Quote:
Originally Posted by Barnes
I would say so. My only experience with call to gate was Gatwick and I can't remember how long before boarding they updated the board but I think it was less than 75mins. It also can take 25 mins to walk to your gate (so they say) and they have gate rooms or seating at the gate.
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I have experienced it at Heathrow a few years ago, and it worked fairly well. The biggest difference is (like you say about Gatwick) is that there was still seating at the gates once you got there. The system at Heathrow seemed like an innovative way to manage the gates and a very busy airport.
In Calgary, however, it seems less about managing busy gates and more about keeping people near the shops to spend money. The gates appear to be available well in advance, but the airlines are likely being asked to hide that information to justify their decision to skimp on seating. That is a lot different than at a busy airport like LHR where they are juggling gates around a lot more frequently, and there are actual operational reasons for using that system. I think that they will relent and add some seating at the gates eventually. I often go and sit at an unused, quiet gate when I travel, so it isn't just anxious "get me on first" people that like to sit away from the shops and restaurants.
Granted, I don't operate an airport, so what do I know. ANd I haven't actually experienced the system at YYC first hand yet. But when a project this big conveniently "forgets" water fountains, it does tend to bring out my cynicism. Maybe one day there will be enough traffic to withhold the gate from people until the last minute, but that day clearly isn't here yet.