People Watching

This is odd for me, but I haven't been on a plane for over a year. For over five years I was able to get to Vancouver Island in a few hours. As everyone is aware, traveling is not as simple as it used to be. The point here is I can still get to the Island by air, it just takes longer, much longer. 

We all have our own little habits when it comes to flying. I like to be at the airport in good time. If it says be there at least an hour ahead, that is what I do. I have had some scary moments of being caught in a long line at check-in or security. It is not worth it to me to be late, and I would rather wait in the boarding area, instead of running to get there.   

I am not a big fan of carry-ons. My biggest pet peeve is how people bring so much on a plane that does not meet with regulations. They seem to get away with it, so why wouldn't they push the rules. I hate standing in the aisle of the plane, waiting to find my seat while someone tries to push an oversized bag into a space that it clearly won't fit in. The check-in clerks were not allowing more than 2 carry-on items. Just like the rules say, a personal item and a carry-on. I was so proud of them.

I am always assigned a seat by the window, usually row 14 or 15 right near the wing. I never change my seat number. The reason is, I believe I am meant to be in that seat and secondly, I don't care where I sit.  

It is very important to me that I am prepared for a flight. I have books, because that is all I do on a flight is read. Once I am waiting for my next flight, I will knit, write, eat my snacks or people watch. Because it was going to be a long day of travel, I was determined to make good use of my time and that meant being prepared. 

Flight #1: Brandon to Calgary. 

First time I have ever taken a refillable water bottle

Brandon is a small airport, with only one turn-around flight coming in from Calgary/day. I had a bit of a wait at check-in. One family consisting of a mom and 4 kids were checking in. They had one of the biggest travel trunks I have ever seen. They each had an additional suitcase and of course a carry-on. I was sure she was going to Ecuador. I spoke with the mom later; she and her family were going to Hawaii for 2 weeks. There was another family at the other check-in with 3 massive suitcases, a stroller for the 2 little girls, one being a baby. I was exhausted watching all of this, but they floated through the airport with ease.   

The flight from Calgary arrived early, and we were locked and loaded in a short amount of time. You walk out on the tarmac to get on the plane, and in two hours you are on the ground in Calgary. Now Calgary Airport is a different story. As you burst into the boarding area from the tunnel, it becomes reality that you are in a big airport. It took me a very long time to get from Terminal A to D for my next flight, and I was grateful for having lots of time.  

I had a three-hour layover in Calgary. I decided to figure out how to use my computer in an airport. I have never traveled with my computer, nor connected to the Wi-Fi that is offered. Pretty darn easy is all I can say. Just look at the firsts I was racking up in a few hours.  

Flight #2: Calgary to Vancouver.

As I was waiting for my flight, they were constantly pleading with the people to check their carry-ons. The flight they are announcing is huge. They are telling people if they don't have volunteers, they will just check bags when space is unavailable. They were even announcing that people couldn't put their coats in the overhead space. Clearly, carry-on luggage is becoming a problem.  

My flight to Vancouver was also huge, with 3 seats on each side. When I got to my seat there were 2 young people already there and of course I was at the window. The young girl I would say was maybe 17, she jumped up, and found a place for my carry-on. I was impressed, and even more impressed when she just kept doing it. Making space for whoever needed assistance. I said to her, "you are really good at this", she just said that she travels lots. 

Vancouver layover was my longest at 5 hours. I had comfort food of a grilled cheese sandwich and chocolate milk from Starbucks. I blogged, checked out Facebook, did some planning on paper, and managed to put in the time.  

I was entertained by Byron for a good chunk of time. Byron was a clerk at the check-in podium. Among other obvious issues, he had to be an inch from the computer screen to read it. Byron couldn't have taken his job any more seriously. The reason I knew his name is because you could hear him all over, he had one of those voices. He had 4 no shows on the flight he just checked in. He was determined to get his paperwork done correctly. He made several calls and each time he said, "Hallo, Byron here". 

My Airport Nest

Flight #3: Vancouver to Comox.

I find it very odd that there are people that travel from Vancouver to Comox at midnight. My flight had 23 other people on our 30-person plane, under the control of Captain Laura. It was a 27-minute flight. In Comox as we got off the plane there was another much larger flight also unloading. I had a huge sense of relief when my luggage arrived.  

Although it was a long day, it was an interesting one. I proved to myself that I can put in 14 hours on 3 flights and in 4 different airports. I found that people were very patient, nothing seemed to run on time. Not much you can do, and they chose to just wait. There was a huge flight leaving from Vancouver at 10 pm, to go to Toronto and on to Cuba. What a time of day to start a warm holiday. I was reminded how interesting people are. I appreciated how the young West Jet employee handled the guy that was too intoxicated to fly. He was being escorted back out through security and he could come back in when he sobered up. I loved the young couple that clearly had come from a hot holiday and were wearing their matching sunhats. The dignified woman that I connected with who I could have talked to all day. I watched a man be delivered to the disabled seating in a wheelchair by the WJ staff. Once the lady was out of sight, he was all over walking with the greatest of ease. There was the young woman that was organizing the carry-ons like a pro. Byron's efficiency within a disability. Lastly, the smiling face that picked me up so late at night. Just really good people out there, putting in time in an airport. I believe travel is different since Covid, but I must end this by saying, I think people were calmer. I liked that about my day.