Experience 067. Gift Ideas. World of inflight essentials.
Release Date: 11/24/2022
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_outlineVinod and Geoff have taken some long flights in 2022 and have taken various items onboard. Our take-on items have evolved over the years. As we recorded this experience the 2022 holiday season is approaching, and we wanted to share our inflight recommendations for yourself - or perhaps as a gift idea for someone.
Full disclosure - these are our own recommendations, and we are not receiving any sponsorship from any of the products mentioned.
We start with headphones, earphones, headsets, and earbuds. There are various products out there but be aware that there is a difference between noise cancelling and noise reduction. You may also want to look at buying a set of audio adapters - in case an airline has a unique audio plug. And if you’re travelling with a battery powered headset, don’t forget to bring a spare battery.
We ask what does someone use to watch onboard? Tablets, phones, e-readers - what happens if there is no screen in the back of the seat in front of you. Vinod remembers back to when WestJet removed seatback screens. How do you watch your device properly - are you going to be able to view it while eating a meal, for example?
Remember as well to have a power bank for your device, since you don’t know how easy it will be to find power to recharge when you arrive. Vinod always keeps a device plugged in during his flight. Have something with you, online or offline, for the flight. Vinod has a book that is permanently tucked into his luggage.
Rest on a flight is key - we look at neck pillows, and Vinod shares a story of his unique Danish neck rest.
Vinod shares his disgust of people who walk barefoot into the lavatory and has recommendations for in-flight footwear. He also shares his experiences of hotspot passengers returning to a Canadian winter wearing only flipflops. Shoes without laces can be very useful - either for passing through security, or since your feet swell during flight.
When you arrive in your destination, do you have the proper power plug adapter? It is much easier these days than back when we needed a box of different plugs.
If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 026 "More from the mailbag. The baggage above you - overhead bins." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
We discuss baggage and bags. It may be useful for you to have a bag for the back of the seat to put your stuff in - also since seat pockets are often really unsanitary. If you have a rollerboard bag, it may be worth it to get the wheels changed with inline skate wheels.
What should you wear during flight. For long haul flights, you may wish to consider some loungewear. Always bring a clean set of base layer clothes with you as carry-on, just in case there’s a baggage problem, or something happens to your clothes during flight like spills. Vinod shares a dripping lime pickle story.
Packing cubes are a great suggestion for people who want structure in their bags, and also for privacy in case security or customs goes through your bag.
Water bottles - if you have one you might have to wait for service to fill it. Vinod always takes a sealed bottle of water from the flight.
If you use a messenger bag, we recommend getting one that fits over your luggage handle.
If you bring food on board, it is usually a good idea to bring something with added protein.
AirTags - after the global luggage chaos of 2022, using these can help you keep track of where your bag is.
Flying with children - "keep it simple stupid". Are you going to be able to walk the aisle or get in the lavatory with your child and the bag?
Connecting clips and lattices - a recommendation when you need to link your bags together.
News Items:
- cntraveller.com article "9 airlines with premium economy cabins worth splurging on"
- skift.com article "Boeing Getting Crushed on Trump-Era Air Force One Deal"
If you have a story about your preferred inflight essentials, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/