Calgary International Airport - New Terminal, Runway, Control Tower

[Bigtime]

That morning rush SUCKS. Had to do it going to Houston on the way to Panama in March on United. Checked in online the day before, get to the airport (2 hours prior), line for bag tags, line into customs, line into security and finally through and right to the gate with boarding underway.

Hopefully with the new terminal this gets better.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

That morning rush SUCKS. Had to do it going to Houston on the way to Panama in March on United. Checked in online the day before, get to the airport (2 hours prior), line for bag tags, line into customs, line into security and finally through and right to the gate with boarding underway.

Hopefully with the new terminal this gets better.

There's no excuse for that new terminal or not. The Calgary airport is consistently the biggest #### show I deal with, and I travel quite a bit. Even the domestic flights in Calgary are a huge problem. They really need to get their security screening under control. People complain about TSA, but man could they teach the people in Calgary here a lesson.

[Weitz]

Hmm I am flying to Dallas at 6:15 am next month. I am slightly concerned now.

[Madman]

Yeah, I'm flying to the US on Nov 1 - wonder how painful it'll be.

[Bigtime]

I don't know if there is that much the Airport Authority can do with regards to security, as that all falls under the wonderful domain of the CATSA folks. If they choose to not staff properly or move slowly there may not be much the authority can do but complain to them about it. If anyone knows for sure correct me if I'm wrong.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

There's no excuse for that new terminal or not. The Calgary airport is consistently the biggest #### show I deal with, and I travel quite a bit. Even the domestic flights in Calgary are a huge problem. They really need to get their security screening under control. People complain about TSA, but man could they teach the people in Calgary here a lesson.

Nexus is your friend, worth its weight in gold imo.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Madman

Yeah, I'm flying to the US on Nov 1 - wonder how painful it'll be.

That could be painful because you'll be in the new terminal on only its second day of operations. Despite all the best planning and those trials things won't go as planned. Hopefully it works out easy for you.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

That could be painful because you'll be in the new terminal on only its second day of operations. Despite all the best planning and those trials things won't go as planned. Hopefully it works out easy for you.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too.

I'll be sure to be extra extra early and hope for the best.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by chummer

Nexus is your friend, worth its weight in gold imo.

The last time I flew to the US, all of the Nexus machines were down on top of the security lineup that was outside of the door to the main concourse. Just an absolute #### shown.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I don't know if there is that much the Airport Authority can do with regards to security, as that all falls under the wonderful domain of the CATSA folks. If they choose to not staff properly or move slowly there may not be much the authority can do but complain to them about it. If anyone knows for sure correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm sure if Westjet and Air Canada start complaining it will be addressed. On the day i'm talking about, multiple people missed their flights and both airlines were coming down to security and pulling people out of lines (and I'm not talking about stragglers either, these people were all here 2 hours before their flight).

Meanwhile, only a couple of the security lines were actually open while teams of 4-5 and CATSA people sat there giggling and laughing (not actually working just standing around behind the people working the open lines).

I was close to the point of losing it. I actually had to restrain myself from not screaming at a few of them. These clowns joking and laughing with each other why people are legitimately missing their flights all over the board.

I felt so bad for the woman next to me. She missed her connecting flight despite being their over 2 hours before takeoff.

[TheAlpineOracle]

I fly to Seattle the first week the new terminal is open. I'll make damn sure I'm there 3 hours ahead.

[Mazrim]

I feel fortunate I have three weeks until a morning rush transborder flight. Hopefully three weeks is enough time to work out the kinks with the new terminal. I might show up 3 hours early anyway just to be sure (and maybe take in the new terminal if I get through quickly).

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

The last time I flew to the US, all of the Nexus machines were down on top of the security lineup that was outside of the door to the main concourse. Just an absolute #### shown.

I went to the US just last week and there were only 2 Nexus machines working. I asked a guy working there and he said they were putting all resources into the new terminal, so deal with it.

I thought I read that the new terminal has over 20 Nexus machines now.

[Bigtime]

A bit of a soft opening today for the new terminal, the KLM flight and two transborder flights will be utilizing the terminal.

[Fuzz]

I'm flying to Ontario on Saturday. I assume it will all be old terminal, and I won't have any issues?

[nik-]

I'm assuming international flights with connections via Canadian cities will not be using this terminal?

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I'm flying to Ontario on Saturday. I assume it will all be old terminal, and I won't have any issues?

Business as usual Saturday, full opening is on Monday. But since you are domestic nothing different.

Originally Posted by nik-

I'm assuming international flights with connections via Canadian cities will not be using this terminal?

Do you mean like Air Transat operating YVR-YYC-MAN with the same plane? In that case I do believe they would park at the new terminal upon arriving from YVR, as the next leg is the international one hopping across the pond.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Will flights to say Cancun be out of the new terminal? I was assuming not because you don't clear customs here. They currently board out of the domestic terminal and have for as long as I remember.

[Bigtime]

The new terminal is for Transborder (USA) and International flights. So yes, Cancun flights will depart out of the new terminal.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Actually, the last 4 times i've been to the Calgary Airport it has been an absolute #### show. All of these flights were early morning flights between 8 and 10 am. Last time I was so pissed off I emailed Westjet and their response to "If I show up to the airport 2 hours before a domestic flight, I don't feel I should be in jeopardy of missing my flight", was that the Calgary airport is very busy in the morning and maybe I should try and avoid peak flying times if possible.

I thought I was the only one that experienced YYC’s ridiculous early morning ‘rush’ of flights.

####ing ridiculous.

I check in online the day before, select my seats check my bag so I should have to do it grab a baggage tag and be on my way. Well guess what, Westjet in their infinite wisdom has 1 line/2 desks open for people that have done exactly like I have and prepared in advance. Yet they have 6 or 7 desks open for people that need to still check in. WTF? Ended up taking over half an hour to just dump my checked bag. Rush through the remainder of the ‘process’ to get to the gate as the plan is already boarding. Brutal.

Morning flights I arrive 2.5 hours early and deal with it if I get through in a decent amount of time (usually doesn’t happen).