Question about the Calgary Airport

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!

see if I can take an earlier flight annd save myself some uneeded worrying.

I've just been in your position a few times and I frankly hate it. I've been sitting at the start of the first leg of a trip, knowing I have a tight connection and am already anxious when it's time to leave and the door of the plane is still open...5 minutes later we're still sitting there...10 mins, we're finally backing up...ok...they can probably make 10 mins up in the air...and now we're taxi-ing to the other end of the city to take off...and now we have to wait for a plane to land...ok...we're now 15 mins late...frack....oh...and we're 3rd in line to take off...sigh...and now I'm running through the airport to make my connection and in the back of my mind I'm hoping my bags make it too...I've just learned I'm not usually comfortable with a tight connection and even if it means an extra hour in an airport, I'm willing to do it.

With planes, shinguard happens sometimes, might as well plan for it. I guess it's the project manager in me.

Your trip brings back memories of my flights when I was went to work in Finland: Regina-->Toronto-->Paris-->Helsinki-->Jyvaskyla. My Paris-->Helsinki flight was delayed because of a grounds crew strike (welcome to France) and my connection was so tight the pilot radioed down to hold my connecting flight. A sprint from the international to domestic terminal and I got on the flight which had indeed been held for me. I'm sure I lost a few weeks off my life because of the stress.

[Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!]

So I emailed an email address that was on the Calgary Airport website, and asked if it would be enough time. This was the reply I got

A/C in Saskatoon should book you straight through which means you will have your boarding passes so you will arrive in area A and need to walk to concourse c departures area (second floor) so it’s like a 5 min walk.
Also don’t hesitate to grab a white hat volunteer and ask them to take you to Lufthansa. A/C piggy backs with Lufthansa so that is your airline from Calgary to Frankfurt

That sounds hopefull, maybe I'll leave it. I'm not sure.

[Ducay]

Just make sure you get to the Lufthansa gates, and not the Luftwaffe ones, that was not a fun afternoon.

[T I M]

Originally Posted by Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!

So I emailed an email address that was on the Calgary Airport website, and asked if it would be enough time. This was the reply I got



That sounds hopefull, maybe I'll leave it. I'm not sure.

They meant concourse D though, concourse C is designated for US bound flights only.

[Julio]

My nephew did the same flight path last year this time, from Saskatoon via Calgary to Frankfurt, while on a school trip to Greece...they had to go from A to D and then through international...no problems, they got through fine, although there wasn't any time for doing anyting on the way like grab a last Timmys or such.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Dion_Iggy_Kipper!!!

That sounds hopefull, maybe I'll leave it. I'm not sure.

One advantage to a longer layover - Flames Fan Attic YYC!

[Bigtime]

That's just sloppy that an airport employee cannot even answer the question right!

You get off your flight in the A pier, follow the signs to the exit and once you are in the main concourse proper turn left and walk all the way down until you see the signage for the D gates. Follow it through security and to your flight.

Look I made you a handy dandy map:

[Jimmy Stang]

After seeing Bigtime's map, I am starting to think that it would make more sense to have the US area at either end of the terminal building. The only thing in the way of connecting of A and D by a secure walkway (so people don't have to leave and re-enter security) is that pesky US part.

Obviously, not worth the trouble to tear the place up and move everything...

[mykalberta]

Its not going to happen anytime soon. They are hammer-heading the B/C concourse in their next round of expansions. Then next is to expand the A concourse when the new runway gets built.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Its not going to happen anytime soon. They are hammer-heading the B/C concourse in their next round of expansions. Then next is to expand the A concourse when the new runway gets built.

Actually I believe they are already prepping for the expanded A concourse right now. I think the hammerhead B/C has been put on the backburner.

Edit: According to the website it is not an expansion of A but a brand new 'East Concourse' for international facilities:

http://www.yyc.com/Default.aspx?cid=311&lang=1

[mykalberta]

I guess it doesnt make much sense to upset US airlines who can get a descent price premium to Calgary by increasing transborder capacity much when the money right now is for direct international flights and the hammerhead was mostly thought of to reduce morning congestion which is what some airlines have said is the reason more flights arent available.

I guess YYC doesnt see westjet getting into the US biz market anytime soon.

[Bigtime]

Perhaps when this east concourse is complete they will devote all of B/C wing to US bound flights. Plus they already have flex gates at the section between C & D.

[sa226]

Many people around here know more about Concourses and connections in Calgary than I do, but from a purely logistics standpoint, there is a lot of risk that goes with only one hour between arrival and departure.

10 min delay in YXE then 10 min delay in YYC, it adds up really fast. YXE is fairly straight forward, but YYC right now is one of the worst airports in the country for delay's with regards to slot times and flow control.

Provided everything goes without a hitch, 1hr is plenty of time, but it seems there are always delays in this industry.

One of the bigger delays with overseas flights is a\c positioning. I don't know how you find this stuff out, but it would be worth knowing where your plane to Germany is coming from. Is it there over night? does it arrive well before your departure? or is it on a tight turn from somewhere else?

You really have to weigh the inconvienience of switching times and your itinerary, vs missing a connection etc etc

I hate to sound pessimistic but when it comes to the airline industry it is usually a good idea to hope for the best but plan for the worst.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by sa226

One of the bigger delays with overseas flights is a\c positioning. I don't know how you find this stuff out, but it would be worth knowing where your plane to Germany is coming from. Is it there over night? does it arrive well before your departure? or is it on a tight turn from somewhere else?

The Lufthansa flight arrives directly from Frankfurt, and turns around in YYC to head back.

It's Lufthansa flight 494, and usually arrives in YYC around ~12:50pm now.

Here is todays flight: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DLH494

I've taken this flight twice, and they are usually very punctual with their departures from both Frankfurt and Calgary.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Just make sure you get to the Lufthansa gates, and not the Luftwaffe ones, that was not a fun afternoon.

Pfft, what are you talking about, that sounds like a delicious breakfast. Mmmm, air waffles...

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Actually I believe they are already prepping for the expanded A concourse right now. I think the hammerhead B/C has been put on the backburner.

Edit: According to the website it is not an expansion of A but a brand new 'East Concourse' for international facilities:

http://www.yyc.com/Default.aspx?cid=311&lang=1

Yup, I think someone said that they were just breaking ground for this. Much larger expansion than just the B/C hammerhead.