I said I wouldn’t do it, but I did.

Arriving at the airport Sunday, it was clear that this was going to be the day of, “Oh cool!  My first watch!” which was the first thing the check-in agent said when checking in.  

Arriving in Vancouver:

I’m glad I could pop their Apple Watch cherry, but the real thing for me was convenience rather than the attention.  If I can make something easier for myself while I travel, I’ll do it.  It’s why I have Nexus, and why I strive for status on an airline.  This takes that experience to the next level. 

Later this summer, Scott and I will be Japan-bound.  This is a trip we’ve been talking about for 18 years and through the magic of air miles and hotel points, we’re doing it on the cheap.  I’ve already talked about the fight portions and key requirements for the trip in a past blog entry.

As of today, we have booked all the hotels in Japan.  We’re staying at mostly Starwood properties – Sheraton Miyako Tokyo, Westin Miyako Kyoto, and Sheraton Hiroshima

And we’re staying at the Hilton Nagoya and Tokyo to use up my points on Hilton.

We haven’t got Hong Kong fully booked yet, but I’m hoping to by the end of July.

What I have found is that hotels are actually not too expensive for a city the size and status of Tokyo, as well as other places in Japan.  The cheapest hotel night is about $134 in Nagoya had we not paid with points.  The most expensive is $270 in Shinjuku and the cheapest being about $183 in Minato-ku, again had we not paid with points.  So far, we’ve saved about $1600. in hotels!

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is the most expensive where the rate is $430 which is for one night – gotta splurge when we’re saving elsewhere for our last night on the trip. If we weren’t staying at Disney, we’d have only paid $265 in hotels, rather than $856 in hotel fees to date!

Were averaging about $220 a night had we paid, I’d say which is very reasonable for such a trip.  Try paying that in London!  With the points, $78 per night. Wow!

This trip is proving to be considerably cheaper than expected!  Just over $400 each for taxes on the airfare, which would have been between $13,000 to $29,000, this really does show the value of airline miles and hotel points.

I have been fortunate to fly British Airways four times in my life in all three classes.  BA holds a special place in my heart as they were

• The first airline I ever flew with in Business and First.
• It was my first time on a 747 on the upper deck, and then returning on a new 777.
• They were the first airline that took Scott to Europe for the first time.

I flew Business while on Business heading to Ireland.  Upon returning, I was upgraded to First after running into a Flight Attendant who asked me for my flight details.  I still talk about this experience for years after.  It was very much appreciated and that doesn’t describe how I feel.  I felt very much out of place, like I shouldn’t be there because I was upgraded.  I was somewhat overwhelmed, but the service was amazing.  The fact that they knew who I was when boarding, blew me away.  Even today when I get great service that is similar, I am still blown away.

Sadly, I don’t have pictures from business class on this flight, as well, I don’t have pictures from the second airline I ever flew in business – Aer Lingus.  That flight was hilarious because it was my first experience with the economy class seats with no one in the middle being considered business.  It was what it was.  The service on that flight was great.

Later in 2001, Scott and I flew over for holidays, we were upgraded to the new Business class seats upon return, by the same FA on a 777.  Again, thank you!

These were special flights for me and Scott that I will never forget.

Here are some pictures of those experiences:

TACA – MGA > MEX – January 2012

Kind of a fun box, although heavy on the carbs.  I loved the spork that came with the box.

MVD Lounge – June 2102- This is a contract lounge, not run by the airline

MVD > SCL – June 2012

WAY too many carbs, but the bread and cheese were tasty.  Premium Economy on LAN.

SCL > MVD – July 2012

Orange juice, a turkey and cheese sandwich and a chocolate.  It wasn’t actually that bad and I liked LAN’s service within South America.

I can’t believe they use the Juan Valdez marketing. LOL!

SCL Lounge – August 2012 – American Airlines Lounge

This is the lounge Air Canada was using back in 2012 for their customers connecting in Business Class.  I liked this lounge very much!  While it may have felt dated with the decor, honestly, I don’t need super ultra modern in a lounge.  I just want quiet and relaxing.

I saw this article from a friend on Facebook.  As some of you may know I’ve lost 65lbs since October and still going.  I’ve been thinking about what it means when I hit 240 (about 75lbs lost) and then 230 (about 85lbs lost).

I’ve always looked at 240lbs as a magic number to attain, to then start working out in earnest and such.  Why I couldn’t be doing that now, I don’t know.  It’s just been how I’ve been thinking.

Here are some key quotes from the blog entry:

“There’s no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow of weight loss because the rainbow has no end. There is today. There is now. There is during. There is life.”

“I don’t feel like I’m at After. I’m terrified of being at After. And, I don’t like that After is here.”

My weight is something I will always struggle with, and will have to manage for the rest of my life. That last quote speaks volumes about when I start the maintenance phase.

That said, it’s fun saying, for once, “I like me, I like how I look now, I’m pleased” rather than being self loathing.

As for hitting 240lbs and re-starting lifting in earnest… As I hit 252lbs this week, I am seeing the base that I had built up years ago when I was playing Rugby, competing in Highland Games, and starting Strongman.  Wow, I’ve got a good base.  It’s nice seeing the definition. *GRIN*

About a month ago, I booked myself on a reward ticket using my British Airways Executive Club membership.  I joined BA’s Executive Club because I was expecting to fly One World airlines to the US more often than I do.

12 years ago, I started flying regularly with my job at Reserve America.  I would often fly US airlines because it was much cheaper than Air Canada, and we needed to keep flights cheaper.  I would fly primarily American and US Airways, oh the irony.  Surprisingly, US Airways was my preferred airline of choice when I could.

If only I had realized the importance of collecting miles on a single airline, as well as not splitting my hotel points with the airline points.

I digress.

For just over 18,000 Avios and $69, I was able to book a business class flight to Chicago on American.  Say what?  For that kind of flight on Aeroplan points, it would be 50,000 points and way more money as you pay the Canadian taxes.  I was very surprised!

I haven’t really flown a US-based airline, until the last year where I have flown American, United, and Alaska.  My previous experiences tell me that service is going to be horrible, especially on the shuttle services.  Very much inline with a Skytrax 2 or 3 star airline.

The service on my flight to and from Chicago was great, just as it has been for Dallas on AA last year.  I have noticed that the US airlines are attempting to get better at service.  I noticed it the last time I flew Delta, and even slightly with the new hardware on United.  I think the airlines are slowly trying to turn things around with mixed results.

Anyway – American to Chicago.

Anytime I fly through Terminal 3, which is three times in the past year, I always feel like I am at an airport based in the US.  I’m hearing spanish, american accents all over the place, and very little french.  It’s like I am in a totally different world, especially relative to Terminal 1 which is just a few 100 metres away.  Just bizarre.  I wonder if the US-based airlines end up hiring US staff that drive back and forth to Buffalo rather than hiring Canadians. LOL

I also never fly out of the International or Canadian side of Terminal 3, so my perception is always US-centric when leaving from this terminal.  What I have also noticed is that the Canadian side of T3 also has a very different vibe, when I have left from there.

The equipment for this journey was a CRJ-700.  After coming down from the high of the 787 experience, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

The equipment on American, with the new paint jobs, and the fact that the plane was new (you could smell that new airplane smell), I was very impressed.  I’ve always disliked CRJs but having flown on a few 700s and 900s more recently, I actually like these two models.  Forget the 100s and 200s.

The service from the FAs returning was fantastic.  Going, I’d say the guy was kind of funny.  Not what I’d usually expect in Business but I can’t complain.

A big glass of red wine going, with top ups if I wanted (which I declined) and a big mug of coffee on my way home.

I think what topped the experience was, when mid-flight on my way home we were told the plane had an indication and that we had to turn back to ORD.  Prior to landing they explained that we had lost one of the backup hydraulic systems.  Doh!

‘Cool escort’, the FA said as we landed. We had a landing party that included fire trucks and other support had the hydraulic systems or other systems completely broke down.

In 12 years of flying regularly, this is a first time for a mechanical issue like this and needing to be diverted.

AA did a great job of getting a replacement plane – actually immediately sent us over to G8 to get on a new plane, with snacks, new crew within 30 minutes.  AA did a great job keeping us informed and updated.

You can see American trying to do a great job of providing great customer service, as they go through the merger with US Airways.  Mergers are always a challenge, and I do hope they are successful.

With the changes they are making, they could possibly sway me from British Airways, and could also become a regular airline that I use to the US, if for some reason I can’t with Air Canada.  United should be my choice given it’s link to Star Alliance, but I can’t help but think that American is just that touch better with service.

Air Canada’s first 787-8, Fin 801, launched into service last year doing a few flights around Canada until starting regular service to HND.  As Air Canada has received their first batch of 787-8s and soon 787-9s, they’ve moved services around, flying to TLV, Europe and later this year, DEL and DXB.

They’re also using them on intercontinental flights, usually to swap from one coast to the other just like their 777s and 767s.

What a stunning airplane. I do declare that the 787 is my favourite in-service jet liner. Having hit a high of 41,003 ft at 992km/h. I’m not sure I’ve ever been that fast before or not in a plane. The construction of the plane is gorgeous. The cleanest design of a wing I have ever seen.

Toronto to Vancouver in 3h 43m; 4h gate to gate, those cool electronic window blinds that I was skeptical about… My nose and lips are not dry. My lungs feel happy. Truly revolutionary. Looking forward to my next trip on one.