{"id":3749,"date":"2013-05-31T07:45:39","date_gmt":"2013-05-31T14:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/?p=3749"},"modified":"2013-05-28T19:45:26","modified_gmt":"2013-05-29T02:45:26","slug":"trip-report-memorial-day-firsts-vancouver-to-seattle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/?p=3749","title":{"rendered":"Trip Report: Memorial Day Firsts – Vancouver to Seattle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/a>
\nSeattle to New York<\/a>
\nNew York<\/a>
\nNew York to Vancouver<\/a>
\nVancouver<\/a>
\nVancouver to Seattle<\/a>
\nConclusion<\/p>\n

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Monday 27th May 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s Monday morning and I am in a hotel room, this isn\u2019t normal. \u00a0So what do I do? I try to act like normal! \u00a0A run in the hotel gym (pushed hard to work off the weekend of crap) and some quick push ups and burpees, to my brain this is normal Monday work out. \u00a0Originally today was going to be a little bit different to how they panned out. \u00a0After my work out I was originally going to head into the city, drop my suitcase at the station and have some breakfast somewhere. \u00a0However today after the work out, i packed my bag and tried to drop it at the Alaska Airlines check in.<\/p>\n

If you read the introduction you would of seen that I had planned to use the Bolt Bus home, well things changed when the I5 bridge over the Skagit River fell down. \u00a0I was a bit worried about traffic and actually making it home at a fairly decent time. \u00a0Being memorial day weekend I was expecting a fair amount of traffic so I knew it would of been a possible slow journey home. \u00a0This would make things even worse.<\/p>\n

I looked at my options and the train was $55 at 6am… pass. \u00a0I had two options for using points to get home. \u00a0Alaska or American points. \u00a0American had a cheaper points outlay on 12,500 points however the flights were 7am and via Portland. \u00a02 flights for 12,500 points is pretty good value. \u00a0However what was not so good was the $120 outlay in taxes… pass! \u00a0Alaska was a direct flight for 20,000 points and only $50 outlay. So I ummed and I ahhed. \u00a0I asked friends opinions and after some convincing arguments, I bit the bullet. \u00a0$50 later (plus a bag fee later on) and I was booked to get home.<\/p>\n

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As I was heading to breakfast at Tim Hortons I figured I would try and drop my bag off to the Check In desk and then go back to the hotel to do some work before heading through immigration. \u00a0Smart right? \u00a0Wrong! \u00a0Apparently you can\u2019t do that at all and you HAVE to go straight from check in to immigration. \u00a0No going back at all! \u00a0That\u2019s crap. \u00a0So rather than lug my bag all the way back upstairs, I just stored it with the Porters at the door and went to get my usual canadian breakfast. \u00a0Tim Hortons bagel & coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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After a bit of catch up on work emails, some personal email clearing out as well, I left my room 2 hours prior to my flight departure. \u00a0I checked out easily (grabbed the card for the marketing manager for a future story pitch) and headed to check in. \u00a0I checked in with a very cute canadian blonde and headed through to drop off my bag after paying my $21 bag fee. \u00a0$71 in costs and a $20 forfeited bus fare meant I was going to get home at a reasonable time. \u00a0Worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The transborder gates at YVR have a very wierd system. \u00a0You have your bags tagged but you have to self load onto a conveyer at about 4 or 5 different stages you have your boarding pass scanned (even security) and then you make it into the US Immigration pre clearance. \u00a0Pre Clearance was easy as hell, no forms now so I was through quickly and easily! \u00a0I wish it was always that easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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From here I had about 35 minutes till boarding so I went in search of a coffee (one last Timmies hit!) and then walked out to the \u201cShed\u201d where all the Transborder Prop flights depart from. \u00a0I didn\u2019t expect any facilities out there, but the free wifi worked, they had a small combined cafe\/shop and plenty of seating. \u00a0Sounds good to me! \u00a0I sat down and did a bit of work on some of the articles I have due at the moment. \u00a0With at least 3 from the weekend alone and a few more in the pipeline, Mal has some serious work to do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Pretty soon without even realising it, the flight was being called. \u00a0The gate had swapped twice it seemed and I hadn\u2019t heard the latest update from Tripit come through to my phone (although I may have and had just ignored it). \u00a0I was sitting outside Gate E94 which we had swapped to after I checked in. \u00a0then apparently we went back to E96. \u00a0So I went back over to the other side of the \u201cTerminal\u201d. \u00a0I was a bit worried about my camera bag in the Dash 8 overhead bins and was thinking I might have to gate check it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The gate staff assured me I wouldn\u2019t have to and I moved a few things about to make sure that it was as small as possible anyway. \u00a0I walked around a bit knowing that I would be cramped for the upcoming flight.<\/p>\n

Alaska Airlines – AS2267 (Operated by Horizon Air)<\/strong>
\nVancouver to Seattle Tacoma<\/strong>
\n1030-1119<\/strong>
\nBombardier Dash 8-Q400 (N438QX)<\/strong>
\nEconomy Class – Seat 6A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Boarding: 1000 (Gate E96)<\/strong>
\nPower Out: 1031<\/strong>
\nTake Off Roll: 1041 (Runway 8R)<\/strong>
\nTop of Descent: 1100<\/strong>
\nTouch Down: 1111 (Runway 16R)<\/strong>
\nShut Down: 1118 (Gate N12A)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There was a hell of a lot of pre boards (but then it is cruising season and a lot of old folks do cruise in Alaska) and eventually boarding began with a laundry list of Elites who can board. \u00a0Alaska Elites, Delta Elites & American Elites all in the one list. \u00a0The elites is a scrum on its own! \u00a0When general boarding was called it was on for young and old at the gate. \u00a0Everyone was swamping their way in as much as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Out into the cold (without my jacket on mind you) and up the steps into the tiny little Dash 8. \u00a0At least its a Q400 so it has a bit more space inside (not that there is much anyway). \u00a0I couldn\u2019t fit my camera bag in the overhead so I had to stash it under the seat infront (where it fit easily) and stash my backpack in the overhead. \u00a0Reverse of the usual! \u00a0Not good for legroom either as the camera bag took all of it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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People moved onboard pretty quickly and the Horizon staff were proud to advertise that they were Horizon and not Alaska Airlines. \u00a0In saying that though the staff were pretty nice and friendly. \u00a0During the Captain\u2019s intro he was quite light hearted and joked around quite a bit. \u00a0Making sure we were not to congregate around the forward Lav area and that if we did, \u201cwe would be in trouble, not that he could divulge what trouble\u201d. \u00a0A good laugh for the short flight which was announced as 30 minutes from \u201cwheels up to wheels down\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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When the door was shut we powered up and was off the gate dead on time. \u00a0We taxiied towards the gate with the words from the Captain \u201cCabin Crew, lets fly!\u201d \u00a0Why can\u2019t all pilots announce with that! \u00a0As he said this I turned my head and saw a 747 on the strip ahead of us. \u00a0Cool! \u00a0Then I saw the winglets missing… 747-8F! \u00a0Definately wouldn\u2019t be an -8i as Lufthansa never fly here. \u00a0Then as we got closer I saw the colour scheme. \u00a0It was Hong Kong Trader. \u00a0Cathay Pacific Cargo\u2019s special livery. \u00a0One of the Freighters I had dreamed of seeing for ages! \u00a0I got a half decent shot out the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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As we made it over to 8R the pilot did not even slow down, he turned onto the runway and before we were even straight he was flooring the props. \u00a0The climb out was noisy (I was sitting next to the propellors) and as we climbed away from Vancouver I snapped a last picture of the city and Hong Kong Trader as well. \u00a0We then got into the clouds and that was that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I had hoped the clouds wouldn\u2019t be there as apparently the flight is extremely scenic. \u00a0Sadly not this one! \u00a0I saw nothing but white. \u00a0I read my book and even got a free cup of water! \u00a0WOW! \u00a0The funny thing was when I was getting my cup of water given to me, they were pouring on demand and I was instructed to hold it over my own lap, that way if it was my cup that went and got splashed it went on me, not someone else. \u00a0Nice and all for the other person but what about my pants!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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As we tipped over to descend we broke out of the clouds right above my house! Pretty awesome to see your own area as you descend out of the clouds and we came in from the north heading towards what would obviously be a 16 arrival. \u00a0As we passed the 520 bridge over Lake Washington, I got my first ever view of the draw span open. \u00a0In over a year of living here I had never seen it open till now. \u00a0Awesome!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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As we passed over Boeing Field there was a number of shiny new 737s on the ramp including both a Qantas & Virgin Australia sitting almost side by side. \u00a0We landed on 16R spot on time and the pilot felt like he kept the front wheel off for quite some time as though he was skidding it along on the rear wheels only. \u00a0O did I mention it yet? \u00a0It was raining. \u00a0Meh! \u00a0Nothing like my memorial day weekend last year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This trip was coming to a quick conclusion as we taxiied over to the north gates and parked up next to a couple of other Dash 8s. \u00a0First time I have had a ramp walk at the North Gates to finish off my first Horizon flight. \u00a0Pity it was wet everywhere. \u00a0Once in the terminal it was down to the train, over to baggage claim and let the timer run. \u00a0Come on bag, fail me now! \u00a0Daddy wants some points! \u00a0I wanted it to be just a minute or two late so I could get some points back. \u00a0I got my wish, it took my bag 35 minutes to show up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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With bag in hand I headed over to the baggage desk, collected my voucher thanks to the delay and headed towards the shuttles to head over to the car park. \u00a0It seems that every time I organise my truck to get washed at the car park, it rains. \u00a0But it needed the clean and minutes later I was looking at my shiny (tho wet) truck. \u00a0Back in the truck and north I head to the house and some chores to get myself ready for a week of work and more travelling ahead!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Introduction Seattle to New York New York New York to Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver to Seattle Conclusion \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,4,8,9,1,18,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventures","category-spotting","category-expat","category-food-drink","category-life-in-general","category-travelling","category-tripreports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p49RU0-Yt","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3749"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3749\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3777,"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3749\/revisions\/3777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bigmal.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}