Flight Report: AC 1918 – ATL to YYZ

It was a whirlwind five-day trip to Atlanta just to see Copa America 2024 Opening Match, but well worth it.  However, with the late nights and plenty of libations to go around, I was ready to head home at this point.  But not before we indulged at the business class lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for a bit, which was a perk given to us for using my Aeroplan miles to book this flight.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

Our original flight time was scheduled for 3:30pm EST, but I received an email update from Air Canada stating that our flight was now delayed to 4:50pm EST.  Carrie and I discussed whether we should grab something to eat nearby or just head to the airport now and kill several hours at the airport lounge instead.  It was shortly after 11am EST when I received this email, so we’re talking at least 4+ hours to kill here before boarding our plane.  Ultimately, we decided to kill time at the airport lounge, especially since I hyped up my last airport lounge experience to someone whose never enjoyed this type of luxury before.

United Club Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

The Uber got us to Jackson-Hartfield International Airport within 20 minutes.  Airport security was standard, so there were no hiccups there.  The real confusing part was where exactly was this lounge that we had access to.  I struggled to find the Maple Leaf Lounge, which is Air Canada’s chain of business class lounges worldwide at select airports.  However, I was told by one of the customer service reps that our ticket granted access to United Airline’s business class lounge instead, called the United Club.

Tarmac view of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport from the United Club

After nearly 30 minutes on the hunt for this lounge, we finally found the United Club.  And it was very underwhelming.  Spacious with bright windows overlooking the tarmac for any plane spotters wanting to kill time, the lounge felt more like a cafeteria with its standard round white tables and buffet style food options.  Multiple screens dotted the dining area with streaming services, but we were unable to watch any of Euro 2024 matches going on that day.  We grabbed some sandwiches, snacks, and alcohol over the course of the next couple of hours before heading closer towards our gate so I could find a bar playing some either Euro or Copa America matches while Carrie wanted to browse some of the shops.

Boarding AC 1918 - ATL to YYZ

The time had finally come for us to board AC 1918 after a couple of delays and an extra three hours added to our wait time.  As we boarded the Airbus A319, I noticed it was not the original plane that we were originally supposed to fly on.  You could tell right away with its seat formation of 2x2 within the first four rows of “Business Class” followed by a 3x3 formation all the way to the back at Row 42.  Air Canada has been absolute garbage this week but having used Aeroplan miles to help subsidize this once-in-a-lifetime trip, I’m limited to how much I can complain.  Let’s be thankful that we’re finally making our way home at this point.

Chicken Marcella, Spring Leaf Salad & Brownie with Red Wine

Given the short two-hour duration of this flight, meals were only served to those sitting in business class.  I had a chicken marcella, spring leaf salad with oil and vinegar dressing, and a brownie with two glasses of red wine.  My other option was the pasta entrée, which I wasn’t really feeling given I was still somewhat full from eating lunch at the United Club only a few hours earlier.

Inclement weather at Toronto Pearson International Airport

The flight went smoothly, except for the few minutes of turbulence we experienced about 20 minutes before we landed at Pearson International Airport due to inclement weather.  It was 21C with a slight drizzle in case anyone was keeping track.  Upon landing, we were required to wait approximately 20 minutes on the tarmac as our arrival gate wasn’t ready yet.  From there, Carrie and I went through customs and took our separate ways home while looking forward to our next soccer trip adventure together.

Inclement weather at Toronto Pearson International Airport

AC 1918 – ATL to YYZ

Operated by: Air Canada 

Aircraft: Airbus A319 (twin-jet); Seat: 2A

Cabin: Business: Meal / Business: Complimentary

Depart: 05:53PM EST – Hartsfield-Jackson International (ATL) – Gate F14

Arrive:  08:17pm EST – Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) – Terminal 1, Gate F36 

Flight Time: 2:24; Non-Stop Flight – 816 Miles/1313 Kilometers; Date:  June 22, 2024

Sweet Auburn | A Walk into America’s Civil Rights Movement

I still have a dream a dream deeply rooted in the American dream – on day this nation will rise up and live up to is creed, “We hold thee truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I have a dream … -- Martin Luther King Jr. (1963)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District

Atlanta played an important role in the American Civil Rights Movement as the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Today visitors can pay tribute to his legacy by visiting the neighbourhood where he was born and raised.  After our visit to the World of Coca-Cola, Carrie and I parted ways with Adrian and Kathleen for the afternoon with plans to meet up later for dinner at BrewDog Atlanta.  For some reason, they had zero interest in going.  I was adamant having been there once before as it not only holds historical significance, but it is also the top tourist attraction in Atlanta.  Unlike the World of Coca-Cola, I was unable to change their minds for the second time in a row today.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District Visitor Center

On the other hand, Carrie would be joining me.  As an Indigenous woman, I knew Carrie would appreciate some of the parallels between the American Civil Rights movement and the ongoing Indigenous Rights reconciliation across Canada.  We decided to walk to Sweet Auburn from Centennial Olympic Park as it’s a very short 30-minute journey over 2 Kilometers.  Along the way, Carrie started to see the stark contrast between the wealthy downtown core of Atlanta and poverty-stricken Sweet Auburn.  Her reactions were nearly identical to mine when I took this walk fifteen years earlier.  But it’s important to take this walk because once you arrive in Sweet Auburn, you develop a greater appreciation for how the American Civil Rights Movement came about. 

Birth Home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sweet Auburn had long been a self-contained community in the days before desegregation where African Americans could go about their daily lives free from racial harassment.  Here they established their own churches, banks, businesses, and homes.  The Sweet Auburn Walk is an official marker located at 33° 45.336’ N, 84° 22.445’ W at the intersection of Auburn Avenue and Jackson Street.  It is a map highlighting key buildings within the Sweet Auburn business district that is bordered by Jackson Street on the east and Courtland Street on the west.  The main points of interest are the Martin Luther King Jr. Visitor Center, Ebenezer Church, Dr. King’s birth home, and the tombs of Dr. King and his wife, Loretta. 

The Eternal Flame at the King Center

The Visitor Center was our first stop as it has a lot of information about Dr. King’s life and his contributions to the American Civil Rights Movement.  I especially enjoyed reading about the influence Dr. King had on President Jimmy Carter even though the two were not personal friends.  Following King’s 1968 assassination, Carter pushed through racial integration policies as Governor of Georgia in the early 1970s when the idea was still highly opposed.  And as President of the United States during the late 1970s, Carter pushed for more low-income housing, improve education access to underserved communities, appointed a record number of Black judges and officials, and was the first President to publicly endorse a national holiday honouring Dr. King.  It was President Carter’s deeply held belief that the American government had a moral obligation to lead by example in providing basic civil rights to all its citizens before they could hold oppressive regimes to accountability around the world. 

The final resting place of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & Coretta Scott-King 

After spending a good hour or two in the Visitor Center, we continued our self-guided walking tour of Sweet Auburn by making our way to Dr. King’s Birth House.  Along the way, Carrie was shocked to see the dilapidated row houses we walked past.  When she asked me who lived here, I said it was predominately African Americans.  She was flabbergasted as these houses reminded her a lot of what she saw growing up within an Indigenous community, except these row houses were a lot worse for wear.  That was an eye opener for me because that comment only further intensified the social inequalities we saw before us. 

We finally arrived at Dr. King’s birth house, but it was closed for renovation.  From there, we made our way over to his tomb to pay our respects.  Along the way, Carrie reminded me it was Juneteenth – a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery.  Another comment that caught me off guard and humbled me for a few moments.  What were the chances that we would visit a key part of the American Civil Rights Movement on a day that celebrated the end of slavery in the United States following the American Civil War?  The timing of our visit was impeccable.  I couldn’t have planned for a better day to return to Sweet Auburn.