April 7, 2004
Vancouver to Kelowna to Edmonton
WestJet 37 Economy Class
737-200 C-GUWJ Seat 11D
1200n – 315p Flight time: :34/:49
The Vancouver airport offers plenty of shops and eateries so after changing and cleaning up, I had no problem finding a cup of coffee and a good veggie omelette at an establishment called the Pacific Market. Of course, since I’d located a table next to an electrical outlet, I also was able to put in some time on this Trip Report, now at over 10,000 words and approaching novella length.
My flight to Edmonton today is aboard Canadian low fare success story WestJet. WestJet got its start back in 1996 flying three 737-200s between Vancouver, Calgary, Kelowna, Winnipeg and Edmonton. Look how it’s grown since! It will be my 110th airline flown.
I was surprised to find only a couple of people being served at the WestJet check in area. I was quickly checked in by a very cheerful guy who combined small talk about my travels in Canada with asking all the questions we used to hear in America until a year or so ago: Did you pack this bag yourself? Has it been out of your control in any public places since then? Would a person intending something dastardly answer those questions honestly? How would one know if he were lying? In any event, I was issued a receipt upon which my exit row seat number and gate information was printed. I then headed downstairs to the Post Office to buy stamps and post my cards. Interestingly, the post office was located in a 7-11 store and was apparently operated by the 7-11 staff as well.
I picked WestJet’s flight 37 for two reasons. One – it operated via Kelowna, an airport I’d never flown through and two – it utilized a 737-200, an aircraft fast disappearing from the fleets of most American carriers. The aircraft for my flight today was an ex-Britannia machine that had served four airlines before finally ending up with WestJet. This aircraft was just over thirty years old.
As for me, this would be my 259th flight aboard a 737-200. The 737 is the most popular commercial jetliner ever built and as a result of this I’ve logged a combined total of almost half a million miles on all its variants. Heck, I’ve logged just over 125,000 miles on Alaska Airlines 737-400s alone! I should imagine if any of you frequent flyers were to keep logs, you’d find you’ve probably logged an impressive amount of mileage on this little workhorse as well.
So far as I know, amongst scheduled carriers only America West, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, Aloha and maybe Frontier still operate them. Powered by noisy and comparatively uneconomical early generation Pratt and Whitney JT8Ds, I don’t see this airplane staying in most larger airlines’ fleets for all that much longer.
North of the border in Canada however, the 737-200 is operated by a number of airlines including Air Canada’s Zip, Air North, Canadian North, Air Yukon, First Air and CanJet in addition to WestJet.
Boarding was by row number and as today’s mid-day flight over to Kelowna was only about half full, we were all onboard and seated in no time. Seating was of course all one class and although I had an exit row, the seat pitch looked to be about 32”. I found it interesting that this aircraft still bore traces of the original wide bodied interior conversion kits that airlines started installing in the early seventies. It sported a hybrid arrangement with the sidewalls and ceiling reflecting the original kit while the overhead storage compartments had obviously been modified to make them larger. The original overhead storage compartments weren’t designed for the bulky roll-on bags so commonplace today.
Despite the short thirty four minute flight over to Kelowna, the four Flight Attendants provided a surprising amount of service. It began with an offering of coffee, followed by a choice of boxed juices – either apple or orange. Finally, an FA came down the aisle offering packets of cookies and almonds! Remember, this was just a thirty four minute flight. On a low fare airline!
The city of Kelowna is beautifully set amidst the rolling hills of the Okanagan region of British Columbia. Unfortunately, my aisle seat did not allow me to fully appreciate the pretty approach, but what I could see certainly looked worthy of a return visit on one of my next drives between Alaska and the Lower 48.
As expected, the airport in Kelowna wasn’t all that busy but I did spot a Purolator 727-100 parked over at Kelowna Flightcraft that was equipped with the Valpar winglets. We spent maybe 20 minutes on the ground and for me the most impressive thing I saw was when not only the Flight Attendants but also the Captain pitched in to help the two Kelowna based ground staff in cleaning the aircraft. I just don’t see this happening anytime soon over at Air Canada!
We were almost completely full for the forty nine minute flight into Edmonton. Service on this sector differed only in that a packet of pretzel mix was added to our selection of snacks from the basket. Baggage was delivered promptly and based upon this experience, I’d have to say WestJet will be serving Canada’s air transport needs with low fares and quality inflight service for many years to come. By contrast, Air Canada’s future looks decidedly bleaker, something that airline’s management and employees need only take a collective look in the mirror to see who’s principally to blame for their woes.
Edmonton’s main airport is a good 30km out of town, so any hopes of catching an inexpensive city bus into the city quickly evaporated. $13.00 and 40 minutes later, I was dropped off at my home for the night, the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel, booked via Priceline for only $38.00 plus taxes.
Later, after a shower and an update on the NHL Playoffs, I headed downstairs to meet fellow FTer altaflyer. We had a good dinner and chat at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant before taking an impromptu tour of the provincial government buildings plaza where Peter works. He’s got a fair bit of travel coming up himself, not only this weekend but in the months ahead. Ah… the lives we frequent flyers lead…
Don’t I know by now that time flies when you’re having fun and suddenly it was 11:00pm and we both had to call it a night. I set a wake up call for 7:00am and proceeded to sleep soundly atop what may well be the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept upon!
Vancouver to Kelowna to Edmonton
WestJet 37 Economy Class
737-200 C-GUWJ Seat 11D
1200n – 315p Flight time: :34/:49
The Vancouver airport offers plenty of shops and eateries so after changing and cleaning up, I had no problem finding a cup of coffee and a good veggie omelette at an establishment called the Pacific Market. Of course, since I’d located a table next to an electrical outlet, I also was able to put in some time on this Trip Report, now at over 10,000 words and approaching novella length.
My flight to Edmonton today is aboard Canadian low fare success story WestJet. WestJet got its start back in 1996 flying three 737-200s between Vancouver, Calgary, Kelowna, Winnipeg and Edmonton. Look how it’s grown since! It will be my 110th airline flown.
I was surprised to find only a couple of people being served at the WestJet check in area. I was quickly checked in by a very cheerful guy who combined small talk about my travels in Canada with asking all the questions we used to hear in America until a year or so ago: Did you pack this bag yourself? Has it been out of your control in any public places since then? Would a person intending something dastardly answer those questions honestly? How would one know if he were lying? In any event, I was issued a receipt upon which my exit row seat number and gate information was printed. I then headed downstairs to the Post Office to buy stamps and post my cards. Interestingly, the post office was located in a 7-11 store and was apparently operated by the 7-11 staff as well.
I picked WestJet’s flight 37 for two reasons. One – it operated via Kelowna, an airport I’d never flown through and two – it utilized a 737-200, an aircraft fast disappearing from the fleets of most American carriers. The aircraft for my flight today was an ex-Britannia machine that had served four airlines before finally ending up with WestJet. This aircraft was just over thirty years old.
As for me, this would be my 259th flight aboard a 737-200. The 737 is the most popular commercial jetliner ever built and as a result of this I’ve logged a combined total of almost half a million miles on all its variants. Heck, I’ve logged just over 125,000 miles on Alaska Airlines 737-400s alone! I should imagine if any of you frequent flyers were to keep logs, you’d find you’ve probably logged an impressive amount of mileage on this little workhorse as well.
So far as I know, amongst scheduled carriers only America West, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, Aloha and maybe Frontier still operate them. Powered by noisy and comparatively uneconomical early generation Pratt and Whitney JT8Ds, I don’t see this airplane staying in most larger airlines’ fleets for all that much longer.
North of the border in Canada however, the 737-200 is operated by a number of airlines including Air Canada’s Zip, Air North, Canadian North, Air Yukon, First Air and CanJet in addition to WestJet.
Boarding was by row number and as today’s mid-day flight over to Kelowna was only about half full, we were all onboard and seated in no time. Seating was of course all one class and although I had an exit row, the seat pitch looked to be about 32”. I found it interesting that this aircraft still bore traces of the original wide bodied interior conversion kits that airlines started installing in the early seventies. It sported a hybrid arrangement with the sidewalls and ceiling reflecting the original kit while the overhead storage compartments had obviously been modified to make them larger. The original overhead storage compartments weren’t designed for the bulky roll-on bags so commonplace today.
Despite the short thirty four minute flight over to Kelowna, the four Flight Attendants provided a surprising amount of service. It began with an offering of coffee, followed by a choice of boxed juices – either apple or orange. Finally, an FA came down the aisle offering packets of cookies and almonds! Remember, this was just a thirty four minute flight. On a low fare airline!
The city of Kelowna is beautifully set amidst the rolling hills of the Okanagan region of British Columbia. Unfortunately, my aisle seat did not allow me to fully appreciate the pretty approach, but what I could see certainly looked worthy of a return visit on one of my next drives between Alaska and the Lower 48.
As expected, the airport in Kelowna wasn’t all that busy but I did spot a Purolator 727-100 parked over at Kelowna Flightcraft that was equipped with the Valpar winglets. We spent maybe 20 minutes on the ground and for me the most impressive thing I saw was when not only the Flight Attendants but also the Captain pitched in to help the two Kelowna based ground staff in cleaning the aircraft. I just don’t see this happening anytime soon over at Air Canada!
We were almost completely full for the forty nine minute flight into Edmonton. Service on this sector differed only in that a packet of pretzel mix was added to our selection of snacks from the basket. Baggage was delivered promptly and based upon this experience, I’d have to say WestJet will be serving Canada’s air transport needs with low fares and quality inflight service for many years to come. By contrast, Air Canada’s future looks decidedly bleaker, something that airline’s management and employees need only take a collective look in the mirror to see who’s principally to blame for their woes.
Edmonton’s main airport is a good 30km out of town, so any hopes of catching an inexpensive city bus into the city quickly evaporated. $13.00 and 40 minutes later, I was dropped off at my home for the night, the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel, booked via Priceline for only $38.00 plus taxes.
Later, after a shower and an update on the NHL Playoffs, I headed downstairs to meet fellow FTer altaflyer. We had a good dinner and chat at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant before taking an impromptu tour of the provincial government buildings plaza where Peter works. He’s got a fair bit of travel coming up himself, not only this weekend but in the months ahead. Ah… the lives we frequent flyers lead…
Don’t I know by now that time flies when you’re having fun and suddenly it was 11:00pm and we both had to call it a night. I set a wake up call for 7:00am and proceeded to sleep soundly atop what may well be the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept upon!
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