Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

WestJet just did an equipment substitution in PVR. Going from a 787 to a 737-800. Chaos currently in progress.

That would suck. Likely around half the people are going to be left behind.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

That would suck. Likely around half the people are going to be left behind.

Or half of them have someone sitting on their lap.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

That would suck. Likely around half the people are going to be left behind.

And with it being spring break and Holy Week combined finding places for those folks nearly impossible. We are here now, it’s a zoo in pvr.

[Ironhorse]

We managed to be lucky to be on the 737 out. Total chaos and angry people at the PVR ticket counter. Hearing some people may be stuck until Saturday.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

WestJet just did an equipment substitution in PVR. Going from a 787 to a 737-800. Chaos currently in progress.

Why did they decide to do that?

[Ironhorse]

I’ve been trying to figure that out. Perhaps the aircraft nerds can chime in. Maybe it went mechanical? I saw on the other thread that the 787 servicing this route had an aborted takeoff in YYC last week due to warning lights.

[morgin]

Can anyone who has done the Calgary to Hawaii via Vancouver connection recently chime in on how it went? We have a trip coming up and it’s been a few years since I’ve had to do that connection and I suspect it’s changed a bit post renovations at the Van airport.

Our flight from Calgary lands at 9:10, and flight to Maui leaves at 10:30. Presuming everything is on time, and assuming our luggage gets checked all the way through, I suspect we can make it but it seems tight. Last time I recall sprinting across the airport with a baby and all our baby gear and just barely making it. Kids are older now and less “stuff”, but still likely will have a car seat we are bringing on the plane for our youngest (2.5) to sit in.

Worth making a YYC express appointment for the security line at US connections? How long does it typically take to get to the connection point from a domestic WestJet arrival gate?

Anyone used the mobile passport control app offered by US Homeland to expedite preclearance? Worth using it?

Any other tips on making sure we make the connection?

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by morgin

Can anyone who has done the Calgary to Hawaii via Vancouver connection recently chime in on how it went? We have a trip coming up and it’s been a few years since I’ve had to do that connection and I suspect it’s changed a bit post renovations at the Van airport.

Our flight from Calgary lands at 9:10, and flight to Maui leaves at 10:30. Presuming everything is on time, and assuming our luggage gets checked all the way through, I suspect we can make it but it seems tight. Last time I recall sprinting across the airport with a baby and all our baby gear and just barely making it. Kids are older now and less “stuff”, but still likely will have a car seat we are bringing on the plane for our youngest (2.5) to sit in.

Worth making a YYC express appointment for the security line at US connections? How long does it typically take to get to the connection point from a domestic WestJet arrival gate?

Anyone used the mobile passport control app offered by US Homeland to expedite preclearance? Worth using it?

Any other tips on making sure we make the connection?

No tips but I did it the first time I went to Hawaii and it was an absolute disaster. Running through YVR nearly the whole way, freaking out in customs that we were gonna miss our flight.. awful.

I will never fly to Hawaii again unless it's direct.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by morgin

Can anyone who has done the Calgary to Hawaii via Vancouver connection recently chime in on how it went? We have a trip coming up and it’s been a few years since I’ve had to do that connection and I suspect it’s changed a bit post renovations at the Van airport.

Our flight from Calgary lands at 9:10, and flight to Maui leaves at 10:30. Presuming everything is on time, and assuming our luggage gets checked all the way through, I suspect we can make it but it seems tight. Last time I recall sprinting across the airport with a baby and all our baby gear and just barely making it. Kids are older now and less “stuff”, but still likely will have a car seat we are bringing on the plane for our youngest (2.5) to sit in.

Worth making a YYC express appointment for the security line at US connections? How long does it typically take to get to the connection point from a domestic WestJet arrival gate?

Anyone used the mobile passport control app offered by US Homeland to expedite preclearance? Worth using it?

Any other tips on making sure we make the connection?

I definitely wouldn't do it with that tight of a connection.

There's a direct Calgary to Maui flight twice a week iirc

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

No tips but I did it the first time I went to Hawaii and it was an absolute disaster. Running through YVR nearly the whole way, freaking out in customs that we were gonna miss our flight.. awful.

I will never fly to Hawaii again unless it's direct.

If you miss the flight due to a short layover and customs going slowly are you SOL or do you just get moved to the next available flight without a lot of headache?

[Meelapo]

Originally Posted by morgin

Can anyone who has done the Calgary to Hawaii via Vancouver connection recently chime in on how it went? We have a trip coming up and it’s been a few years since I’ve had to do that connection and I suspect it’s changed a bit post renovations at the Van airport.

Our flight from Calgary lands at 9:10, and flight to Maui leaves at 10:30. Presuming everything is on time, and assuming our luggage gets checked all the way through, I suspect we can make it but it seems tight. Last time I recall sprinting across the airport with a baby and all our baby gear and just barely making it. Kids are older now and less “stuff”, but still likely will have a car seat we are bringing on the plane for our youngest (2.5) to sit in.

Worth making a YYC express appointment for the security line at US connections? How long does it typically take to get to the connection point from a domestic WestJet arrival gate?

Anyone used the mobile passport control app offered by US Homeland to expedite preclearance? Worth using it?

Any other tips on making sure we make the connection?

I did it with a three year old and a one year old and it was an absolute disaster. Unless you run from your arrival gate all the way to the international terminal and then through security you're going to be very tight in making the time. You're guaranteed to not have time to pick up a drink or a snack for the flight.


Without the extra kid gear you might be okay but if you have it be prepared to have them search your car seat or stroller, take swabs, and x-ray it.


Oddly enough, my wife asked if we should go to Hawaii again in September and I said I'm never going with WestJet during the Hawaii off-season as they only have connections through YVR. Direct flights when they start (Nov - Feb/Mar if I remember) is the best.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by morgin

Can anyone who has done the Calgary to Hawaii via Vancouver connection recently chime in on how it went? We have a trip coming up and it’s been a few years since I’ve had to do that connection and I suspect it’s changed a bit post renovations at the Van airport.

Our flight from Calgary lands at 9:10, and flight to Maui leaves at 10:30. Presuming everything is on time, and assuming our luggage gets checked all the way through, I suspect we can make it but it seems tight. Last time I recall sprinting across the airport with a baby and all our baby gear and just barely making it. Kids are older now and less “stuff”, but still likely will have a car seat we are bringing on the plane for our youngest (2.5) to sit in.

Worth making a YYC express appointment for the security line at US connections? How long does it typically take to get to the connection point from a domestic WestJet arrival gate?

Anyone used the mobile passport control app offered by US Homeland to expedite preclearance? Worth using it?

Any other tips on making sure we make the connection?

Seems tight to me if you have a 2.5 year old and brelated stuff. We did Calgary to Kona via Vancouver last week. You have to go through both security and US customs. There was only 1 line open for security and we waited a solid 25 minutes. If you're going to do this definitely get the US customs MPC passport app (unless you have Nexus already) as you get a shorter line at customs/immigration if you use that to take your own photos.

I would try to take one flight earlier to Vancouver if possible.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Seems tight to me if you have a 2.5 year old and brelated stuff. We did Calgary to Kona via Vancouver last week. You have to go through both security and US customs. There was only 1 line open for security and we waited a solid 25 minutes. If you're going to do this definitely get the US customs MPC passport app (unless you have Nexus already) as you get a shorter line at customs/immigration if you use that to take your own photos.

I would try to take one flight earlier to Vancouver if possible.

This. And with the connection time that was mentioned, even if you make it on the Hawaii flight, you can almost guarantee that your luggage won't make it across the airport on time to be loaded on the connecting flight.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Meelapo

I did it with a three year old and a one year old and it was an absolute disaster. Unless you run from your arrival gate all the way to the international terminal and then through security you're going to be very tight in making the time. You're guaranteed to not have time to pick up a drink or a snack for the flight.


Without the extra kid gear you might be okay but if you have it be prepared to have them search your car seat or stroller, take swabs, and x-ray it.


Oddly enough, my wife asked if we should go to Hawaii again in September and I said I'm never going with WestJet during the Hawaii off-season as they only have connections through YVR. Direct flights when they start (Nov - Feb/Mar if I remember) is the best.

This year WestJet will be running 1 weekly flight to Maui on the summer schedule . Not super convenient, but an option.

[morgin]

Ship has sailed on flight changes. Good to know for next time though! Guess we’ll see how this goes. The ability to schedule a security line appointment and the passport app seem like they’ll help speed it up. Fingers crossed!

[btimbit]

You're brave, I'll give you that

I won't even do domestic transfers that tight anymore

[Ryan Coke]

Not much to add, it’s tight but doable. But I’d say ditch the car seat idea if it’s possible. We did car seats for kids when they were that age a couple of times, then dropped it. Marginal gain, maximal hassle factor.

[morgin]

Originally Posted by btimbit

You're brave, I'll give you that

I won't even do domestic transfers that tight anymore

Operating on the assumption that there’s a bunch of people who will be in the same boat and WestJet is used to the timing of this. And yeah gonna ditch any kid stuff and we’ll go as minimal as possible with carry on baggage.

[btimbit]

At least if there are quite a few of you doing that same transfer, WJ will hold the outbound plane a bit if need be

[Sainters7]

Flying to Paris tonight. Between the YYC closure a few days ago including a WestJet flight slipping on the runway, and reading on here about a random WestJet plane change this week that caused a mess, this thread is giving me anxiety for my WestJet flight ha-ha

Thank jebus its a direct flight at least, fingers crossed its smooth sailing & shenanigan-free!