{"id":232358,"date":"2016-05-30T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/news\/air-transat-546-montreal-bordeaux\/"},"modified":"2024-05-31T12:58:22","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T16:58:22","slug":"air-transat-546-montreal-bordeaux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesopedia.com\/en\/reviews\/flights\/air-transat-546-montreal-bordeaux\/","title":{"rendered":"Review of Air Transat flight TS546 from Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau to Bordeaux Merignac"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a flight for a short stay in France, I had explained in a previous post<\/a> how I arrived at this quite simple trip. Here is the first segment.<\/p>\n

\n\n<\/p>\n

After Washington last month, it is for family reasons that I am returning to France for a long weekend. This flight report will have nothing glamorous, for that we will have to wait for next week with Jean-Maximilien’s trip in First Class<\/a>. But we want to share all our travel experiences, the exceptional ones as well as the more ordinary ones \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

As I had explained in my post<\/a> about finding this flight, I turned to Air Transat for the flexibility of the cities served directly. Bordeaux and Toulouse being close to my destination, direct flights to these two cities were very attractive for a 4 days stay.<\/p>\n

I arrived at the airport with the 747 shuttle. This one takes longer to reach Pierre Elliott Trudeau with all the work in this part of the island. It took me a good hour from the Mile-Ex district to get there.<\/p>\n

\"shuttle
The 747 Shuttle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
registration counters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
my flight is on time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I didn’t have any luggage to check, so I went straight to the security checkpoint where the wait was 20 minutes. Thanks to the TD VISA Infinite Privilege card<\/a>, I was able to use the ticket cutter and 5 minutes later I was “airside”.<\/p>\n

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\nI then went to explore the terminal. This one has known a big change with the opening of 6 new doors in the international part on May 10th. There are also new dining areas at Gates 52 and 53. I had my reservations when I saw the virtual renderings on the internet, but in person the new part is nice: very bright and you can see the planes! The avgeek in me was satisfied.<\/p>\n
\"image<\/a>
The new restaurants around doors 52-53<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
The new restaurants around doors 52-53<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
The new restaurants around doors 52-53<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
The new restaurants around doors 52-53<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
The entrance to the new doors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
A bar in the new international part<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
The new waiting area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"image<\/a><\/p>\n

It was time to do some spotting.<\/p>\n

\"image<\/a>
A340 Air France<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
777-300ER Swiss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
the plane of my flight, an A330-200<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My Priority Pass membership attached to my American Express Platinum card<\/a> gives me access to the National Bank Mastercard Lounge. Not the most elegant, it is however well supplied with alcohol and a decent offer of food. On the other hand it is very busy.
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\"image<\/a>
The National Bank Lounge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
The food offer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
We stayed reasonable \ud83d\ude42<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was time to leave for gate 63 where my flight was leaving from. Priorities were scrupulously respected (Club Class, people who bought an Option Plus Pass). The boarding ended on time, the captain indicating us a flight time of 6h50, relatively long. It’s true that during the flight, the displayed speeds were not stellar.<\/p>\n

\"image<\/a>
Flight display<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
Boarding<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"93ff92d6<\/a>
My plane at departure – Photo: Jean-Claude Trudeau from the 55th Avenue Facebook<\/a> group<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The cabin is relatively new, but the lack of separation really gives it a hangar feel.<\/p>\n

\"image<\/a>
The cabin of the Airbus A330-200 Air Transat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
The seat in the Airbus A330-200 of Air Transat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"image<\/a>
IFE , of good quality<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"img<\/a>
Air Transat comfort kit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The seat is comfortable. I bought a comfort kit that contains a blanket, an inflatable neck pillow and a mask for 10$ (7euros). It is also possible to purchase an “Options Plus” pass when making a reservation:<\/p>\n