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Hop Step Jumpa, Here I come Tampa!

 
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PAL@YWG
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Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 438
Location: YWG, Canada

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 10:27 am    Post subject: Hop Step Jumpa, Here I come Tampa! Reply with quote

Though it was not an exciting trip to write a TR about but when I came across this jumpy bumpy title “Hop Step Jumpa, Here I come Tampa” I couldn’t resist writing a short TR. This is also to prove a point that it’s not only Sumantra who can come up with titles like “Half dead at Nanded” or “Windy city Sandy-Ego”. My Hop (YWG) - Step (YYZ) - Jump (TPA) literally goes hand in hand with the routing of the trip.

A conference in Tampa that came my way at the last minute because my boss said he won’t be able to make it. I was not super excited to be honest but having the opportunity to land in TPA, a new airport for me was the deal clincher. And chance to avoid winter for few days came close second. Being an Aeroplan member, I had to stick to *A. That means handing over my “made to order” bum to the not-so-cushy-anymore seats of increasingly unbearable AC and its new low cost avatar “Air Canada Rouge”. Well my bum has experienced fair amount of gentler, better days in the heydays of air travel I tell you, and at this stage of my life anything goes.

Date: Feb 9 2015
Route: YWG-YYZ
Flight: AC 256
Dep: 0530
Arr: 0902
Aircraft: E190


Being an early morning departure, I almost didn’t sleep the night before. But my pre-ordered taxi driver had a good sleep so much so that he arrived 20 minutes late! With blaring Punjabi songs from a local radio station, the driver took me for granted that I surely love his kinda music. I can live with rhythmic bhangra but at least the cab was not smelling curry!
Short ride to the airport and a dash to the gate went as planned since I had no check in luggage.






Embraer aircrafts are newer and maintained well, the hard product is good. Complimentary tea/coffee was served, no cookies though.


Boot Polish in YYZ


There is our Rouge

Next leg is on Air Canada rouge. After a lot of haggling with various unions, Air Canada finally got this low cost avatar rolling. AC transferred few very old 767-300ERs and some A319s to this entity and hired FAs at about $15/hr with little or no employment benefits. Rouge flies to some sun destinations in Americas and EU currently as it slowly takes over low yield vacation gateways from mainline AC. This flight will be my first Rouge experience or should I call it a rough experience.

Date: Feb 9 2015
Route: YYZ- TPA
Flight: AC 1890
Dep: 1050
Arr: 1352
Aircraft: A319


Over the years, mainline AC has drastically cut its level of services and jacked up the ticket prices, with “Rouge” brand it’s now attacking on your allotted seating space. Once I settled down and realized how tight the space around me, a can of Sardines, is what came to mind instantly.
The FAs have a funky, sporty outfit, so I decided to take a picture. The aircraft was still not rolling. As soon as I took my camera out and started focusing, an alert FA approached and stopped me. “Sir you can’t take pictures now”. I asked why. The answer was some security regulations prohibit filming when the plane is not in air. I can take once we take off. Never heard this before but nowadays one extra sentence with a few not so aviation-friendly words can land you in jail. I was not taking any chances.


Once airborne, I clicked my only Rouge picture

Flight was uneventful, Food & drink for purchase was not very expensive but I had a hearty breakfast at YYZ so I was not bothered. Flight was full and most of them were “snow birds”, a popular term to describe Canadians who spend the winter in southern US. We landed in Tampa, FL.

Next few days were spent in attending conference and enjoying few tailor-made local tours. Fish loving Bengali tongue had a wide variety of local seafood to feast on. No complain there.


View from hotel balcony



Boat that showed us few places and treated us with great seafood










Short walk to hotel while enjoying the sun

Scary stuff!

Date: Feb 12 2015
Route: TPA- YYZ
Flight: AC 1891
Dep: 1440
Arr: 1730
Aircraft: A319


Had little time to look around in TPA, don’t know why I found PDX where I have been many times, looked similar in terms of layout though PDX is much bigger than TPA. Are they built around same time?


TPA holding area

Found this little piece of history

AC Rouge Crew members arriving.




Both going to YYZ


Again like a well behaved Sardine, I took my allotted seat, moved my arms in an animated fashion while receiving my allotted drinks so that I don’t disturb the other Sardines in the tube. I have understood the rules of Canadian LCC game, Rouge gave me enough bruise! I will try to avoid you next time.
Once landed in YYZ, I had to go thru security check. But just before security check I found this little area (sort of a mini museum) where I found few interesting information about YYZ.





Then there was some information about Avro Arrow. I vaguely understood that Canada was developing a fighter jet on its own but somehow it didn't work out.





Date: Feb 12 2015
Route: YYZ- YWG
Flight: AC 269
Dep: 1855
Arr: 2045
Aircraft: E190


Tired enough, had a quick nap before landing in YWG.
Folks, thanks for reading!
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Last edited by PAL@YWG on Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:37 pm; edited 1 time in total
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sumantra
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Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Samir-da....!
What a wonderful way to start a Sunday than see a trip report from the elusive Mr. Pal of Winnipeg, who carries with him an An-225 payload of memories of the former Soviet Union, and modern-day Russia, the former Soviet bloc countries, and possibly almost every corner of the world, which can be terms `exotic.' When the Pal family files, they make sure to split up into four parts, with each on an routing more exotic than the other.
In what comes as a really pleasant surprise, Mr. Pal decides to travel on a more conventional routing, to sun-and-sand, Tampa. A place rather close to where our intrepid birdman, and loveable newsman B747-237, lives.
I have sweet memories of my only Tampa trip, circa 2008, when I got to travel on the `new' Air India, on the B77Ls, for the first time till JFK, and then in-lined with Delta, on the other legs. I had been there for a conference as well, at the Tampa Convention Center, and had got a lucky stay at the Sheraton Tampa Riverside hotel.
Thank you for remembering my crazy titles, in my even crazier pieces.
We now know why to avoid Air Canada, for sure.
In all its avatars, Rouge, Rough, or Rogue.
Or why one dislikes the taste of sardines.
A Punjabi cab driver: hmm, my first time in Vancouver, I was sure that I had landed up in an overseas province of the undivided Punjab.
Sir, your pictures as always, evoke the feeling of being there.
You have a keen eye for detail.
TPA is a small and an unimpressive airport.
I have memories of two memorabilia you saw at TPA and YYZ, respectively.
TPA: The Iwo Jima photograph. I remember wandering about on foot for an hour and a half in Washington DC, hunting for the elusive Iwo Jima memorial, in 2005. After I found it, I was bathed in sweat, and my skin, baked in the humid heat. Google Maps was not quite what it is now, and if I had been an American, I would have been ashamed that this memorial to one fo the most defining moments in USA's WW2 history, is at a place no one can give directions to.
YYZ: The Avro Arrow! A real beautiful interceptor, a stark reminder of what political interference can do to a real aircraft with promise. Other products from the stable, which I remember, include the Avro C-102 (beaten to the air by the de Havilland Comet) and the Aerocar.
Thanks a lot Sir, we look forward to more from you.
Current, as well as blasts from the past.
With pictures, or without, it does not matter.
We want to read about your adventures!
Cheers, Sumantra.
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ameya
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Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 3671
Location: Pune,Maharashtra

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the TR Sir. We all hope we had bosses like yours atleast for the travel part.

The E-190 cabin looks pretty good and the IFE screens decently large

Surprisingly no advertisements in Rouge!

Some very nice pictures as well
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sabya99
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Joined: 19 Dec 2011
Posts: 1399
Location: New Jersey/CCU

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 9:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mr. Pal, it’s a nice title and also a nicer update. I don’t see your post these days. Please keep posting!
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PAL@YWG
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Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 438
Location: YWG, Canada

PostPosted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sumantra,
I admire your level of energy and your passion for aviation and history of warfare. There is no aircraft (whether civilian or military) that you don't know about. Very Impressive!
Time permitting, I will write about a trip I did circa 1994 on now-defunct LZ with routing LOS-SOF-LHR-SOF-LOS. Last March I brought from Calcutta a bagful of old travel docs, I think I still have the boarding passes and ticket copy of that particular trip.
Appreciate your kind words!

Ameya,
Thanks for your comments. About my Boss: I came back and told him that we were told in Tampa Conference that next venue for our annual conference is in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He just jumped off his seat and said Oh that would be an ideal holiday gateway for me and my family. Smile There goes my chance to have free holiday too..

Sabya99,
Thanks Sabya. Not that I am taking (or can afford) trans Atlantic flights with multiple stop overs every now and then Very Happy but finding time to write a TR about my last trip to CCU last March is becoming a challenge.
What about your quick trips to CCU? Didn't read one for quite a while.
Thanks.
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sabya99
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Joined: 19 Dec 2011
Posts: 1399
Location: New Jersey/CCU

PostPosted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 6:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote: Sabya99,
Thanks Sabya. Not that I am taking (or can afford) trans Atlantic flights with multiple stop overs every now and then but finding time to write a TR about my last trip to CCU last March is becoming a challenge.
What about your quick trips to CCU? Didn't read one for quite a while.
Thanks.

I haven’t visited Kolkata for last two years. I will post a TR once I visit again.
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sumantra
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Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PAL@YWG wrote:
Time permitting, I will write about a trip I did circa 1994 on now-defunct LZ with routing LOS-SOF-LHR-SOF-LOS. Last March I brought from Calcutta a bagful of old travel docs, I think I still have the boarding passes and ticket copy of that particular trip.
Sir, we really look forward to that. Really!
PAL@YWG wrote:
but finding time to write a TR about my last trip to CCU last March is becoming a challenge.
Again Sir, please do take the time out. We are all eager to hear from you.
And Sir, thank you for the kind words, but believe me, I have got lucky in my guessing with you. I seem to like the very types you do, and just happen to have done some good amount of reading about them, since I was a little boy.
Cheers, Sumantra.
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stealthpilot
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 2325
Location: BLR, DXB

PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 12:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

- HAHAhahaha, true you're in sumantra league of titles Cool
- I was in Tampa in June and it was my first time into TPA as well. I was actually surprised how big the airport was, all relative I guess.
- were the seats actually smaller in the 319? why did it feel so cramped?
Quick trip but a great TR
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jbalonso777
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Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 7:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hilarious TR Laughing
You're a good sardine Smile
Hopefully you'll get to fly salmon class pretty soon! Wink

Interesting about the no photo thing - is it a Canada only thing? Or applies to the states as well?

Looking forward to more!

Regards
Jish
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PAL@YWG
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Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 438
Location: YWG, Canada

PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
were the seats actually smaller in the 319? why did it feel so cramped?


http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/fleet/A319-100rouge.html
Seat Pitch-29in / Width- 18in / Recline- 3in

With the advent of LCCs, the aircraft floor panels may be the most mapped/focused pieces of sheet metal on earth Very Happy ! Each airlines is trying to be as innovative as possible to squeeze in as many Sardines as they can.

But 29 inch is tight, isn't it?

Thanks for your comments, stealthpilot!
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Last edited by PAL@YWG on Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:13 am; edited 1 time in total
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PAL@YWG
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Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 438
Location: YWG, Canada

PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jbalonso777 wrote:

Hopefully you'll get to fly salmon class pretty soon! Wink

Interesting about the no photo thing - is it a Canada only thing? Or applies to the states as well? Jish


Jishnu,
I am ok with a Picarel class Very Happy !
I wonder how far Airlines are willing to go, read the following link:
http://caan.asia/en/show-uzbekistan_airways_introduces_procedure_of_preflight_weighing.html

About photo shooting inside the aircraft when it is stationary: I read somewhere that it is sort of a new precaution introduced recently. And what US does, Canada just blindly follows Mad
Thanks
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