TRAVEL ETIQUETTE-DOES IT EXIST? FIVE THOUGHTS!

Travel Etiquette! Recently traveling for a family emergency, I was privy to the exploits of Canadian travellers.

1. Security. I was stuck in the line with two people putting their large carryons, knapsacks that counted as a personal item and their laptops. Taking off a belt and other items on their body. Yes several bins each as well as needing to be scanned for the jewellery. Really. What happened to checking some item? Air Canada does not charge for the first checked bag. That's where my bag went!! Just a small carryon and my purse with my camera in it.

2. Prebook your seat. Yes I am a Nana and very sympathetic to couples travelling with children. But if you want to sit with your spouse, pay for the seat. Coming back from my destination, the mother and baby was able to sit with her husband because another passenger changed seats. I did not offer mine. I had prepaid and wanted the window seat. Simple! Another couple with a baby and toddler were all together because they prepaid for their seats! So please do not play the baby card! If you can afford to fly and not drive to your destination, you can afford the prepaid seat.

3. One never knows what other passengers have in their lives. To sit in front of one man talking to a fellow passenger about his teaching career in Japan and his family was okay for a few minutes but after two and one half hours, it really wore a little thin. In other years when the airline had movies or sites for music, easy to plug in and ignore the talk. But not knowing the flight did not have music or movies, was a learning experience. I had my ear plugs from other flights. Maybe retrospectively, I should have put them in my ears! Next time I will pay for the I pad- $10.00 or bring one.

4. Don't travel with your seat fully back the whole time. The passenger behind has very little space as it is on those domestic cheap flights. I was three to a space that even my short little legs were wedged quite well.

5. On my return leg of the trip, in the airport waiting for a plane, one does not buy the seats beside you for your bag. I had gone for a washroom break and returning noticing there were three seats beside whom I thought was a gentleman. Well, getting closer to the seats he quickly gave me a dirty look and put his large carryon on one of the seats. I was choosing the third seat farthest from him anyway. Not impressed, I sat there a few minutes then moved to another seat I eyed in the lounge. Thankfully I did not sit beside him on the plane. It happened on the initial stage of my trip with the 60 something couple sneaking kisses in the airport sitting beside me. OMG! Then on my flight out to my destination, they sat beside me. Again how many kisses are needed! Of course, I ignored them because as a woman if I smiled at the guy it would be seen as my trying to hit on him by his lady friend! I did not even make light conversation.

So be polite, but not necessarily friendly. I never tell people what I do for a living as I really am not interested in hearing every problem.

Checking in online the night previously is a wonderful feature and does save time at the airport. Besides it is reassuring that the seat prepaid is right there on the boarding pass!

Food tip- for the prepaid $7.00 I actually received two items for more than the cost. If the flight runs out of food, prepaid customers are fed first. So an appetizer of choice and my chicken wrap one way and the deli sandwich on the way home, it was an easy way to have food. Yes the food was fresh! Sure you can take a sandwich from home or buy in the airport but nicely served on the plane without any fuss of having to store it in one's bags. Travelling with children, it is a different conversation. Snacks for little ones and even the bottles and baby food are needed.

Another tip. Put away that cellphone or laptop. People watch in the airport. Easy to do because basically one is watching people playing on their gadgets- cellphones, laptops or whatever! I like to connect to the world around me. No one even notices they are being watched!!!
Some photo ops too!

In conclusion- most Canadian travellers are polite and respectful of others around them. I understand there are many that are fearful of flying so the best behaviour may not prevail! Personally, I love flying and going places. It just took a family emergency for it to happen.
Yes, I travel Air Canada whenever I can.
Happy Flying Everyone! Happy Landings!
#travel#AirCanada#manners#privacy

PHOTOS FROM THE CANADIAN AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

On a visit to the Canadian Air and Space Museum on the Downsview site in July 2011, I took over 60 pictures inside the musuem. Over 2 years ago, the museum had to move in a hurry because of some development issue on the property. Now the musuem is sitting in containers near the Pearson Airport waiting for enough funding to rennovate a building to have a new museum. Why it did not occur to me sooner but I decided to ask the people in charge if they would like my pictures by email or snailmail well you know the answer- a resounding yes. So last night with my slow system of uploading to email attachment- 5 at a time on each email I sent them off. It made me reflect on how simple pictures can bring joy to others. The photos are not great but the quantity of showing the museum and various themes from several angles may be used by those responsible to set up the new museum. Trying to preserve a piece of Canadian history which aviation entails is vital to our future. The musuem hosted class trips for schools in the GTA. There were classes and activity sessions. Perhaps there was no time in the rushed move to take any pictures so I hope mine may be useful. Clicking and recording on photo or video take a moment in time. Since our family was around aviation, the area on Air Canada memorabilia was fun to see.

Of course the museum is looking for funding so if you know anyone who is interested, check out their website for more information. Meanwhile, I hope I put a smile on the faces of those who are managing the quest to find a new home for this piece of history. Just to let you know, I was not pleased with most of the photos and almost deleted them shortly after my visit! Have you ever taken a bunch of photos and them found them a new audience? Tell me your stories. Of course I have another photo story or two!

A POSTCARD FROM AIR CANADA

2012 marked the 75th anniversary of Air Canada. It actually started out as Trans-Canada Airlines.

The postcards were free from flights taken. The airplanes are the DC-8 and the Vanguard.
Do you like the menu card? I think it was a time I travelled First Class. As an employee's child, our family travelled on a pass. If there were no seats in Economy class we were bumped to First Class. On a trip from London, England when I was 17, I travelled that way.

The two postcards feature the DC-8 with the new logo- Air Canada and a Boeing-767. Our Dad flew the DC-8 and the Stretch 8 before he retired in 1976 after 30 years with the airline. He had more flying hours from his duties in World War Two. He also had many hours on the DC-3 and Viscount during his years with the airline. Some people do not like to fly Air Canada for whatever reasons. I usually fly it on any flights in Canada. Since I knew many Air Canada pilots in my youth, I understand the dedication and experience needed to be a qualified pilot. Remember the responsibility! Every Captain, especially Captain Park and the First Officer were expected to get all the passengers and crew home safely! Whenever Dad would leave for a flight, it was good luck to say "Happy Landings!" So here's to Air Canada and Happy Landings!

A POSTCARD FROM JAPAN

Another earthquake in Japan made me think of the people there. So I hunted to determine if I had any postcards from there

The postcard was sent to my parents from their friends Mike and Arleen Furgala.
"Oct 29/81- Hi Dear "Parks", There we go "low-flying" to Kyoto & Nara. Japan is beautiful colours and people but oh, so busy. Enjoying the adventure of "Interline tour". Keep well, Love, Mike and Arleen" The postcard features the Bullet Trains at Tokyo Central Railroad.
Mike was a captain with Air Canada like Dad. He and his wife Arleen were dear friends of the family. They travelled more than my folks. Arleen, unlike Mom, liked to fly!
If you want a postcard featured here, email me at abdm@rogers.com so I can send you my address so you can send me a postcard.

THE CHALLENGE OF WRITING A BLOG

This is blog 501. It has been an adventure to find ideas and themes to keep writing. The advice of other bloggers is to write every day. It is such good advice as it creates a discipline of blogging. Wednesday is easy- now it is my Nana says theme. Sunday too- with a Postcard From! The other 5 days bring many challenges and sometimes a photo I took weeks ago with a blog idea in mind which can finally be used. Since I can follow how many pageviews occur on each blog and who in the world is reading me, I am constantly amazed at the the blogs with the most "reads". People in the world are interested in the down to earth Canadian themes I have written. Yes, not regularly but I have had readers from every continent. There are regular readers not only from Canada and the United States but Germany and Russia. So to those readers thank you for visiting. Writing advice from years ago states to write about what you know. Trying to be an expert on everything, well it does not work. Some of my clinical blogs have responses on my private email. Some people have complained they can not comment so email me your comments or find me on facebook and comment there. I will add your comments to the blogs. As most of you know, I love Narrative Therapy which using your story to help to reflect and honour your strengths. Thus I want to hear and know and think about your reactions and real thoughts to any blog. Do they conjure up ideas and thinking?
As a clinical Social Worker, I always want to reach others who may be struggling with a problem and need some guidance to find the right person or resouces to help. Even the right book! Like my favourite- A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis on his journey with his grief after his beloved wife died.
I love blogging as it helps me to consolidate many areas and interests in my life. I hope you have enjoyed reading and sharing with me. Are there any favourite blogs you have enjoyed? Tell me. Are there themes you would like me to consider for you and your group? What do you want to know about Canada and this Canadian? Are there parenting or family issues you are seeking guidance? Crafts, gardening, photography can be used to work with problem areas in your life-they work for me! So please keep on reading and helping me to challenge myself to write!

THE PLANES FLY OVER

Every morning starting at 6 a.m. The Red Eyes from the west- leaving Vancouver, Calgary at night arriving at Pearson Internation Airport in Toronto in the morning. I like the sound as it gives a start and a rhythm to the day. I live far enough away from the airport that it is tolerable. Planes start to fly over late afternoon again from the west. They come from the north. The planes seen in the southern sky are the ones from Europe. Sometimes I just sit outside to watch them go over my house as they make their descent to the airport. Who is in the plane? Businessmen, tourists to the area or family members arriving for an event or returning home? This time of year, vacations are planned that include plane travel for many while there are cars, buses and trains that transport people. Plane travel however makes us pack very lightly. With a car, we can throw as many items into spaces. I always take more shoes if going by car. This year I only have day trips planned. So there is the envy factor! People going on cruises, travelling to Europe or Africa. Weeks at the cottage- I do not have my own cottage but could go to someone else's I suppose! Thinking about summer brings the urge for most of us to go somewhere. But somehow a plane trip is the ultimate journey! Then there are the plane stories, the airport stories, what a flight! The pretentious stories of how we love one airline over another one! For me as long as the pilot and co-pilot know how to fly the plane and land it safely is the most important factor. Here in Canada we have Air Canada, Westjet and Porter Airlines. All fine airlines. Always hoping they survive. For many of us we remember- Canadian Pacific, Wardair and Canadian that did not remain due to financial problems. The smaller charter airlines like Nordair and others keep us moving. Do you like to fly? What places have you visited? Yes here comes another plane!