Well we made it to the Maple Leaf Lounge! We got to the airport as planned about 6pm, got checked in, said good bye to our luggage and hoped to see it again in Dubai! We went through D or International Security (bad decision on my part) and all my bags were searched due to various items such as my laptop, cords, etc that seemed “interesting” to the CATSA security agents. Note to self: If one has a NEXUS card or YVR security badge, go through the C or Fast Track Domestic Security as they do not require shoes off, laptops out as you are a Trusted Traveler. Then walk to the D gates! It will save you time in the end!
I was impressed that the Maple Leaf lounge was not bursting at the seams – the last time I was in the International one as we were flying to Delhi, there were not many places to sit. I also applaud the Maple Leaf lounge now for showing allergens on their food – only issue was the only GF food were nacho chips for lunch of dinner! They do have an omelet that is GF for breakfast, but that did not help at 8pm when I was hungry!
We made our way to the flight at Gate 71, and I showed Andrew the “sights” while we walked there such as where I sit when volunteering in International, where the aquarium is etc. The next test is boarding and how Air Canada will do considering I am now wearing my sunflower lanyard which was part of the problem (not wearing it) when in Toronto. As a sidebar note, Air Canada has just this past week been in front of the Federal Government for some poor treatment of People with Disabilities and has come out with a statement on how they are going to do better and be more respectful. Time to see what will happen!
I saw the gate doors were open, so that means they were about to start boarding. So I went up to the gate agent next to the scanner for boarding cards and mentioned that I needed to pre-board not only due to my walker, but also due to high anxiety and that I need the area to be quiet so I can get onto the plane. I had previously spoken to this same agent when I checked in so it was not news to her. She told me to wait, they were yet to start boarding. Yet, on the scanner machine to the left, another gate agent was already scanning a line up of people who looked to be pre-boarding – there was one person with a visible disability using a cane, no sunflower lanyards being displayed and about 10 other family members with them getting on at the same time. So I asked the agent next to me what was going on and she said that they will be holding the boarding after this party and to hang on. Yet they did not – there was a constant stream of people boarding at this point. None of them were from the Business Class line either. Finally, they stopped boarding and told me to proceed. Well, that lasted about 5 seconds and there were more people behind me so Andrew and I stopped and waited until the “traffic cleared” I then put earplugs in my ears and was able after a few minutes to go down the jetway and onto the plane.
I do appreciate that the flight attendants are there to help you however when they see someone with ear plugs in and their accompanying person saying to leave me alone, I really wish they would respect that. It takes an incredible amount of focus to keep my anxiety at bay until I feel comfortable to board the plane and interference is not productive. It also frustrates the person travelling with me as the flight attendants are clearly ignoring the advice on how best to help me.
I had asked that my walker fly in the plane in one of the closets. The ability to do this was also confirmed recently with the government talks. Took a bit of convincing however they obliged and in the front closet it remained for the flight!
Fast forward now! We are off into the clouds and dinner is served! Oh joy! Mushroom chicken AGAIN! I just had 4 of these last month and here we go again – perhaps breakfast will be better! So after being fed and burped (just kidding on that part) we both settled down for some well earned sleep. Well, someone slept – I did not! I probably should not have consumed that Coke Zero! Movie time! I rummaged through several movies and then settled on Sleepless in Seattle – a good classic movie! Who knows – perhaps it will put me to sleep! Nope. Moved on to You’ve Got Mail! Okay, now that the cabin is DARK I am going to try and sleep! I think I slept for about an hour and I was back watching movies AGAIN! While I do not believe in drinking coffee or tea on a plane due to the water supply issues, drastic measures had to be taken so I drank some tea and I think that worked as I have no idea what movie I watched next! Three hours later that was a great nap! Time to knit! I had LOTS of things with me to entertain me for this flight! So as I had purchased internet for this flight I tried to connect but it would not work. No idea why. The flight attendant finally told me – because we flew so high up over Canada the internet actually does not last very long and then will not be available for the rest of the flight. Oh darn! So now I cannot finish my Italy blog! Time to do something else! Next movie! As I have just come back from Italy, I decided on Mama Mia (I know that it is set in Greece). Well, that did the trick! Watched the first one and remember starting the sequel but did not remember watching it…. Sleep at last!
Andrew managed to sleep for about 8 hours which was awesome for him as I have never seen him sleep on a plane like this! It was funny as he did start watching a movie and he fell asleep so the flight attendant turned off his TV for him. It seemed that they did that for everyone who fell asleep with their TV’s on as the cabin was REALLY dark at one point and only I had on my seat light (which on the Dreamliner in Business is just over your shoulder so not obnoxious to other passengers). Also, as we were on a Dreamliner the windows went dark too – not that it mattered as I do not think the sun came out during our flight at all!
This is a strange flight though – we left at 9:30pm and we arrive 2 days later at 00:20 in the early morning. So really, you fall asleep on the plane but don’t want to sleep TOO much as when you get to Dubai, it is night time again! Very different from flying to NZ/AU where the flights leave in the evening and arrive 2 days later in the morning at about 6 or 7am. On those flights I have found I have had ZERO jet lag. We shall see what happens in Dubai as in order to get on the right schedule I have planned a walking tour for 2pm the afternoon we arrive!
Now it is breakfast time – or dinner? We are being fed another meal! Oh no, I can smell it coming – mushroom chicken repeat! Really Air Canada? You cannot figure out a different GF meal on a 2 meal flight? You did it on the Rome flight which was dinner and then breakfast…. Oh well I would rather be safe than sorry!
Then I watched a French movie whose name I forgot – something about a summer home and poof! It was time to land! I could not believe that the 15 hours went by so fast and we were about to land in Dubai! The flight attendants confirmed my wheelchair order with me (good) and very soon we were on the ground. We only circled once it looks like!
I was amazed by the path that we took to get here – from Vancouver up and over the top of Greenland – higher than I have ever flown and then sliced down over eastern Europe being careful of what countries we flew over and then down over the Middle East to Dubai. See the pictures of the flight map below.
I was greeted by a gentleman with a blue wheelchair similar to the ones we have at YVR. It had a feature that we do not have or use at YVR though – a seatbelt! I wondered if this was going to be a wild ride or it was just for safety purposes – hoping for the latter and it was! We did not have to wait for my walker as it rode in the cabin and was ready to go when we deplaned. As Andrew pushed my walker we merged into the heavy traffic (at almost 1am) walking to Immigration. All of a sudden I had a 2nd escort with a man announcing to move aside so that the wheelchair could pass. I thought that was a bit much but whatever turns your crank! It made Andrew have to walk double speed to keep up though! And along we rolled, and rolled and rolled – holy smokes is this a BIG airport! My escort then told me that Air Canada’s gate is at once end of the terminal and the Immigration, Customs and luggage is at the other end AND 2 Emirates 380 flights had just landed – one from the USA and one from England. So now that makes sense for the traffic encountered!
It is a beautiful airport – mainly glass and like YVR we walked along a corridor in the ceiling until we got to some massive elevators to take us down to the Immigration Hall. Once in the Hall there were massive line ups to speak to an agent however my escort took us to the side, where the wheelchair and sunflower sign is and pushed me right up to an agent – who was wearing Emirates male clothing (white robe and black rope holding the scarf on his head. We each had our picture taken and then we were off to find our luggage! Already on the carousel Andrew picked it up, and we then went through “nothing to declare” at customs and we had arrived! Out into the airport I was pushed and low and behold there was a HUGE Starbucks! Around the Starbucks we went and to the taxi line so we could get to our hotel. Wait – the taxi line is to the left and my escort went to the right! I then suggested that I did not need a wheelchair cab, thinking that was where he was going, and he replied that I did not have to wait in line for a taxi – we take a different route to get one. Okay, go with the flow! Out the door and down ONE of the 4 lines of waiting taxis we went until one was available. He helped me into the car while Andrew dealt with the luggage and my walker and we were on our way to the Sheraton Dubai Creek to stay!
They were awaiting our arrival and what a beautiful hotel the Sheraton is! You get out of the taxi and walk into an atrium that is at least 10 floors high and there are two double high escalators going up to the reception desk area. There also is an elevator for those who need to take one like me. I know sometimes I am forced to ride an escalator, however those were a BIT intimidating with their height and in the open for me to get caught!
We were upgraded to a corner suite with a Juliette balcony, which was awesome, from the regular hotel room that I had booked (only type of room you can book on points). While being fairly high in the Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Program does allow for free upgrades, usually when you arrive about 2am you get what you are given, and upgrades are not always available.
I DO remember taking my medication and finding my PJ’s however as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out like a light! All I knew was that breakfast started at 6am and I was not going to be eating mushroom chicken at that time!
