- Terminal entrance and check-in area reminded me of T1 at Toronto Pearson...I already knew that from pictures, but this was my first time seeing it in person.
- Kiosks would not scan my wife's passport; we managed to get everyone else's done, but we had to stand in the super long line.
- I like the new bag drop...for those who haven't seen it, you put your bag down on this machine, and scan your boarding pass. The computer weighs it, while scanning the entire bag with lasers for the airline's tag. If the weight is all good and it finds the tag, the machine activates the belt, and your bag is sent through.
- Security went fairly smoothly, and the line was short. The automated bins look cool, and we didn't get separated from our bags, but I could see it happening if there's a huge crowd and if a struggler is taking super long to get through ahead of you.
- I noticed that the Nexus line does indeed merge with the normal one; again, the line was short, and we don't have Nexus. But some guy in his 50's travelling with his wife got all huffy about it. While putting his socks on (they said take off your shoes, not socks), he was ranting about how it was "absolutely ridiculous", that he was going to "get all the Nexus card holders together" and that the "Minister of Transport was
definitely going to hear from" him. I found his rant hilarious...chill the F out dude, you're going on vacation. SMILE!
- Customs was fairly smooth, no complaints there
- I really don't get the idea of this duty free shop at the top of the escalators. Being an avgeek, I know how to find my way around in an airport. This store felt like a god damn maze...we had no idea which way to go to get out, and there was no signage.
- Made it out of the maze, and the Call to Gate board said "Wait, Relax, Enjoy" next to our flight. This was in the early morning, and I sort of knew this already, but I was dumbfounded as to why there was no Tim Hortons past security. Really, guys?!
- Not many of the food places were open; understandable, as it was early, but still.
- The Call to Gate board would not change at all from "Wait and relax". Eventually, I looked at my watch and saw that it was 20 minutes to departure, the board still hadn't changed, and the flight was still on-time. I made the executive decision that we should ignore the system and go to the gate.
- As we're halfway there, WestJet announced the final boarding call for our flight. Gee, thanks guys...really scoring points for the CTG system. We get to the gate, and I told the agents that the board still said 'wait and relax', and she gives me a dumbfounded look and says, "Really? I pushed the button to change it!" before thanking me for telling her.