Victoria - Toronto (737 MAX)

Normally, people would take the ferry or even a seaplane between Vancouver and Victoria, but my complicated itinerary from Hong Kong to Toronto with an overnight stop in Vancouver would require hopping over to Victoria by plane today to connect to a 2nd flight to Toronto.
Victoria's airport is quite small and quaint. Arrivals and departures share the same level although is fairly separate sections. There is a small check-in section and similar to other Canadian airports, check-in is pretty much self-serve.





With recreational marajuana use now legal in the country, this no smoking sign has been updated accordingly.



I've never been to an airport with a fireplace in a land-side seating area.



With a few more flights departing later in the morning, there was a long security line that snaked around a bit. Luckily, I had left plenty of time for this. Emerging on the other side, I noted a few additional jets have arrived compared to when I landed earlier in the morning. The Air Canada jet that I rode from Vancouver was still here.





One exciting fact on today's trip is my next leg to Toronto would be on a 737 MAX although I have flown on this type before the grounding back in 2018.



Another unique feature at the airport is the animal washroom. I didn't bring an emotional support pet with me today.



There was a huge crowd in the upstairs lounge with no seats whatsoever as Air Canada and Westjet had flights at around the same time. It was impossible to social distance and the lines were all messed up thanks to the airline's magical multi-zone boarding system.



It was a full flight today so I would be trapped in my window seat for a while.



The MAX's IFE is just like what I got on the Dreamliner for the transpacific sector. No complaints on the selection.





We pushed back a few minutes behind schedule but it was a short taxi to take-off. By now, the blue sky was gone and it started to drizzle.



We took off towards the east and with a left window, I wasn't able to spot Victoria on departure. I got Sidney instead.



I was hoping to spot Vancouver but with cloudy skies, I was out of luck. We initially flew south of Point Roberts on the American side of the border.



The pandemic preparedness kit was a different colour than the one I got yesterday. Looking at the packaging, apparently the international and domestic flights have different kits.



The clouds couldn't make it across the Rockies though. From Alberta onwards, it was sunny and beautiful.





I could even spot Calgary in the distance.



I kept an eye on the window to see the endless fields and which cities were coming up.



Satisifed with my Tim Hortons toasted sandwich at the airport, I didn't buy a meal on board, but opted for a free drink instead.



With the flight map as a cue, I kept a lookout for Saskatoon in the distance.

















North America is quite a wide continent. Today's 4 hour flight would take up most of my day thanks to a 3 hour time difference. I would land at sunset.







We flew in from Lake Huron and looped around the north end of Toronto under cloudy skies. The lighting wasn't ideal by this time of the day so I could only capture limited skyline shots on final approach.











We landed just shy of 7pm with sunset and Mississauga's skyline in the distance.









I was seated at the back of the plane, and patiently waited a bit for the other passengers to clear out to take some more cabin photos. I knew my checked luggage wouldn't come out that quickly anyway.





The luggage wait wasn't too long and I emerged land-side looking for my GO bus. Unfortunately, I had just missed it and the next one would come in an hour, so I had to change plan and grab another route instead. I couldn't find a ticketing machine so ended up buying a ticket online. For tourists who don't have a Presto card (there is no counter here to buy one either), you have to activate your online ticket and wait a few minutes as the countdown clock runs to process it, so do it well before the bus arrives. Hope you can log onto the airport wifi from the bus stop or have a data SIM.





More : https://www.globalphotos.org/ac192-2021.htm

For tourists who don't have a Presto card (there is no counter here to buy one either), you have to activate your online ticket and wait a few minutes as the countdown clock runs to process it, so do it well before the bus arrives. Hope you can log onto the airport wifi from the bus stop or have a data SIM.

Isn't the UP Express counter / vender machine able to purchase a Presto?
I bought mine via the vending machine in YYZ too .

if you know that your journey would be complicated, would you opt for toronto city instead of yyz?

AVD1 發表於 2021-12-7 13:31
Isn't the UP Express counter / vender machine able to purchase a Presto?
I bought mine via the ven ...

The GO/TTC buses depart from a separate level and not with the UP trains. No vending machines for GO at their stop.

kbh 發表於 2021-12-7 21:20
if you know that your journey would be complicated, would you opt for toronto city instead of yyz?

Unfortunately, Billy Bishop is too small and can't accommodate long-haul domestic flights. Neither Porter nor Air Canada fly to Vancouver/Victoria from there.

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Toronto City Airport 最大只能落 Dash 8... 在加西還是乖乖飛YYZ啦

在YYZ想平出市區，坐TTC 900 號巴士直達 Kipling
樓主坐 GO Bus 應該去緊 Richmond Hill/Markham 果頭，個人覺得咁坐幾抵

yuenpo 發表於 2021-12-14 13:24
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Toronto City Airport 最大只能落 Dash 8... 在加西還是乖乖飛YYZ啦

Yes, you are correct. I was heading to the northern suburbs so the GO bus was the most efficient way, and the price was quite decent as well.