Short trip/report: WS YVR-YLW-YVR
Oct 2, 2001, 1:22 pm
#1
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Short trip/report: WS YVR-YLW-YVR
Short trip on the Canadian discount carrier, West Jet (WS) between Vancouver and Kelowna.
28 September.
GF gets the day off so we go to the airport just after 10 a.m. to standby for the noon flight (originally booked on the 1810 flight but we don't rebook at same-day earlier standbys are free while confirmed changes cost $20). Get to the airport and after finding the check-in desks (ongoing renovation has altered the domestic terminal) to find virtually no line up. We get to an agent after standing in line for less than 1 minute and pick up a free copy of the National Post newspaper. No security questions about the bags asked and we lie about the electronics (you have to carry these on board in Canada). Get seat assignment in 5E & F straight away thought the agent does tag the check-in as standby. Wander around admiring the longer line facing 2T (Canada 3000) and AC passengers. About a 5 minute wait through security. Agents are quick to pull people who beep offline for wand scanning. Get to the gate at around 10:15 with too much time to spare. Incoming a/c for the flight arrives from YYJ late at 10:35 (due to fog) but WS crew are quick to turn it around. One general call for boarding after preboarding. Flight seems about 65-70% full. Doors closed just after scheduled noon departure time and the a/c is airborne by 1215, taking off to the east. Safety announcement made in English with a recorded demonstration in french. Seats are a little bit tight but o.k. for a 30 minute flight. Beverages offered are McCain's orange juice in a box and coffee (with real cream). The waste is collected soon after as descent commences. Approach is from the north and the a/c is on the ground at around 12:45 and gets to the gate area some 2 minutes later. Although the 737-200s seem to have the built-in air stairs, they're not used with ground stairs used instead. Not sure how many pax disembark but it seems about 1/3-1/2, the rest going onto YYC and YEG. Luggage takes about 8-10 minutes to be dispensed.
30 September
Get to the airport at 1320 for a 1440 flight. Wait of around 3 minutes before getting to an agent. Security questions asked. Check-in process takes less than a minute. Still too much time so we have a look at the viewing room of the airport (recently expanded). Go through security which takes about 0.5 minutes of waiting and is staffed by retirees (or close to it). Long wait for boarding which takes place at around 1420-1425 after the inbound a/c comes in (from YYC). Both doors are used which expedites the process. Flight about 65-70% full again. Doors closed 1438 and the a/c is quickly airborne. Usual onboard announcements and service. Note that the drink in a box are kept seperate from the other garbage. I think WS returns these for the $0.05 deposit. Flight goes straight in, approaching from the east and gets to gate at around 1515, some 15 minutes early. Wait of around 10 minutes again for bags.
No miles but C$60 cheaper than the lowest fare Air Canada was offering at the point and not worth 500 miles at any rate.
Addenda:
Asked the gate agent at YVR if the 73Gs are used on this route. No, they are used for the longer haul ones.
[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 10-02-2001).]
edited for date change
[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 10-03-2001).]
28 September.
GF gets the day off so we go to the airport just after 10 a.m. to standby for the noon flight (originally booked on the 1810 flight but we don't rebook at same-day earlier standbys are free while confirmed changes cost $20). Get to the airport and after finding the check-in desks (ongoing renovation has altered the domestic terminal) to find virtually no line up. We get to an agent after standing in line for less than 1 minute and pick up a free copy of the National Post newspaper. No security questions about the bags asked and we lie about the electronics (you have to carry these on board in Canada). Get seat assignment in 5E & F straight away thought the agent does tag the check-in as standby. Wander around admiring the longer line facing 2T (Canada 3000) and AC passengers. About a 5 minute wait through security. Agents are quick to pull people who beep offline for wand scanning. Get to the gate at around 10:15 with too much time to spare. Incoming a/c for the flight arrives from YYJ late at 10:35 (due to fog) but WS crew are quick to turn it around. One general call for boarding after preboarding. Flight seems about 65-70% full. Doors closed just after scheduled noon departure time and the a/c is airborne by 1215, taking off to the east. Safety announcement made in English with a recorded demonstration in french. Seats are a little bit tight but o.k. for a 30 minute flight. Beverages offered are McCain's orange juice in a box and coffee (with real cream). The waste is collected soon after as descent commences. Approach is from the north and the a/c is on the ground at around 12:45 and gets to the gate area some 2 minutes later. Although the 737-200s seem to have the built-in air stairs, they're not used with ground stairs used instead. Not sure how many pax disembark but it seems about 1/3-1/2, the rest going onto YYC and YEG. Luggage takes about 8-10 minutes to be dispensed.
30 September
Get to the airport at 1320 for a 1440 flight. Wait of around 3 minutes before getting to an agent. Security questions asked. Check-in process takes less than a minute. Still too much time so we have a look at the viewing room of the airport (recently expanded). Go through security which takes about 0.5 minutes of waiting and is staffed by retirees (or close to it). Long wait for boarding which takes place at around 1420-1425 after the inbound a/c comes in (from YYC). Both doors are used which expedites the process. Flight about 65-70% full again. Doors closed 1438 and the a/c is quickly airborne. Usual onboard announcements and service. Note that the drink in a box are kept seperate from the other garbage. I think WS returns these for the $0.05 deposit. Flight goes straight in, approaching from the east and gets to gate at around 1515, some 15 minutes early. Wait of around 10 minutes again for bags.
No miles but C$60 cheaper than the lowest fare Air Canada was offering at the point and not worth 500 miles at any rate.
Addenda:
Asked the gate agent at YVR if the 73Gs are used on this route. No, they are used for the longer haul ones.
[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 10-02-2001).]
edited for date change
[This message has been edited by terenz (edited 10-03-2001).]
Oct 3, 2001, 12:12 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Posts: 21,789
Forgot to add:
On the flight back, the flight deck door ws open before take off. The pilots had deployed the jumpseat (thus placing a big obstacle across the entry way) which would have made entry difficult.
On the flight back, the flight deck door ws open before take off. The pilots had deployed the jumpseat (thus placing a big obstacle across the entry way) which would have made entry difficult.
