I’m Off!
As usual for the trip from home to Toronto’s Pearson International, I booked an airport “limo” with Toronto Airport Limousine (TAL). I’ve used this company for many years and they’ve never let me down. TAL were scheduled to pick me up at 3:00PM, but the driver arrived early – as they normally do – and called me from downstairs at 2:50. Giving both dogs and Vincent a big goodbye hug, I made my way downstairs to greet the car and driver – the car was a beautiful, boat-like, luxurious Cadillac… sweet! A promising start to the trip.
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Traffic on the Gardiner Expressway out to Pearson International was more stop than go, and was especially brutal (but then what else is new!?). It took an hour and 10 minutes to reach the airport from downtown. At 4:10 we arrived at Pearson’s Terminal 3. I paid the driver and made my way into the terminal.
It had been many years since I’d been in Terminal 3 but I didn’t remember it as being that chaotic… but it was today: people all over the place, no order in any of the queues, chaos abounding, no service reps anywhere, etc., etc.
I’m making the European trek this time on Air France (sorry Air Canada, I’ve always been faithful to you but you were just way too expensive), hence my foray into Terminal 3. I found an Air France kiosk and printed my baggage tags (why does it take an engineering degree to figure how to peel and stick those cursed strips on your luggage, anyway?).
Check-in and Security
Joining the aforementioned chaos, I took my place in a massive, stationary check-in queue that sort of seemed to be heading to the Air France counter way in the distance. I waited for almost half an hour, but the line movement was almost non-existent. I don’t know why, but I had a feeling I was in the wrong queue/place, so I forfeited my spot and sought out an Air France rep for a bit of direction. My hunch was right: it was the wrong queue – I was told I was waiting in the line for passengers who had E.U. resident status. Who knew? There were certainly no signs to indicate this. At any rate, I finally found the correct queue for check-in, got through in reasonable time and checked my suitcase. Very helpful staff at the Air France counter.
Leaving the Air France counter I found the Security gates, got into the queue and went through the usual security mauling. Amazingly, it all went off without a hitch. It was about 5:00PM at this point. My flight out was scheduled for 6:35PM so I still had a little bit of free time yet.
A Lounge Experience
When I travel, my airport routine after passing through the Security check is to first find my departure gate, so I know where I have to be when boarding is announced, then I go off and see what else the airport has to offer (Tims, books, magazines, electronic stores, you get the idea).
I found my departure gate for this trip – G34 – noted its location, then made my way up a level to the KLM Lounge; I wanted to take full advantage of the Air France Business Class experience I had booked myself into for this journey to Venice (it’s a real self-spoiler to sit at the front of the plane and enjoy those lie-flat beds). There was no dedicated Air France lounge at Pearson International Airport; the Air France lounge is shared with the KLM lounge, so I went to check it out. Not bad!:
So much free food and drink… it was great! I wasn’t that hungry but indulged in a few of the different juices and sweet treats on offer (I had to keep my strength up for the journey ahead, you understand). Taking one of the cozy lounge seats I made some farewell calls and texts to family and friends.
Time To Board!
I left the lounge after about 45 minutes, and made my way back to Gate G34 for my departure. At 5:45 boarding was called then commenced for Priority Boarding passengers (which was me, this flight). I got on board and immediately found my seat – Pod 1A in the front bulkhead (LOTS of room!):
I settled in and one of the ever-vigilant Flight Attendants took my jacket for storage in the closet, and began making frequent visits for the pre-flight drinks on offer.
And… We’re Off…
Air France flight AF0355 pushed back from the bridge right on time: 6:35PM. The on-time departure, though, was foiled by the necessity of de-icing the plane pre-flight. The de-icing didn’t take long, and we lifted off into the skies at 7:10. This was a connecting flight for me – the first leg of the journey was from Toronto to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, scheduled to arrive at 8:15AM (local time) the next day. With about an hour lay-over the flight then connected to a smaller Air France jet, flight AF1426 from Paris to Venice, departing at 10:05AM.
About an hour into the flight the meal service began. After a starter and several more courses (a pork main for me) and endless offers of free booze, the meal proved utterly delicious. The meal service was served with real linens, cutlery and glassware, so that was a nice touch:
I give huge kudos to Air France – the counter staff on the ground, the flight food, the Flight Attendants… all were phenomenal. The Flight Attendants on this flight were especially incredible – they could not have been more friendly and helpful. A couple of times one Flight Attendant visited my pod and regaled me with her experiences of living in Venice. About a quarter of the way into the flight the Senior Flight Director came around to every Business Class pod to check on passengers’ flight experience so far. Well done, Air France. 😊
As an added bonus to the experience, the flight was unbelievably smooth for much of the way; there were times it felt as if we weren’t even moving, it was that smooth.
Bed Time…
The primary reason I flew Business Class on this flight was so that I could sleep, or at least rest, on the lie-flat beds overnight and not feel like death warmed over once I arrived at my destination. After the meal service was cleared away and the cabin lights dimmed, I hit the appropriate buttons to make the seat into a bed, spread out the pillow and duvet, then tried out the whole experience:
Sleep + Music at 30,000 Feet
I don’t think I actually slept solidly, but rather went in and out of a light doze for a few hours. The situation was strained, though, by a constantly screaming child in the pod to my immediate right. Thank heaven for noise cancelling headphones!
As with any trans-Atlantic flight, I always bring a lot of music – this trip I listened to something very apropos to the situation: Max Richter’s Sleep album, followed by one of the Blank & Jones’s Chilltronica albums. All very soothing and healing stuff, ideal for relaxing while travelling.
Time passed and we continued to fly on through the night, Paris-bound.
I’m very impressed with those pods!