Day 3 - December 23 - Tips for traveling at Christmas

With the airports backed up, flights canceled, and line ups stretching into the international terminal, here are a few tips for getting to the front of the line.

1. First, freeze your toes so they're nearly falling off... then,
2. Make sure you have only carry-on baggage (important so you can get your boarding pass at an automatic kiosk and avoid check-in). People in line at check in: hundreds. People in line at auto kiosk: zero. Also note that Christmas gifts must be small and un-weaponlike to be carried on.
   
3. Limp your way to the customer service desk and ask for a wheelchair. Here they will deny you the wheelchair but one-up you by offering a golf-cart ride to the fast track security check in
4. Enjoy the ride!
5. Go through security. people in front of me at security: zero. Here they will take away your half-empty shampoo because the bottle says 125ml which is 25ml over the 100ml limit.
6. Get on another golf cart where they will deliver you to your gate and push together two chairs so you can elevate your feet per doctor's orders. Sweet!

Total Elapsed time: 20 minutes. Way to go ...Air Canada? Yep, Air Canada (and the Vancouver airport).

Now, wait 6 hours because you arrived four hours early for line-up contingencies plus a 2.5 hour flight delay (not for lack of a plane - for lack of a flight crew) - that sounds more like the Air Canada I know.

Still can't feel my toes.