In this experience we look at the world of teams and flights. As we learned in Experience 051, Vinod flew back to Vancouver with the Canadian Olympic Team. What a great atmosphere it was for him to enjoy. This is not the first time that he has flown with Olympic athletes or teams for that matter. On flights with teams, it's not just athletes. There are usually coaching and support staff also on the flight. As well, normally there are also supporting family or partners on board. National flag car...
Oct 11, 2021•40 min•Ep. 52
In this experience, Vinod shares his story of his flight back from Tokyo to Vancouver after the Summer Olympics. As mentioned in previous experiences, Vinod acquires a lot of stuff when returning from the Olympics. He had a lot more luggage than when he left for Tokyo. He arrived at Narita, having to make his way back across the terminal. The first half of the terminal was empty – but then there was a mass of athletes from the US and Canada – at holiday volumes. There was a lot of studying the q...
Sep 27, 2021•39 min•Ep. 51
Seat 1A reaches a milestone of fifty experiences. In this experience, Vinod joins us from Tokyo! That's why he had been waiting in the lounge at Vancouver. One of Vinod's side gigs is working for the Olympic Games. He received a special exception to travel to Tokyo. Getting on a flight to fly across the ocean was very exciting. Vinod flew Air Canada's Signature Class – but the regular business class experience has been changed since the last time Vinod enjoyed it due to COVID. Vinod had to deal ...
Aug 08, 2021•32 min•Ep. 50
In this experience we are happy to come to you from the Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge at Vancouver International Airport. Vinod is returning to the air for the first time since February 2020 – making a splash with his first overseas flight since the summer of 2019. Vinod shares his experience of booking the seat and the documentation he has had to produce during these times. He's in business class...we don't have to even ask which seat he has selected. (Hint...Seat 1A). Vinod shares his experienc...
Jul 28, 2021•16 min•Ep. 49
In this experience we continue study time with Vinod and Geoff. So sharpen your pencils as we continue with the second of two experiences with aviation terminology. In this experience we're covering Kilo to Zulu. When you fly or read about aviation, often you hear or see terminology used by pilots, airline staff or you may hear about in the media. We have chosen various terms that we hope will assist you in understanding what's going on, and to allow you to communicate with Seat 1A savvy. Don't ...
Jul 26, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 48
In this experience it's study time with Vinod and Geoff. So sharpen your pencils as we start with the first of two experiences with aviation terminology. In this experience we're covering Alfa to Juliett. When you fly or read about aviation, often you hear or see terminology used by pilots, airline staff or you may hear about in the media. We have chosen various terms that we hope will assist you in understanding what's going on, and to allow you to communicate with Seat 1A savvy. Don't worry th...
Jul 20, 2021•56 min•Ep. 47
In this experience we take a look at the need to eat when you're at the airport. Food and flying has changed so much in 40 years – it used to be that you would get a full meal on the plane included with your ticket. These days...not so much. When most people think of airport food they get a sour taste in their mouth – and that’s not just from the "special" that has been sitting under heat lamps all day. Many airports have their catering handled by large corporate conglomerates – so you will see ...
Jul 06, 2021•49 min•Ep. 46
In this experience we are happy to share an interview with one of our avid listeners, Danny, about his flight from San Jose, Costa Rica to Charlotte, North Carolina to Cleveland, Ohio. Danny's flight rolled out to the runway and the engines spooled up. Then the wind died, and they cut the power. They took a second attempt, and again – the wind died, and they cut the power. Perhaps the plane was overweight. Some passengers were about to be given the option to stay an extra day in Costa Rica. We l...
Jun 11, 2021•39 min•Ep. 45
In this experience we look at those situations with travellers who end up sleeping in an airport or a train station. Sometimes we end up with awkward flight combination pairings – controlled or uncontrolled – you have a long break between flights. Do you take the time to stay at a hotel? Maybe your passport won't allow you to leave the airport on a long layover. Airport hotels realize that travellers are a captive market and with an overnight assumption. Many hotels had a day rate, however these...
May 24, 2021•54 min•Ep. 44
In this experience we look at flying with children and the unique situations that this causes for parents and crew. Over the last 4 decades, that world of air travel has changed for children. No longer can a child look forward to the excitement of going up to the flight deck and seeing all the lights, indicators, and controls. At the same time, we usually don't see children dressing up to go on a flight anymore. Now it's like "sit down, shut up, strap in" and that's the end of it. Full disclaime...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 43
In this experience we look at what happens when there is a medical emergency in flight. The incident that will often cause the classic announcement over the public address system: "Ladies and gentlemen, if there are any qualified medical personnel on board please indicate by hitting your flight attendant call button." It's just for doctors who assist with medical emergencies. Nurses and paramedics are other examples of professions that assist with medical emergencies. And it's not always the dir...
Mar 26, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 42
In this experience we look at the complex world of air cargo. Though there are not a lot of passenger flights happening so far in 2021, the need for air cargo continues. Large planes are still landing at airports around the world as airlines need the high revenues from cargo. If airlines still had combi freighters, now would be a good time to use them. Vinod shares experiences of flying with combi freighters in northern Canada. We explain what's going on underneath the plane – Geoff shares how t...
Feb 25, 2021•54 min•Ep. 41
Vinod and Geoff hope to have a new experience recorded and posted soon. Until then, we present a replay of our very popular experience with guest host Paul Papadimitriou - from the Layovers podcast. In the experience, Paul mentions a previous Seat 1A recording - that would have been experience 36. ------------ In this experience we are extremely fortunate to have an incredible guest and extend warm greetings to Paul Papadimitriou. Paul is a global keynote speaker, futurist and TV/Radio/Stage hos...
Feb 08, 2021•2 hr 38 min
In this experience (congratulations to us on reaching 40!) we know that during the holiday season, people will be watching movies. We decided to take a look at a number of aviation movies. How can we make a connection to aviation films and our fortieth experience? The classic comedy Airplane! turned forty in 2020 – so that's where we made the link. "Surely you can't be serious. I am serious and don't call me Shirley." There were so many serious airplane crash and hijacking incidents that happene...
Dec 29, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 40
In this experience we explore what happens to crews between their flights when on a layover. There is the glamour of a layover that we see in movies. The reality is usually quite different. It's a good tip to know and appreciate what happens with your crew in destinations. For a number of years, the layover was Vinod's second home – and he can't imagine how many hotels, hotel rooms and ground transport shuttles he has been in. There are different types of layovers. There are short in-transit lay...
Dec 06, 2020•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 39
In this experience we are extremely fortunate to have an incredible guest and extend warm greetings to Paul Papadimitriou. Paul is a global keynote speaker, futurist and TV/Radio/Stage host based in London, UK. Avgeek podcast listeners will also know Paul from the Layovers podcast. We review our personal states and look back to the start of the year to our last flights. Do our realities mean that we need to fly at this point? Paul had very classy last flight – but is looking forward to flying ag...
Nov 14, 2020•2 hr 38 min•Ep. 38
In this experience we recognize incredible crew and in-flight experiences we've had. We start the news articles. Since the situation is still not too good these days, we get the bad news out of the way first. News Items: South China Morning Post article "Cathay axes record 5,300 Hong Kong jobs and closes regional airline in HK$2.2 billion survival plan" Dallas Morning News article (via Omaha World-Herald) "Southwest Airlines' flight attendants could soon be selling credit cards on flights to ste...
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 37
In this special edition we look at the current status of aviation and travel. Our travel habits that we grew so accustomed to have either entered a state of hibernation or a world of surrealness. We look to when we last flew in 2020 and Vinod shares nostalgia of seeing 747s and L-1011s out the airport window and boarding from the tarmac. Pandemic restrictions have seen new flight routings that did not exist before, and regrettably we have seen airlines struggle and go under but not at this scope...
Sep 30, 2020•50 min•Ep. 36
In this experience we look at the different queues and lineups that one experiences when at an airport and how to make the best of them. In this era of COVID-19, people have settled into a new normal of queuing up. It goes hand-in-hand with the airline and airport experience. Please note that we will be putting this in the context of how things were, and it will be years before the airport returns to how it was. When you arrive at the airport, are you able to go directly into the terminal, or is...
Jul 18, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 35
In this experience we continue our look at the aviation hierarchy – who's who at the zoo? Now we move onboard the plane itself. We will look at two different types of staffing – one for traditional international flag carrier flights and one for low-cost/ultra low-cost carrier flights. Different airlines have different names for the same staff roles. And depending on where you are in the world, you could have a cabin crew or a flight attendant. But there is always one person who is running the en...
Jun 15, 2020•44 min•Ep. 34
In this experience we look at the different roles of people that normally work at an airport – who's who at the zoo? In most cases the airline is either at a home base or it is at an outstation. When at the outstation the airline is either with its own staff or outsourced. We move our way from the curbside outside the airport into the terminal – what staff do we encounter until we reach the check-in counter? At the counter we have the check-in agent, the bag drop agent and the ticketing agent. T...
Jun 02, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 33
In this experience we look at seating configuration on aircraft in economy or coach class. These days, with the COVID-19 pandemic, people are wondering about seating and what it might look like in the future. We will still need to pick our seats. Vinod has great stress when he picks a seat – particularly on long-haul flights – checking all angles of what his seat experience will be. Seat comfort has come a long way – increasing seat comfort used to mean adding more padding. Geoff shares his expe...
May 11, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 32
In this experience we look at alcohol and drinking on flights. What was the experience in days gone by, versus today on intercontinental flights? Why is it when we drink on flights, we may end up feeling the effects of alcohol more strongly than when we are on the ground? Vinod shares an experience of a first-class hangover on a British Airways (BA) flight from Calgary to London-Heathrow. Some start with their alcohol even before they board, at airport lounges, bars, or restaurants. Meanwhile ot...
Apr 18, 2020•55 min•Ep. 31
We wanted to extend our best wishes to all those in the industry during these incredibly challenging times for the aviation industry. The entire COVID-19 situation has brought about some strange occurrences. During this time of global self-isolation, we invite out listeners to go back to our previous experiences – since eventually, planes will start flying again. We had planned to talk about airline cleanliness in an episode – this has provided us the perfect opportunity. Remember everyone that ...
Mar 29, 2020•52 min•Ep. 30
In this experience we are very grateful to be joined by a serial airline entrepreneur – David Neeleman. If you don't know who David is, you likely know at least some of the airlines that he has founded, co-founded or co-owns. JetBlue (founded); Azul (founded); Morris Air (co-founded and sold to Southwest); WestJet (co-founded); TAP Air Portugal (co-owns). David has recently founded Breeze Airways (officially named in February 2020). The Seat 1A team pose four questions to David and he shares his...
Mar 09, 2020•11 min•Ep. 29
In this experience we take a look behind the scenes and share the things that are happening in the background to your plane from before it arrives and departs. We start four to six hours before the flight even arrives and what is required for the gate. What' the backup plan? Who is coming off of the plane? Are there unaccompanied minors, special assistance passengers, or groups? Are there any maintenance issues? As we get closer to the arrival, what is the minimum required turnaround time set by...
Feb 18, 2020•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 28
In this experience we celebrate the 2019 holiday season with a look at some of our crazy and (somewhat) horrific holiday travel stories. But first, Vinny and Geoff celebrate a milestone in this experience. This is the 25th show that they have done in tandem. Here's to the next 25 being just as fun of a ride. Vinny shares his incredible journey from CPH-LHR-AMS-JFK-YHM-YYC-YVR during a massive New Year's storm in YYZ. How many things can go wrong for Vinny on this flight? So many that we interjec...
Dec 27, 2019•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 27
In this experience we go back to the mailbag and thank Joe R for his questions about overhead bins and baggage and the struggles that go with it in modern day air travel. It's a perfect time to look at this question, with lots of extra travel for the year end holiday season. Overhead bins are a relatively new phenomenon in air travel – you just have to look at old movie footage when it used to just be a shelf. Have Vinny or Geoff ever experienced a non-bin flight before (hint – yes). A more rece...
Dec 11, 2019•56 min•Ep. 26
Well, would you look at that – it's the 25th recorded experience. We'll have a celebration soon when it's the 25th experience that both Vinny and Geoff have recorded together. We give a shoutout to the Layovers podcast for recently reaching their 100th episode – great job Paul Papadimitriou & Alex Hunter! In this experience Vinny and Geoff go back into the mailbag for a second meal service. We take a look back at when meal service really started to take off (sorry) on intercontinental flight...
Nov 24, 2019•53 min•Ep. 25
In this experience Vinny and Geoff go into the mailbag and review a bunch of different questions and feedback. We look at what is the logic and order of the meal and beverage service that takes place during a flight? We also look at free hotel stops – are they still provided by an airline? Why do some passengers get served first? how do the cabin crew decide to serve passengers? How does the airline decide how many crew members to have? Who's in charge of the cabin crew? Why is one cabin crew al...
Nov 17, 2019•58 min•Ep. 24
