The Seat 1A Podcast
With more than five million miles flown on 6 continents - Seat 1A is a journey into how to use this experience to your flying advantage. Join Geoff Dahl and Vinod Viswalingam as they share travel experiences, tales, tips and interviews.
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Experience 012. Show Notes. The magical world of upgrades and the infamous oversold flight. The Seat 1A Podcast.
03/02/2019
Experience 012. Show Notes. The magical world of upgrades and the infamous oversold flight. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Recorded 18 February 2019 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” When Vinny was a kid, somehow he always ended up with an upgraded seat when flying YEG-LHR. How does an airline manage fares related to yield...and what happens when the math doesn't work out for the airline? What is a GTE? How does the airline re-jig the seating of a flight? Geoff's experience with snow delays at YYZ that got him an upgrade. Involuntary and voluntary upgrades – what's the difference? How do airlines determine who to upgrade – what's the prospective checklist? What does the upgrade and standby screen mean at some airports? When the check-in for flight closes, what's happening? Sometimes an involuntary upgrade doesn't for the passenger...why? How ordering certain special meals can affect your ability to get an upgrade. Vinny shares how Iceland Air (FI) food catering affects upgrading chances...even if you want to pay to upgrade. Why standby employees may end up getting the upgrades. "Are there any upgrades available?"...how Vinny held a key economy seat from GRU-JFK that helped get an upgrade. If you're asking for an upgrade, make sure you have a reason why you should be considered. Once the doors close you learn the incredible power of the crew for upgrading. Vinny and his amazing upgrade story from LHR-NBO...wait until you learn why was he met by the flight director. Vinny had a different upgrade attempt experience on Emirates (EK). Smart upgrading – it's not always about length of flight. Flight crews never know the reason why someone got a seat in a certain class. Geoff had a standby seat flying FRA-YVR but needed to use a jump seat for landing and takeoff. How to ask gate staff about how many seats are sold on the flight. CBC News item about Air Canada accused of duping passengers about overselling Skift news item about United Airlines threat to cut Expedia access to its seats. SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE Seat 1A Experience 010 – Who are we? (show notes and audio) Edmonton International Airport (YEG) London Heathrow (LHR) Lockheed L-1011 500 TriStar (airliners.net) Yield Management Understanding Yield Management – Getting the Deal (Drift Travel) For a more academic review: Special Issue: Future of Airline Revenue Management (Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management | April 2018) Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) Air Canada (AC) British Airways (BA) Calgary International Airport (YYC) Boeing 777-200 Standby and upgrade screens at US airports United Airlines - Flight standby list FAQs (UA) American Airlines - Same-day flight change and standby (AA) Delta Air Lines - Same-Day Flight Changes (DL) How Special Airline Meals Get Made (Conde Nast Traveler August 2017) Special meal list examples ANA - Special Meals (NH) Emirates - Dietary Requirements (EK) SWISS - Special Meals (LX) United Airlines - Special Meals (UA) Icelandair (FI) Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport (KEF) Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY, D8, DI, DU) Seat 1A Experience 003 – Canada to Brazil on two tickets (show notes and audio) New York JFK Airport (JFK) VARIG (RG - "old" VARIG ceased operations 2006 and "new" VARIG ceased operations 2009) (Wikipedia) São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) Boeing 747-400 (airliners.net) Emirates(EK) Beijing Capital International Airport(PEK) Dubai International Airport (DXB) George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Seat 1A Experience 008 - Crew Rest Seats (show notes and audio) Seat 1A Experience 011 - Third-party booking sites (show notes and audio) NEWS ITEMS CBC | Air Canada employee says staff trained to 'dupe' passengers at risk of being bumped from oversold flights (10 February 2019)https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-agents-reveal-oversell-practices-1.5008217 "...A pair of Air Canada insiders are shedding light on the airline's policy of overselling flights, revealing what they say is a widespread practice of duping passengers into believing they have a seat on a plane and stringing them along until the last possible moment...." Air Canada (AC) Skift.com | United Threatens to Cut Access to Flights Departing After September, Expedia Alleges (05 February 2019)https://skift.com/2019/02/05/united-threatens-to-cut-access-to-flights-departing-after-september-expedia-alleges/ "...Expedia alleged United Airlines threatened as part of renegotiating its ticketing agreement to remove its access to customers’ flights on United for travel starting Oct. 1. United could remove Expedia’s access to United’s flights for travel after September beginning on Monday, Feb. 11, according to an Expedia lawsuit..." United Airlines (UA) Expedia.com SHOW NOTES What's in Experience 012? [00:33] Oversales and Vinny's upgrade experiences starting at an early age [01:42] Airlines and the world of yield management [04:27] Geoff's experiences with oversold flights [07:56] Involuntary and voluntary upgrades. What's the difference? [09:35] Offers for upgrade when checking in online [10:17] Option to upgrade when you're at the airport [10:50] Involuntary upgrades [11:29] How do airlines determine who to upgrade? [13:30] How ordering special meals can affect if you get upgraded [20:34] Sometimes meal service won't let you upgrade - even if you want to pay due to pre-booked catered numbers [21:41] Who's trying to get into what seat - even in economy [25:24] Are there any upgrades available? Vinny returning from Carnival in Brazil [25:44] Are you looking for any voluntary or involuntary upgrades on this flight? Make sure you have a reason why you should be considered. [29:09] The world of what happens with the crew and upgrades when the door closes [32:19] Vinny and his incredible upgrade experience LHR-NBO [32:46] Vinny has a different upgrade attempt experience on Emirates (EK) [39:53] Smart Upgrading [43:13] Geoff having to sit jumpseat for landing and takeoff with a standby ticket [48:09] CBC Article - Air Canada employee says staff trained to 'dupe' passengers at risk of being bumped from oversold flights [50:12] Questions to ask about how full your flight is [52:34] Skift News item - United (UA) Threatens to Cut Access to Flights Departing After September, Expedia Alleges [54:17] Wrap up [56:47]
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Experience 012. The magical world of upgrades and the infamous oversold flight. The Seat 1A Podcast.
03/01/2019
Experience 012. The magical world of upgrades and the infamous oversold flight. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Involuntary & voluntary upgrades–what's the difference? How do airlines determine who to upgrade & what's the prospective checklist? Smart upgrading-it's not always about flight length. How to ask gate staff about how many seats are sold on the flight.
/episode/index/show/seat1a/id/8815037
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Experience 011 Show Notes. Flight delays, cancellations, diversions, and the airline's obligations. The Seat 1A Podcast.
02/04/2019
Experience 011 Show Notes. Flight delays, cancellations, diversions, and the airline's obligations. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Recorded 27 January 2019 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” In this episode experience big thank yous for your likes & support of our social media launch! We share a story from one of our followers about her cancelled JFK flight. We look at delays versus cancellations and diversions, and discuss the airline's obligations. Listener Isabel lets us know about her story about her cancelled late-night flight at JFK with American Airlines (AA) along with her husband and toddler. The journey to the closest available hotel and time for her next flight was extremely difficult for her – particularly with a toddler. She made sure to follow-up in writing with American Airlines after her experience – with a supporting photo! American to their credit responded quite well. We clarify the difference between delay and cancellation and what happens on the back end the moment an airline is notified – the race is on to find blocks of rooms. Sometimes it's a race against other airlines. You need to determine if it's worth it to take the airline's offer. Are your meal vouchers going to be accepted or do you have the time to use them to eat? Are you able to coordinate children or other travelers flying with you as well? The moral of the story – make sure you follow up with the airline after a cancellation – but make sure you ride the fine line of reasonability. Will you be reimbursed for a room if the airline has already offered one? Be ready to take what you get, but if you have a special situation (e.g. young children) you need to bring it to the airline's attention. Vinny shares a great delay story with a delayed package tour passenger at YEG. We look at some other delays – including delayed WestJet (WS) passengers that were delivered to a hotel in CUN but were told that the hotel wasn't expecting them and requested payment up front. This highlights the relationship between the airline and the ground handler – these are two different things. Many airlines use a third-party ground handler. Does the ground handler have relationships with local hotels? We review a diversion that happened at Goose Bay, Labrador (YYR) with United Airlines (UA), which then had a mechanical problem and was delayed for 17 hours. There are many things that happen after a plane is diverted – including ground handling, baggage, fuel issues and possibly customs. Will there be other mechanical issues or will the crew time out – preventing the plane from continuing on? Is the ground handler able to handle the logistics of putting people up and feeding them? There are numerous logistics to get a recovery aircraft to remote locations including replacement crew, plane types & flight planning. Vinny shares a diversion story with Sunwing Airlines (WG) when a CUN-YVR flight had to divert to DEN. The European Union has a long-standing set of passenger rights & compensation. Canada has recently started a similar set of rights. There was case in January 2019 of a UK family who were asked to sit on the floor of their charter flight. Don't expect magic with cancellations, delays and diversions, be as realistic as you can, but ensure that the airline is doing as much as they can with the situation. Vinny shares a story about an American Airlines (AA) flight diverted from YYC to YEG where the crew was not able to continue, and the plane had to park due to a crew issue. What happens to the inside of the plane when that happens? Diversions might also have passenger issues with customs which means that the flight can't be handled or won't be handled. SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE Seat 1A Facebook site Seat 1A Instagram site Seat 1A Twitter Feed John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) LaGuardia Airport (LGA) Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) London Heathrow Airport (LHR) London Gatwick Airport (LGW) Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) Seat 1A Experience 009 – Geoff's cancelled flight (show notes and audio) Swoop (WO) American Airlines (AA) Ford Fleet Shuttle Bus General Motors Fleet Shuttle Bus Edmonton International Airport (YEG) Tim Hortons Seat 1A Experience 001 - Ticketing (show notes and audio) Seat 1A Experience 002 - Ticketing (show notes and audio) WestJet (WS) Cancún International Airport (CUN) Swissport Menzies Aviation City Express Cancún (Google Map) Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay (Royal Canadian Air Force) Goose Bay Airport (YYR) United Airlines (UA) Seat 1A Experience 004 - Journey of checked baggage (show notes and audio) Sunwing Airlines (WG) Denver International Airport (DEN) Boeing 737-800 Seat 1A Episode 008 - Crew duty and rest periods (show notes and audio) Great Circle Mapper CUN-DEN-YVR Boeing 777 EU air passenger rights Canada air passenger rights Calgary International Airport (YYC) McDonnell Douglas MD-80 APIS: Advance Passenger Information System (US Customs and Border Protection) Mehran Karimi Nasseri (Wikipedia) The Terminal (IMDb) NEWS ITEMS cbc.ca | WestJet passengers fuming after being 'abandoned' in Mexico (08 January 2019)https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/westjet-ottawa-passengers-cancun-complaints-1.4968882 "...Some WestJet passengers say they felt 'abandoned' in downtown Cancun, Mexico, after their return flight was first delayed and then cancelled on the weekend....They soon found themselves, along with more than 100 other stranded passengers, on a dark side street after a shuttle dropped them at a hotel that wasn't expecting them..." WestJet (WS) Cancún International Airport (CUN) Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) flyertalk.com | United Passengers Frozen and Marooned for 17 Hours in Canada (21 January 2019)https://www.flyertalk.com/articles/united-passengers-marooned-for-17-hours-at-goose-bay.html "...A Hong Kong-bound flight from Newark was forced to make an emergency diversion to Canadian Forces Goose Bay when a passenger fell ill. However, due to a technical issue with a door of the aircraft, the 777 was unable to continue its journey to Hong Kong, leaving passengers stranded on the tarmac for a total of 17 hours..." United Airlines (UA) Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) Goose Bay Airport (Civilian Operations - YYR) Boeing 777 BBC | Family had to sit on floor of TUI plane (13 January 2019)https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-46858249 "...A family returning from holiday found they had no seats once they had boarded their plane and spent part of the flight sitting on the floor..." TUI Airways (BY) Menorca Airport (MAH) Birmingham Airport (BHX) PODCAST CORRECTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, CONFIRMATIONS Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay had been used by RAF, Luftwaffe, Aeronautica Militare, and Royal Netherlands Air Force until 2005. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/british-take-their-leave-from-goose-bay-1.527941 (CBC | 31 March 2005) Swissport completed the merger with Servisair in 2014 http://www.swissport.com/nc/news-media-center/news-detail/article/swissport-completes-acquisition-of-servisair/ SHOW NOTES Show Introduction, social media launch and thank you everyone! [00:48] Shout-out to show listener Isabel and her story about a cancelled flight at JFK [03:00] Clarification of what getting "stuck" with an airline can mean [04:16] Isabel's written follow-up with American Airlines (AA) [10:14] Cancellation versus delay [11:54] What happens when an airline is notified of delay or cancellation? [13:38] Moral of the story - make sure you follow up a cancellation experience! [17:43] Vinny shares a delay story with a package tour passenger at YEG [22:36] CUN-YOW passengers stranded - hotel didn't know they were coming [24:57] The relationship of the airline and the ground handler [26:59] United Airlines EWR-HKG flight 17-hour diversion in Labrador [31:29] Vinny's diversion story CUN-DEN-YVR [34:08] EU moved forward on passenger rights, Canada recently started a system as well [43:41] Vinny shares a story of an AA flight that was diverted to YEG [44:59] Show wrap-up [49:24]
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Experience 011. Flight delays, cancellations, diversions, and the airline's obligations. The Seat 1A Podcast.
02/03/2019
Experience 011. Flight delays, cancellations, diversions, and the airline's obligations. The Seat 1A Podcast.
In this episode big thank yous for your likes & support of our social media launch! We share a story from one of our followers about her cancelled JFK flight. We look at delays versus cancellations and diversions, and discuss the airline's obligations.
/episode/index/show/seat1a/id/8465777
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Experience 010 Show Notes. Who are we? Some background history about your hosts. The Seat 1A Podcast.
01/24/2019
Experience 010 Show Notes. Who are we? Some background history about your hosts. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Recorded 06 January 2019 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” In celebration of our 10th episode experience, we want to share where we're coming from in terms of travel and aviation. We're sharing stories right from childhood about crazy things we've done, positions we've worked and fill in the blanks for our listeners. Vinny shares how he was already in an aircraft travelling globally at a very young age and his boyhood wonder of jet travel staring at an Air Canada (AC) L-1011 at the terminal window. Geoff shares his experiences crossing Canada with Canadian Pacific (CP) and AC as a child and watching final approaches of numerous planes in his backyard. Geoff and Vinny met up in university in Edmonton, Canada. A big shout out to the global student association AIESEC – which provided both our hosts a chance to expand their global experience. Geoff gained valuable insight into the world standards for shipping infectious substances by air. Vinny had a unique project with passenger movement at YEG security before and after 9/11. Geoff shares his experience on the ramp as a ground handler – and even a presidential interruption of his work at YYC. Vinny shares his incredible story of doing manual check-ins at YEG – make sure you don't lose that seat sticker! There was a time that a charter flight engine literally froze up at -50C! Vinny then moved to YYC – with British Airways (BA). Vinny gained further experience on the other side of the door as a flight attendant. How a flight delay in DEN led to the development of Seat 1A. News Items – the passing of Herb Kelleher from Southwest (WN). SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE Narita International Airport (NRT) Subang International Airport (SZB - former KUL until 1998) Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Pacific Western Airlines (PW - ceased operations 1987) (Wikipedia) Boeing 737-200 (b737.org.uk) Edmonton City Centre Airport (YXD closed 2013) Edmonton International Airport (YEG) London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Air Canada (AC) Lockheed L-1011 500 TriStar (airliners.net) CP Air (CP - ceased operations 1987) (Wikipedia) Calgary International Airport (YYC) Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Boeing 767-200 (airliners.net) Charlottetown Airport (YYG) Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Spokane International Airport (GEG) University of Alberta AIESEC Lufthansa (LH) What happened to Terminal 2 at Pearson Airport? (blogTO | November 2018) Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) (Wikipedia) O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) IATA Division 6.2—Infectious Substances (PDF) Frankfurt Solari split-flap display (YouTube) Edmonton International Airport Corporate Information Boeing 737-300 (airliners.net) Boeing 737-700 (airliners.net) Boeing 737-800 (airliners.net) Royal Air Force Brize Norton (BZZ) Swissport Skyservice (5G - ceased operations 2010) (Wikipedia) Boeing 757 (airliners.net) Cancún International Airport (CUN) Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) Martinair (MP) (passenger service ended 2011) Air Transat (TS) America West (HP - ceased operations 2005) (Wikipedia) Zoom Airlines (Z4 - ceased operations 2008) (Wikipedia) MyTravel Airways (VZ - ceased operations 2008) (Wikipedia) Thomas Cook Airlines (MT) JetsGo (SG - ceased operations 2005) (Wikipedia) Harmony Airways (HQ - ceased operations 2007) (Wikipedia) Servisair/GlobeGround/Penauille Servisair (defunct 2013) (Wikipedia) Royal Netherlands Air Force Mexicana de Aviación (MX - ceased operations 2010) (Wikipedia) British Airways (BA) Sunwing Airlines (WG) WestJet (WS) Denver International Airport (DEN) Lufthansa (LH) Boryspil International Airport (KBP) NEWS ITEMS dallasnews.com | Southwest Airlines' legendary co-founder Herb Kelleher dies at 87 (03 January 2019)https://www.dallasnews.com/business/southwest-airlines/2019/01/03/southwest-airlines-legendary-co-founder-herb-kelleher-dies-87 "...Kelleher, the legendarily colorful co-founder and longtime executive who embodied the spirit of the Dallas-based airline, died Thursday [03 January 2019]. He was 87..." Southwest Airlines (WN) PODCAST CORRECTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, CONFIRMATIONS Our experience about baggage was in 004 (click here for show notes and audio) PEOPLE MENTIONED Herb Kelleher (Wikipedia) SHOW NOTES Show introduction [00:48] Vinny's childhood introduction to flying [02:03] Geoff's childhood flying memories [04:40] Geoff & Vinny meet at university - the AIESEC connection [09:30] Vinny and his aviation-related university project [14:19] Geoff's ground handling experience - you'll never guess who interrupted his work [17:05] Vinny got experience at check-in - even manual check-in! [24:46] Vinny moves to the life inside the plane [39:26] A delay at DEN - or how did Seat 1A come about? [40:46] News Item - Passing of Herb Kelleher [47:59] Wrap-up [48:48]
/episode/index/show/seat1a/id/8584835
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Experience 010. Who are we? Some background history about your hosts. The Seat 1A Podcast.
01/24/2019
Experience 010. Who are we? Some background history about your hosts. The Seat 1A Podcast.
In celebration of our 10th episode, we want to share where we're coming from in terms of travel and aviation. We're sharing stories right from childhood about crazy things we've done, positions we've worked and fill in the blanks for our listeners.
/episode/index/show/seat1a/id/8376629
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Experience 009 Show Notes. Our first deep dive into two different flying experiences. The Seat 1A Podcast.
01/17/2019
Experience 009 Show Notes. Our first deep dive into two different flying experiences. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Recorded 06 January 2019 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” In this episode experience we analyze two different flying experiences. A Canadian domestic ULCC redeye flight delay & cancellation. A trans-Pacific flag carrier flight booked with a travel booking website which had issues with frequent flyer mileage & extra legroom. Geoff shares his delay experience with delays and a cancellation on a Swoop (WO) redeye flight from YXX to YHM. What went wrong on the flight, and what could Geoff have done better to prepare? What can one possibly expect with a ULCC carrier versus a flag carrier – particularly with landing in smaller centres? We share a shout out to listener Trevor Hamilton. Vinny shares a story about Trevor's experience with Air New Zealand (NZ) return flight from LAX-AKL-MEL booked with Expedia. Did the points get credited as expected? What to watch for to make sure the points qualify for accrual – particularly on a third-party travel booking website. Vinny shares a points experience story with Korean (KE) from YVR-ICN and how his fare class was linked to KE's frequent flyer program SKYPASS. Wait, there's more to Trevor's flight story...how a dry leased EVA (BR) plane affected his extra purchased legroom from AKL-LAX. WestJet (WS) plane 'made contact' with catering vehicle on tarmac Brussels Airlines (SN) A330 Suffers Inflight Dual Engine Failures SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) Swoop (WO) John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM) WestJet (WS) Seat 1A Experience 008 - show notes and audio Seat 1A Experience 007 - show notes and audio Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Auckland Airport (AKL) Melbourne Airport (MEL) Air New Zealand (NZ) Aeroplan Fare Options Booking Classes - version 14 (PDF file) Air New Zealand Long Haul Global Saver Fare Conditions ITA Software Computational Complexity of Air Travel Planning (2003 PDF file) Great Circle Mapper mileage LAX-AKL-MEL Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Korean Air (KE) Star Alliance Skyteam Delta SkyMiles Korean Air SKYPASS Wet & Damp Leasing (UK Civil Aviation Authority) Dry Leasing (UK Civil Aviation Authority) EVA Air (BR) Boeing 777 300 ER Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) Great Circle Mapper Distance Comparison: AKL-TPE; AKL-BKK; AKL-SIN NEWS ITEMS bc.ctvnews.ca | WestJet plane 'made contact' with catering vehicle on tarmac (03 January 2019)https://bc.ctvnews.ca/westjet-plane-made-contact-with-catering-vehicle-on-tarmac-1.4239460 "...On Thursday morning, the Palm Springs-bound flight from YVR was put on hold because the plane 'made contact' with a catering vehicle, according to WestJet..." Boeing 737-800 Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) airwaysmag.com | Brussels Airlines A330 Suffers Inflight Dual Engine Failures (24 December 2018)https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/brussels-airlines-a330-suffers-inflight-dual-engine-failure/ "...A Brussels Airlines Airbus A330-223, performing flight SN358 from Kinshasa to Brussels, suffered failures on both engines at different stages of its journey..." Brussels Airlines (SN) N'Djili (Kinshasa) International Airport (FIH) Brussels Airport (BRU) Djerba–Zarzis International Airport (DJE) Airbus 330 Air Transat Flight 236 (Aviation Safety Network) GPIAA Portugal | Accident Investigation Final Report All Engines-out Landing Due to Fuel Exhaustion (PDF file) C-GITS (Airfleets.net) British Airways Flight 'Speedbird 9' (Aviation Safety Network) G-BDXH (Airfleets.net) SHOW NOTES What's in today's show? [00:53] Geoff's experience with Swoop (WO) delay and cancellation at YXX [02:06] Dissecting of a ULCC experience [13:13] Summary of the recommendations [26:41] Flight with Air New Zealand (NZ) booked with Expedia - where are the points? [29:06] A review of booking classes [32:38] Vinny and his SKYPASS saga [42:03] Just because you've purchased extra legroom... [46:11] Wet Leasing and Dry Leasing airplanes [47:01] WestJet (WS) plane 'made contact' with catering vehicle on tarmac [53:52] Brussels Airlines (SN) A330 Suffers Inflight Dual Engine Failures [56:25] Wrap-up [58:42]
/episode/index/show/seat1a/id/8584748
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Experience 009. Our first deep dive into two different flying experiences. The Seat 1A Podcast.
01/17/2019
Experience 009. Our first deep dive into two different flying experiences. The Seat 1A Podcast.
In this episode we analyze two different flying experiences. A Canadian domestic ULCC redeye flight delay & cancellation. A trans-Pacific flag carrier flight booked with a travel booking website which had issues with frequent flyer mileage & extra legroom.
/episode/index/show/seat1a/id/8290046
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Experience 008 Show Notes. Who is the flight staff working my flight? The world of crew duty and rest periods. The Seat 1A Podcast.
12/24/2018
Experience 008 Show Notes. Who is the flight staff working my flight? The world of crew duty and rest periods. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Recorded 02 December 2018 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” In this episode experience we look at the world of crew duty time, flight duty period, and crew rest periods. What is the generally accepted length of allowed duty time, how is this defined, and when does the clock start? How long is the minimum rest time? How is the time allocated when at home or a remote downline station? We hear that crew time has expired – what does that mean? What are the different options for replacement crews? How does crew scheduling work? Minimum crew requirements – what is it and how is it determined? Controlled rest on smaller planes and augmentation on long-haul flights – where do pilots and crew sleep? Guess where the crew bunk areas are on wide-body planes? What to be aware of for delay situations and crew staffing? Mechanical delays happen – news item of 7-hour delays at BLR with AI. Drunk JL pilot 9x over the limit at LHR LO pilot had to pay cash for parts at PEK before flying to WAW – and asked the passengers to help out. SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) 2017-3 Standard 720 – General DIVISION III - STANDARDS FOR FLIGHT TIME AND FLIGHT DUTY TIME LIMITATIONS AND REST PERIODS https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/regserv/cars/part7-standards-720-2153.htm US Code of Federal Regulations Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space § 91.1057 Flight, duty and rest time requirements: All crewmembers. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2012-title14-vol2/xml/CFR-2012-title14-vol2-sec91-1057.xml Australian Duty time, flight time and flight duty period https://www.casa.gov.au/standard-page/duty-time-flight-time-and-flight-duty-period European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1899/2006 Air operations, including Flight Time Limitations (FTL), ANNEX III SUBPART Q - Flight and duty time limitations and rest requirements https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32006R1899 George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) United Airlines (UA) London Heathrow (LHR) London Gatwick (LGW) British Airways (BA) Munich Airport (MUC) Lufthansa (LH) Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) Air Canada (AC) Cathay Pacific (CX) Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Japan Airlines (JL) Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) Kenya Airways (KQ) Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) Kahului Airport (OGG) José Martí International Airport (HAV) Boeing 747 Boeing 777 Rolls Royce Trent 800 Air Canada Flight 759 (Wikipedia) San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Air Canada (AC) National Transportation Safety Board | Accident No: DCA17IA148 (AC759 incident at SFO 07 July 2017) NEWS ITEMS Times of India | AI flight to Delhi delayed for 7 hrs, passengers hit (02 December 2018) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/ai-flight-to-delhi-delayed-for-7-hrs-passengers-hit/articleshow/66901122.cms "...The flight (AI 505) was supposed to take off from Bengaluru at 10am but was delayed due to technical issues. It finally departed at 5.15pm..." Air India (AI) Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) The Guardian | Japanese pilot jailed for drinking before flight from Heathrow (29 November 2018)https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/29/heathrow-pilot-jailed-for-10-months-after-drinking-before-flight "...The co-pilot was caught after security noticed he smelled strongly of alcohol, seemed drunk and had “glazed eyes”, while an officer later noticed he had 'difficulty standing straight'..." Japan Airlines (JL) London Heathrow (LHR) Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) aerotime.aero | Passengers asked to pay for repair so LOT plane can take off (14 November 2018)https://www.aerotime.aero/clement.charpentreau/22088-passengers-asked-to-pay-for-repair-so-lot-plane-can-take-off "... After a Boeing 787 Dreamliner hydraulic pump broke down, 249 passengers on board LOT Polish Airlines flight LO92 were asked to foot the bill for repairs so they could take off..." LOT Polish Airlines (LO) Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) PODCAST CORRECTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, CONFIRMATIONS Japan Airlines (JL) no longer flies to DUS – but ANA (NH) currently does as of 02 December 2018. SHOW NOTES Introduction to crew duty time, flight duty period, and crew rest periods [01:00] The crew's time has expired – an explanation [08:00] If your crew is delayed at your airline's home base what options are there? [10:15] What happens if they're delayed downline? [12:10] How does crew scheduling work? [15:17] What is minimum crew requirement? [17:47] Where do crew take a rest in the plane? Narrow-body plane examples and controlled rest [21:25] Pilot rest areas on wide-body planes [23:23] Cabin crew get rest areas all over the plane – any guesses where? [25:53] Are airlines providing enough rest time for crew – Air Canada (AC) Flight 759 as an example [30:14] What to be aware for as a passenger [31:20] Crew delays can happen just getting to the airport [32:07] News Items AI flight to Delhi delayed for 7 hrs [33:59] Japanese pilot jailed for drinking before flight from Heathrow [35:28] Passengers asked to pay for repair so LOT plane can take off [37:00] Wrap-up [38:28]
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Experience 008. Who is the flight staff working my flight? The world of crew duty and rest periods. Seat 1A The Podcast.
12/24/2018
Experience 008. Who is the flight staff working my flight? The world of crew duty and rest periods. Seat 1A The Podcast.
In this episode we look at the world of crew duty time, flight duty period, and crew rest periods. What is the generally accepted length of allowed duty time, how is this defined, and when does the clock start? How long is the minimum rest time?
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Experience 007 Show Notes. Winter is coming – the frosty world of airplane de-icing. The Seat 1A Podcast.
12/20/2018
Experience 007 Show Notes. Winter is coming – the frosty world of airplane de-icing. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Recorded 02 December 2018 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” It's that time of the year again in northern climates. Why do we de-ice? A couple of key tragic crashes changed de-icing focus. A quick review of surface contamination. How to get clear the wings of ice – everything from a bucket of hot water on a small plane to glycol on larger planes. What's the difference between de-icing and anti-icing? Three main different types of de-icing options used by airports. and how it's cleaned up after use. How is it determined if the plane is going for de-icing? Is there a way we can tell what method an airport uses? The delays that are possible from de-icing. We look back at Episode Experience 003 where Vinny had a de-icing delay at YYZ. Does your airport normally get frost, snow or freezing rain? Do they have the equipment to handle a de-icing queue effectively? De-icing also can happen when it's perfectly sunny...snow squalls can always show up. Delays are also possible due to clearing runways of snow. Vinny shares an unfortunate incident with a de-icing bucket truck (wasn't with him fortunately!) Alaska – hinting that they're finally going to join oneworld? BA has their final 767 passenger flight. What a fantastic workhorse of a plane. TAP Portugal accepting first 330neo. The world of aviation is evolving quickly these days. SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE Air Ontario (GX) Flight 1363 (Wikipedia) Dryden Regional Airport (YHD) Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG) Canadian Commission of Inquiry into the Air Ontario Crash at Dryden, Ontario (1992) USAir (US) Flight 405 (Wikipedia) LaGuardia Airport (LGA) Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) NTSB Aircraft Accident Report, Takeoff Stall in Icing Conditions, USAir Flight 405, Fokker F-28, N485US, LaGuardia Airport, Flushing, New York, March 22, 1992 (PDF) Fokker F28 Fellowship (airliners.net) Ice Pilots NWT (IMDb) Lockheed L-188 Electra (airliners.net) Douglas DC-3 (airliners.net) Calgary International Airport (YYC) Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) Propylene glycol (Wikipedia) Ethylene glycol (Wikipedia) Diethylene glycol (Wikipedia) De-icing/Anti-icing Fluids Type I & IV (Transport Canada) Glycol recovery Beam Glycol Recovery Vehicle (YouTube) Airport Glycol Recycling (Inland Technologies) Centralized De-icing Facility (example from YYZ) Snow Removal (example from DEN) Winter Operation at Zurich Airport (PDF file) London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) Vancouver International Airport (YVR) De-icing truck examples Vestergaard Company Ground Support Specialists JBT Global Ground Support Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Seat 1A Experience 003 - show notes and audio Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Hamburg Airport (HAM) Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) Helsinki Airport (HEL) Auxiliary power unit (Wikipedia) NEWS ITEMS Skift.com | Alaska Airlines Hints It May Finally Join the Oneworld Alliance (27 November 2018) https://skift.com/2018/11/27/alaska-airlines-hints-it-may-finally-join-the-oneworld-alliance/ "... Alaska Airlines is considering joining the Oneworld marketing alliance dominated by American Airlines, British Airways, and Qantas, though likely not as a full-fledged member, its chief commercial officer told investment analysts on Tuesday. [27 November 2018]..." Alaska Airlines (AS) oneworld airlinerwatch.com | British Airways receives first A321neo and retires last Boeing 767 (26 November 2018)https://airlinerwatch.com/british-airways-receives-first-a321neo-and-retires-last-boeing-767/ "...British Airways has operated the last scheduled flight with its final Boeing 767 registered as G-BZHA from Larnaca in Cyprus to London-Heathrow on November 25. The aircraft took off from Larnaca at 07:45PM EET and landed at London-Heathrow at 10:34PM GMT..." Larnaca International Airport (LCA) London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) G-BZHA (Airfleets.net) Boeing 767-300 Boeing Everett Production Facility Delta Air Lines (DL) United Airlines (UA) Japan Airlines (JL) All Nippon Airways (NH) FedEx Express (FX) UPS Airlines (5X) Jet bridge (Wikipedia) Airbus 321neo Boeing 787 Dreamliner Gimli Glider Air Canada (AC) C-GAUN (Airfleets.net) When a metric mix-up led to the 'Gimli Glider' emergency (CBC | 23 July 2018) Gimli Industrial Park Airport (YGM) "Final report of the Board of Inquiry investigating the circumstances of an accident involving the Air Canada Boeing 767 aircraft C-GAUN that effected an emergency landing at Gimli, Manitoba on the 23rd day of July, 1983" (Government of Canada PDF | April 1985) Airliner World | Airbus Delivers First A330neo (28 November 2018)https://airlinerworld.keypublishing.com/2018/11/airbus-delivers-first-a330neo/ "...TAP Air Portugal has accepted delivery of the first Airbus A330neo at an event held at the aerospace giant’s Toulouse facility. The Portuguese national carrier is due to receive a further 20 of the type in the coming years, which will form the backbone of its long-haul fleet..." TAP Air Portugal (TP) Airbus 330neo SHOW NOTES Introduction to de-icing [01:10] Two flight crashes that led to the changes in de-icing [01:51] The procedure...starting simple [04:30] De-icing versus anti-icing [06:35] Different ways that different airports de-ice [09:43] Who decides to de-ice [13:06] Is there a way we can tell as passengers how the plane will be de-iced? [15:14] How to be prepared for delays – and we look back to Episode Experience 003 [16:06] Remember just because it's dry on the ground doesn't mean you won't go for anti-icing treatment – Vinny shares a story from YUL [20:14] Be aware for your connections – Vinny shares another de-ice delay story at HAM [22:50] Remember that clearing runways of snow can also delay your flight [23:51] Planes getting backed up at YEG due to delays on de-icing pad [24:48] Vinny shares a story of a very hot de-icing incident [26:26] News stories Alaska – hinting that they're finally going to join oneworld? [31:17] British Airways retires last Boeing 767 [31:51] Airbus Delivers First A330neo [34:19] Remembering famous Boeing 767 "Gimli Glider" [35:38] Wrap-up [36:22]
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Experience 007. Winter is coming - the frosty world of airplane de-icing. Seat 1A The Podcast.
12/20/2018
Experience 007. Winter is coming - the frosty world of airplane de-icing. Seat 1A The Podcast.
It's that time of the year again in northern climates.
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Experience 006 Show Notes. Grab your passport - what to do when the passport is lost or misplaced. The Seat 1A Podcast.
12/10/2018
Experience 006 Show Notes. Grab your passport - what to do when the passport is lost or misplaced. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Recorded 01 December 2018 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” Vinny misplaces his passport the first time - and it ended up where? How did it get reconnected to him?Have you ever misplaced your passport AT the airport? Vinny's did at FRA - and what happened after that is absolutely bananas.What should you copy and keep with you and checklists if you lose your passport.Your passport expired but what happens with active visas?Say cheese - passport photos. It's not just lost passports that need to get replaced.How many American passports are lost/stolen per year?How strong is your country's passport?Flying fish with ANA and meal selections from the EU. Bibimbap as an food option to ICN while in economy.New $4 billion renovations open at LGA. New $1.8 billion terminal in MCT.The wild ride with WOW, Iceland Air, and Indigo - possible intercontinental ULCC possiblities?Shoutout and a request for our listeners - how is the ANA flying fish? SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE America West Airlines (HP - ceased operations 2005) (Wikipedia) American Airlines (AA) Edmonton International Airport (YEG) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance Government of Canada Transportation Security Clearance Program - Aviation San Antonio International Airport (SAT) How to Clean an airliner (BBC | 05 October 2015) Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Calgary International Airport (YYC) Air Transat (TS) Frankfurt Airport Police / Bundespolizeidirektion Flughafen Frankfurt am Main Orlando International Airport (MCO) Visa policy of Brazil (Wikipedia) São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) Swiss Federal Railways SBB Half-Fare travelcard Eurail passes Zurich Airport (ZRH) Passport standards What to do if you lose your passport while traveling abroad (Business Insider | 07 October 2015) Lost or Stolen Passports (U.S. Department of State) Lost and stolen passports (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Cancel a lost or stolen passport (gov.uk) Lost / Stolen / Misplaced Singapore Passport (High Commission of the Republic of Singapore – London) Reisepass verloren. Keine Panik - diese Schritte müsst ihr bei Verlust gehen (Urlaubsguru | 27 October 2017) Reisepass - Ersatz wegen Verlust beantragen (Serviceportal Baden-Württemburg) Lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found passports (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) Lost Passport? Here's What to Do (Conde Nast Traveler | last updated 22 January 2019) Passport Index NEWS ITEMS businesstraveller.com | ANA rolling out new authentic fish dishes on flights from Europe (30 November 2018) https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2018/11/30/ana-rolling-out-new-authentic-fish-dishes-on-flights-from-europe/ "... Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has been granted certification to begin offering a range of new cooked fish dishes on board its European flights, with a new menu already set to roll out across select services from Saturday, December 1..." ANA (NH) Korean Air (KE) Bibimbap (Korea Tourism Organization) Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Boeing 787-9 NY1 Spectrum News | New $4 Billion Concourse Opens at LaGuardia Airport (01 December 2018)https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2018/12/01/new-4-billion-concourse-opens-at-laguardia-airport "...11 new gates are opened inside Terminal B, it’s part of an $8 billion plan to modernize the airport..." LGA is busiest North American airport without any non-stop flights to Europe (Airports Council International .xls file) LaGuardia Airport (LGA) Air Canada (AC) American Airlines (AA) Southwest Airlines (WN) United Airlines (UA) FAO Schwartz airport-business.com | Oman Airports celebrates Grand Opening of new Muscat International Airport (22 November 2018) http://www.airport-business.com/2018/11/oman-airports-celebrates-grand-opening-of-new-muscat-international-airport/ "...The new $1.8 billion passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport commercially opened on 20 March, 2018, and has been designed and constructed to the highest standards of quality and service. The airport features Omani-themed architecture, state-of-the-art technologies, and exceptional passenger experience..." Muscat International Airport (MCT) Emirates (EK) Etihad Airways (EY) Qatar Airways (QR) Oman Air (WY) Gulf Air (GF) businesstraveller.com | Frontier Airlines owners to take stake in Wow Air (30 November 2018)https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2018/11/30/frontier-airlines-owners-to-take-stake-in-wow-air/ "...Private equity firm Indigo Partners has agreed in principle to invest in Wow, with the carrier’s CEO and primary shareholder Skuli Mogensen remaining a principal investor..." WOW air (WW) Icelandair (FI) Indigo Partners, LLC (Bloomberg company overview) Frontier Airlines (F9) Wizz Air (W6) JetSMART (JA) Volaris (Y4) Volaris Costa Rica (Q6) SHOW NOTES Vinny misplaces passport for the first time [01:01] How did Vinny get the passport back? [07:15] Vinny loses his passport again - in the airport [14:27] The Polizei at FRA [21:11] What to do if you lose the passport? [28:13] Also applicable to damaged passports [36:21] How many passports are reported lost to US State Department every year? [40:10] How strong is your passport? [40:56] Flying Fish with ANA [42:23] Bibimbap as a food option to ICN [43:32] New Terminal opens at LGA [47:19] New Terminal at MCT [49:57] Iceland Air (FI) & WOW (WW) Air Saga [51:31] Wrap-up [54:16]
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Experience 006. Grab your passport - what to do when the passport is lost or misplaced. Seat 1A The Podcast
12/10/2018
Experience 006. Grab your passport - what to do when the passport is lost or misplaced. Seat 1A The Podcast
We're looking at what happens when you misplace, lose or damage your passport. What can you do to protect yourself before it happens. Also, some great food options on Asian flights.
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Experience 005 Show Notes. Lounging Around. The world of airport lounges. The Seat 1A Podcast.
11/22/2018
Experience 005 Show Notes. Lounging Around. The world of airport lounges. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Recorded 29 October 2018 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” Exploring the world of airport lounges. What's in them, what lounges are available for whom, and are there ways around the restrictions? Getting a Thai massage at BKK before your flight. Comfortable beds for sleeping at FRA Lufthansa HON lounge. Accessing the lounge – there are many different ways. First and business ticket holders, flight status holders, certain credit card holders. The multitude of lounges available with both airline/alliance lounges and third-party lounges. Consider opening your wallet in some cases and paying a for single entry or for an annual membership (Virgin Australia also has a lifetime membership!) Vinny somehow got into a lounge with an expired card - and not just once or twice. The incredible Etihad Residence Lounge at AUH with a shout-out to Sam Chui for his review! And at the other end of the scale – wait until you hear about the "lounge" experience at LXR. How a simple shower will rejuvenate you between long intercontinental flights. Don't forget about sleeping cabins and pods at some airports...are they worth it? The crazy busy SilverKris T3 lounge at SIN in the later evening...and Qantas upping their first-class lounge game at SIN by late 2019. SAS Golden Lounge at CPH – a new daylight boosting zone for those long Nordic winter nights. Cathay Pacific paid lounge access promotion at three airports flying to HKG. SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE Thai Airways (TG) Royal Orchid Spa at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Lufthansa (LH) lounges Star Alliance lounge access policy Priority Pass Lounge Buddy Lounge Club Lounge Pass Dragon Pass Executive Lounges by Swissport Plaza Premium Lounge Air Canada (AC) American Express Platinum Card Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges One-time lounge access purchases Air France - Lounge Options (AF) Alaska Lounge day passes (AS) American Airlines - Admirals Club membership (AA) ANA - Paid Lounge Access (NH) Avianca - Lounge Day Pass (AV) Delta - Membership & Access (DL) Emirates - Our Lounges (EK) Etihad Airways - Pay for lounge access (EY) KLM - Lounge access policy (KL) LATAM - Purchase your access (JJ, LA, LP, LU, PZ, XL, 4C, 4M) SWISS - Lounge access voucher (LX) United Airlines - Lounge access voucher (UA) Airline lounge annual memberships Air Canada Maple Leaf Club (AC) Alaska Lounge membership (AS) American Airlines Admirals Club (AA) Delta - Membership & Access (DL) Hawaiian Premier Club Membership (HA) Qantas Club (QF) United Club (UA) Virgin Australia - Airport Lounges (VA) – also has lifetime membership Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Etihad (EY) Airbus 380 Residence Cabin Etihad (EY) Residence Lounge 21 December 2016 review by Sam Chui YouTube video of same visit Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) Luxor International Airport (LXR) Review of Luxor lounge "No, THIS is the worst airport lounge ever!" (The Winglet | 18 February 2016) EgyptAir (MS) Lufthansa HON Circle Chennai International Airport (MAA) Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Lounges at Frankfurt Airport Tokyo-Narita Airport (NRT) Nap Rooms "nine hours Narita Airport" capsule hotel Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) "YOTELAIR Amsterdam Schiphol" sleeping cabins Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) "Minute Suites" Dallas-Fort Worth- Terminal D Airbus 380 Airbus 350-900 Boeing 777-300 Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) Singapore Airlines (SQ) SilverKris Lounge Review of SilverKris Lounge (TripAdvisor | 2018 January 04) Scandinavian Airlines (SK) Copenhagen Airport (CPH) Cathay Pacific (CX) Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) Melbourne Airport (MEL) NEWS ITEMS airwaysmag.com | Qantas Announces New First Class Lounge in Singapore (25 October 2018)https://airwaysmag.com/airports/qantas-announces-new-first-class-lounge-in-singapore/ "…Australian carrier Qantas has announced today plans to open a brand-new first class lounge at Singapore’s Changi Airport in late 2019…" Qantas (QF) Qantas Lounges Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) businesstraveller.com | SAS upgrades lounges at Copenhagen airport (26 October 2018)https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2018/10/26/sas-upgrades-lounges-at-copenhagen-airport/ "…There is also a new Daylight Booster Zone in the SAS Gold Lounge, offering light therapy to 'beat the effects of jet lag and winter depression in Scandinavia’s dark, winter months'…" Scandinavian Airlines (SK) Scandinavian Airlines Lounges Copenhagen Airport (CPH) businesstraveller.com | Cathay Pacific begins paid access to its airline lounges [Promotion in Manila, Melbourne and Vancouver] (10 October 2018)https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2018/10/10/cathay-pacific-begins-paid-access-to-its-airline-lounges/ "Cathay Pacific has joined a handful of other airlines that have begun offering travellers the ability to pay to access its airport lounges. Marco Polo Club members are now able to pay a HK$600 (US$75) fee per visit using their credit card to enter its facilities in Manila, Melbourne and Vancouver" Cathay Pacific (CX) Cathay Pacific Lounges Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) Melbourne Airport (MEL) Vancouver International Airport (YVR) PODCAST CORRECTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, CONFIRMATIONS Thai Airways – any customer with lounge access at BKK also has access to a 30-minute foot massage Frankfurt has an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Lufthansa HON Circle Status level is 600,000 miles in First and Business Class, and on the BIZclass fare in two consecutive calendar years Many US domestic lounges charge for premium alcohol PEOPLE MENTIONED Sam Chui SHOW NOTES Lounges Introduction [01:20] What's in a lounge? [02:10] Get a massage with Thai Airways (TG) at BKK [03:55] Who gets to go into the lounge? [04:50] First or business class ticket [04:57] Status cards [05:46] Credit cards [06:59] Paying airlines to access [07:54] Lounge access in price of ticket [08:04] Airline Lounge membership [09:23] Vinny somehow got into a lounge with an expired status card - and not just once or twice [11:43] Etihad (EY) Residence Lounge at AUH [15:13] Not too much lounge luxury in LXR [15:59] When is it worth paying for lounge access? [18:52] Sleeping pods/cabins in airports [24:34] When is an airport rush-hour? [27:07] SIN Terminal 3 SilverKris Lounge later evening experience [28:30] News Items Qantas Announces New First Class Lounge in Singapore [34:07] SAS upgrades lounges at Copenhagen airport [35:13] Cathay Pacific begins paid access to its airline lounges [36:28] Wrap-up [37:49]
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Experience 005. Lounging Around. The world of airport lounges - Seat 1A The Podcast
11/22/2018
Experience 005. Lounging Around. The world of airport lounges - Seat 1A The Podcast
Exploring the world of airport lounges. What's in them, what lounges are available for whom, and are there ways around the restrictions? The multitude of lounges available with both airline/alliance lounges and third-party lounges. When is it worth paying for lounge access?
/episode/index/show/seat1a/id/7655405
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Experience 004 Show Notes. It's all in the bag. The journey of your checked luggage to your destination.
11/08/2018
Experience 004 Show Notes. It's all in the bag. The journey of your checked luggage to your destination.
Recorded 28 October 2018 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” The world of baggage from the check-in counter to the airport's internal maze of baggage belts to loading on the plane to getting it off the plane and back to your hands when you arrive. But what about non-perfect days? A not-so-nostalgic look back at the old T4 baggage capacity issues at LHR. Your bag is misplaced – here's the chart – is it a BK 22 or something else? Just what is WorldTracer and what does have to do with your lost bag? How does your airline compensate you for a lost bag? The bag lost its tag what happens now - is it a dead bag, or just pining for the fjords? Who knows - it might have ended up in Norway. For goodness sakes, make sure the tag is fastened on something attached securely to your bag. Limited liability – what does it mean for you and your bag? Why 32 kilos? Your plane is late, what could that mean for your bag? Geoff had to load a passenger's what in the rear hold? Wait until you hear Vinny's story of what people packed their clothes in and tried to check in. Oh, the stories of customs clearance and the incredible things people pack – by the way, what's that dark mass on the x-ray? New landside baggage check-in option at HKG - a long way from the terminal. The day has arrived - moving IST from Atatürk to the New terminal. SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE "Airplane" Self Service Baggage Claim scene (YouTube) British Airways (BA) Calgary International Airport (YYC) London Heathrow (LHR) Air India Flight 182 & 1985 Narita International Airport bombing (The Canadian Encyclopedia) Boeing 777-200 WorldTracer IATA Airline Baggage ID Chart image IATA chart purchase page Vienna International Airport (VIE) Air Canada (AC) Hammerfest Airport (HFT) Baggage belt schematics (howstuffworks.com) Baggage containers (Wikipedia - officially called Unit Load Devices) Rush tag image Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) Sidney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) Emirates (EK) Qantas (QF) Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Cathay Pacific (CX) Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Menzies Aviation Incheon International Airport (ICN) Korean Air (KE) Asiana Airlines (OZ) Boeing 737-800 Canada Border Services Agency A23 Delayed Baggage Report form Other country examples of customs declarations for delayed baggage UK: BOR1422 Clearance of missing or delayed baggage: non-EU arrivals Montreal Convention 1999 – Article 22: Limits of Liability in Relation to Delay Baggage and Cargo (IATA PDF) Unclaimed Baggage Center – Scottsboro, Alabama, USA Trucking BA backlogged bags to Italy (BBC | 02 April 2008) Lost luggage auctions (moneysavingexpert.com | 02 October 2018) SITA Baggage Report 2018 - more than 4.5 billion bags carried worldwide BA moving Heathrow T4 to T5 first day (The Guardian | 28 March 2008) Hong Kong Kai Tak move to Chep Lok (New York Times | 06 July 1998) Denver Stapleton move to New International Airport (New York Times | 01 March 1995) NEWS ITEMS businesstraveller.com | Hong Kong Airport opens off-airport check-in services at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge boundary crossing facilities (26 October 2018)https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2018/10/26/hong-kong-airport-opens-off-airport-check-in-services-at-hzmb-boundary-crossing-facilities/ "Currently, the service is only available for the city’s four home-based carriers – Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, Hong Kong Airlines and HK Express. Facilities are open from 0700 until 2230 each day." Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Section Hong Kong Airport (HKG) Cathay Pacific (CX) Cathay Dragon (KA) Hong Kong Airlines (HX) HK Express (UO) airport-business.com | Final preparations underway for opening of Istanbul New Airport [on 29 October 2018] (06 October 2018) http://www.airport-business.com/2018/10/final-preparations-underway-for-opening-of-istanbul-new-airport/ “The transfer to Istanbul New Airport will be the biggest-ever airport transfer in the world. There have been no airports transferred further than 45km in the world,” Istanbul Airport (ISL) Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) Turkish Airlines (TK) PODCAST CORRECTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, CONFIRMATIONS BA Ex gratia/Compensation card currently uses Mastercard https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/ex-gratia-payment-card/information A quick review of the US Department of Transportation 2018 stats shows 2-3 reports of mishandled baggage per 1000 passengers https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/air-travel-consumer-reports PNR – Passenger Name Record (Amadeus) https://servicehub.amadeus.com/c/portal/view-solution/3893134/en_US/guidelines-on-passenger-name-record-pnr-data Fines can exist for flights happening at significantly different than assigned slots €29,000 fine for Ryanair over slot breaches [at London Stansted in 2007] (Irish Examiner | 17 August 2007) https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/29000-fine-for-ryanair-over-slot-breaches-40167.html How did the IST move go? There was a small opening but big move was delayed until 31 December 2018 (Reuters | 13 October 2018) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-airport/new-istanbul-airport-to-only-open-fully-at-end-of-year-paper-idUSKCN1MN0H7 SHOW NOTES Baggage Topic Intro. Vinod back in the day with British Airways (BA) [01:59] Old BA T4 baggage capacity issues [03:42] Tracing Process, WorldTracer [08:25] Compensation [11:21] What happens to the bag when you check it in? [14:28] What happens on the "non-perfect" day? [19:32] The wave of bags now arrive – how do they connect to the passenger? [23:21] The investigation work – matching a bag to someone with minimal information [28:08] What information should you put in an outside bag pocket [30:32] What happens when the bag reaches the carousel? [31:31] 32 kilos [34:46] Your plane has to get in and out in a time window. How does this affect your bag? [37:37] Your plane arrives - what now? [42:12] Damage and limited release [48:31] What airlines look for with a damage claim [51:00] Crazy airport story - A desk in the baggage hold? [53:15] Crazy airport story - a unique way to pack your clothes? [54:27] The bag has arrived, clearing delayed bag through customs and getting it to the passenger [56:14] Oh, the things you see at customs in undeclared bags [58:56] Vinny's all time classic at customs. What is this dark mass on the x-ray? [01:01:40] What happens with unclaimed bags? [01:03:57] The number of delayed bags has fallen by a tremendous percentage [01:07:17] Packaging up the baggage discussion [01:09:07] News Items New Macao-Hong Kong bridge check-in [01:10:30] Moving terminals in Istanbul [01:12:41] Wrap-up [01:17:11]
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Experience 004. It's all in the bag. The journey of your checked luggage to your destination - Seat 1A The Podcast
11/07/2018
Experience 004. It's all in the bag. The journey of your checked luggage to your destination - Seat 1A The Podcast
The world of baggage from the check-in counter to the airport's internal maze of baggage belts to loading on the plane to getting it off the plane and back to your hands when you arrive. But what about non-perfect days?
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Experience 003 Show Notes. Welcome aboard Vinod; Canada to Brazilian Carnival on two tickets.
10/28/2018
Experience 003 Show Notes. Welcome aboard Vinod; Canada to Brazilian Carnival on two tickets.
Recorded 10 October 2018 Written by: Geoff Dahl & Vinod Viswalingam Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” Geoff has read Vinod Viswalingam's travel writing in previous episode experiences, now Vinod comes aboard to join the podcast. Travelling from a Canadian winter storm to Carnival in Brazil using two separate tickets. Nothing can go wrong...right? Welcoming back the world's longest flight. New Transatlantic leaders from the New York market. Support animals in the news again - no it's not a peacock or snake, any guesses what kind of animal this time? SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE VARIG (RG - "old" VARIG ceased operations 2006 and "new" VARIG ceased operations 2009) (Wikipedia) Calgary International Airport (YYC) Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) United Airlines (UA) Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) New York JFK Airport (JFK) São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) Toronto Pearson – "Deicing Your Plane" Star Alliance Gold Status Hertz Gold Status MapQuest driving directions from Cleveland Hopkins Airport to New York JFK Airport London Heathrow (LHR) London Gatwick (LGW) Oslo Airport (OSL) Alta Airport (ALF) NEWS ITEMS Airwaysmag.com | Everything You Need To Know: Singapore Airlines Relaunches World’s Longest Flight (10 October 2018) https://airwaysmag.com/special-flights/everything-you-need-to-know-sq-sin-ewr/ “On 12 October 2018, Singapore Airlines will once again take the claim of operating the world’s longest commercial flight when flight SQ21 makes its return connecting Newark (EWR) to Singapore (SIN), nonstop.” Singapore Airlines (SQ) Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) Airbus A350-900ULR Longest passenger flights (Wikipedia) AINonline | Norwegian Now Non-U.S. Leader in Transatlantic NYC Market (09 October 2018)https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2018-10-09/norwegian-now-non-us-leader-transatlantic-nyc-market “Norwegian Air Shuttle has overtaken British Airways as the biggest non-U.S. airline on transatlantic routes to and from the New York area…Norwegian carried 1.67 million passengers to or from airports in the New York area in the 12 months to the end of July, beating BA’s 1.63 million, according to data released by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).” Norwegian Air (D8, DY, DI) Boeing 787 Dreamliner Port Authority of New York & New Jersey TravelPulse.com | Police Escort Woman, 'Emotional Support Squirrel' Off Frontier Airlines Flight (10 October 2018)https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/police-escort-woman-emotional-support-squirrel-off-frontier-airlines-flight.html “Frontier Airlines removed a woman and her emotional support squirrel from a flight in Orlando Tuesday night. According to FOX 8 Cleveland, the passenger had to be escorted off of the plane by law enforcement.” Orlando International Airport (MCO) Frontier Airlines (F9) 'Emotional support animals' are turning into a crisis for airlines - here are the most bizarre animals people have brought on planes (Business Insider | 31 January 2018) How to Fly With an Emotional Support Animal—Legitimately (Condé Nast Traveler | 15 May 2018) PODCAST CORRECTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, CONFIRMATIONS Relaunched EWR-SIN A350-900 flight configured as 67 Business Class and 94 Premium Economy Class. No standard economy seats on this flight. Previous EWR-SIN A340-500 flights were mixed economy & business from 2004-2008, and all business class 2008-2013. The route was axed in November 2013. Norwegian also flies Boeing 737 MAX-8 to New York market Stewart International Airport (SWF). https://media.uk.norwegian.com/pressreleases/norwegian-introduces-new-slimline-seats-to-transatlantic-flights-on-737-max-2559637 (27 June 2018) Stewart International Airport (SWF) Support peacock (named "Dexter") actually died on July 22, 2018. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmd2XpThpAV SHOW NOTES Introducing Vinod Viswalingam. What's his story? [00:48] The Story: "Vinod goes to Brazilian Carnival using two tickets. What could possibly go wrong?" [03:21] The Analysis: The risks you take when you put two tickets together [13:37] Current Events: Newark to Singapore non-stop flight restarted 12 October, 2018 with Singapore Airlines [20:18] Norwegian now top non-US carrier from New York market [22:21] Emotional support animals – squirrel in Orlando with Frontier Airlines [23:36] Wrap up [25:00]
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Experience 003. Welcome aboard Vinod; Canada to Brazilian Carnival on two tickets - Seat 1A The Podcast
10/27/2018
Experience 003. Welcome aboard Vinod; Canada to Brazilian Carnival on two tickets - Seat 1A The Podcast
Geoff has read Vinod Viswalingam's travel writing in previous episodes, now Vinod comes aboard to join the podcast. Travelling from a Canadian winter storm to Carnival in Brazil using two separate tickets.
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Experience 002 Show Notes. International Megahubs and Flight Ticketing. The Seat 1A Podcast.
10/05/2018
Experience 002 Show Notes. International Megahubs and Flight Ticketing. The Seat 1A Podcast.
Recorded 30 September 2018 Written by: Geoff Dahl Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” In this episode experience Geoff Dahl looks at the 2018 OAG International Megahubs Index. He also reads an excerpt from a piece on flight ticketing by Vinod Viswalingam. SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE 2018 OAG International Megahubs Index (September 2018) PDF file London Heathrow (LHR) Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK) Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) Dubai International Airport (DXB) Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Mexico City International Airport (MEX) São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) El Dorado International Airport (BOG) SHOW NOTES Introduction [00:26] 2018 OAG International Megahubs Index [00:43] Looking ahead to the future of the Seat 1A podcast [03:21] Flight Ticketing excerpt written by Vinod Viswalingam "Ticketing" [04:10] "Fare Class" [04:41] "Changes" [06:60] "Cancelling/refunding" [08:40] "FIM- Flight Interruption Manifest" [10:01] Wrap up [12:27]
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Experience 002 - International Megahubs and Flight Ticketing - Seat 1A The Podcast
10/05/2018
Experience 002 - International Megahubs and Flight Ticketing - Seat 1A The Podcast
In this episode Geoff Dahl looks at the 2018 OAG International Megahubs Index. He also reads an excerpt from a piece on flight ticketing by Vinod Viswalingam.
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Experience 001 Show Notes - Maiden Flight - Seat 1A The Podcast.
08/27/2018
Experience 001 Show Notes - Maiden Flight - Seat 1A The Podcast.
Recorded 15 August 2018 Written by Geoff Dahl Listen to this experience wherever you download your podcasts - including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and Overcast. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. Stream by clicking here. Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” Geoff Dahl welcomes everyone to the first episode experience of the Seat 1A podcast. Geoff presents an excerpt from an upcoming publication from Vinod Viswalingam about the flight ticket and electronic reservations. Sound effects recognition to the following: Intro: http://www.freesfx.co.uk Outro: https://freesound.org/ SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE EXPERIENCE Paul Colligan SHOW NOTES Introduction [00:10] Thank yous and recognitions [00:43] Reservation Codes excerpt written by Vinod Viswalingam "The Ticket" [02:24] "Reservations" [04:14] "PNR" [05:05] "Record Locator" [05:39] "e-Ticket" [06:34] "e-Ticket itinerary" [07:08] "e-Ticket receipt" [07:26] Wrap up [08:55]
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Experience 001 - Maiden Flight - Seat 1A The Podcast
08/27/2018
Experience 001 - Maiden Flight - Seat 1A The Podcast
Geoff Dahl welcomes everyone to the first episode of the Seat 1A podcast. Geoff presents an excerpt from an upcoming publication from Vinod Viswalingam about the flight ticket and electronic reservations.
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