For the few people doubting Vancouver's airport... I've only been through a couple times, so I'm not sure if this is the view you get everywhere, but when I was there at the end of June this year, we got bumped up to business class, and thus got to check out the British Airways Lounge... needless to say, the view was unbelievable:
Saskatoon: Thanks to BigTime for the shoutout to YXE. I really like that airport, go through there at least once a year, but am really looking forward to their renos. They did their last expansion right before 9/11, so really no amenities on the other side of security.
The airport after renovations is going to be awesome. I just hope they offer more than a small shop beneath the escalators.
Renderings of the airport after renos for anyone interested.
Spoiler!
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Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist
If ever there was an oilering
Connor Zary will win the Hart Trophy in 2027.
Last edited by saskflames69; 09-08-2012 at 12:43 AM.
Minneapolis was nice - if you have to endure a 7 hour stopover then there are few places to match it.
I right was behind and unbelievably hot blonde in the Customs line which made the wait pleasurable. When I got called to the desk as the officer was checking my passport, he asked if I was travelling with her. You aren't supposed to joke, but I replied, "I wish!". He laughed and let me through.
Saw her later on the flight to Calgary - knock. out.
Minneapolis was nice - if you have to endure a 7 hour stopover then there are few places to match it.
I right was behind and unbelievably hot blonde in the Customs line which made the wait pleasurable. When I got called to the desk as the officer was checking my passport, he asked if I was travelling with her. You aren't supposed to joke, but I replied, "I wish!". He laughed and let me through.
Saw her later on the flight to Calgary - knock. out.
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Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist
If ever there was an oilering
Connor Zary will win the Hart Trophy in 2027.
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Halifax: Love the airport, it's a great model for new/remodeling mid sized airports like Edmonton and Saskatoon. Way, way too far out of the city though. Would that be because Shearwater is right at the harbour?
Stanfield International is only 20-25 minutes outside of Halifax. Really that isn't too bad. I'm not sure how far YYC is from Downtown Calgary, but in Halifax you cross the MacDonald Bridge, and basically drive straight on the highway. I think Halifax's distance is unfairly misjudged because of the amenities downtown.
That said, it was built in its current location because if the tree barrier between it and the ocean. That way it would be protected from fog and cause less delays as if it were in the location of say Shearwater (I recall hearing that there was some talk if switching the two in the early days). Mind you they then proceeded to cut down the tree barrier (yay Nova Scotia).
The way that city is exploding in another 10 year it'll be part of the city, just like how Costco was built in the middle of nowhere and now you'll miss it if you're not careful due to all the development straight down through Lower Sackville.
__________________ "Calgary Flames is the best team in all the land" - My Brainwashed Son
I hope this expansion results in more direct flights to Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, etc. instead of going through Calgary and Winnipeg every time.
I guess that really depends on what WestJet Regional has planned. Although I have heard rumours of more flights to Winnipeg when they get up and running.
I'm through YXE once or twice a year on business and do enjoy it, a very nice little airport.
I didn't rate Calgary, just due to it being my hometown airport (and the impending bias). However I really do think it is quite nice given what the CAA had to work with. I remember when the terminal building seemed like a tomb, little windows to look out onto the tarmac, dark, poorly lit. Seeing the improvements like the addition of the Banff and Kananaskis halls and their giant window walls looking out towards the city made a real world of difference. I have no doubt that the new terminal will be a knockout too.
Coming back to Calgary from Costa Rica, I usually fly through Dallas or Houston. I don't understand why the US makes you go through security again after clearing US customs. I haven't left the secured area. My bags are checked through to Calgary. Sometimes my connecting time is only 1hr30min, and I've almost missed a flight from having to wait through the Customs line and then wait again through the security line. Are they just that paranoid?
Coming back to Calgary from Costa Rica, I usually fly through Dallas or Houston. I don't understand why the US makes you go through security again after clearing US customs. I haven't left the secured area. My bags are checked through to Calgary. Sometimes my connecting time is only 1hr30min, and I've almost missed a flight from having to wait through the Customs line and then wait again through the security line. Are they just that paranoid?
Houston has a special line for connecting passengers, not sure if Dallas does. You bypass the route down by the baggage carousels which saves time though you still have to go through security. I believe they make you go through security as you have had access to your bags and they aren't really setup with a completely separate line just for connecting passangers, you do get mixed in with regular passangers. Further, it makes sense they don't totally trust security in every other country. While I believe TSA or some other US body does checks of airports/countries they can't watch everything. Having said that, yes they are paranoid but apparently with reason to be.
At the security lines if you have a tight connection you can tell them and they'll frequently let you line jump. 90 mins in Houston is a reasonable amount though as they keep those security lines moving. Ive made 45 minute connections. Plus don't be afraid to flag down a golf cart if you're really stuck. I've seen the drivers stop and give lifts to people who are running. Another thing to speed you up is become a trusted traveller. You're through customs in no time.
with 5 minutes to take off... me and my smoked out friends (we were 17... 11 years ago) were allowed to check in and board our plane from Victoria to Calgary.
I can't believe they held the plane for us and with the size of the airport it wasn't an issue to check our bags, make it through security and then to onto our plane.
Don't really have a favourite airport. The ones I've found Average were Minneapolis, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, O'Hare and Memphis.
My hate list:
LAX-always long lines. Snarly employees. An outdated bus system to move between terminals. Sterile architecture. Not nearly enough food choices and not a thing before security. Wifi that cost $10 a day.
Miami-LAX east. Just add humid and stink
Pearson-Stupid long lines for Canadian or American customs. Poor food choices for such a large airport.
Ottawa-The US departures area is a joke. Connecting from a Canadian to a US flight was a head scratching process.Services were about on-par with the Abbotsford Airport
Vegas-the newer terminal is very average, however the older one is a hole. Nothing to do though really in either terminal except for play the slot machines which are set for intentionally low payouts.
Montreal-it took an hour to clear Canada customs including a 15 minute line just to hand in my Canadian customs card on the way out after baggage claim. Could not find poutine past security.
Boston/Logan-terrible traffic to the airport, confusing layout, cramped waiting areas, at least they had free wifi.
Last edited by krazycanuck; 09-08-2012 at 10:33 AM.
I was very pleasantly surprised by Palm Springs. I don't remember Honolulu's airport (I was 10 when we flew there for Christmas), but a lot of people really seem to like "the open concept"
Yeah, HNL really depends on the weather. If it's sunny out with a nice breeze it's amazing, especially if you're arriving from somewhere cold. If the weather sucks or you're catching a late flight, it feels like being in a bad mall from the '70s. The gardens are nice though.
These ones stick out in my mind as the very best and very worst - 90% just lie somewhere in the middle. Lots of people like YVR, but I don't see the big deal - the green carpets look really tired these days, and I always seem to have to walk what seems like 5 km between gates on connections.
Best:
Copenhagen - Beautiful, well designed
Singapore - Spent a night there, so got to know it well. Very nice
Worst:
Vienna -Just awful, nowhere to sit.
LAX - A disorganized mess, difficult to move around, crowded
I was actually looking forward to my business / training trip to Chicago, this Monday.
...not anymore...
Try and get Motorola to pay for a trip into the city, when I went I got a limo to Soldier Field for a Bears game. It only worked the first time I went, they like accommodating Canadians, only once.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Red-Mile-DJ
...and then try to expense it...hehe!
Good luck with that, they wouldn't even pay for my hotel pron!
Have fun, it's a pretty good time.
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Last edited by GreatWhiteEbola; 09-08-2012 at 02:57 PM.
Don't really have a favourite airport. The ones I've found Average were Minneapolis, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, O'Hare and Memphis.
My hate list:
LAX-always long lines. Snarly employees. An outdated bus system to move between terminals. Sterile architecture. Not nearly enough food choices and not a thing before security. Wifi that cost $10 a day.
Miami-LAX east. Just add humid and stink
Pearson-Stupid long lines for Canadian or American customs. Poor food choices for such a large airport.
Ottawa-The US departures area is a joke. Connecting from a Canadian to a US flight was a head scratching process.Services were about on-par with the Abbotsford Airport
Vegas-the newer terminal is very average, however the older one is a hole. Nothing to do though really in either terminal except for play the slot machines which are set for intentionally low payouts.
Montreal-it took an hour to clear Canada customs including a 15 minute line just to hand in my Canadian customs card on the way out after baggage claim. Could not find poutine past security.
Boston/Logan-terrible traffic to the airport, confusing layout, cramped waiting areas, at least they had free wifi.
Customs in MTL was single handidly my worst experience with Canada Immigration.
They kept flipping between french and english as if it was a joke. Keep in mind it was Midnight, i missed my connection back home (to YVR @ the time) and i was the only one having my bag searched out of 100s.
