First experience with the call to gate system was a year or so ago at Luton when hopping over to Ireland, and then again in Ireland (Shannon)on the return trip to Gatwick as well.
I am assuming the gate areas will be smaller in the new terminal, and the common areas are larger to accomodate this. In Luton its a smaller airport than Calgary obviously, but the shopping and food court (post security) were central, along with a lot of seating.
We only found out what gate we were to be at about 20 minutes before boarding, as its on the screens. You went straight to the gate (5 min walk) and basically lined up and someone was there to start the boarding right away.
I don't recall anything along the way as far as coffee places or convenience stores, so once you leave the central area, outside of a bathroom stop, it's all business;there's no amenities. Allows for efficiency consolidating food services and security for such, and yes, also in turn attracts retail partners for having all the passengers "forced" to be within proximity of those stores for a half our or so before they find out their gate.
I am guessing possibly only on domestic flights? Allows the ground crew/ATC to be more flexible with the gates that flights get assigned to when arriving.
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