Temp LA: 16 degrees and overcast, Chicago -5 degrees and light snow, Quebec -15 degrees and clear.
Took off from hotel about 0730 hrs. Easy run into LA airport and the driver took us a round-a-bout route. The highway was heavy traffic, which we saw as we passed over it. We did get a trip through the California oil fields which reminded me that we didn't get to the Tar pits where there is the fossilised example of a Sabre Tooth tiger with its mouth closed. Maybe next time.
Check-in at LAX with United Airlines is interesting. (Note: United Airlines had amalgamated with Continental so will in future be known as United Continental). One of those automated machines. If they work they are confusing. Its not a smart system unless you only have carry on. Thankfully there were staff on hand to accept the check-in luggage and assist with the crap system. We were early in check-in and we were still fully separated in our seating as the system would not allow us to do a multi-check-in. The staff really weren't that helpful here either. Security took some time to get through, but ultimately it was painless. It was surprising to see the number of small dogs travelling on board the aircraft.
The flight to Chicago was on a Boeing 757 and took around 4 hours. Service on the aircraft was buy your own and quite expensive. A lot of passengers packed their own picnic baskets. There were complimentary drinks of coffee, water, orange juice and soft drink. Once into Chicago airport there were no directions to the next flight. We did have some time and eventually found someone to assist us. A long walk on the concourse to the transfer bus. From there we were escorted to the tarmac and to the transfer bus. Off to concourse F (terminal 3) and by what appeared to be the tradesmans entrance into the F2 gate area. It was about 1730 hrs and we hadn't eaten all day, so McDonalds, which just happened to be nearby, filled the holes. At 1821 hrs we boarded the Skywest operated United Airlines CRJ200. A neat express jet. Carry-on room was limited so I found a seat at the back with room to store the bags under the seat. De-icing the wings with a robot arm system delayed our take off for a while, and then further traffic taking off slowed the process further. We eventually followed a 747 off the runway with the ascent surprisingly smooth being so close to the previous take-off. This flight was only 1 hour and 52 minutes. The only disappointment was the green de-icing goop clouding the windows preventing any view of the lights on take-off. On landing in Quebec enough of the goop had washed off to give a glimpse of the lights of Canada. The orange streetlight glow particularly iridescent against the white snow on the roads and houses.
There was a delay on tarmac while we waited for a tow onto the bay. The aircraft had lost nose wheel steering on landing.
Canadian customs was painless and provided a good opportunity to practice some French. The staff are probably still laughing. Anyway all our baggage made it with us this time (obviously apart from the earlier loss, which we still haven't heard about). It is a flat fare of $32 CAD to the city central from the airport. We arrived at the Hotel Delta at about 2200 hrs. The last the check-in. They upgraded us to a Premier room which has a great view over Quebec city towards the Saint Laurent river and St Mathews church with an 1800's cemetery just below.
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