Denver-Montreal
Thursday, January 14, 2015
This morning I'm off to Montreal for a combination family visit and business meetings. The earliest arrival time is with AA via PHL. No traffic and no lines at PreCheck this morning and made it from our house to the Admirals Club in 39 minutes.
FIfteen minutes in the AC and then I headed downstairs to Gate A48 and my first US Airways metal flight in a while.
DEN-PHL
AA 686
pmUS A321... ugh
7:05a-12:20p
January 14, 2016
Breakfast
Wow, what a piece of garbage this pmUS plane is. Uncomfortable seats, no power, less legroom. And yeah, I just love sitting in the galley. On the other hand, pmUS crew with one of the best mainline FAs in a long time working the F cabin. pmUS PHX-based FA John almost made up for the crap plane.
Indeed, once in the air, our FA John used the curtain to block much of the galley action.
Apparently someone in catering is enamored with Stratas. Choice of breakfast strata or dessert strata this morning...
The strata was OK, sausage better. But the surprising thing was that the potatoes, though not crisp, were excellent. Very nice smokey flavor.
Sure, I was hungry this morning but I don't remember the last time I cleaned my plate on an AA flight.
After breakfast service, FA John made numerous passes thru to cabin for refills and curtained off the entire galley from view. Too bad there aren't many AA FA's like this guy.
Passing over Chicago.
And on our approach to Philly.
Pretty ugly airport but interesting murals with a lot of fascinating history.
Downstairs to the shuttle to the Terminal F gates, home of the small planes and regional service.
Which is actually a pretty nice facility.
With its own Admirals Club.
At T-35, I headed downstairs for the short walk to F27.
PHL-YUL
AA 3767
CRJ-200... ugh
1:45p-3:20p
January 14, 2016
There is no worse plane in the sky than the CRJ. Mercifully, this is only a short 75 minute flight.
Row 1 is the only "good" or less bad seating on this plane. But only if you have an open seat.
I originally had 1D but at the last minute, some duffus selected 1F even though 1AC were open. So while at the AC, I switched to 1C since 1A was open. When I boarded, someone was sitting in 1A. Fortunately, the Captain announced a weight and balance issue and asked someone in the first 4 rows to move to the back, and 1A decided to move. Phew!
OK, there is one more reason to select row 1. LOL. Especially today.
Inflight service including a complimentary snack for EXP elites.
Yeah, this plane is a little old and beat up.
400 miles later and a lot colder as we approach Montreal.
Heading to customs.
Yikes, looks like a few European flights just landed.
Fortunately, I have NEXUS which lets you enter the country without speaking to any customs/immigration staffer. Just show your Nexus receipt and entry card at the exit and you are out.
I usually book a room at the airport Marriott, one of the most convenient in terminal airports anywhere... a 3 minute walk from customs, upstairs thru and over the US departures wing.
One short escalator up and you are in the lobby.
Up to my floor 6.
And comfy room, with a parking lot view today. Still at only US$110 a night, hard to complain.
After I dropped my bags, I headed across the street to pick up my Avis rental and headed downtown to see mom. The later for dinner with my sister and brother-in-law. Great meal at The Taverne in Westmount Square.
2016 EXP Cost and Mileage Log:
This trip:
Fare: $215
EQMs: 2,069
RDMs: 4,138
YTD 2016:
Fare: $1,314
EQMs: 30,359
RDMs: 91,076 ($0.144 per mile)
