Flight travel during Covid

[calgarygeologist]

Cruise ships still require a negative Covid test before boarding on many sailings with some loosening of requirements during the last week. The testing requirement definitely adds a lot of uncertainty and anxiety to the pre-trip process.

We did our testing this afternoon for a cruise on Saturday and received a negative result. The worst part is the uncertainty of feeling completely fine but potentially being asymptomatic. This was a huge relief though and now it is party time!

[Knut]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Cruise ships still require a negative Covid test before boarding on many sailings with some loosening of requirements during the last week. The testing requirement definitely adds a lot of uncertainty and anxiety to the pre-trip process.

We did our testing this afternoon for a cruise on Saturday and received a negative result. The worst part is the uncertainty of feeling completely fine but potentially being asymptomatic. This was a huge relief though and now it is party time!

With Legionnaires Disease!!

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Knut

With Legionnaires Disease!!

Regardless, party time!

[cmyden]

Information on the relative level (by hour) of how busy each terminal is at Toronto YYZ based on data from the past two weeks:

https://www.torontopearson.com/en/status

Some recent stats for YYZ, according to Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)

- 82% of passengers last week cleared security in less than 15 minutes (a one percentage point increase over the rolling average for the previous four weeks)

- Last week, 44 per cent of all flights were on time, versus a 35 per cent average for the four previous weeks.

- At times, the airport is forced to hold passengers on their plane to make room in the customs hall. This happened 19 times last week, an improvement from a four-week rolling average of 60 plane holds per week.

- Baggage: For domestic travel, the average wait time for bags to arrive at the carousel is now 24 minutes, a three-minute improvement over the four-week average. The same metric also improved by three minutes for international bags, and by four minutes for transborder bags.


Busiest times at YYZ (avoid if possible):

Departures

Terminal 1, domestic departures: 5 AM to 7 AM

Terminal 1, international departures: 5 AM to 7 AM, 3 PM to 7 PM, and 10 PM

Terminal 1, United States departures: 5 AM to 9 AM, 2 PM to 5 PM


Terminal 3, domestic / international departures: 4 AM to 6 AM, 2 PM to 3 PM, and 6 PM to 9 PM

Terminal 3, international departures: 6 PM to 8 PM

Terminal 3, United States departures: 4 AM to 5 AM, 8 AM to 9 AM


Arrivals

Terminal 1, arrivals: 3 PM to 6 PM

Terminal 3, arrivals: 4 PM to 6 PM

--

[Knut]

Anecdotally, We travelled in April and now July. It was way smoother in July. Cleared customs at both locations super quick and the luggage arrived to the carrousel in about half the time.

[cmyden]

Originally Posted by Knut

Anecdotally, We travelled in April and now July. It was way smoother in July. Cleared customs at both locations super quick and the luggage arrived to the carrousel in about half the time.

Also anecdotally, I've been seeing a lot more 'surprisingly, everything was fine' reports from Canadian travellers in the past couple of weeks, particularly in relation to Canadian airports and European airports.

Although maybe the 'chaos' and 'crisis' headlines had 100% of travellers bracing for the worst and there's bound to be a percentage of travellers that have everything go smoothly.

[Amethyst]

For myself, I found it was okay. A lot of rushing across airports and a lot of sitting and waiting as things were delayed, but I did make all my flights as planned and my luggage did come with me. I found smaller cities (Calgary and Porto) were pretty good, while larger ones (Toronto and Lisbon) seemed crazy.

Talked to a few other travellers though, who did not fare as well because their connections weren't delayed as much or certain legs were cancelled.

My advice:
-Non-stop flights if possible
-Smaller (but not too small) airports are better.
-Check baggage. Take a small carry-on with important things only. Check the rest, because everyone is trying to carry-on and if you thought overhead bins was chaos before, it's nothing like now. I thought cops were going to be called on one guy. Prepare to deal with delayed luggage (label everything well, don't take clothes you like, build in time to shop if needed).
-Plan double the time you normally would for connections. Be prepared to sit around. I don't love waiting in airports, but I prefer that to trying to re-schedule half a trip.

[Flambé]

Quick August update:

Surprise, surprise! Still no passports.

My wife is currently on hold with Service Canada and there are 209 calls ahead of her (seems to be dropping noticeably, people must be fed up with waiting). What a saint. We probably should head up to Harry Hayes and speak with someone in person, but who has time for that!

[MoneyGuy]

If one can’t fly to an American destination (San Diego) early in the morning is your chance of being delayed much higher in late afternoon or early evening?

[calgarygeologist]

The government/PHAC brought back random COVID testing in July but it is not administered at the airport and my kid and I were selected last night when we arrived back in Calgary. Has anyone else been selected recently? Does PHAC follow up on this stuff? I did go through the Switch Health process for the tests but instead of going out to pick up the tests I decided to have them delivered and it says it takes three days.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

The government/PHAC brought back random COVID testing in July but it is not administered at the airport and my kid and I were selected last night when we arrived back in Calgary. Has anyone else been selected recently? Does PHAC follow up on this stuff? I did go through the Switch Health process for the tests but instead of going out to pick up the tests I decided to have them delivered and it says it takes three days.

i was randomly selected as well. I set it for me to pick it up at a Switch health location. I did test the same day over video conference. I got my negative about 5days after. No calls from the government.

I think as long as you have ordered the test you are ok in the governments eye. There is no necessity to Quarantine anyways.

[Ducay]

Not specifically COVID related, but does anyone know what WestJet's policy is for "standby" flights is? (aka show up early to get on an earlier flight to same destination). They're silent online about it, whereas AC is pretty specific about their rules and its even built into the app.

Have tried 2 different Westjet phone reps, both absolutely useless for help. Some dated forum posts seem to suggest you can request at the airport, but not sure if thats a bygone policy or just luck of the draw.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

If one can’t fly to an American destination (San Diego) early in the morning is your chance of being delayed much higher in late afternoon or early evening?

I would say chances are higher as the day goes on. In particular if you are connecting, and connecting in a US hub. Weather build ups over the day and schedule ripples that result from that would factor in.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Not specifically COVID related, but does anyone know what WestJet's policy is for "standby" flights is? (aka show up early to get on an earlier flight to same destination). They're silent online about it, whereas AC is pretty specific about their rules and its even built into the app.

Have tried 2 different Westjet phone reps, both absolutely useless for help. Some dated forum posts seem to suggest you can request at the airport, but not sure if thats a bygone policy or just luck of the draw.

Pre-pandemic, you could go early and ask to be put on an earlier flight, but you usually had to pay. I think WestJet just uses standby for staff.

[bizaro86]

Before the pandemic I occasionally got that for free - generally only even tried if the later flight was showing very full. If its oversold and the early wasn't it was win-win. Post pandemic I've never tried (and probably wouldn't bother) given how crazy things have been.

[Flambé]

Originally Posted by Flambé

Quick August update:

Surprise, surprise! Still no passports.

My wife is currently on hold with Service Canada and there are 209 calls ahead of her (seems to be dropping noticeably, people must be fed up with waiting). What a saint. We probably should head up to Harry Hayes and speak with someone in person, but who has time for that!

My wife successfully spoke with a human! He told her we should expect it any time now. And you know how he knew?

Verbatim from my wife, "Because it's been a really long time."

...

[cmyden]

Effective immediately, Canadians can now apply for and pick up their passport in Red Deer.
https://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/tbsc...=4808&lang=eng

Unlike the regular Service Canada Centres, this location is a 10-day service. According to Service Canada, Canadians can apply for a passport and the passport will be available after 10 business days, either by mail or in-person pick-up.

If Canadians need their passport in less than 10 business days, Service Canada says they will need to visit a passport office that offers Express or Urgent pick-up service.

According to Service Canada the triage system introduced this summer in 17 of its 35 passport offices has made a significant impact in reducing lineups and redirecting Canadians to the appropriate means to access service.

Service Canada also claims the average wait time at call centres has improved, going from a peak of 108 minutes in April to 27 minutes last week.

https://www.chch.com/canada-announce...ice-locations/

[Ryan Coke]

What have people experienced for a mailed in renewal? I sent my daughters in end of May as we weren’t needing it through the summer, so it’s been about 2.5 months so far.

[Amethyst]

I don't need to renew for another three years, thankfully, but good lord it's a mess. I honestly have no idea what I'm supposed to do if I needed one now.

[Byrns]

I went last Friday to a service center to get my daughter's passport done for our Christmas trip. Fingers crossed it arrives in time. (the service employee said Nov 17 is the expected date to get it)