Vancouver International

I used public transportation to get to the airport and followed the signs to the part of the airport where the check in for transborder flights was done. One had to fill out the customs declaration before one could check in and so did I. The dedicated desk for Aeroplan elites as well as Star Gold customers was empty but it took some time before I was checked in. Since this was an award ticket using some orphan miles in my Mileage Plus account, my LH Senator Number could not be attached to the booking. As the agent mentioned she failed for the second time, I told her to give up as I did not expect there would be any need for my Star Gold Privileges. Well, soon enough I should discover that I was wrong. I rolled my luggage to the drop off belt and passed security and immigration in a breeze as there were no lines at all. The agent at security made some comments about my slip on converse chucks as quite practical if you have to pass security.

There were no signs for the lounges at the airport and so I had to look around to find the entrance to the Maple Leaf Lounge, which I had already noticed as I arrived and was walking to immigration.

I was greeted at the entrance and it was not problem to access the lounge with my boarding pass with another frequent flyer account number and my LH Star Gold card. I took a seat, read in the papers, checked e-mails as a text message arrived telling me my flight would be delayed by 60 minutes. This cut my connection time in SFO to 38 minutes which is not too long as I had to change terminals in SFO. There was United flight leaving at 12:51 but the agent at the desk refused to rebook me on this flight as she expected that my flight to PSP would be delayed as well given the current rainy weather in SFO. Nevertheless I looked about my options out of SFO and knowing the situation at SFO from previous trips about re-routing through other airports. The other flights out of SFO showed availability and also a connection via LAX were available, so not too much to worry about despite the fact that I will arrive later than expected and missing the evening snacks at the Hyatt.

Worse come by worse, soon later another text message arrived and not my connection time would be only 28 minutes and a few minutes later a text message arrived and the worse had happened, the flight to SFO was canceled.

Quite a few passengers now rushed to the desk and another passenger, who was in the lounge earlier and had already proceeded to the gate, returned and told us the screen there just went blank with no agent available and the passengers there without any clue what was going on. In so far, the agent at the desk, who was alone, tried now to get everything solved out.

A guy holding highest tier with aeroplan arrived cutting the line and demanded to be rebooked on the 12:51 UA flight to SFO. The agent told him, she could not do this, as this was a United airlines flight and the flight was already boarding and she had no control over this flight anymore. He demanded in a very harsh way, that he wanted to be rebooked on this flight and all she had to do was to serve him. She told him politely, that we all were on the canceled flight and his answer was that he did not care about who we were. He was Aeroplan Super Elite and had no intention to be put on the same level with us. Well, Mr DYKWIA there are other elites here as well and cutting the line and demanding to be served ahead of others is not really the way to behave. I thought about stepping in, but decided to play noble guy and wait. The UA GS next to me shook his and told me he had never seen such a self-important person before. My DYKWIA became angry and demanded for a supervisor, which the agent called. MR DYKWIA Super Elite now took a seat and made a few calls and waited for the supervisor. The agent mentioned to me and a few other passengers to let our boarding passes with her while she was researching our options and she would call us.

First, she rebooked the passengers with final destination SFO on later flight but needed some help from the back office for those passengers with onward connections. In the meantime I had written down next two possible alternative flights down to LAX on AC and also one on United with good connection to Palm Springs. She took them and told me, she would call me.

Half an hour later I was called and she asked for my ID to rebook me through LAX. The back office has agreed to rebook me on the first option, I had given to her. They agreed that a rerouting to LAX was the better option than to fly into SFO which was still expecting heavy delays and cancelations. She thanked me for giving her that alternative as this saved her from searching alternatives and the back office has agreed to rebook me immediately as she told them what I had researched myself. I had also gotten the the number of open seats in the available booking classes. Meanwhile United has tried to contact me, but they did not use the number provided during booking but the one in my profile, so I missed this call and did not notice it at this time.

Soon later I was called to the front desk again, and the agent gave me my new boarding pass for YVR – LAX and told me that LAX – PSP hat to reissued by United in LAX. I tried to call United but failed in several attempts to reach a human being as their voice system failed to recognize my choices due to my pronunciation, background voice and weak mobile connection. Anyway after several attempts in amore silent part of the lounge I got through to an agent, who was able to re issue the ticket which would safe me some time in LAX. He told me, I could see, if someone at YVR can print the boarding pass in a couple of more minutes.

As boarding time for my flight to LAX approached, I left the lounge. I thanked the agent and exchanged a few words with her wishing that the situation in SFO did not become worse. She thanked me for being patient and re-searching my option myself and hopes to see me back soon. Mr DYKWIA Super Elite was still in the lounge and looked not very happy.

At the gate for the flight to LAX I asked if it was available to get the boarding pass for LAX – PSP as well and the agent mentioned she could try, but think it would not work. Well to her surprise, she was able to print the boarding pass. At least a big thank you to United for getting this sorted out and saving me time in LAX.

04 June 2012
YVR – LAX
[Vancouver International – Los Angeles International]
AC 554 (Air Canada); Embraer 190 (C-FHNP)
Gate E 82
16:20 – 19:06 [effective 16:19 – 19:31]
Economy Class
Seat 32 A

Boarding was done by rows with elites, Business Class Passengers and families with children ahead of the masses. I was among the fist passengers to board the aircraft and I headed for my second last row of this Embraer 190 airplane. I was greeted by the flight attendant at the door and later by the one in the rear galley as well. I was able to store my belongings in the overhead compartment and under the seat in front of me. Parts of the overhead bin were packed with pillows and other stuff, which limited the space available for the passengers. Therefore I put one carry on under the seat in front of me limiting my legroom significantly. The seats behind me were taken by two children and there was another father with a young 14 month old daughter. The children behind me were pushing against my seat and the 14 month old was screaming, while the passengers in front of me reclined his seat. I was slowly beginning to enjoy this flight …

The captain welcomed us on board and gave us and update of the to-be-expected weather during the flight. He expected a bumpy ride and noted that the seat belt signs would be turned on for a longer time. There might also been turbulences during the flight. The safety video was shown while we were at the gate. Later the flight attendants thankfully reminded the passengers in front of me, that his backrest must be in an upright position. We were pushed back at 16:19. We taxied to runway 26R, where we took up after the Frankfurt bound Lufthansa Airbus A 340-300 at 16:39.

Time for some details of this Embraer 190: The plane was delivered on March 30, 2007 to Air Canada with 9 seats in Business Class in a 2-1 seating and 84 seats in Economy Class. The Embraer 190 is a stretched version of the Embraer 170, which was launched in 2002. The Embraer 190 was launched 2004 and is a competitor to the Boeing 717, Boeing 737 and Airbus A319. The E190 is equipped with two GE CF34-10E with 18500 lbf or 82.30 kN.
The seat pitch in Business Class is 38 inch and 33 inch in Economy Class. Like all Air Canada planes the plane offers an Audio Video on Demand system at every seat as well as power outlets at most of the seats.

Take off was toward the Pacific Ocean and then we made a slight turn to the south and were flying towards California. The sky was cloudy and it was indeed a bit bumpy during the first time.

After 12 minutes the crew began to prepare the carts for the beverage service. The kids behind me were using the touch screen controlled screen with verve as I could feel every pressed icon with some kicks every now and then. The 14 month old screamed the first 25 minutes without interruption and my noise canceling head set did not really help.

I skipped through the audio selection but there was not much of interest for me so I changed to my MP3 player. Later the captain came over the microphone and told us, that he could not avoid the turbulences and therefore the seat belt signs would remain on and he requested the crew to interrupt the service and take their seats as well for the next five minutes. It was a bit bumpier, but nothing serious. Later the crew continued their service. I opted for tonic water.

The flight was okay, but the kicks in my back from the kids behind me were not very nice. Finally after some time the 14 year old fell asleep – no more kicks. I have to admit that the father told his two kids very often not to kick in the back of the seat, but it only helped for a few minutes.

The used glasses were collected and a tea service was offered later to my surprise. The crew was constantly friendly and helpful. Again, kudos to Air Canada for their crews; they are attentive and even smile, if it is a full flight and a lot to do.

The flight became calmer after 75 minutes in flight and the seat belt signs were turned off. It has in so far helped, that passengers could use the lavatories, but the crew did not want other passengers to queue for the rear lavatories in the aisle while the seat belt signs were on. As the signs were turned off it needed only a few minutes until a longer line queued in the aisle making it difficult for the flight attendant to pass. And as usual the fellow passengers used the head rest of the seat to lean on. Not so much my problem, as I had a window seat, but my seat neighbor, a dude in his late 20ies with skateboard and skateboard outfit was a bit annoyed.

We flew over Nevada and then on to Fresno and Bakersfield. The sky cleared for the last 30 minutes in flight and we could get some nice views of the Pacific and the Getty Center at Los Angeles before we began our final approach into Los Angeles International Airport. We touched down at 19:26 and arrived at our gate at 19:31.

It took a while before I was able to leave the plane, but finally I made it to the terminal.

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