Just back from MAD and found a few things of interest and/or frustration along the way that I thought I'd share.

In the "what's up with that?" category, a lady on the DH8 SEA-YVR last nite with approx 6 inch knitting needles. This naturally came as a bit of a surprise to me after having been put under the customs/ security microscope a few hours earlier at SEA (Q. what's this coffee mug doing in your carry on, sir? A. well, it's a souvenir from the Hard Rock Cafe...) The lady must have read the shocked look on my face and explained that probably weren't noticed as the needles are plastic, but I'm thinking no one likely did a hand search of her carry-on 'cause you couldn't miss those things.

Also, I had to complete a customs form on arrival in MAD and hadn't expected to as was flying in from another EU city, LHR. I thought when flying nonstop from Canada you'd have to go through this process and get an actual stamp in your passport but not when flying within EU. I know last May when arriving into ATH from FRA didn't have to go through the customs thing. Insight anyone?

Is it just me or does everyone else think SEA sucks? Like, why is smoking only allowed on the bottom level by the parkcade and not outside the departures level doors? What's the difference? The lack of somewhere to grab a hot meal at 1630 mystifies me. Wound up opting for munchies, a bottle of coke and chips = 4.29 USD! YVR is, IMHO, a much better airport for restaurant options.

The happy ending to the story was a wonderful MAD holiday, helped in part by the great city tips passed on by many fellow FTers including SH whom I'm glad to see couldn't keep the New Years resolution and is once again posting on AC forum. The $20 BA WT+ Altaflyer special was a nice way to travel and pax loads were light both directions so everyone was able to spread out.

Other than the Onex-AP thing, seems was pretty quiet on the AC front during my absence. While enjoy experiencing new countries and cultures, am always glad to be back home...