Experience 050. Konnichiwa. A Golden Milestone in Tokyo.
Release Date: 08/08/2021
Experience 078. Swiftly Getting Through Airports. Why is This Airport so Busy Today?
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience we look into the reasons why airports may get much busier than normal. We start out the podcast with a trip review of Vinod who recently flew to London-Heathrow. It was his virgin flight on an Airbus 350. There was no free seat selection with the ticket that he purchased. When Vinod flew out of Vancouver the British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Plaza Premium lounges were all under renovation. This led to an interesting temporary lounge in Vancouver’s International departures. The flight was quiet and uneventful with a landing at Heathrow Terminal 3. It had been decades...
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Experience 077. Can anyone help me? Issues with customer service.
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience we look into the world of customer service and examples when the experience goes sideways. We review the situation of the passengers who were flying from Paris to Singapore with a farting and drooling dog in premium economy. Singapore airlines finally got the issue resolved and credited them for their experience. In days gone by, your travel agent would have been your point of contact. Now you’re mostly on your own. Over the last four years, airlines lost many individuals who were extremely proficient in high-touch customer experience. Even more than ever, airline agents...
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Experience 076. That's the Ticket. Another Look at Bookings.
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience we take a trip into the show’s archives and review tickets and booking. We start out with a review from Vinod about his flight in the summer with Porter from Toronto to Vancouver. As people are looking for good fare prices, this is a good lead-in to a discussion about ticketing. We talked about ticketing in our very early experiences and are revisiting it in this experience. The moment that you purchase the right to travel on an aircraft, you get a Passenger Name Record. Every airline has their own PNR. Make sure you don’t share pictures of your PNR online. But airline...
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Experience 075. Celebrating 75 Episodes in Person. 2023 Summer Travel – The Analysis.
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience Vinod and Geoff are both in Toronto, recording in person and celebrate the milestone of 75 episodes. We proceed to do an analysis of travels in July 2023. Geoff had a trans-Atlantic adventure, with flights to Germany, Austria, and Turkey. Geoff's trip was from Toronto to Frankfurt with a premium economy ticket that had been booked early in the year but wanted to try for an upgrade. ExpertFlyer helped to figure out the load factor and Geoff tried the Air Canada bid upgrade system. Forty-eight hours in advance the upgrade was accepted. Remember that Air Canada does not have...
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Experience 074. Summer Skies. 2023 Plans for Vinod and Geoff.
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience we take a look at our summer 2023 travel plans, and also look at trips we took in June. It’s a very different summer than that of 2022. We’re getting closer to how things were pre-pandemic with higher amounts of staffing, however now we have to really search again for cheap fares. Vinod and Geoff had travels in June in Canada. Geoff flew to Yukon and did a large road trip from there also through Alaska. Geoff flew with Air North which had a terrific Connector Fare deal to Whitehorse from Calgary. There were a few adventures on the way - including waiting on the tarmac in...
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Experience 073. Flew to a Room. A Deeper Look at Airport Hotels.
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience we take a deeper look at the world of airport hotels. Sometimes hotels can be the best thing but can also be the most horrible desolate places on the planet. We’ve discussed many different types of hotels in previous experiences, from the incredible to the incredibly terrible. Big airports have the big global hotel brands. But there is another tier of just a place to sleep. There are some very neat hotels that are attached to airports – Geoff remembers his visit to the TWA hotel at JFK. There are also some hotels with very cramped and tight rooms. Vinod remembers a hotel...
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Experience 072. Complicated Connections. Multiple Stops for Cheaper Fares.
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience we discuss the fact that this summer many people will be flying but the prices for direct connections are often fairly expensive. Often multiple connections are a way people find to save costs. These multi-stops remind Vinod when planes had to stop due to the lack of range. But unlike times in the past today you can see all the travel details related to your trip. As people change their ticket purchasing habits, it can mean a change in the way that they layover. Iceland was one of the first countries that promoted a free layover. Sometimes you can’t find the flight to book...
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Experience 071. Silver Wings. Flying with Seniors.
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience we look at the realities of flying with seniors. Vinod and Geoff realize that soon enough they will be in this demographic. As populations age, airlines will have older populations on flights and the challenges that go with it. Since some of today’s seniors lived through the golden age of flying with certain levels of service, there is generational gap. Often elderly parents are put on flights around the world - which Vinod saw in his role as a station manager. The system is not there for everyone to embrace every individual. Airports are larger, seats are closer, and...
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Experience 070. Snow, cold and delays. 2022 holiday travel stress.
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience we look back at our travel experiences over the December 2022 holiday season. We got where we were meant to go, and fortunately did not incur any of the long delays that many other travellers encountered. December 2022 saw serious weather systems in North America. That was combined with large volumes; technology, crewing, and baggage issues. People thought that the labour issues from the summer of 2022 had resolved themselves, but they were still ongoing. First, Vinod planned a trip to San Diego from Vancouver. He decided to fly to Los Angeles and rent a car, which turned...
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Experience 069. That Club. Miles High in the Sky.
The Seat 1A Podcast
In this experience we discuss that infamous club a mile high. We look back to the golden age of travel with beautiful flight attendants and pilots and exotic locations. Now add that to four- and five-star hotels, and crews from around the world it can lead to romance and attraction. Don’t screw the crew...well at least not yours. The captain and crew manager would keep an eye on their crew during layovers, otherwise there was the risk of people making bad decisions. Cancun was a location where crazy stuff would happen complete crews from multiple countries, beaches and alcohol. Sometimes...
info_outlineSeat 1A reaches a milestone of fifty experiences. In this experience, Vinod joins us from Tokyo! That's why he had been waiting in the lounge at Vancouver.
One of Vinod's side gigs is working for the Olympic Games. He received a special exception to travel to Tokyo. Getting on a flight to fly across the ocean was very exciting.
Vinod flew Air Canada's Signature Class – but the regular business class experience has been changed since the last time Vinod enjoyed it due to COVID.
Vinod had to deal with a number of physical items being at his seat due to airlines lowering their amount of contact. There was no pre-flight drink. He received a very nice Olympic themed gift bag since Air Canada is a sponsor of Team Canada. The meal is not delivered in courses, rather in a rather large tray set like economy. Drink service was limited – no mixed drinks. The menu listed the first food experience, did not state any further meal info.
Japan tests for COVID on arrival and Vinod knew it would be a long multi-hour process. The airline sorted passengers and after he made his way into the terminal, the long sit and waiting for processing started. After more than 2 hours Vinod was able to complete his test – just how much spit do they need?
Then the waiting for test results in a repurposed ANA lounge since the entire flight had to be tested. Another 2.5 hours went by. Finally everyone was cleared, and Vinod was able to enter the country. All in all, from when the aircraft door opened to catching his ground transportation, it took Vinod just under 6.5 hours!
Vinod is staying at an airport hotel at Haneda Airport Terminal 2 due to proximity to his venue. How perfect for an avgeek. Terminal 2 is the ANA domestic terminal and even with a pandemic it is busy. Vinod has access to amazing food options, and there is even an observation deck. The windows are very thick and there is next to no noise in his room.
Vinod's work is right under the Haneda approach flight path and on the other side is the departure. This leads to some incredible plane spotting.
Geoff also flew recently. He was on an Air Canada Airbus 220 for a Canadian domestic flight.
Vinod flies back to Vancouver in premium economy.
Seat 1A tip: If you're flying into a country that does on arrival COVID testing, bring food and water.
We couldn't meet up with Paul from the Layovers podcast for sake and karaage chicken. But someday we'll cross paths.
Vinod noted that there wasn't a lot of distancing happening at the terminal, mostly relying on masking and hand sanitizer.
News Items:
- simpleflying.com article "Airbus Is Using A350 Lighting To Help Passengers Social Distance."
If you have a story about overseas travel during COVID-19, COVID testing on arrival, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/