Our alarms went off at 6 so we'd have time to shower and do everything else before the breakfast buffet opened at 7, allowing us just enough time to eat, brush our teeth, and move our bags down with multiple trips in the tiny elevator to be ready for our pre-arranged ride to the airport at 7:45.  We had checked in online yesterday but this morning we each received notifications (sent in the wee hours) that our Lisbon to Montréal flight was delayed by an hour and a half.  Since the hotel was a much more comfortable place than an airport and we had already set up the ride to arrive at the airport 3 hours ahead of departure, we called the desk to see if we could change the pick-up for 9 a.m.  We could.

So we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the window table (arriving early meant it was free) and moved our bags down unhurriedly to the lobby to await our ride.  Shortly after 9, the receptionist on duty came over to explain, apologize, let us know our ride would be there soon, and ask for another 5€.  We had paid 30€ in cash yesterday for the ride but apparently the individual who booked it yesterday hadn't been aware of just how big our bike cases are when the bikes are in them.  It had been the same young woman I'd communicated with when making the arrangements to store the collapsed cases, but she had never seen them assembled and with the bikes inside.  The driver had arrived, looked, and left to get a different vehicle (with higher rate).  We learned from her later that we were lucky we'd postponed our pick-up because the big vehicle hadn't been available earlier.  No worries, we still had lots of time.

The van was unmarked but she dropped us off at an elevator in the parkade and told us which floor to get off at for departures.  I suspect she runs a busy operation ferrying travellers between the airport and a selection of Lisbon hotels.

We checked in, paid Air Canada's bike fee of 35€ each, passed through a very efficient security line, and then it was like Ikea through the duty-free shop.  We bought a bottle of tawny port.  I suspect we could get the same product at home but consumable souvenirs are always good.

At passport control, at first I got in the long "all passports" queue but then we heard that we could use the "electronic passports" queue.  I didn't realize we had ePassports but all Canadian passports issued since mid-2013 are electronic.  That queue was much shorter and moved quickly.

Once finally on board, we could see our Knog Scouts (attached to our bikes) were also on board, and despite the notifications from Air Canada that the flight was full and could we please check our carry-on bags, the flight was not full and the middle seat between us remained empty.  I read a book on my Kobo for almost the entire flight and discovered that my eyes weren't burning as they usually are after a long flight.  I blame my movie habit and those seat-back screens and have now sworn off them.

We still had plenty of time to kill at Montréal Trudeau Airport since our itinerary had originally included a four-and-a-half hour connection.  I've learned that I prefer to connect in Montréal over Toronto, but to allow plenty of time since flights from Europe are often late arriving.  Yes, the airline will rebook you, but invariably in a middle seat which I prefer to avoid on a long flight, and your luggage usually doesn't make it.

Another uneventful flight on which I finished my book.  Our bikes arrived, we took Canada Line to Waterfront Station and then a taxi home.  The driver was skeptical but Al showed him how to get both bike cases into the back, along with our small suitcases and two passengers.  Apparently traffic was a mess in Vancouver earlier in the evening but all was calm for the ride over the bridge and home.