Calgary International Airport - New Terminal, Runway, Control Tower

[btimbit]

And Delta selling some to AirFrance-KLM.
Makes me wonder if we see a push to have WestJet join Skyteam

[CroFlames]

Delta's app is flawless. Hopefully some of that expertise lends itself to Westjet's crappy app.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by btimbit

And Delta selling some to AirFrance-KLM.
Makes me wonder if we see a push to have WestJet join Skyteam

You'd think that might be on tap. All their partners except Qantas are Skyteam, and they could probably keep that as a side deal. And 25% ownership is pretty significant.

I'm hoping this means Westjet points are usable for cheap awards flights on partners again soon - they took that away "temporarily" during the pandemic...

[btimbit]

IIRC correctly rewards and reciprocal benefits was one of the main reasons they never joined an alliance before. Since they've just changed their reward program I wonder if that'll change too.

I'm sure Skyteam would love a presence in Canada

[Simanium]

FYI for anyone going to the US, YYC will turn you away from US Customs if you are there less than 2 hours prior to your flight time.

https://calgaryherald.com/travel/cal...gh-u-s-customs

I'm not sure now this will work for morning flights. I've had early morning flights that leave at like 6:30 am and been there at 4:30 am ish and the security area wasn't even opened till about an hour before the flight time. Not sure if that has changed since the last time I had an early flight. Once I was the very first person through security and customs in the morning and the very first person into the airport terminal. Felt very eery being in an empty terminal, lol.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Simanium

FYI for anyone going to the US, YYC will turn you away from US Customs if you are there less than 2 hours prior to your flight time.

https://calgaryherald.com/travel/cal...gh-u-s-customs

I'm not sure now this will work for morning flights. I've had early morning flights that leave at like 6:30 am and been there at 4:30 am ish and the security area wasn't even opened till about an hour before the flight time. Not sure if that has changed since the last time I had an early flight. Once I was the very first person through security and customs in the morning and the very first person into the airport terminal. Felt very eery being in an empty terminal, lol.

I typically travel to the US a few times per year and mostly on the 10-11am flights or the afternoon flights and have never noticed a long line at US Customs. The customs hall is huge and the line is never more than a quarter through the maze. The wait to get through security is usually longer than customs. I'm not really what problem this is solving.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by Simanium

FYI for anyone going to the US, YYC will turn you away from US Customs if you are there less than 2 hours prior to your flight time.

https://calgaryherald.com/travel/cal...gh-u-s-customs

I'm not sure now this will work for morning flights. I've had early morning flights that leave at like 6:30 am and been there at 4:30 am ish and the security area wasn't even opened till about an hour before the flight time. Not sure if that has changed since the last time I had an early flight. Once I was the very first person through security and customs in the morning and the very first person into the airport terminal. Felt very eery being in an empty terminal, lol.

The article says they will turn you away if you are MORE than 2 hours early. Which I thought was always the rule, so maybe they're enforcing it more now?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I typically travel to the US a few times per year and mostly on the 10-11am flights or the afternoon flights and have never noticed a long line at US Customs. The customs hall is huge and the line is never more than a quarter through the maze. The wait to get through security is usually longer than customs. I'm not really what problem this is solving.

My AA flights to DFW are at 6:30 and customs can be a total goatphuck (that as a Texas term).

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

My AA flights to DFW are at 6:30 and customs can be a total goatphuck (that as a Texas term).

And customs opens at 4:30 (2 hours prior.) If the go forward plan by YYC is to limit throughput to two hours prior than the goatphuck you experience in the early morning might be common place for the 10am and 2pm flights as well thus solving nothing.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

The article says they will turn you away if you are MORE than 2 hours early. Which I thought was always the rule, so maybe they're enforcing it more now?

Not on a recent trip. We were about 2:45 early and had no issue.

[Ryan Coke]

Yes, it is saying you could be turned away if your there MORE than 2 hours early, the OP read that wrong.

I imagine it has to do with staffing….US customs plans staffing for expected demand levels, but if people are arriving very early it could end up causing delays for the people who do have flights leaving sooner.

[Acey]

They also just went less people in the transborder lounge who have no real need to be there yet.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Acey

They also just went less people in the transborder lounge who have no real need to be there yet.

Doesn't the lounge have the ability to turn people away? This just seems odd. I like arriving early to enjoy a lounge/restaurant, watch people and planes. Feels like this would just hurt businesses.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Doesn't the lounge have the ability to turn people away? This just seems odd. I like arriving early to enjoy a lounge/restaurant, watch people and planes. Feels like this would just hurt businesses.

I agree. Honestly? On travel days I like to get there early, check my bag, casually go through security, get the other side, crack open the laptop and enjoy some wine and appetizers because...by that point I've done my bit.

Bags checked. Security passed. Now I just wait to board the plane. I've done my part.

But now I'd have to be waiting outside, with my luggage, not getting through security? Screw that.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Doesn't the lounge have the ability to turn people away? This just seems odd. I like arriving early to enjoy a lounge/restaurant, watch people and planes. Feels like this would just hurt businesses.

By "lounge" I meant the entire transborder area post-security.

Also keep in mind that at pre-clearance airports, USCBP has a lot of say in these timelines... as you've pseudo-entered the United States after clearing security.

US Customs runs the show there. Transborder plane breaks and you want to deplane? Not without approval from US Customs. United wants to bring in a bigger plane than usual to make up for the broken one the day before? Not without approval you're not. Late afternoon transborder flight goes late and customs doesn't want to staff it? Flight is cancelled. I spent years being CC'd on these emails.

I'll rag on YYC till the end of time but a surprising chunk of the transborder issues are not their fault, directly.

[CroFlames]

But when I go to Vegas, I like to get liquored up at Belgian Beer Cafe or Wolfgang puck beforehand.

What do I do now?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

But when I go to Vegas, I like to get liquored up at Belgian Beer Cafe or Wolfgang puck beforehand.

What do I do now?

Same thing, you just have to drink faster.

[Reggie28]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

My AA flights to DFW are at 6:30 and customs can be a total goatphuck (that as a Texas term).

It’s busy first thing in the morning, I wonder if the point of this is to stop people on the 8:30 flights from adding to the early morning crush? I usually take a 1:30 or 2:00 pm flight and the lineups are short, I wonder if they would turn me away if I was a little extra early, I have my doubts.

If I had a connection in Calgary it would be a pain, at airports I like to get where I’m supposed to be and chill out.

[Bigtime]

WestJet announces winter services from Calgary to:

-Panama City 4x weekly
-Guadalajara 2x weekly
-Tepic 1x weekly

Mexico City also goes year-round and operated 4x weekly over the winter.

https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/news/2...re-sun-destina

I believe the Panama City flight will be the longest route WS will operate with the 737, a little farther than the current Iceland flight.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

WestJet announces winter services from Calgary to:

-Panama City 4x weekly
-Guadalajara 2x weekly
-Tepic 1x weekly

Mexico City also goes year-round and operated 4x weekly over the winter.

https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/news/2...re-sun-destina

I believe the Panama City flight will be the longest route WS will operate with the 737, a little farther than the current Iceland flight.

I also see Cozumel from YYC which I think is new (??)