Hello all; I am back in Ottawa after a very extensive month on the road. I arrived here on Wednesday morning at 00;20. All flights were on time or early at arrival, so no delays that way. As stated earlier, I did have a nine hour layover at the Inchon airport,(outside Seoul) Korea. That layover was known from the time the ticket was booked. I was very fortunate, and thankful for some of the decisions made in the planning for this trip. I had originally intended to go to Asia in November, however, upon being informed that my youngest, (of two) sisters was very ill with cancer, I moved my trip ahead by two months. My sister was living at Dawson Creek in northern British Columbia, so I decided to visit her,and other family members for a week, then continue on to Asia. Upon arrival in Bangkok, I picked up a copy of the Bangkok Post newspaper and found that the National Museum would be presenting a display of the Terracotta warriors from China. A fantastic chance to see that without going to China. Another wise decision, unknown at the time, was to take the flights that my agent found, which returned via Korea instead of the normal stop I do in Tokyo. Japan was devastated by a Typhoon the weekend I departed, and I would have probably been stranded for several days.
By travelling when I did,it was the rainy season in Thailand, and therefor very few tourists. As a result prices were good, and no long lineups at major events. I was able also, to get all my dental work done, over two days, and also new glasses, the savings which much more that covered my airfare there and back. In fact, my ticket from Canada to Asia and back, with the one week stop in Edmonton, was only 180.00 dollars more than my daughter's airfare, who came with me to Edmonton, and returned home to Ottawa the same day I flew west to Asia.
As usual, I have a few comments about the service with Air Canada, both on the ground and in the air. When I checked in at Bangkok airport for the return flight, my carrier to Korea was Asiana Airlines, an AC partner. They made the point of telling me that I would not see my two pieces of checked luggage until I arrived at Ottawa. This was great for me, but was not true in the end. As we approached Toronto on an AC flight, all were advised that we must pick up out luggage from a conveyer and go thru Customs and Immigration, then those transferring to other flights would put their own luggage on another conveyer and go to their gate for the next flight. Upon arrival Toronto, I checked with a Senior Air Canada staff member, who informed me that I would not be getting my luggage in Toronto, that the in flight information was wrong. Unsure who to believe, I checked with a Customs Officer and was advised that yes, I must get my luggage and do the recheck routine. If I did not, my luggage would be kept in Toronto. I did as he said, and everything worked fine.
I will not get going on the topic of food on board the Air Canada flight,and the fact that,one and a half hours from Toronto at 4 P.M. in the afternoon, we were served a breakfast with the choice of fish soup...or scrambled eggs...called an Omelet....from the same caterer, and same menu as we had been served 22 hours before on Asiana. I gifted it back to Air Canada. Also...at the beginning of each Air Canada flight, during the welcoming spiel, they state..."Welcome aboard Air Canada flight so and so, voted the best carrier in North America". During this trip, I asked six AC staff who did the voting and no one could tell me!!!. I suspect it was dreamed up over a coffee in the Board Room.!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment