, but not today. Cocobongos is
still too fresh in my memory. Just salad, cookies and chicken noodle
soup today.

Flight AC462 today is upgauged to a B767-300-1.

A319

Man it's hot in here. Time to get the AC going here AC.

Looks like another ground delay too. The captain says it's due to the
routing, not citing local ATC as the issue this time.

In addition, the flight attendant says there's 20 cm of snow in TO.
Hope not all of that made its way to YOW...

Departing CUN

The CUN-YYZ flight is delayed... This means I'll probably miss my
YYZ-YOW connection. Maybe the next one...

CUN airport seems to be a pretty modern place. I think we're in a
relatively new part, but I don't know that for sure. Quite a bit of
shopping, but not that high end. I'd buy duty free, but because I may
have a tight connection, and because I'd have to then put it in my
checked bag... Forget it.

And my head hurts. Please stop talking to me.

Cocobongos

That place is pretty crazy. Loud music, flying trapeze shows, confetti
cannons, blasts of cold air, sirens, JC dancing on the bar by himself,
Spidey, the feeling of being on the floor of a Roman colosseum...

And for whatever reason, I alllowed myself to be convinced that
staying til 3 am was a good idea. Thanks to the other JC and NM for
that.

It was a ton of fun but I'm glad it's over.

An incredible night

www.cocobongo.com.mx

Hurricanesque

So I'm checking out the beach and the little walkway beside it since I
had some time between meetings. It's been cloudy and windy all day,
but what happens when I step outside? Huge rainstorm. I am drenched. I
took one photo a split second before the rain started. But it arrived
fast and furious. Interestingly, some of the resort employees were
trying to wave people in from the beach. I guess they can tell when
the rain is coming.

Hopefully we'll get some sun tomorrow for some decent photos.

Tulum

Visited the Mayan ruins in Tulum this morning. Despite the heat and
the fact that I brought neither sunglasses nor a hat, it was neat.
Lots of pictures if I ever get around to posting photos... Lots of
iguanas too.

Afterwards, our guide pulled a scam on us. He suggested we stop for
"20 minutes" at a "factory" where people could buy authentic Mayan
jewelry. We were the only people there. I'd like to know what kind of
a cut Carlos gets out of the deal.

In the bus ride back to the hotel (about 1.5 hrs) they showed about
the last 45 minutes of Zorro. They played part of it in Spanish, then
played a few minutes with the directors or producers talking over the
movie, then capped it off in English with Spanish subtitles. What fun.

In CUN

There's probably lots I should have blogged from yesterday, but I've
forgotten it all. I remember spending an hour waiting to get de-iced,
I remember the seat back TVs not working, and I remember being in a
holding pattern over Cancun for a while.

The TV thing bugged me for 2 reasons. One factor that enters into my
airline decision making is the in flight experience. I choose Air
Canada partly because they do offer the TVs. Secondly, I learned
yesterday that they will soon start charging for TV access. Boo!

Got thru Mexican immigration and customs, but barely. The queue for
immigration extended to the bottom of an escalator, which is where
passengers arrive to the hall. There was just no place for the people
to go.

And anyone who has come into Mexico has experienced the red
light/green light system. You push a button. If the light flashes
green, you're on your way. Red, and I guess you get searched.

60 Minutes? Really?

Do I really need to be at my gate 60 minutes before departure? For an
A321? Just because it's international? Clearly not... The aircraft is
just pulling up now, well under 60 minutes before departure.

Connecting at YYZ

Making a connection in Toronto is no longer the miserable experience
it once was. I guess $4 billion goes a long way.

Two things I love about a domestic-to-international connection:

1. Co-mingling. As an arriving domestic passenger connecting to an
international flight, there's a corridor where I may be co-mingling
with arriving transborder passengers on their way to customs. Don't
worry. It's well-managed and there's no border security risk.

2. The high speed moving walkway. I've made this type of connection
about 4 times and I've never seen it working. I did see some guys
working on it today though. And it's a long walk so thank goodness for
the low-speed moving walkway.

Ils sont arrivees

14A and B are here. And I don't know how to make an accent aigu.

One of those dumb moments

As an Aeroplan Elite member, I get to board the plane a bit earlier
than most folks. Usually just after those with small children or who
need a little extra time, but before those seated in rows 26 and
higher. Today I was about the 5th person boarding. I go to my seat and
what the-- In a sea of empty seats, there I am heading for 14D and
wouldn't you know it, 14E and F are full.

So internally I'm grumbling about it (but being outwardly nice). It
took me a couple of minutes to finally realize that I was actually in
14C. Just waiting now for someone to be in 14A and B. (At least I
caught myself before the real 14D showed up.

Interestingly (or not) I'm in 14C on both flights today, but different
aicraft types (320 now, 321 later).

YOW's old Maple Leaf Lounge

I might be the only person in here early on a Saturday morning, which
has never happened to me before. And it's not because the airport
isn't busy. The security line stretched all the way back to the
escalators (but good job keeping it moving CATSA). There are a few
charters going out this morning as well as all the usual activity. But
everyone else just left the lounge so I've got the place to myself.

This is one of the last times I'll be in here too. By sometime in
March this terminal and thus this lounge will be closed. The expansion
of YOW's new terminal will be open and a brand new, and by all
accounts very nice Maple Leaf Lounge will open. I look forward to it.
I've spent lots of time in this lounge too, but I don't think I'll
miss it much. Off to YYZ in a few minutes.

(A few more people just showed up.)

MCO last week, CUN this week

If you're ever in Orlando Airport -- as I was last week -- you have to
check out the bronze statue called The Traveler (I think that's what
it's called). It's located right beside Starbucks, adjacent to one of
the security checkpoints. If it wasn't glassed in, you wouldn't know
it wasn't real.

Tomorrow morning I'm off from YOW to CUN for the first time.