International flights from central Canada typically come in threes. The first, an early morning tease, a couple hours where my boyfriend has a permanent grin plastered on his face. His childlike excitement is endearing. He has never flown in a large aircraft before. Strange considering he has flown a Cessna solo before. 

Short layovers and plane wings that require de-icing get my nerves in a bunch. An hour isn't long to transfer planes in Vancouver. 

Without hiccups, we board. Our final Boeing 787 is a monster: sleek curved wings and an expansive interior half-full of passengers. 

Score! Leg room.