Is Air Canada Bulkhead Seat worth an $80 upgrade

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I took a flight from Ottawa to Vancouver. I could see from the seating map that the flight was fully booked. I usually pay to book a window seat and then try and get a seat with no one beside me at the last minute it works 50% of the time and the planes that I have been on leaving from Ottawa are not usually full. This time was different the airport was busier than I have ever seen it. I could tell from the seating map the plane was full. It cost $40 to book a window seat. I saw a last minute opening for a bulkhead window seat and decided to try it. It cost $80 to upgrade to the bulkhead seat but the $40 I already paid would get credited. I liked the idea of having a wall in front of me on such a packed flight.  I have free check in luggage with my credit card so I usually only take a backpack to leave under my seat on the plane. If I was in the back of the plane I wait until the last minute to board. I knew I would have no storage at my seat but this seat comes with early zone 3 b...
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Visiting Vancouver February 2023

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I moved from Vancouver to Ottawa in June. My stop in Vancouver was to see my friends and family before going on a vacation to Vegas.

When I left Ottawa there was freezing rain. I used to say I take rain everywhere I go but it was beautiful in Vancouver. It was so nice to not have to dress for winter. I appreciate this mild weather so much more now. Although Ottawa has had a mild winter this year I have learned by falling that you cannot go out even for a few minutes without boots in winter vs Vancouver no boots needed at all. I had to leave room in my luggage for my boots and changed shoes at the airport. 


I have only owned carry on luggage before so I invested in Solgaard luggage with a built in lock and closet. It was very worth it I felt safer being able to lock my suitcase and with a AirTag I knew where it was. I put the suitcase against the hotel room door for a bit of extra protection being a single female even if it only helped a little it made me feel safer. It was so easy to pack pull the closet out and hang it in a room closet. It is an investment but if you can afford it I highly recommend this will last me years and I plan to travel more. 

 

My flight landed late and the first thing I did was go to 
7-11 inside YVR to try the vegan breakfast sandwich. It was delicious perfect late night dinner. I also got a few essentials I needed for the trip things were reasonably priced considering it is a 7-11 inside an airport. Then I went to the hotel which is nearby the airport and at a skytrain station. YVR now has a Uber waiting area I took a taxi but it cost $20 an Uber would have been $16


The next day I hopped on skytrain and went to downtown. I appreciate how much better public transit in Vancouver is compared to Ottawa. I have spent so much of my time on public transit during my visit going all over the city being impressed with buses being on time and being able to track them. I’m currently writing this post while on the skytrain going from Richmond to Coquitlam by skytrain is amazing. Downtown was also very clean I am not sure what happened but it felt nice and was not scary at all. 

Vancouver hosts a hot chocolate festival in February where businesses get creative with their hot chocolate offerings. This year the vegan offerings were limited. I met my manager from my Vancouver office at Honolulu coffee and had this amazing vegan hot chocolate called the raincouver. The actual weather was amazing that day. 

 

Next stop a visit to the Vancouver office and lunch with friends. Nothing beats vegan sushi in Vancouver. 

 

Next stop take advantage of the good weather and walked to the beach. One of the things I really miss from Vancouver is the accessibility to get to water. 

 

Next was a walk to Granville Island. Where I stocked up on vegan food to take back to the hotel with me. I stay at River Rock casino hotel because they give me a great deal and it is easy for me to access skytrain and go where I want. The vegan food options are very limited there but I had a suite with a fridge.

I had a nice time in Vancouver. I met a lot of my friends and family. My family even made an impressive vegan feast for me. 

 


I spent the rest of the time eating more vegan food and hot chocolate with friends and family.

 

When it was time to take my flight to Las Vegas it was a beautiful day in Vancouver. I had to sit on the plane for an extra 2 hours because it was snowing in Vegas. Luckily I had premium seating with no one beside me all my other flights were full with no room so it was nice sitting in the Vancouver sun. I guess I take snow instead of rain everywhere I go now. The next post will about Solo travel in Vegas.

Follow my Instagram @livingOttawaLocal livingottawalocal to see more food pictures from my trip.

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