If you walk by the Flight Centre downtown on Howe Street at Dunsmuir, you might notice that things look different lately. The shop, which was closed for six months of renovations, has indeed had an overhaul—in both decor and philosophy.

Gone is the typical long counter with agents and brochures behind it. Instead, the space—which is four times larger at 2039 square feet—has comfy booths and tables, walls of travel brochures for browsing, and iPads for more info. And, there's a fun wall-sized map on which you can plot your next adventure.

"It's a lot more interactive," says store manager Shane Buksh as he draws out a possible flight route on the map. The renovated store, which opened on November 14, is the first Flight Centre "ultra shop" in Canada. The flagship store offers what you can't get by booking online: a sit-down chat with somebody who's actually been where you want to go.

The iPad station at the front has bios of the 10 agents working there—most handpicked from other Flight Centre locations—listing each country where they've travelled. (Buksh has been to 60 countries himself and passionately collects reward points.) Customers can browse the package brochures on their own or get help from one of the agents, who offer cheese and crackers along with advice. 

Buksh says that talking to an agent helps you book a trip based on what really matters to you, giving you a fuller picture than just the price. For example, if you're comparing one flight to Europe that costs $1,000 and another that costs $100 more, he can tell you which one is a better value because it offers more reward miles or a much bigger and roomier airplane cabin.

Prices at this Flight Centre location are the same as on the website, but the shop sells some extra products. These include about 40 custom-made packages unique to the store to destinations like New York, San Francisco, Costa Rica, and Iceland. 

Outside, the digital window board is updated daily with available airfare specials, rather than weekly as it was before.

So where are people going these days? "Jamaica, Cuba, Hawaii, and Mexico," says Buksh. "People want to get away from the rain."

This Thursday (December 4) is the shop's grand opening party from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.  There will be refreshments, music, and prizes, including an airline ticket anywhere Air Canada flies.

The store is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 625 Howe Street.