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Since January 1st, I've flown 62,237 km (38,672 miles). Of those, 35,249 km were "status" miles with Air Canada. 35,000 being the magic number to reach Air Canada's Aeroplan "Elite" status. Woo!
So now I'm sitting in the Maple Leaf Lounge at Edmonton's airport, and it is just comically extravagant. This is not the sort of thing that makes me think airlines are in it for the long haul, but it is certainly enjoyable.
- free newspapers and magazines (not just to read, to take with you)
- free salad, soups, snacks
- free pop, water, juice, cappuccinos
- free alcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
- Added: pre-rimmed Bloody Caesar glasses
- free internet and TV
- comfy chairs
- announcements about the flights relevant to people in the lounge, such as "don't bother getting up, they still have to deplane, we'll warn you when it's time"
They welcomed me at the front desk and happily explained how it all works when I said that I just got Elite for the first time, and were all "congratulations!" and so forth. They also gave me a piece of paper that proves I'm Elite until my new Aeroplan card arrives.
God, it's so bourgeois. I feel a little like I should go volunteer at a homeless shelter as penance.
Here's a fun set of stats from FlightMemory: (for all flights in 2008 plus any flights I could remember for 1999 onward... does not include regular domestic flight until 2007)
Update: Edmonton has been hit by a large thunderstorm, and the airport is "experiencing a red alert situation" so no flights are going in or out due to the weather. Guess it's a good thing I'm here in the lounge then.
So now I'm sitting in the Maple Leaf Lounge at Edmonton's airport, and it is just comically extravagant. This is not the sort of thing that makes me think airlines are in it for the long haul, but it is certainly enjoyable.
- free newspapers and magazines (not just to read, to take with you)
- free salad, soups, snacks
- free pop, water, juice, cappuccinos
- free alcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
- Added: pre-rimmed Bloody Caesar glasses
- free internet and TV
- comfy chairs
- announcements about the flights relevant to people in the lounge, such as "don't bother getting up, they still have to deplane, we'll warn you when it's time"
They welcomed me at the front desk and happily explained how it all works when I said that I just got Elite for the first time, and were all "congratulations!" and so forth. They also gave me a piece of paper that proves I'm Elite until my new Aeroplan card arrives.
God, it's so bourgeois. I feel a little like I should go volunteer at a homeless shelter as penance.
Here's a fun set of stats from FlightMemory: (for all flights in 2008 plus any flights I could remember for 1999 onward... does not include regular domestic flight until 2007)
Update: Edmonton has been hit by a large thunderstorm, and the airport is "experiencing a red alert situation" so no flights are going in or out due to the weather. Guess it's a good thing I'm here in the lounge then.
