Fast 5 Travel Tips: Turn one flight into two

If you love to travel, like I do, you will want to memorize my tips for earning free travel.

These are legitimate ways to earn free flights. No lying, scheming or collecting points. Proven tips. 

The best part is, that you can use your flight credits as you wish. The only catch... you have to start with a busy flight. 

Important definitions: 

Bump - Travel slang for give up your seat and catch the next flight instead.

Oversold - The airline has more passengers than seats. 

Volunteer (for compensation) -  Offer to give up your seat in exchange for future credits

Voucher - Airlines will almost always give you meal vouchers ($10 or similar) when you are delayed

Booking strategy: 

1. Choose flights that get to your destination before you need to be there.  Example: If there are 2 flights that would get you to the church on time, choose the first. If you "bump" the airline will book you on the next flight out (which you already know gets you there on time). Thus, you are minimizing your inconvenience but maximizing your benefit.

2. Choose flights that are popular (like Sunday afternoons or Friday mornings when business travellers typically fly) and are likely to be full. Thus, increasing your odds of an oversold situation. 

3. Choose Delta Airlines, or Air Canada. Both are generous with their compensation, have many flights (So you can still get to where you are going in a reasonable amount of time.) and often find themselves in an oversold position. Incidentally, I have had free flight credits (from volunteering to bump) from both these airlines in the last 2 years. So, if Air Canada and Westjet are offering the same route, at the same price, I would choose Air Canada as they are more likely to oversell and offer future credits. 

Volunteer Strategy: 

4. Be at your gate early. Sit close to the desk. Keep your ears open for announcements. 

5. If/when they call for volunteers, don't hesitate! You want to be first or second in line for a good offer.  In some cases, if the benefit offered is low, like $200, or $300 there might not be any volunteers. Then the airline's next move will be a higher benefit, like $400 or $600. Be polite, but also don't be shy about asking for food vouchers in addition to your flight credits. If there are two people in your travel party, and they need the two volunteers, you will each receive benefits. So, $400 x 2 = $800. Nice eh? 

The key to getting free travel, is flexibility. If you can change your schedule a little. you stand to earn big benefits. Depending on the length of delay, and inconvenience, your flight credits will be between $300 and $800.  With both Delta and A/C, the future flight credits can be split and used on multiple future flights. (But just for the one person who is named on the voucher.) For example, if Air Canada offers you $800 in future credit, you can use it for a flight to Calgary to see your cousin ($300) AND a flight to Hawaii to relax on the beach ($500) if you find a decent seat sale. And that would be TWO free flights, for one bump. Or....JACKPOT in my world. 

The opportunity to bump certainly doesn't come up all the time, but I can say from experience that about 50% of my Delta flights have been oversold. The average traveller may not even recognize these opportunities to get free future travel, but once you tune in and benefit, it's sure hard to pass up. 

Halifax: Citadel Hill

On an unusually warm but rainy November afternoon I visited The Citadel in Halifax.

Halifax, the bustling and vibrant city, is very much built around this historic landmark.

It's on the edge of the downtown area, less than a mile from the waterfront and also the university area.

As you will see in my first photo, it's uniquely situated across from the Scotiabank arena, where the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL play hockey.  No doubt in my mind, that visiting hockey teams scale the hill as part of their pregame workouts.

It was indeed a workout, but worth the hike to see this military fortress preserved and honoured, so close to the modern city.  Uniquely situated, no cost and accessible to tourists, there is really no reason to miss this attraction.

Halifax: A portrait in architecture

Forgive me for not knowing the history of each of these buildings, their current purpose or their ownership.

I simply admired them and as a collection, it gave me a better feel for Halifax and its history.

I love photos for the way they can capture your imagination, and can take you back to a moment.

So, with that, I share "Halifax. November 2015. Unedited."

Visual Remembrance

On the prairies, we are most familiar with the Army, their battalions and their community presence.

The Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club and their alliance with 17 Wing Winnipeg (Canadian Air Force)  also makes the Air Force very well known in our area.

The third division of our Canadian Military is the Navy. The Navy is not as widely known or recognized on the prairies simply because we are so far removed from the oceans that flank our country.

When I recently had the opportunity to visit Halifax, it gave me a chance to learn more about the history of the Canadian Navy and their contributions.

On the Halifax Harbour there are memorial boards recognizing the contributions of individuals and groups that made an impact.

On the eve of Remembrance Day, I share them with you.

Halifax: Seaport Market

Manitobans can relate, when they think of The Forks. Here, in Halifax the Seaport Market is the customary blend of artisans, food vendors and farm produce. 

It's smaller than The Forks, but certainly worth the visit. 

I couldn't resist the fall apples. They even had pears. Both were beyond delicious. Crisp and full of flavour. Truly, that little Nova Spy apple was the BEST apple I'd ever eaten. I'm so glad I buffed it up and took a photo before it was simply a tasty memory. 

The view alone is worth the visit. There's a beautiful lighthouse across the bay. The Seaport Market is also adjacent to The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Plus, the Via rail station and grand Westin Hotel are mere steps away. 

You won't need a car to travel here. It's an easy and enjoyable walk from nearly all the downtown hotels. 

I can definitely recommend this as a destination for family travel. You have everything in this historic location, to enjoy yourselves for a few hours. There are several observation points where you can sit and watch ships on the water. 

Clean washrooms, authentic and local foods, and much more. 

Best apple I've eaten in my lifetime. 

Halifax: The Chowder

In Halifax, the chowder is as important to the community as the perogy is to Dauphin (Manitoba). Everybody makes one, but you've got to ask around to find the best.

They're all good. Any chowder, on a cool day is a good chowder,  of course, as long as it's hot, fresh and full of meat. "Meat" being seafood. Ah, scallops, lobster, haddock, ohhhh, all so good.

I found my great chowder at Durty Nelly's on Sackville Street in Halifax. It comes highly recommended and with good reason. It was fabulous.

Boy did that hit the spot with an icy glass of Tall Ships from local Granville Brewery.

East coast perfection!

Pier 21: My Story

(Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia)

I loved the stories on the wall, the yellow manila tags handwritten in pencil and hung by strangers. It was captivating. The art installation and interactive museum display asked, 'What's your story.' And people answered.

I enjoyed it for a few moments, snapped a couple photos and made my way through the museum for another hour, never believing I had my own story. After all, as much as I knew or believed, I was 'just a Canadian.'

On the main floor of the museum, there is a little library room sponsored by Scotiabank. They invite you to search out your family history. To use their services, at no charge and perhaps, make a meaningful connection.

The museum was virtually empty, a very quiet, rainy November day. So when I walked into the Scotiabank library I was greeted instantly, and warmly. Unsure that I had any business or purpose in that room, I hesitated, but just a little.

The clerk, a bright welcoming woman in her 20s, said to me, "Can I help you look something up? Who would you like to find?"

Of course, wandering into the room, I had no plan. No idea. No one to find. But, when prompted with the question, I replied with my Great Grandfather's name. I mean, I believed he was English, possibly, ok likely, and I think he must have immigrated to Canada at some point. I'm sure I'd heard something from my Grandmother. (I should have listened better when I was young and with her.)

And with that name. 2 words, uttered like a shot in the dark, we were off. Off to the races!

She asked "Do you know what year he immigrated?" 
Me: Sorry, no.

What country did he come from? 
Me: No, sorry.  Probably England, I think.

Do you know the name of his parents? 
Me: Amos. Amos was his father.

I thought your Great Grandfather's name was Amos? And his father was Amos also? 
Me: (pause) I think so. But I don't really know.

Do you know where they lived in Canada when they arrived? 
Me: Yes! Morris, Manitoba.

-------tap tap tap on the keyboard,  tap tap tap ------

"Here we are!"  she exclaims. And on the screen was a census form stating that my Great Grandfather, Amos, was 4 years old at the time he immigrated to Canada with his siblings and mother Eliza.

They came over in 1881 and arrived at the Port of Quebec on the ship named The Sarmatian.

The next two minutes are literally a blur as my eyes welled up with tears. On the screen in front of me, was a black and white photo of the ship, then immigration documents, census documents and even the ship's handwritten passenger manifest.

I could hardly choke out words it hit me so hard. It was like a wall of history and I was gasping for air.

Of all the children, my Great Great Grandfather (Amos) chose to name his third son, Amos.

The second generation Amos goes on to name his own second son (my Grandfather) Leonard Amos. And then I went on to name my second son, Calder James Amos.

Though naming of my son, was not coincidence, it was absolutely deliberate to honour my strong bond with my dear Grandfather who had passed several years ago. But suddenly, I had a stronger bond. A deeper connection more than just two generations.

About all I could share with the clerk, in audible words at this point, was, "I named my son for my Grandfather. His name is Calder James Amos." And then I pointed at the Kleenex box and reached towards it. She knowingly obliged and passed me a Kleenex.

So much for not having a connection to Canadian immigration. The thought of a four year old, on a ship, with his mother and siblings, was overwhelming to me.

"May I borrow your pen?" I asked.

No need she replied, "I've printing everything out for you. Let me just tuck it in an envelope for you."

And all that, happened in LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. On a Friday afternoon in November.

Thank you Canadian Department of Immigration. Thank you Halifax. Thank you 'technology' and all the people who contributed to the recording and preservation of census documents.

And thank you Scotiabank. That was indeed a gift.