2022.03 Day trip to Vancouver

2022.03 Day trip to Vancouver

Travel had not yet returned because restrictions were still in place.  In response to that Air Canada, or Aeroplan, offered up ways to achieve frequent flyer status for 2023.  After some calculations, I realized I could achieve my goal by adding a round trip to Vancouver.  However, without vacation available, it was going to be a day trip!

A day trip?

Due to the terms of the promotion, I didn’t have any available vacation days to extend my time in Vancouver.  With a bit of discussion with Little Miss, she agreed to let me have a day filled with airports and air travel without her.  Fortunately, when I returned, she quickly realized that my day was not anything she’d want to do willingly.

Toronto pearson airport & domestic maple leaf lounge

Online check-in was a breeze and straight forward.  I left for the airport before 6am to ensure I would have time to navigate through security, and, grab something to eat before the flight.

With the car parked, it was time to head to security.  I had hoped that the secondary security checkpoint had re-opened, however as of March 2022, this was not the case.  I took the escalator up to the main departures level and joined the crowd for security.

After security it was off to Air Canada’s domestic Maple Leaf Lounge.  Ordering food from your seat continued to be available.  Although I, along with several others placed orders, the food never arrived.  I was able to grab some items from their to-go section and head to gate D26 for my flight to Vancouver.

Well spaced seating at Lounge

Breakfast menu options

A to-go section was available

Breakfast!

Flight Vancouver to Toronto

Scheduled Departure: 8:00am
Scheduled Arrival: 10:00am
Air Canada AC103, Boeing 787-9

Upon arrival, boarding had already begun and before long I joined the line and was quickly on the plane.  My seat was well in the back and I noticed a few things being in this part of the plane:

I learned that the red bins are food and snacks in case of ground delays.  Here the ones I could see were labelled “Water”.  I settled into my seat, and had time to have my breakfast while the rest of the plane boarded.  It was a full flight, with every seat taken.  I learned during the flight that the passenger on the aisle had arrived from Brazil overnight, and the occupant of the middle seat was a nervous flyer — however by the end of the flight she commented “When are you returning to Toronto?  You helped to put me at ease.”  I didn’t have the heart to tell her I’d be returning the same day.  Although not obvious from the picture, but watch out for row 43 in a Boeing 787-9 as the configuration has that row without a window.

Boarding was completed on time, with pushback and engines on shortly afterwards.  The plane arrived at runway 24R by 8:23am with us having skip ahead of an A220 for a smooth and effortless take-off.  Economy service commenced shortly afterwards with food and most drinks available for purchase.  I had brought enough snacks from home that I didn’t order anything.

The scenery drastically improved as we flew west with the blankets of cloud disappearing in time to take in the Rocky Mountains, the Okanagan Valley, and then the Fraser Valley into Greater Vancouver.  The weather was unseasonably clear.  I don’t think I’ve ever had such a great view as we came straight into Vancouver International Airport and landed without delay on 26R.  By 9:45am the plane had arrived at the gate.

Clouds clear for the mountains.

Rocky Mountains!

View approaching greater Vancouver

View approaching greater Vancouver

View approaching greater Vancouver

Once on the ground, and with the plane almost empty it was my turn to get off the plane.  As I exited I found a departure board and then laughed — my return trip would be with the same plane!  Now knowing what spot to return to at Vancouver International Airport, it was a quick walk down to arrivals and off to wait for my ride to Granville Island.

While waiting for the ride, the weather made the trip even better — just a few days after getting almost 20 cm of snow, arriving in a city devoid of snow and being almost 10C and sunny almost felt tropical.

Granville Island

From our many visits to Vancouver, we have enjoyed visiting Granville Island for its market, and many shops.  Today, was not a time to window shop, instead it was to pick up some favourite foods local to the area.  Fresh doughnuts from Lee’s Donuts, chocolates from Rogers’ Chocolates (okay, they’re based across the Sound in Victoria), and some Macarons.

In line for Lee’s Donuts, Granville Island

Window view to fresh doughnuts at Granville Island

Two of three items purchased!

And now complete with Rogers’ Chocolates.

The return to the airport was quick — it felt that most of Vancouver was trying to get to Granville Island as I was leaving by 11am.  In less than an hour of exiting the plane, I had successfully run my errands and was on my way back to the airport.

Return Trip

Upon return to Vancouver Airport, the departure side of the airport was busy!  Luckily I had already checked-in online, and with my upgrade successful, I was able to join the priority security line that did move faster than the very full security line.  I wasn’t the only person who made a stop at Lee’s Donuts as there were a few people in front of me holding the bright pink boxes.

With security completed, it was a short walk to the Maple Leaf Lounge.  Fortunately I did not have to wait to gain entry, however the lounge was filled to capacity and selected a comfortable chair away from the windows facing a TV.  Certainly more plush than seating around the self serve area.  While in the lounge it gave me a chance to grab lunch (or late lunch Toronto time) before boarding for my flight home.

A la carte options at Vancouver Maple Leaf Lounge, March 2022.

Mushroom Flatbread

Flight Vancouver to Toronto

Air Canada AC188, 787-9
Scheduled Departure: 13:30
Scheduled Arrival: 21:00

With some food and drink in me from the lounge, I made the return trip to the same gate that I had exited just a few hours ago.  Once the crew were onboard just before 1pm, boarding began approximately 15 minutes later.  My assigned seat 8A was interesting, as one of the two windows from the seat was blocked during boarding for the opened door.  It was cool to see the inner components of the door:

Boarding began late, and resulted in boarding being complete at 2pm.  I didn’t get the name of the captain nor first officer, however the service director for the flight was Shannon.  The captain updated passengers informing us that our delay in leaving the gate was due to load figures, however within five minutes of the message we were pushed back and on our way to the runway 26L for our take-off that occurred just after 2:35pm.

Here’s the menu:

Air Canada March 2022 Menu

Air Canada March 2022 Menu

Take-off was towards the west, and I got another great view of the city after the plane turned to the east and continued its climb to cruising altitude.

Beverage and snacks were served just after 3pm:

The appetizer arrived thirty minutes later, with the salmon being a substantial piece.

Main course arrived twenty minutes later, I selected the cod:

I found the food to be good, and made sure to have room for dessert, to have both the cheese plate and chocolate brownie.  Dessert arrive 35 minutes after the main course.

I enjoyed the rest of the flight, it was smooth, and watched a few movies.

Arrival into Toronto was without issue or further delay.  Although we landed just after 9:20pm local time, it wasn’t until 9:40pm that we were at the gate, the door open and ready to hop off the plane.  Once off the plane, it was the full walk through terminal 1, into the parking garage to find my car.  I was back home in a reasonable time, however it was almost a 17 hour day — something I really don’t do often.

The treats were on full display for Little Miss the next day who approved of them, however still thought my day trip was a bit extreme.

Lee Donuts

Macarons

Next trip, another short one, but definitely not a day trip.