I’m not a big fan of line-ups.

Having just flown back from Saskatoon yesterday, which included a stopover in Calgary and a trip on the Canada Line…let’s just say there was a bit of schlepping. I am now back at the Vancouver Airport for the second time in less than 24 hours, and yes, there have been a few line-ups between yesterday and today.

So, when I wheeled my bag toward the Air Transat counter and saw the long rag-tag mob of people and luggage waiting to check in, well…my heart sank a little. Then I remembered an email that said something about going to the Club counter. “I hope this is where I’m supposed to be,” I said to the young woman at the counter under the Club Transat sign;  a woman who, I might add, was behind a counter that had NO line-up. “I don’t actually have an e-ticket or anything but here’s my passport.” I kept my fingers crossed behind my purse.

There was a too-long hesitation as she clicked and scrolled through passenger lists. Then she said the thing no one wants to hear, “Are you sure it’s today?”

Oh man. Could I have screwed up the date? It’s SO possible.

I pulled out the Air Transat/Visit Britain itinerary. “No, look, it says September 4th. It is the 4th right?” I look at my phone. It’s definitely the 4th, but I still feel like I might have it wrong.

She gets her co-worker, which effectively creates more of a line-up to my left as the new woman is pulled from her station. This woman types and clicks, and then, “Ah,” she says, “they missed the first ‘e’ in your last name. No problem.”

She passes the information back to the first attendant who says,  “I am so sorry for your wait.”

“No problem at all,” I reply. I want to tell her she has no idea. This was a no-waiting wait.

She looks carefully at the screen and then says, “Oh. Your seat is 1G.” She says it like she’s very pleased for me. I think I’m very pleased for me too.

Then she carefully adds a sticker to my ticket. “This sticker will ensure you will have no waits through security.”

I am sipping my Starbucks grande cappuccino while sitting beside the aquarium at the International Departures hall. I’m pretty darned pleased at the expedited security process.

I’m pretty sure that I’m going to like this trip to Ye Olde Englande via Air Transat.

Now. If they could just add a sticker that told security you could keep your shoes on…