Alas, Vancouver ends, and onto Calgary yet again, where the cold awaits. One thing - I'm on Westjet for the first time (Qantas code share). I've heard a lot of good things about Westjet which has the profile of
Virgin Australia on start-up, but perhaps even a bit slimmer, LCC approach (no FF program, but you can earn 'Westjet dollars'.
Check-in is via kiosk, but it can't handle my free bag allowance from QF - so off to a manual check-in. No problems there. But then security. This is a big bugbear of mine at Canadian airports - if anything, less passenger 'friendly' than in the USA. I have status on Air Canada (a bit above Gold in QFF, but below Plat) and often travel J, but the opportunities for 'priority' queues are slim (the line may exist, but if there's not many in it, they let the hoi polio use it! :shock:
).
Today is worse, I'm Y on a LCC - 40 minutes through security; one of the worst in my experience. The Westjet pier is pretty spartan. We start boarding 40 minutes before scheduled take-off and everyone was in, seated and settled by 15 minutes prior. Had to wait for 2 connecting passengers, then door close and push back bang on time. A 737 and it was a perfectly routine 1 hr flight. Snacks served were a soft drink and a 'sweet or salty' snack. About 12 pieces of snack in all.
Overall Westjet - OK; I wasn't exposed to the fare paid, but I expect it would be competitive. I suspect the reason that Canadians like Westjet so much is that its not Air Canada!
Arrive YYC, get picked up and its minus 16. The streets look cold and the weather forecast tells it all!!
Shopping. I get my usual chariot from 'car2go' (rental by the minute, either book on line or walk up to any free parked car) and shop for food, wine and beer (Super Bowl is on the next day). Now Moosehead! That's a beer I haven't seen for a while. Hope I don't see it for some time again!
Super Bowl 49, enjoyed. Note the Hoegaarden, not Moosehead.