Passing Through Checkpoints

I started the blog before we went to Fiji. There was a lot of anxiety over the flying and what to bring.
A week later I have to say the flights were fine and I believe we brought everything that really mattered.
We got up around 4 Thursday morning, quick shower, the last few things to pack. It had snowed a bit.
The drive to the airport was fast. Jim drove but Tim drove back so we wouldn't have to take a taxi. We got in and were able to check in right away. Problem with Jim's bag is that it was overweight and they actually didn't know what to charge us. Finally settled on 100.00. Doesn't everything these days costs 100.00 dollars, pinky in cheek.
Paid the woman and we were on our way. Passing through the Canadian check point is always a breeze. They wanded Jim and checked his palms for explosives. I always tell him not to wear gloves, it drives them crazy. I wore slip off shoes so that helped with taking the shoes off and putting them back on. They make you take out your laptop for screening, put it in one bucket please, take your coat off put in bucket along with shoes, purse and any 100ml bottles you might be carrying, oh and lay your passport and ticket on top of all of that. It is a wonder that we are able to retrieve and rearrange ourselves properly. Gah!
So we got to our gate destination and waited for a bit. Used that time to take off a long sleeved undershirt that I realized I did not need. On to plane 1, Air Canada Air Bus 320, Ottawa to Vancouver. I had a nice window seat so was able to see as we passed over the different provinces. Most of the time it was very cloudy and we were up high. Left Ottawa at 7:30 and arrived around 1 o'clock our time and 10 o'clock Vancouver time. We met up with Jim's sister Robin and she took us to get something to eat. We were not that hungry but felt we needed something, especially coffee because I think the stuff they serve on the airplanes is garbage. We yakked for awhile and then it was time to hurry to the next plane and again we had to go through the security. I must say the only thing that made this trip easy is not having to pick up our baggage as it was a through to Fiji. There was a line up and I hoped it would hurry along and it did. Same procedure as above but they are very nice about everything. Plane number 2 was Alaskan Airlines Boeing 737-700.
A smaller plane with smaller seats it seemed. Glad it was only 3 hours, felt very claustrophobic.
They served some not gluten free shitty snacks that I gave to a guy sitting beside Jim. We weren't hungry. It was a bit bumpy not like the trip from Ottawa to Vancouver. The pilot of the Air Canada flight was a smooth lander. Plane touched down at LAX around 5 o'clock pacific time. We had to leave the main terminal and walk over to Tom Bradley International. Bit of a hike but we needed to walk because of all the sitting. By then it was 2 o'clock our time and we still had to wait until 9:30 Pacific to board the plane bound for Nadi Fiji which meant that we would be boarding the plane at 12:30 Eastern Standard. I got water bottles from the Kiosk and had some snack bars to keep me awake.
The next airplane was an Airbus 330-200. That is actually a very big airplane. Two seats on either side and 5 in the middle. Problem I had a guy in front who wanted to keep his seat reclined most of the way.
Hope that doesn't happen on the way back.After about an hour we were served dinner, Jim had the chicken and I had the beef. His chicken seemed better than my beef. After dinner service was over and everything was cleared up, it got really bumpy so they never came around to serve us coffee or anything. I actually got up and went up front and asked the stewardess for water. Luckily we were close to first class so they gave us a small bottle of cold Fiji water. Must remember to get water for long trip back.
The flight was supposed to be 11 and a half hours but we were in Nadi before 6 am Saturday November 22. We had lost a day in transit. Found our luggage and went to Vodafone and got new sim cards for our Iphones. Then off to find where we get the small plane to Nausori Aiport. Walked over to domestic and was able to get on the smaller plane earlier. It was a small plane and it only took about 20 minutes in the air which was great as we got to the hotel room by just after 9. They charged us again for the luggage. If we ever come back we will take a taxi from Nadi to Suva. Cheaper and no extra charges..