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Flying from Toronto to Chicago in a 737: Our First-Person Flight Sim Fun

Since we do a good amount of flying, we've been lucky enough to enjoy seat 1A but also thankful enough just to be onboard in the last row of economy. Recently, this Jaunted writer had the opportunity to sit in an all totally new area of the plane (to us). No, I didn't get to travel in the cargo hold as luggage, instead I got to fly the plane.

Long gone are the days when children were escorted up to the cockpit for a view of the brains of the aircraft, a visit with the pilots, and, inevitably, a set of plastic wings. Since 2001, airlines no longer allow passengers access to the flight deck for obvious reasons, but the dream still exists for many.

Last month we told you all about the British Airways simulator gift card idea. Obviously, my family and friends were listening since I received a boarding pass (gift voucher) for a 60-minute flight simulator experience with a company called Flight Experience. As someone whose interests are primarily consumed by travel, I am always looking for a way to upgrade. Naturally I went ahead and upgraded myself from the 60 to the 90-minute simulation.

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Holiday Travel / Toronto Travel / Canada Travel / Air Canada / Airport News / Free Stuff / Twitter / YYZ / → All Tags

Tweet at Toronto Airport and They'll Deliver Christmas Carols to an Arriving Flight

Believe it or not, airlines do like to show they care during the holiday season, some more than others of course. For example, Southwest will snap family photos right at your gate and Virgin Atlantic will be giftwrapping at several airports. Well, add an entire airport into the holiday cheer as Toronto-Pearson International offers to send carolers to meet the flight of your friends or family.

Yes, carolers will serenade the arriving passengers on a flight, if you tweet them to do so. Here's the details:

· The flight must be domestic and arriving to Toronto-Pearson between now and December 24.
· The flight must arrive between 3pm-8pm, except for the 24th when the hours are 6am-11am.
· Tweet @torontopearson with the person's name, flight number and flight date.
· Sit back and wait for the eventual "OMG you are crazy that was crazy" tweet from the friend or family who gets "FA LA LA LA LA" belted at them.

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Simple Plan Sings About Airports and Jet Lag in a New Music Video

It might not be the latest Lady Gaga or Britney download, but we’re pretty big fans of Simple Plan’s latest single Jet Lag. Honestly it’s probably not going to win any Grammy awards, but what we like about it is the music video, which we stumbled across it during channel surfing in France.

The music video features a cameo by Toronto Pearson International Airport along with many WestJet airplanes—we’re thinking they chipped in a little bit of cash—as the band sings about the true pains of having an intercontinental relationship. All of this time zone trauma has caused the lead singer’s heart to be so jet lagged, and that’s pretty much the theme throughout the song.

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The Five Best Airport Bars for Toasting St. Patrick's Day

Being stuck at the airport on St. Patrick’s Day is definitely not the best way to celebrate the holiday. However, we’re pretty sure you can find some fellow travelers eager to toast to the Irish this week at airports across the globe. So pull up a stool, belly up to the bar, and order a pint of Guinness at one of our picks for the five best airport bars to celebrate all things green::

· Corcoran's Irish Pub at LAS
Lady Luck meets the Luck o’ The Irish at Las Vegas-McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. You’ll need to take a break from the terminal slot machines—like you have any money leftover anyway—to check out Corcoran's Irish Pub between gates C1 and C2. Expect the usual not-that-authentic recreation of a neighborhood pub, but that’s exactly what we want to experience this Thursday. Just take it easy with those Irish Car Bomb shots, as you don’t want to be turned away before boarding.

· Fionn MacCool’s at YYZ
Canada’s largest airport Toronto-Pearson will be celebrating the season this week with their version of an Irish Pub right within Terminal 3. The place has only been around for a year or so, but they promise to fill you up with both Irish inspired food and beverage. Get something to go along with your liquid lunch like a Guinness Steak and Mushroom Crock, but we’re sure they have a burger if you’re not that into the Irish food offerings this week.

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Our Map of Airports Around the World with Free WiFi Keeps Growing

If you haven't checked out our comprehensive and ever-updating Airport WiFi Map, you totally should! Thanks to tips from readers and our own traveling, we're adding new airports with internet weekly, and today we've happily got 8 new additions for it! We have over one hundred total already, all around the world.

Check out the list of our 8 newest airports with free WiFi, after the jump!

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Moose Droppings for Sale at Toronto's Airport

As we made our way back from Toronto last week, we popped into one of the shops at Toronto's Pearson International Airport to check out their snack offerings.

As you know, Jaunted loves checking out other countries' junk food options, sometimes just for the fun packaging if not the strange combination of ingredients. And in Pearson, we found a treat that elicited a gag and an "Ooo!" from us at the same time---Canadian Moose Droppings.

Fear not, these aren't actual fecal products. Instead they are chocolate coated almonds just cleverly packaged as "moose droppings." Oh those Canucks! Such a funny sense of humor. But you have to admit, bringing home some moose droppings is a heck of a lot better than a bottle of maple syrup!

Related Stories:
· Virgin America's 'Air Drake' Lands in Toronto, with Richard Branson and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Tow [Jaunted]
· Wienerlinos are Like the Coney Dogs of Germany [Jaunted]
· Organic Ice Cream Invades Napa Wine Country [Jaunted]

Snapshot / Virgin America / Drake / Richard Branson / David Cush / Jason Pomeranc / New Routes / Inaugural Flights / Toronto Travel / YYZ / → All Tags

Virgin America's 'Air Drake' Lands in Toronto, with Richard Branson and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Tow

Virgin America officially celebrated their international launch yesterday, of flights to and from LAX/SFO and Toronto, by naming the plane in honor of hip hop artist, Toronto native and most importantly, "DeGrassi High: The Next Generation" star Drake.

Here's a look at Air Drake complete with a mention of his new album, Thank Me Later, which just dropped on June 15. Ok, you still don't know who he is but check out Wikipedia for a brief introduction.

Onboard the flight was also Richard Branson, CEO David Cush, The Governator (just for the LA-SFO leg), Giles Martini (aka the Naked Man from Sex and the City 1), Eric Roberts, Audrina's ex-BF Ryan Cabrera, Cheryl Burke and hotelier Jason Pomeranc whose new hotel in Toronto--The Thompson Toronto—everyone onboard shacked up at later.

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Drive-Thru For A Fast Food Lunch And A 747 Landing

We love airplanes, you love airplanes, so let's go look at airplanes! In our Prime Plane Spotting series, we'll let you in on all the best spots to whip out your cameras and binoculars for a piece of the aviation action.

On the Pacific coast of Canada, in Vancouver, there is a jetty ideally situated for watching landing planes. On almost the other side of the North American continent in Toronto, it's a Wendy's fast food restaurant that makes for the perfect lookout.

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Airport Photo Shoots / Celeb Travel / Zac Efron / Security Theater / YYZ / → All Tags

Zac Efron Can Write His Name

"High School Musical 3" star Zac Efron is forced to confront his legacy as a teen heartthrob at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

"HSM3" topped the box office last weekend for the second week in a row, besting a host of Halloween offerings from "The Haunting of Molly Hartley" to "Saw V." Youth, hope and optimism beats grim determination and appeals to fear? We've never seen that before.

Related Stories:
· Zac Efron Can't Even Mystic Tan Without His Bodyguards [Jaunted]
· Zac Efron's Oversize Carryon [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]

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Smuggling Travel: Watch the Weight of Your Bible

Don't try to out-smuggle these guys...

Airport police busted two travelers in as many days when they tried to smuggle cocaine through Toronto Pearson International. The two 21-year-olds both used the same technique to conceal the drugs: Gluing baggies inside the bindings and covers of Bibles.

A border security agent had this helpful explanation:

This is not something we see on a regular basis. Bibles are what people read for spiritual support and not for smuggling drugs.

The two ran afoul of the authorities by stashing too much coke in each Bible. One book had four kilos (9 pounds) of drugs inside, tipping off customs agents who expected the book to weigh much less.

We have one more note for any potential smugglers out there: Toronto airport police are now tooling around terminals on three-wheeled motor scooters, so your quick getaway will probably be foiled promptly. When it comes to drugs, you might have better luck in Spain.

Related Stories:
· Cocaine Found in Bibles [Toronto Sun]
· Pearson Airport's Motor scooters on Patrol [Official Site]
· Drugs coverage [Jaunted]