Calgary International Airport - New Terminal, Runway, Control Tower

[rotten42]

Originally Posted by Wormius

How did LAX not make the list?

I haven't flown through there since I was a kid so I can;t say I have experience with it although I have heard it is bad.

[MRCboicgy]

Yeah, Frankfurt is great, it's just the size that blows. I'd curse out Heathrow before Frankfurt.
Houston is a mess when you aren't flying United (Star Alliance), like Westjet is in a terribad terminal and check in the hottest of messes, but even coming back from South America it's not bad to pass through.

[Bigtime]

Frankfurt also seems to be always under construction. But I love flying through it, the whole world on display.

We did Houston flying YYC-IAH-PTY-IAH-YYC and it was very easy, but that was all Star Alliance.

LAX suuuuuuuuuuuuucks.

[Wormius]

Every moment at LAX you just ask yourself, "why is this like this?". Our flight was from PUD->LAX->YYC. The terminal we arrived at was nowhere near the terminal we needed to get to. I think United to Air Canada or something like that.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

Yeah, Frankfurt is great, it's just the size that blows. I'd curse out Heathrow before Frankfurt.
Houston is a mess when you aren't flying United (Star Alliance), like Westjet is in a terribad terminal and check in the hottest of messes, but even coming back from South America it's not bad to pass through.

Heathrow is easily my least favourite. Frankfurt is just annoying because often end up on those stupid buses which just eat up so much time. They also made me throw out a bar of soap the first time I was there and I'll never forgive them!

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I think my question would still be, why didn’t you try to talk to airport staff and let them know you were about to miss a flight? Talking to random people in line doesn’t seem productive.

I did actually. No one could do anything unless a gate agent came looking for passengers. West jet didn’t send anyone.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by rotten42

Then you haven't been to that many airports. Off the top of my head all these are worse:

Chicago
Toronto
Houston
Frankfurt
Mexico City (dear god that place is a mess)

The hilarious thing is outside of Mexico City I’ve flown in and out of each of those multiple times without a single issue.

The people in line from elsewhere were commenting on how CALGARY is easily the worst new airport they fly to regularly.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by rotten42

Houston is fine coming/going from Canada. Coming/going from anywhere south of the US line is an entirely different story.

Maybe you are right but I've never done a US domestic flight through IAH. I've only been through Houston Hobby on domestic US flights.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Update:

They delayed the flight 23 minutes (WestJet). I asked a bunch of people and they said unless an agent or a worker of the company comes looking for people you are SOL.

So my new flight time was 2:53.

I finally get through customs at 2:50 and I take off running for my gate. As I approach E85 the west jet gate people are hanging out. Im thinkonf #### im screwed. But they inform me im the last passenger... but they are still waiting on one pilot.

If one x-ray machine goes down and it causes that sort of backup you don’t deserve to me an airport.

I stand by my statement YYC is the worst airport I have ever been to.

Side note: props for the pilots for turning a 45 minute delay into a 20 minute delay by flying faster.

Makes a nexus pass seem really worth it.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Makes a nexus pass seem really worth it.

NO! Nexus is the worst thing ever. Don't get it.

please

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by chemgear

NO! Nexus is the worst thing ever. Don't get it.

please

Yes, that's correct. It's the WORST.

In other news, my renewal only took 4 days, no interview. Pleasantly surprised.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I've been to Pearson many, many times - both on the domestic and international side. Outside of a long walk between two terminals (not much different than YYC), what makes it so bad? I'm usually in the doors, checked in, bags on the way, and through security in 5-10 minutes on most occasions.

Pearson is a ridiculously easy airport to deal with. And they have a train between terminals, takes no time at all.

[Muta]

LAX is by far the worst airport ever and it's not even close.

Changi and Haneda, on the other hand, are the complete opposite of LAX. What a pleasure to travel through those facilities.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Every moment at LAX you just ask yourself, "why is this like this?". Our flight was from PUD->LAX->YYC. The terminal we arrived at was nowhere near the terminal we needed to get to. I think United to Air Canada or something like that.

At least to get there all you have to do is lug all your stuff outside on the sidewalk and walk through people waiting to get picked up for 10 minutes, only to go in your next terminal and have to clear security all over again.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

At least to get there all you have to do is lug all your stuff outside on the sidewalk and walk through people waiting to get picked up for 10 minutes, only to go in your next terminal and have to clear security all over again.

Hey, it works in Saigon, why wouldn't it work in LA! In Saigon it felt like they were actively trying to stop you from getting between the domestic and international terminals.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

At least to get there all you have to do is lug all your stuff outside on the sidewalk and walk through people waiting to get picked up for 10 minutes, only to go in your next terminal and have to clear security all over again.

Ugh, I landed at Terminal 2 on Air Canada, and connected on United in Terminal 8. My research showed there was a bus that will take you between terminals. Seems ridiculous that I have to re-clear security but ok.

Get on the bus, driver tells me he stops at all the terminals. Perfect.

Terminal 3.

Tom Bradley.

Terminal 4.

Terminal 5.

Terminal 6.

Terminal 7.

...

...

...

Terminal 1.

WTF? Ummmm, where'd terminal 8 go?

Terminal 2.

I get off the bus, and walk back with my carry-on, can't find Terminal 8. Go into Terminal 7 and learn that 8 is connected to 7 and you have to clear security at 7.

That's what I do.

Terminal 8 at LAX is a hole. Like wow.

Jet bridges literally block the view at the windows. It was far from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by rotten42

Houston is fine coming/going from Canada. Coming/going from anywhere south of the US line is an entirely different story.

In and out of Houston is one of the most efficient security experience in the US IMO. Not sure what you’re referring to?

Any US airport with TSA pre check is generally a piece of cake, but international connections can be a challenge at any large airport once you start throwing in multiple screenings, trains etc. In my experience IAH is better than most but it definitely comes down to personal experience.

YYC’s problem seems to be getting people through security, at the international terminal anyway. I’ve never seen more than 2 lines open and it’s slow.

[powderjunkie]

Should Nexus be valid for TSA pre-check? I feel like 4-5 years ago they rarely let us in...maybe more often recently, but I can't specifically recall

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Should Nexus be valid for TSA pre-check? I feel like 4-5 years ago they rarely let us in...maybe more often recently, but I can't specifically recall

Yes, if you include your pass during booking, you should have TSA pre-check.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Should Nexus be valid for TSA pre-check? I feel like 4-5 years ago they rarely let us in...maybe more often recently, but I can't specifically recall

When you check in for a flight in the US make sure your boarding pass has the TSA Pre Check mark on it. If it doesn't see a check in agent, show them your NEXUS card and they should be able to add the Pre Check and issue a new boarding pass.