Reading a fun website while looking out the hotel room is awesome.
There are hotels and then there are AvGeek hotels. The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel is surely an AvGeek’s hotel, but can still be enjoyed by those who are more practically-minded. The hotel is located inside Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which makes it convenient for people who are flying. There is no need to find a shuttle and you can sleep in until just before your flight, roll out of bed, and either start or continue your journey.
But for many who enjoy aviation, these rare hotels provide something a little bit more: sleeping and relaxing while airline spotting. Heck, it is a thrill to stay at an airport like this, even if you are not flying anywhere. Recently, that is just what Malcolm and I did to check it out, and we wanted to share what we found.
AvGeeks on top of the Theme Building at LAX taking photos of a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380.
When Singapore Airlines came to me and pitched doing something with a small group of AvGeeks at LAX to watch their Airbus A380 land and depart, I was instantly interested and with almost no details said, “yes please.”
Almost five years ago, when I started AirlineReporter.com, I had a hard time defining this passion that I had for airlines and aviation. Once I gained some readers and was able to start defining who we all are (we are AvGeeks), very few airlines got it.
I don’t blame them. It is hard to get how to interact with this group of people that dedicate a large portion of their lives with airliners. Either researching, looking at photos, taking their own photos, flying on them or in my case blogging on them. But we are a force and some airlines, like Singapore, are starting to get who we are — and they like us.
American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER at a cloudy JFK.
AMERICAN AIRLINES BUSINESS CLASS REVIEW BASICS:
Airline: American Airlines
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (N719AN)
Departed: John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Arrived: London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Stops: Non-stop flight
Class: Business Class
Seat: 9A to and 8J back
Length: About 6 hours
Cheers: Amazing new Business Class product that goes head-to-head with international carriers.
Jeers: Still some grumpy employees who need to smile more.
Overall: American is not just talking the talk; they are walking the walk — they just need to walk a bit farther.
An American Airlines 777-300ER on approach to Paine Field in Everett – Photo: Mal Muir | AirlineReporter.com
I don’t know about other AvGeeks & plane spotters out there but I have this list of aircraft that I have been trying to get photos of lately. Well it sure was a lucky day in Everett when I can tick two off the list in the span of a few minutes.
What is on my list? First, I hope to get each airline that operates the Boeing 787s (because some of the liveries are just downright pretty) and also every airline that operates to Australia (where I am from). Other than that, my list is pretty much made up of airlines that I feel good looking schemes or ones that I haven’t seen before. The holy grail’s though are the special schemes and the retro liveries.
A Saudia Cargo 747-8F about to turn onto 16R at Paine Field – Photo: Mal Muir | AirlineReporter.com
The four that have eluded me lately up at Everett had been the American Airlines new Livery, Aeroflot’s 777-300ER, Saudia Cargo 747-8F and the Uzbekistan Airlines 767. When I saw on the Saturday morning that the American 777 was doing a test flight, well you can bet where I was headed. Even though the fog was thick in the morning for the takeoff, I ran some errands and came back for the departure. When the sun had burnt away the fog and it was a glorious looking afternoon.
To make the afternoon even better, as the American 777 came onto its final approach, the Saudia Cargo 747-8F got taxi clearances for the test flight it was about to begin… score!
An American Airlines 777 in the New Livery Touches down as a Saudia Cargo 747-8F taxi’s by – Photo: Mal Muir | AirlineReporter.com
Even though some of the photos were not perfect, it doesn’t matter. It’s about getting out and enjoying the sunshine, seeing the aircraft and chatting with fellow AvGeeks. Here is to a fruitful spring and summer of spotting!
MORE SEATTLE 2013 SPOTTING PHOTOS
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This story written by…Malcolm Muir, Lead Correspondent.
Mal is an Australian Avgeek now living and working in Seattle. With a passion for aircraft photography, traveling and the fun that combining the two can bring. Insights into the aviation world with a bit of a perspective thanks to working in the travel industry.
@BigMalX | BigMal’s World | Photos |
This was originally posted on Jan 31st and updated and re-posted on Feb 13th…
NOTE: When you print your tickets, it incorrectly states where to meet on Saturday. We are to meet at the Museum of Flight by Noon to take the 737 factory tour.
This is shaping up to be one EPIC event and I am so happy that so many of you will be able to join in. All 420 tickets sold out over the weekend and there were over 35 people on the wait list.
If you are still looking for a place to stay the Hilton Garden Inn at Paine Field is still offering a special #AGF13 discount.
Be Social Media Ready to share this adventure. Follow #AGF13 on Twitter and be sure to follow/mention/like the following companies/organizations who are making #AGF13 possible:
Here is the schedule (as of now):
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16th: Renton and South Day
- 9:00am to 5:00pm: Open access to tour the Museum of Flight and the Space Shuttle trainer (minus the crew compartment). Also be sure to check out the 2013 Northwest Scale Modelers Show going on in the main gallery from 10:00am to 5:00pm. [Ticket Required: Boeing 737 Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed]
- 9:00am to 3:00pm: #AGF13 HQ will be located in the Skyline Room at the Museum of Flight with coffee. [Ticket Required: Boeing 737 Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed.]
- 12:00pm: Meet in the Museum of Flight’s lobby where we will board buses and given a Boeing 737 Factory balcony tour in Renton, WA. [Ticket Required: Boeing 737 Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: 12yrs and older. Clothing: no high heels, no open toes. Cameras: Not allowed.]
- 5:00pm to 6:30pm: Receive a VIP after hours tour of Personal Courage Wing at the Museum of Flight. [Ticket Required: Boeing 737 Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed]
SATURDAY AGF13 TICKETS ALSO GET YOU ACCESS TO [A ticket or badge for AGF13 is required, cameras are allowed and no age restrictions for all]:
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 17th: Paine Field Day
- 10:00am, 11:30am and 1:00pm: There will be multiple tours leaving the Future of Fight (meet in the main lobby) to tour the Boeing Dreamliner Gallery. [Ticket Required: Dreamliner Gallery Group Ticket With Appropriate Time. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed]
- 3:00pm: VIP Boeing Factory Floor Tour. Meet at the Forward Cabin conference room (follow the signs) at the Future of Fight and we will be bussed to the factory. [Ticket Required: Boeing Factory Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: 12yrs and older. Cameras: not allowed. Clothing: no high heels, no open toes.]
- 5:00pm to Later: #AvGeek shin-dig at the Future of Fight with pizza, beer and airline/aviation related prizes and lots of nerdy aviation talk. [Ticket Required: Any AGF13 ticket. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed.]
SUNDAY AGF13 TICKETS ALSO GET YOU ACCESS TO [A ticket or badge for AGF13 is required, cameras are allowed and no age restrictions for all]:
OTHER THINGS TO CHECK OUT WHILE IN TOWN [not officially part of #AGF13]:
If you have questions, please leave them in the comments. Thanks! See you this weekend and prepare to HAVE FUN!
