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This (business) trip report is a companion to one I did earlier this year, where I went to Calgary with CX via HKG and YVR and returned with QF from LAX (with AC handing the short sectors to/from Calgary). That trip report here:
This time it’s back to Calgary but all Air Canada. I’d like to say I’m going *A as a protest against Qantas enhancements, but truth is that I have a new client (also in Calgary ) and they are making the travel arrangements from there, rather than the existing client who shares the same TA as me, in Melbourne. Therefore I kept arrangements simple, going with AC. The new TA asked for my preferences and in response I send an e-mail containing all my Frequent Flyer and Hotel club memberships and just about every other preference I have. Quite a long e-mail once I’d finished.
It was handy getting back to Air Canada, as I need my Air Canada Aeroplan miles topped up for next year’s status. Aeroplan isn’t a great FF scheme, and I meant to switch over to United this year, but just forgot (I’ve already had a few AC/Aeroplan flights credited already this year).
The travel agent got assigned seats – got my usual row 6, absolutely the best in the AC herringbone style 777s. It’s totally private due to a bulkhead behind. AC however has no ‘manage my booking’ facility on their web site. Only bookings made via the web site are visible there. However I’ve done this trip enough times that there isn’t that much to pre-select other than the seat, so no worries there.
As usual, I can’t get out of Hobart in time to reach Sydney for the 10:20am departure of AC34, so I’m on Virgin for a flight up there the day before and staying at Rydges Sydney International Airport. My first stay there wasn’t so great, but others have posted good reports, so going to give it another go.
Got an e-mail from Rydges the day before arriving inviting me to check in on-line. Asked for my basic preferences (I also asked for an airport view) and time of arrival, and mobile # so advice could be given on room assignment. At this point I checked the domestic to hotel shuttle arrangements – every half hour quarter to and quarter past the hour, from between T2 and T3, so all set there as well.
I tried to check-in on-line with Virgin but they appear to have changed it since I last did it, so I made a hash of it. Never mind, need to front at the counter anyway with my checked bags, so no biggie.
I’m also making a field trip down to Nevada, so the itinerary is:
HBA-SYD Virgin Y
SYD-YVR-YYC Air Canada J
YYC-SLC-ELK Delta Y
RNO-SEA-YYC Alaska Air Y
YYC-YVR-SYD Air Canada J
SYD-HBA Virgin Y
This time it’s back to Calgary but all Air Canada. I’d like to say I’m going *A as a protest against Qantas enhancements, but truth is that I have a new client (also in Calgary ) and they are making the travel arrangements from there, rather than the existing client who shares the same TA as me, in Melbourne. Therefore I kept arrangements simple, going with AC. The new TA asked for my preferences and in response I send an e-mail containing all my Frequent Flyer and Hotel club memberships and just about every other preference I have. Quite a long e-mail once I’d finished.
It was handy getting back to Air Canada, as I need my Air Canada Aeroplan miles topped up for next year’s status. Aeroplan isn’t a great FF scheme, and I meant to switch over to United this year, but just forgot (I’ve already had a few AC/Aeroplan flights credited already this year).
The travel agent got assigned seats – got my usual row 6, absolutely the best in the AC herringbone style 777s. It’s totally private due to a bulkhead behind. AC however has no ‘manage my booking’ facility on their web site. Only bookings made via the web site are visible there. However I’ve done this trip enough times that there isn’t that much to pre-select other than the seat, so no worries there.
As usual, I can’t get out of Hobart in time to reach Sydney for the 10:20am departure of AC34, so I’m on Virgin for a flight up there the day before and staying at Rydges Sydney International Airport. My first stay there wasn’t so great, but others have posted good reports, so going to give it another go.
Got an e-mail from Rydges the day before arriving inviting me to check in on-line. Asked for my basic preferences (I also asked for an airport view) and time of arrival, and mobile # so advice could be given on room assignment. At this point I checked the domestic to hotel shuttle arrangements – every half hour quarter to and quarter past the hour, from between T2 and T3, so all set there as well.
I tried to check-in on-line with Virgin but they appear to have changed it since I last did it, so I made a hash of it. Never mind, need to front at the counter anyway with my checked bags, so no biggie.
I’m also making a field trip down to Nevada, so the itinerary is:
HBA-SYD Virgin Y
SYD-YVR-YYC Air Canada J
YYC-SLC-ELK Delta Y
RNO-SEA-YYC Alaska Air Y
YYC-YVR-SYD Air Canada J
SYD-HBA Virgin Y