Trip Reports - YEG-YYC-ORD-BOS and back

Summary:
24Nov YEG-YYC AC 8389, YYC-ORD AA 1792, ORD-BOS AA 1914
24Nov-30Nov Sheraton Boston
30Nov BOS-ORD AA 153, ORD-YYC AA 829, YYC-YEG AC 8460

I encountered security at four different airports and there was no consistency whatsoever in terms of procedure or standards.

24Nov YEG 11:00 YYC 11:45 AC 8387 Dash 8-300 all econo class, seat 3A

I was originally booked for AC 8389, the 13:00 flight, but it got cancelled and I was rebooked on this earlier flight.

Checked in at a kiosk, get my yellow boarding pass and was beeped to go see the agent since I had a bag to check anyways.  Agent at first checks bag to Chicago which was not my correct final destination so I asked her to tag it for Calgary only, since I'd have to check-in with AA again at YYC.

My backpack and poster tube were tagged as approved cabin bags, but the agent did ask me if I was carrying anything like a fishing rod in there (long narrow tube).  I guess it's long and sharp and could be used to harm someone. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

Proceeded to security in the old YEG terminal.  Only one line operating, staffed by three people, but there were only four people in line in front of me.  The man operating the x-ray was very thorough and went through my backback having spotted many electronic items inside.  I had to turn on my Palm PDA, laptop, and camera flash (old fashioned kind).  He also looked at my walkman and earphones, but was satisfied they were what I said they were.  For my (old fashioned) camera, he looked through the viewfinder, and made me remove the lens to look inside.  (And no, it was not stuffed with anything dangerous.)  I was naturally a bit annoyed at having to go through all this, but was impressed with the efficiency of the process.  The security people were polite and quick about their business.

Short flight was noisy (prop plane - yuck), short, and on schedule.  Service consisted of a choice of drink (apple or orange juice) plus a package of cookies.

Had a longer than desired layover in YYC, so went and ate light lunch in the food court.

24Nov YYC 15:15 ORD 19:37 AA 1792 MD-80 biz class, seat 4F

Checked in with AA, got my BPs for both AA flights, bag checked through to BOS.  Whole thing took all of 2 minutes.  I think this same fellow checked me in for my flight to Europe back in March - very nice fellow.

US customs uneventful.  No trouble for me as usual.  Drop off tagged luggage, go to security.

YYC security is busier than in YEG.  This time all I have to do is turn on my laptop and show that it's a real laptop.  No other questions or inspections.

Upon boarding, FA hung up my jacket in the close and I took my seat.  A couple was seated in 4AB.  Since the rows in FC on the S80 are offset, 4EF is closer to the front than 4AB, so later I got my meal choice ahead of them. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif  Sneaky I know and better legroom than row 3.  Loading was very light - 3/14 in FC and maybe only 40 or so in the back.

Service was the usual.  Pre-departure drink; after takeoff, warmed nuts + another drink; meal - salad, main course (I had the grilled chicken), dessert (ice cream sundae with strawberries for me).

Dozed for the rest of the flight listening to mp3's on my laptop.  I brought my own IFE.

Landed more or less on time, but still a bit groggy from lack of sleep the previous night.

(more later - I'm going to sleep now)

FewMiles..

With low loads like that from YYC I don't suspect AA will grace YEG with its presence anytime soon. Thanks for the report.

That's not the end of low load factors either! More to come...

24Nov ORD 20:35 BOS 23:51 AA 1914 MD80 econo class, seat 21A (exit!)

This flight was late by about 45 minutes because the incoming flight from SAN was delayed. I think this had to do with that security breach out west that day. If the flight hadn't been delayed, I'd have just walked straight over from the gate where my previous flight just in time for boarding to start. With this delay, I took a walk through the terminal, walking as far as the security checkpoint to see what was going on.

The terminal was much less crowded than I remembered ORD being, thanks to the new policy of allowing only ticketed pax through, but I'm sure reduced loads also contributed a lot. The security checkpoint was staffed with the usual guards, but now with the addition of the National Guardsmen. I didn't see a lineup and people on the other side were coming through pretty quickly. Perhaps things were just not busy at this time of day.

Got back to the gate and waited a little longer before boarding with Group 1. Took my exit row seat. Miles of legroom, but I scoped out other rows too, and it's pretty generous everywhere. More Room Throughout Coach is definitely a winner of an idea.

This was actually my first time in domestic coach on AA since MRTC was introduced. Definitely more comfortable with the extra legroom. There was no meal service listed for this flight, so I chose not to burn any upgrades. Coach service consisted of snack mix and a drink. Everybody was given full cans and a plastic cup (with optional ice). I guess when you fill it yourself, there's less chance of spillage. I'm glad they give full cans now.

Slept the rest of the flight. Landed in BOS about half an hour late. By the time I got my bag and rolled my way out to the taxi stand, it was past 12:30 am. I'm really glad that I'd been to BOS once before, otherwise I'd have been completely lost. There's not really an obvious path to follow in the airport.

Sheraton Boston - midnight adventure with my little visitor

Ended up having to share a taxi with another guy, plus a couple. The taxi driver (sneaky dork) offered each of the three parties $2 off the fare displayed on the meter. Given that all of us were going to the downtown area, this guy was gonna make a bundle. Shouldn't have tipped him.

Got to the hotel at nearly 01:00 and collapsed. Room wasn't too bad, but I can tell the hotel isn't all that new. But I was going to get an upgraded room out of this one, thanks to a little furry visitor.

A couple of nights later, I was propped up in bed reading late. It was almost 02:00 when out from behind the TV cabinet runs a furry, little brown mouse. Noticing the movement in the corner of my eye, I kind of sit upright in bed and my little friend stops and looks back at me. I make a move to get up and it runs back behind the TV cabinet.

"Alrighty... a mouse". A call to the front desk and I pack my things and get moved to a (slightly) nicer room in the other tower. Crazy!! I'm glad I don't go for room service. All those food service trays left on the floor in the hall, lots of good pickings for mice.

Return journey still to come.

FewMiles..