Experience 072. Complicated Connections. Multiple Stops for Cheaper Fares.

05/25/23 • 37 min

In this experience we discuss the fact that this summer many people will be flying but the prices for direct connections are often fairly expensive. Often multiple connections are a way people find to save costs.

These multi-stops remind Vinod when planes had to stop due to the lack of range. But unlike times in the past today you can see all the travel details related to your trip.

As people change their ticket purchasing habits, it can mean a change in the way that they layover. Iceland was one of the first countries that promoted a free layover.

Sometimes you can’t find the flight to book even though you have been able to find it on a booking site.

There have been some pretty cool milk runs.

Vinod shares his experience with the Hawaii Interchange, as passengers from the North American West Coast all changed in Honolulu on their way to Australia and New Zealand.

Geoff shares his experience from northern Norway on Public Service Obligation flights flying along the coast.

We look at double stop flights and how Dutch airlines have connected to Alberta this way.

There is also the Pacific Island Hopper, which led to Vinod wondering how a United 737 made it to Tokyo.

A former route that was well beloved was Cathay Pacific's flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver to New York JFK.

When you see a cheap flight, pay attention to how long the connection time is. Do you have a chance to get out of the airport to see the city? Will your passport or visa allow you to do so? Will your layover get eaten up by a terminal or airport switch? Are you travelling alone or with family?

When you add it all together, even if the ticket is cheaper, how much are you spending to manage through it? Are two one ways cheaper? If you’re connecting to a smaller airport is it easy to take another form of transport if things go sideways?

Airlines are doing their best to figure out load factors without the last few years of data.

If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 024. "Into the mailbag - Part 1. Inflight meal service and free overnight accommodation." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts.

We also look at Europe to Asian runs, with a critical moment that did not go well. Vinod shares his family connection with it.

News Items:

simpleflying.com article Pairing Music With Food: The Story Of British Airways' Sensory Menus
flyertalk.com article United Reveals Historic Expansion of Service in South Pacific

If you have a story about complicated connections, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

These multi-stops remind Vinod when planes had to stop due to the lack of range. But unlike times in the past today you can see all the travel details related to your trip.

As people change their ticket purchasing habits, it can mean a change in the way that they layover. Iceland was one of the first countries that promoted a free layover.

Sometimes you can’t find the flight to book even though you have been able to find it on a booking site.

There have been some pretty cool milk runs.

Vinod shares his experience with the Hawaii Interchange, as passengers from the North American West Coast all changed in Honolulu on their way to Australia and New Zealand.

Geoff shares his experience from northern Norway on Public Service Obligation flights flying along the coast.

We look at double stop flights and how Dutch airlines have connected to Alberta this way.

There is also the Pacific Island Hopper, which led to Vinod wondering how a United 737 made it to Tokyo.

A former route that was well beloved was Cathay Pacific's flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver to New York JFK.

Airlines are doing their best to figure out load factors without the last few years of data.

We also look at Europe to Asian runs, with a critical moment that did not go well. Vinod shares his family connection with it.

News Items:

simpleflying.com article Pairing Music With Food: The Story Of British Airways' Sensory Menus
flyertalk.com article United Reveals Historic Expansion of Service in South Pacific

Previous Episode

Experience 071. Silver Wings. Flying with Seniors.

In this experience we look at the realities of flying with seniors. Vinod and Geoff realize that soon enough they will be in this demographic.

As populations age, airlines will have older populations on flights and the challenges that go with it. Since some of today’s seniors lived through the golden age of flying with certain levels of service, there is generational gap.

Often elderly parents are put on flights around the world - which Vinod saw in his role as a station manager. The system is not there for everyone to embrace every individual. Airports are larger, seats are closer, and there are language challenges faced while transiting through certain airports.

Some people attempt to get around this situation by booking assistance, which often means a wheelchair. The option does get abused. Vinod shares stories of trying to get large numbers of wheelchairs for certain flights, and the "miracles" of people being able to walk.

There is a lesser used assistance code "meet and assist".

Travelling over multiple days can take a lot out of people. It helps to have a game plan ready in case something goes wrong, particularly if you are not travelling with the people flying. Seniors are different than an unaccompanied minor.

Vinod shares a story of his aunt visiting him as a child in northern Canada and the efforts to get her wheelchair off the plane in the snow and cold without a jet bridge.

Vinod shares a story of a shocking flight to Prince Edward Island, "Mid-flight something happened to a lav."

People unfortunately pass away on flights. There is one trans-Pacific route that is fairly well know.

Amidst all the challenges, there are magical moments and conversations that happen in flight. Vinod shares the experience of a black and white photo.

Be tolerant and understanding, know what kind of assistance is being provided by the airline and airport and build in extra time for connections.

If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 042. "Is There a Doctor on Board? Medical Emergencies in Flight." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Remember that sometimes long flights may not have meal service.

News Items:

livemint.com article Singapore Airlines gets 25.1% stake in Air India group after injecting $267 million
simpleflying.com article United Airlines Enlists Oscar The Grouch For Sustainability Promotion Campaign
simpleflying.com article Japan Airlines Serves A Banana As Vegan Meal

If you have a story about travelling with seniors, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/

Next Episode

Experience 073. Flew to a Room. A Deeper Look at Airport Hotels.

In this experience we take a deeper look at the world of airport hotels. Sometimes hotels can be the best thing but can also be the most horrible desolate places on the planet.

We’ve discussed many different types of hotels in previous experiences, from the incredible to the incredibly terrible.

Big airports have the big global hotel brands. But there is another tier of just a place to sleep.

There are some very neat hotels that are attached to airports – Geoff remembers his visit to the TWA hotel at JFK.

There are also some hotels with very cramped and tight rooms. Vinod remembers a hotel by Orly airport in Paris.

The best experience is a hotel attached to the terminal itself, and Vinod remembers a visit to Frankfurt.

If you’re planning to have an airport hotel, make sure you have planned out the logistics. Is it easy to get to the location. Will you have access to your bags. What about transit visas? Will the food service be open and available?

Geoff remembers an experience at London Heathrow where he was so disconnected from the rest of London. Vinod shares his experience with Toronto.

Airport hotels are convenient for families who have early flights. But they can be very noisy locations since they are twenty-four hour operations. Vinod shares a story of all night entertainment playing next door when he was in Montreal. There are a large number of people passing through airport hotels.

As an alternative, is there a city that is close to the airport which has good connections? If you’re not wanting to leave the airside terminal, does the airport offer pod hotel space?

When you’re forced into a layover, you may or may not get a comped room. Geoff shares an experience in Ottawa where he got a comped room, and a very sketchy room in New Jersey when he didn’t.

Vinod shares some insight from the airline perspective and highlights that vouchers can have some variance.

There may be options for you with services like Airbnb.

Vinod shares his first childhood memory of staying at a hotel in Mumbai.

Geoff shares an experience in North Dakota while travelling from Amsterdam to Saskatchewan.

Are there local events or weather that could affect the cost of your hotel? What is the value of putting your head down and having a shower?

If you're liking this episode experience, you may also enjoy Experience 044. "Sleeping Around. Maximizing Your Rest at Airports." It's available wherever you listen to your podcasts.

News Items:

simpleflying.com article Asiana Airlines Passenger Arrested After Opening Airbus A321 Door Inflight
simpleflying.com article Singapore Airlines Decides Against Paper Meal Containers For Longer Flights

If you have a story about airport hotels, comped rooms, upcoming trips, or other experiences that you would like to share, please email us at stories(at)seat1a.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you wish to support the show financially, we are on Patreon. Show notes are available online at http://podcast.seat1a.org/