Where does Air North fly?

Air North flies to 12 destinations across Canada, including major cities and Yukon’s northernmost communities. Recent interline agreements with WestJet and China Airlines extend connectivity to major global destinations, allowing passengers to book a single ticket, with end-to-end baggage handling, to cities like Yellowknife from faraway destinations. The airline team is quite proud of their standards for efficiency, shared Maria Kostaras, Director of Communications and Marketing. Air North operates on time, and the only delays they might experience are weather-related. 

Some routes are seasonal: summer and fall flights bring travellers to the Northwest Territories for the midnight sun and vivid autumn colours, while winter routes serve family travel and Northern Lights tourism, viewable directly from your window seat.

Comfortable seating at no extra cost

Air North’s standard cabin features a three-three seat configuration with a generous 32-inch seat pitch. For comparison, Air Canada Rouge, for example, is 29” while WestJet’s recent controversial and brief update was to 28”. All Air North seats recline and have plenty of under-seat storage. 

Simple, transparent fares, no surge pricing

Air North offers only two fare classes: GoYukon and Optimum. Both are straightforward, with no surge pricing, making last-minute bookings and advance planning equally stress-free. The main differences lie in change and cancellation fees; Optimum also includes standard seat selection.

What’s included on every Air North flight?

One of Air North’s most distinctive qualities is its all-inclusive approach to travel. Regardless of fare class or route, every passenger receives:

• Complimentary carry-on baggage
• Two complimentary checked bags
• A complimentary meal and a warm cookie
• Complimentary beverages, including tea, Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters coffee, soft drinks, and juice

“The ownership group’s motto is to make travel affordable,” Kostaras shared,  “so we have all these perks included on all routes”.

Fresh, locally sourced in-flight meals

Air North’s on-board menu is created by Michael Bock, who also operates Black Wolf Bistro at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport. Meals are prepared fresh daily by the Whitehorse-based Flight Kitchen team, using Yukon-inspired recipes and locally sourced ingredients. Longer routes, such as Yellowknife to Toronto, include hot meals like bison shepherd’s pie or a full hot breakfast. The beverage selection also leans regional, featuring beer from the Northwest Territories among other local options.

Air North vacation packages: Northern Lights & More

Beyond scheduled routes, Air North offers a curated selection of vacation packages through Air North Getaways. A standout option is the  Aurora 360 Flight Special, a five-day Northern Lights experience that includes a 360-degree flight to the Arctic Circle. Passengers split their time between the Northern Lights Resort & Spa and the Gold Rush Inn in Whitehorse. It’s one of the most immersive ways to see the Aurora Borealis in Canada.

Air North flight attendant with warm cookies and founder Joe Sparling. Images courtesy of Air North.

The post Yukon’s Air North is putting passengers first with thoughtful inclusions appeared first on Paths to Travel.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
This flight was hosted by Aeromexico, who did not review or approve this story. 

Aeromexio plane departing from Mexico City on the left, flying over Chihuahua on the right. All images by Kateryna Topol.

Aeromexico fares & Classes

The airline offers 6 fair types, similar to most airlines, with various levels of inclusivity. 

• Main Cabin with basic fare (the most restricted as always), classic fare (seat included, 25% off a checked bag), and AM Plus fare (1 checked bag, spacious seat, priority service, and reserved overhead bin space).
• Clase Premier offerings depend on the plane type/route but the options are: Premier light (2 checked bags, better seat, priority services, exclusive onboard menu, lounge access), Premier (everything from Light + a fully reclinable seat), and Premier One is the Aeromexico business class, though sometimes they refer to is as First Class (everything from Premier + a flat lay seat). As a bonus, the Premier One amenity kits are also very cute!

If you did not book the class of your choice at the start you can upgrade before the flight, during check-in, or bid on Premier One online ahead of time. 

A quick tip: If you feel comfortable choosing the exit row, those seats have significantly more legroom. 

A few notes on the Premier Lounges 

The one in Mexico City is spacious with comfy private corners and an oval bar in the centre. The guests can take advantage of the buffet, or order a la carte from one of the attendants serving patrons at their seats. There is even an ice cream fridge! The Chihuahua Lounge is a bit smaller but has a good selection of food options and beverages. 

Services & Check-in

The flight to Mexico City from Toronto was wide and spacious with a 3×3 seat composition (no middle row, B737-800 and B737 MAX). The built-in TV screens can connect to your headphones via Bluetooth – personally, I’ve been loving this feature. Aeromexico also offer free messaging on board which works for iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp for text and emojis.

While the digital check-in flow is a bit slow the in-person experience was very smooth. The ground team also made sure to zip-tie my checked bag in the absence of a lock – a great safety touch. Prior to landing the in-flight team went through all connections announcing gates, feels like a given but in my experience not all airlines do. This crew even announced the baggage carousel number during the descent. 

Online check-in is available 24 hours prior to departure for Basic fare and 48 hours ahead of the flight for all other fare options. 

Baggage allowance

Aeromexico Carry-on baggage and personal items are included in your ticket at no additional costs. Together these two items must not exceed 22lb (10kg) for Basic fare and 33lb (15kg) for all others. The carry-on max size is 55 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (21.5 x 15.7 x 10 inches).

Checked baggage must be no more than 70 cm x 50 cm x 38 cm and under 55lb (25kg), more info can be found here. You can track your luggage online in real time. Basic and Classic fares do not include checked bags. The cost of a checked bag varies on whether it is a high or low season and if you are adding your bag before check-in or after. For example, a 15kg bag in low season before check-in period from outside of Mexico costs $21 USD. After check-in, the cost goes up to $27 USD. See the full breakdown of baggage fees. But keep in mind, these fees are only applicable to Basic and Classic fares and access luggage. If you book AM Plus and above your standard bag allowance is included. 

Tip: Avoid the lines by checking your baggage at the kiosk. Aeromexico operates in Terminals 1 and 2 at Mexico City International Airport.

Here is a quick cost comparison for a return flight from Toronto to Mexico City, March 3 – March 10, 2025:

Food & Beverages available on the Aeromexico flights 

Complimentary food and beverages are included for all fare options on all flights.

The contemporary Mexican cuisine menu options differ based on the flight duration. National flights have a full bar and snacks while the USA, Canada, Central and South America flights have hot and cold meals, full bar and wines. On my morning flight, the meal was a fairly large sandwich (cheese and ham), salad, and a muffin. There was also a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Aeromexico partner airlines & Destinations 

The first international flight took place on December 8, 1958, from Mexico to New York. Today Aeromexico flies to over 90 destinations across 20 countries. Three of the routes are to Canada and 27 are to the United States. The Canadian routes include 24 weekly flights from Mexico City to Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. 

Over 90 of the USA routes are joint-operated with Delta, Aeromexico’s main USA airline partner (57 routes). USA routes include Phoenix, Miami, New Jersey, Raleigh-Durham, Tampa Bay, Washington D.C., and many more. 

The airline is a member of the of SkyTeam Alliance and partners with:

Sustainability at Aeromexico

The airline works hard to reduce its environmental impact. In their own words, Aeromexico is “taking part in the Sustainable Flight Challenge to operate flights that have less of an impact on our environment”. The year-round initiatives include fleet modernization, sustainable operational practices, and partnerships with environmental organizations. The biggest news, perhaps, is their effort to replace 5% of their fuel with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. In recent years, Aeromexico obtained the Clean Industry Certification for Eastern Hangar, achieved a 3% reduction in emissions intensity in tCO2e per passenger-kilometre travelled compared to the previous year (2023), avoided 479 tCO2e by using SAF, and reduced non-hazardous waste by 29%. Read the complete sustainability report here.

Aeromexico in the battle against human trafficking 

While this might not affect you, an average traveller, but it is worth noting that Aeromexico has been actively battling human trafficking since 2016. In 2018 the airline joined the Blue Heart #AquiEstoy Campaign, the first airline to join the cause. A set of protocols and procedures are in place to spot possible cases of human trafficking with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). For example, all staff are trained to detect signs of human trafficking and each fleet is equipped with an information card.

Book directly on aeromexico.com or earn points with Expedia

* For the plane fans, these are B787 Dreamliner (22), B737 (94, 55 of which are state-of-the-art MAX aircraft), and Embraer-190 (40)

The post Aeromexico review: Toronto to Mexico City and Chihuahua appeared first on Paths to Travel.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.

Things to Know Before You Fly

Classes of Service

The types of fares offered are fairly standard, from Economy Light (no changes, no bags, etc) to Saga Premium Flex (all services and priorities included). I try not to book Light with any airline unless there is zero chance of me needing to change the flight. Iceland is a volcanic island so some need for changes felt important. See the complete breakdown of different fares on the airline website. 

Luggage Inclusions & Fees

One carry-on and a personal item are included for all fares. The size of the carry-on (including wheels) is 21.6×15.7×7.8 inches (55x40x20 cm) at 10kg max weight, which is fairly standard. The personal item can be up to 15.7×11.8×5.9 inches (40x30x15cm).  They seem to be quite strict on carry-on sizing and did check the size of almost everyone’s bag at the gate. Economy Light has no checked bag inclusions so if you need one it would be about $58 (in Canada/USA) but double-check in case things change. Standard and Flex include one (23kg) checked bag and Premium/Flex includes two (32kg) checked bags. See the full breakdown here. 

Cabin Upgrades 

Unlike many airlines, Icelandair did not offer me an option to upgrade to business class (Saga Premium) during check-in. You can try to upgrade over the phone but it must be done before you complete online check-in. You can also upgrade at the kiosk but that will be, full price. So the best option to upgrade your experience if you feel the need is by bidding on it. Class Up allows you to bid a dollar amount on an upgrade any time before your flight. For my flight (Toronto – Reykjavík) the minimum bid was a bit over $300 while at the kiosk it was a bit over $600 so there is quite a difference. 

On return, I had a lot of time to kill at the airport and was travelling back in time and I knew I would need something to eat and drink. I bid for an upgrade (minimum allowed) the night before and was notified in the morning that the upgrade was approved. 

Airport Experience

On the Canadian side, this is fairly standard, flying this late in the day I breezed through every line but if you want that extra boost Saga Premium includes fast track through security. Reykjavík airport is quite small and the check-in counter/bag drop opens about three hours before the flight. Icelandair does general boarding, which means it is a free-for-all once the families and Premium ticket holders are aboard. They were quite efficient, though and hustled well to make sure the delays were minimal. 

Note: The airline is not a member of any major loyalty programs and has its own Saga Club. 

Flying Economy with Icelandair 

Seating & Comfort

I was a bit nervous flying economy overnight and tried to find pictures that represented the space well but failed to do so.  Upon boarding, I was happy to see that the seats were spacious with a healthy amount of legroom. I’m 5.4 and had good space to stretch. The seats are a bit narrow but not having my knees push against the pocket was a huge win. On the seats were a pillow and a blanket so no need to pack your own. 

Meals On-Board

There is a standard beverage service but there are no meals included in the economy fare. You can purchase a few items aboard but the menu is quite limited. If you know you might need dinner you can preorder some more hearty and traditional meals online beforehand. Pre-purchases must be done at least 24 hours before departure and can be done on your booking page. 

Flying business class with Icelandair 

Seating & Boarding 

First of all, no these are not flatlay seats but they are much roomier and more comfortable than economy. Saga Premium is first to board and first to deplane. I had a pretty smooth ride with a great window view of the city and mountains. In addition to the blanket and pillow, there was an amenity kit with all the basics and some postcards from a local artist in the bag. 

Meals On-Board

I’ll start with, it was a bit of a feast. Upon boarding, I was handed a sparkling wine (or juice) and a trio of macarons. The beverage selection is quite impressive with some great wines (including champagne), choice spirits, and a few cocktails like an espresso martini. Espresso martini in-flight! The most unique part is what comes after: an entire two pages of gin! You taste one or all six different gins (all but one are Icelandic) on their own or mixed with artisanal soda. For this route, the dinner included bread with whipped butter and Icelandic sea salt and Caesar salad as a starter. For the main, there was a choice of lamb shank with potatoes or salmon three ways with blini. The meal ended with a caramel-chocolate mouse and a full tummy. 

Saga Lounge, Reykjavík 

Located on the upper floor this is a spacious modern lounge overlooking the airport in the direction of the city. The space is divided into a few different seating areas from high tables to lounge chairs and scenic comfort seats. There is even a fireplace. The food service had the standard salad bar, a great selection of cheeses (DIY charcuterie? Don’t mind if I do), a few hot plates and soups, plus baked goods and desserts. The bar was a bit overwhelming (in a good way of course). Plenty of local gins and other spirits, domestic and imported beers, quite a few fun wines, and artisanal sodas. I almost wished I had more time to try all the different food and drinks. 

Icelandair is certified as a 3-Star Airline, which according to Skytrax, an International air transport rating organisation, means that the “service standards or product standards are fair or average”. I am not sure how exactly this rating was made, but in my experience, this was a smooth flight, service was good, and cabin temperature was not a hassle. I felt a little warm at first, but as time passed, the temperature evened out. The only thing I see them losing points for is in-flight meal service, or lack thereof, in economy. However, overall, I found Icelandair a good airline to fly with and the best way to fly between Canada and Iceland. 

Find a hotel in Reykjavík

The post Flying with Icelandair, economy and business class compared appeared first on Paths to Travel.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
The flight was sponsored by the Condor, which did not review or approve the story.

I heard many exciting things about this new plane during the announcement earlier this summer: One of the top aircraft currently, a more spacious, whisper-quiet cabin, and impressive fuel efficiency (25% lower than average) making it one of the most sustainable aircraft out there. One of the main draws to the traveller, however, might be the price which proves to be comparatively lower to similar Airlines, especially when it comes to business class (I did some research personally, see the price table here).

A certain number of business class perks also impacts your airport experience but given that both airports (YYZ, FRA) during my trip were understaffed and some teams were striking my experience was atypical, so we won’t spend time on it. But see the complete list of business class inclusions on condor.com.

The cabin & Entertainment 

There are 30 seats in business class, all comfortably spaced out in a typical zigzag manner. The front row seats are Prime Seats: more spacious and allow for a shared dining experience. The marine blue interior with wood decor and new Condor signature stripes make up the cabin. This temporary home is set up with a blanket, cushioned seat liner, a quick snack, a bottle of water, socks, a travel organizer, slippers, a toothbrush, an eye mask, and comfortable headphones (with cushion covers).

The table opens down from the seat in front of you and slides quite far out easily accommodating the different seat angles. The footrest area is spacious and conveniently situated, you can easily prop up your feet without moving the seat an inch. The seat does go completely flat and is quite wide. With the cover on and blanket, I had plenty of space to roll around and get a good night’s sleep on my overnight flight to Germany.  

The 17” seat monitor serves like a mini movie theatre in 4K resolution. In-flight entertainment is the usual selection of movies, shows, music, and games, in addition to the interactive journey monitor. I found the selection of movies quite robust and at the beginning of each flight would create a favourites collection for quick access later on. 

Tip: Frankfurt Airport can be confusing so just in case: check-in desks are on the far side from Lufthansa, business class desks are 773/774. 

The food & Drink

Once seated a flight attendant greets you with a choice of sparkling wine or fresh orange juice (get both, make a mimosa?). In both directions, there were two meals: a 3-course gourmet dinner and a snack (or breakfast when flying red-eye). 

The menu booklet promises fresh, high-quality ingredients, “combined with exquisite taste, swirled in pleasure and refined with our extra pinch of passion”. A fairly bold statement I’ll admit. But all things considered, especially knowing that we were literally soaring through open air in the middle of the night, this meal was a true delight.

The red-eye flight tasting menu began with an appetizer platter: tuna tartare, turmeric chicken breast, seasonal salad, a cheese selection (Swiss, alpine, cheddar), and bread rolls with butter (get the garlic bread, I promise). The main meal was a choice of miso ling cod, lasagna, or braised beef short ribs (I chose fish). The meal ended with a delicate lavender cake. I am rather picky about cakes but this one was a pleasant surprise, not too sweet, balanced, with delicious layers of creamy sauce. 

The return daytime flight had a similar agenda but a completely different menu. The appetizer platter included curry dip, green sauce tartlet, Ikarimi salmon, baby greens salad, a selection of cheese (alp, Bergader Edelpilz, and red pesto gouda), and bread rolls. The main was a choice of cajun chicken, cod (different preparation), or tagliatelle pasta. Once again, I chose fish, but the decision was a tough one. For dessert, we had a delectable chocolate and lemon tartlet with meringue topping. Another tasty surprise with the cake. 

On the beverage menu are pop, coffee and tea, fresh pressed orange juice, beer (including non-alcoholic), vodka, rum, gin, Jägermeister (I have questions about this one), whisky, brandy, cognac, and port wine. The wine selection was quite nice so during my evening meal I basically had a wine tasting. From sparkling wine all the way down to port this traveller broke all the rules of preventing jet lag. 

A few notes on lounges

In Toronto, the flyers are invited to take advantage of the Plaza Premium Lounge. This spacious second-floor lounge has a stunning view of the airport so you could spend hours (though hopefully not) watching the planes go by. The lounge has a wide range of seating (big chairs, little chairs, tables, high tops, etc.) and a hot kitchen bar. The dinner spread was quite impressive with various snacks, a salad bar, and multiple options for hot mains. And of course, there were also fries and chips. Plaza Premium bar inclusions are rail liquors, beer, and white and red wine. 

In Frankfurt, the lounge partner is Lufthansa Business, terminal A, area B located across gate B44. Here once again the view is quite lovely, only partially interrupted by another building. There is plenty of sun and mixed seating spaces from dining tables to casual lounges. The menu is nice (soup, salad, hot meals) and the bar is even more impressive with a great selection of wines, liquors, and a make-your-own Spritz station. 

In regard to points and rewards

Condor does not have their own reward program, but you can earn Alaska Airlines points on most routes or Westjet on certain Canadian routes. If you are hoping to earn Westjet dollars, you have to book through Westjet or the points will not be take into account.

The post Flying business class with Condor, Toronto to Frankfurt and back appeared first on Paths to Travel.

The other day a group of media representatives gathered at Pearson Airport for a celebration: the introduction of A330neo, “one of the most sustainable aircraft in the skies”. A plethora of engineering innovations allows this particular aircraft to cut down fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by an impressive 20%. When it comes to your personal contributions, A330Neo consumes just about half a gallon of fuel per passenger per 62 miles flown (that’s less than half of the spend by an average car for the same distance).

The Condor team designed the Neo interior from scratch, adding leg space, carving out larger entertainment displays, and adding footrests. One of my favourite small touches is the Bluetooth connectivity which allows you to use your own headsets when in flight.

But the true jewel of this aircraft is its fresh take on Business Class. Neo houses 30 Business Class seats with a 1/2/1 configuration which means each seat has direct aisle access. Naturally, all Business Class seats convert to fully-lie-flat beds and the very front row seats have enough space for you two to dine face-to-face with your travel companion in comfort. These seats look cozy, with plenty of space to spread your reading materials and snack. Which, by the way, you get more of at this level: 2 gourmet menu items, a snack on daytime flights, and a personal snack basket.

Window seat in business class with all of the built-in amenities and extras like your overnight kit and the cosy blankets.

Key facts:

• Condor offers 5 weekly flights to Frankfurt with connections to over 100 destinations.
• Premium Economy offers 35″ of leg space and a greater backrest angle.
• Moodlighting through the cabin can be adjusted individually to suit the time of day.
• By 2023 all of Condor long-haul flights will be A330Neo.
• At this time, Condor flights are not daily so you might need to adjust your schedule by a day or two.

A quick snapshot of Premium Economy sitting with 13.3″ entertainment screen and an extra 35″ of legroom.

But is it actually more affordable?

To test out the pricing I looked for a flight to Frankfurt, October 11-18th, on Condor, AirCanada, and Lufthansa directly. All fare prices are the lowest option in the category (ie. if there are 3 levels of economy price listed is the lowest possible). It is also worth noting that in some instances 2nd tier of economy has checked bags included.

All fees are in Canadian dollars.

So the short answer is yes, yes it is. There are a few convenience differences per level, like the size of the seat, and a few differences in baggage fees but overall fair superiority is particularly visible on Condor flights.

The post Condor is on a mission to become your favourite European getaway airline appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Spending 7 to 8 hours on the plane with your mask on is a daunting thought. But then you realize that the mask goes on as soon as you enter the airport and stays on until your final destination, which in my case was a nearly 13-hour journey.

Wearing a mask these days is the normal and not even the new normal – masks are now mandatory and can be a fairly stylish accessory. For this journey, I used 4 and for the most part, it wasn’t bad, you kind of get used to it, and on multiple occasions, I forgot I had one on when lifting a fork during dinner service. 

The first flight was sponsored by Air Canada which did not review or approve the story.
Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 

With restricted travel globally getting on a plane is not the most popular activity these days. Personally, I was worried about being crowded in the airport and spending all those hours in an enclosed environment with no fresh air. But I chose to travel for a family reason and did my due diligence with the research to make sure I can travel safely and be of no risk to others upon return.

I was traveling from Toronto to Luxembourg last minute, there were no direct flights, and connecting flights were very limited so my journey was two parts: Toronto to Frankfurt with Air Canada and a quick flight to Luxembourg with Lufthansa. 

What put my mind at ease during the research phase is learning about the Air Canada (AC) CleanCare+ program, in their own words it is an “industry-leading program committed to end-to-end health and safety protocols using new biosafety standards and enhancing preventive measures”. What that means in plain language is that there is a long list of activities performed in front of you and behind the scenes with the goal to create the safest possible environment for travel. The measures that addressed my biggest concern – fresh air – is the use of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters which catch 99.9% of airborne particles, and refresh cabin air every 2 to 3 minutes for a total of 20 to 30 air changes per hour, much like in the hospital rooms. Fresh air, check!

There are many more measures in place with both airlines and all airports, however, during this journey, I found that Air Canada and Pearson Airport (YYZ) had the highest standards for preventative measures (from those I traveled with this time). 

Note: Make sure to check travel restrictions with your local, destination, and all layover airport authorities before booking and traveling as these things may change very quickly.

Checking-in

Pearson airport entrance is currently restricted to passengers only to minimize the number of people on the grounds (this was not the case at LUX). Walking in you get immediately stunned by how empty the space is, the majority of the counters are closed and the check-in is now all in one area. Hand sanitizer dispensers are sprinkled throughout the airport and absolutely everyone is wearing a face mask. It is also worth noting that Pearson airport and Air Canada do not allow masks with an exhalation valve, bandanas, or scarves since those were proven to not be very effective. 

All passengers go through a COVID-19 health screening questionnaire during the web check-in and at the airport when dropping bags. When entering the bag check area an airline employee quickly talks you through the touch-free bag check and points out that you need a printed boarding pass. I hovered around the kiosk trying to initiate the process, confused for a few minutes until an attended tapped the screen to begin, “So not fully touch-free,” I thought to myself.

My boarding pass did not print so I took the luggage tags and went to stand in a very short line, actively trying to create a 2-meter bubble around me, which not all other passengers were able to follow, especially those with children. There were only a handful of passengers in line so this step took around 15 minutes and only because the people at the front were a family of 6 with nearly 20 bags (not exaggerating), my interaction was very prompt.

Note: The bag drop closes an hour prior to departure for international flights and might be even earlier at some airports so make sure to check.  

Before entering security all passengers go through a mandatory temperature check: you stand a couple of meters away from an attendant seated behind a large piece of equipment. In many ways, this felt like taking a school photo, so I smiled under my mask for absolutely no reason.

The security check was quick and painless, I forgot to take out my large sanitizer bottle (you are allowed 12oz) so I was ushered into additional bag screening, which took about a minute. 

Note: If you were not already doing this, place all your liquids in a ziplock bag for easy screening and to minimize touching, some articles even recommend putting your personal items that need to come out of your pockets during security check into a ziplock for peace of mind.  

Departures Area

The nearly empty international wing of the airport felt like a slightly apocalyptic movie: all full-service restaurants, many shops, and booths were closed and covered. All seats were evenly marked for social distancing, extra chairs were stacked in various areas to prevent gathering, and large parts of the airport were simply empty because they were not active gates. 

Additional AC safety precautions notes:

• Frequently touched areas like check-in counters and kiosks are disaffected often
• All AC employees are wearing face coverings and gloves

Boarding

The boarding process has changed (more spread out) to minimize contact and ensure appropriate distancing and the flight attendants were trying extra hard to make sure people don’t crowd and keep a safe distance. Your travel documents are not touched unless necessary and you yourself scan the boarding pass. Given how few passengers there were this too was quite fast.

On-board

Thinking about all the safety precautions research and Naomi Campbell’s airport routine I immediately began wiping down all surfaces I might touch with a sanitizing wipe. While there was no one sitting in the middle seat directly next to me, performing this cleaning routine in Economy was pretty uncomfortable physically as some contortion was required to do this in the exceptionally limited space. On the return flight, I upgraded to Premium Economy and chose a front-row seat. Having the entire row to myself (and just one passenger behind me) I was free to sanitize at peace (cover image, courtesy of Air Canada). 

Each seat already had a wrapped and sealed blanket and pillow on it and once all passengers boarded they were handed a customer care kit. 

Each Customer Care Kit (in a sealed ziplock bag) contained: a disposable mask, bottle of water, small hand sanitizer bottle (which I keep refilling & carrying in my jacket pocket), a couple of sanitizing wipes, gloves, earphones, pretzel snack, a message from the airline, and a card with the details for the McMaster COVID-19 study (more on that below). Premium Economy passengers received an additional care kit and the Air Canada Travel Essentials pouch with a toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask, socks, and earplugs. 

At take off our plane was struck by lightning! I did not quite realize that’s what happened, all I saw was a bright spark of light as if the sky parted for a second, but apparently, there was a quiet thump indicating contact. The captain promptly reassured us that the plane is well-equipped to sustain the impact and that we were safe on our way to Frankfurt.

After each meal service, the passages were reminded to put their masks back on and keep them on for the duration of the flight. A similar reminder was also made as people were going to sleep when the flight attendants noticed a few passengers getting loose with their mask-wearing. 

I had a few masks with me and changed them as needed throughout the flight but at some point, my face began to get warm and sweaty, combined with dry over-sanitized hands it was a slightly uncomfortable experience which I was able to remedy by changing into a lighter face mask and adding hand lotion into my purse for the flight back. 

Additional AC safety precaution notes:

• All high-touch areas are sanitized with a hospital-grade disinfectant before every flight, and each time an aircraft overnights it receives a thorough cleaning, you can watch a video here
• All seat belt buckles, seat controls, and armrests, cabin windows and shades, light switches and air controls, ceiling areas, inside of overhead bins, tray tables, headrest covers, sidewalls, and personal screens are sanitized
• Bathrooms are frequently disinfected and there’s a box of single-use hand sanitizer packages 

De-plaining & Baggage Collection

All passengers are asked to remain seated until their row is called but, as you might imagine, not many people were obeying these rules. Funny enough, the shorter flight had the most restless people on it, crowding in the aisles and invading other people’s personal space. In the Frankfurt border control line, a man physically walked into me, looking incredibly puzzled by my reaction which, I can only imagine, was lasers shooting out of my eyes over the mask. 

For all of my flights, we were the only group at the baggage carousel, the area around which was similarly empty. The bags were dropped at a healthy distance so no passenger had to touch another person’s bag. In all 4 instances, the baggage pick-up was surprisingly fast, perhaps attributed to the small number of people on board.  

Arriving at Frankfurt airport at sunrise was very eery, the empty airport felt like a Stephen King novel until people came out of nowhere and turned into a small crowd to board the Lufthansa flight to Luxembourg. This was a very short flight and, therefore, a very small plane, pretty much completely full, and getting to it required taking a very long bus ride around the airport. As much as I enjoyed the tour of the grounds, being in a crowded bus felt rather uncomfortable. 

Returning to Canada & the Quarantine Process 

Frankfurt airport staff were not checking temperature so passengers got one directly from the Air Canada staff during document verification. Since all passengers arriving in Canada are required to quarantine for 14 days messaging about those requirements is offered on many occasions during the flight and upon landing. 

During the flight, an announcement was made sharing information about the ArriveCAN app and the McMaster HealthLabs study offering COVID-19 testing for international arrivals. The app (or the paper form if you chose one) asks a handful of basic questions about your current health, where you intend to quarantine, and contact information for public officials to get in touch with you. 

Note: Some domestic flights are included in the quarantine requirements. Check with the province you’re traveling to directly. 

I used the ArriveCAN app and pre-registered for the COVID-19 test ahead of time hoping it would expedite the process. After exiting the plane all passengers were subject to a passport check right in the hall, which seemed a bit odd. I was asked to show proof of health form completion by showing a code in my App when entering security, speaking to the agent, and when existing to baggage check. The declaration screens had additional questions about your health status and asked you to acknowledge the quarantine requirements. The entire process was very fast and I only had to take the mask off once to show my frazzled face to the agent. 

COVID-19 testing is absolutely voluntary and heavily encouraged with many perks offered upon completion. I was interested as soon as l learned about the option of doing a test on arrival. For one, I won’t be able to get one until after quarantine, and peace of mind is good for my mental health. And secondly, I felt it was important to contribute to the study given how little we still know about the virus. 

The test at the airport is self-administered (tongue, cheek, nose) and guided by the medical representative from a distance. I was given 2 more tests to do at home on days 7 and 14. Both tests were to be picked up by a courier. My first test result came in within 24 hours and was negative. But this does not mean that I am completely out of the woods. I do still have to quarantine but it did put my mind at ease. 

I hope this has been helpful to anyone looking to travel. Enjoy your flight and stay safe!

Packing must-haves

• TRAVLEISURE Bamboo Mask: This mask has been rated highly for travel, I found it very comfortable to sleep in (image below).
• Sanitizing Wipes: This 10-pack of purse-size packets has been great, and the best part they are 75% alcohol and do not have any sent.
• Hand Sanitizer Spray: It’s always to have some of your own on hand and the spray works well for larger areas and personal belongings like bags.
• The Hustle Backpack*: Comfortable, sustainable travel backpack that can comfortably fit everything you need including electronics.

In the gear bag: Fujifilm X-T100 with an XF50mmF2 R WR lens.

The post From Canada to Europe with Air Canada during a global pandemic appeared first on Paths to Travel.