Friday December 25th 2015 - Where I was on Christmas Day

Friday 25th December 2015 Christmas Day Holidays

Sometimes there are advantages of flying on Christmas Day depending on whether you enjoy Christmas or would prefer it didn't exist.
In my case I love flying on Christmas Day - why? because I gain a few more Christmas Day hours to enjoy but this year unfortunately I almost missed Christmas Day.
My flight from Sydney to Vancouver was delayed 8 hours - the only flight on Christmas Day that was delayed!
There were several rumoured reasons for the delay - one being mechanical or technical problems - another being cancellation of flights - a third reason being extreme weather conditions.

Whatever the reason I had a choice :

1. Return taxi voucher from airport home
2. Free meal voucher to value of AUS$60 and use of a day room at a hotel at the airport. 

I chose the latter.

So what does one do when they have to spend an entire Christmas Day at the airport.

1. After checking in your luggage I have a sleep, possibly a shower or watch as much tv as possible in the day room allocated at the airport hotel.
2. Go down to the hotel bar  and eat the crappy food on the menu (how anyone could eat $60 worth of free food is beyond me. I could have ordered the entire Christmas Day menu and it would not have cost $60!) I had the turkey burger with sweet potato fries and a juice this cost just $14. It was dry and unpalatable.
3. Get to know your fellow stranded travellers and listen to how disgruntled they are.
4. Go for a walk around the airport and do some last minute shopping or take the train into town and do some shopping - oh but wait not a good idea it's Christmas Day and I just remembered there are no shops open!!!
5. Heres one I didn't prepare earlier - unpack all your suitcases and repack them. Not working because I've already checked my main suitcase and snowboard bag in.
6. Go through security early and queue up for an hour at TRS to claim your tax back on the insignificantly single small electronic item you purchased to take overseas with you and watch the Chinese empty out bags of luxury goods they have purchased for a tax refund for inspection by the TRS.
One day ahead and five hours behind  - this year Christmas was one day behind and eight hours ahead ie almost no Christmas.