Calgary International Airport - New Terminal, Runway, Control Tower

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

You walk by it, not through it in YVR.

haha i was right, you have to walk through it

[slots881]

Maybe I'm blind, but I haven't seen one water fountain or water bottle filling station. There is a sink and tap in the food court and that's it.

[Bigtime]

You are not, what you saw is what you get.

[Amethyst]

Hmm.... that is annoying. And not very environmentally friendly. I can't remember where, but when I was travelling recently, an airport had water bottle filling stations and each time you used it, it increased the number of water bottles saved from the landfill. If they wanted to keep up with airport trends, I think this one is a step in the wrong direction.

[Table 5]

Anyone know if they kept the free WiFI? That was always a nice touch that hopefully isn't being thrown out as well in the name of progress.

[Bigtime]

I believe the free WiFi is still around.

[Table 5]

On a positive note, I was glad to see the Cell Phone lot expanded when I went to pick up some family a few days ago. That place was getting pretty packed since the free 30 minute parking went away.

[slots881]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Anyone know if they kept the free WiFI? That was always a nice touch that hopefully isn't being thrown out as well in the name of progress.

Yes, there is still free wifi in the entire airport.

[Drummer]

Free wifi still, but I didn't have much cell service in the new terminal.

[Party Elephant]

As long as there's still a Chili's Im happy. Can't fly out of Calgary without a beer at Chili's.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by Party Elephant

As long as there's still a Chili's Im happy. Can't fly out of Calgary without a beer at Chili's.

Is there something special about the beer at Chili's or is it just a tradition?

I would always grab a burger from Harvey's until it was replaced by that homophobic fried chicken chain.

[Drummer]

No Chili's on the US side.

[Calgary14]

The cell phone lot has been expanded? I thought there was no room to expand since its next to the waiting area for all the cabs, unless they made that smaller

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

The cell phone lot has been expanded? I thought there was no room to expand since its next to the waiting area for all the cabs, unless they made that smaller

It expanded east.

[Amethyst]

There is a Chili's but it's in the D section, so I guess you can go if you're travelling international, but not transborder.

They are expanding the cell phone lot, but it's been while since I used to, so not sure of the details.

We explored some of the new terminal when we were there visiting yesterday. My dog was a bit disappointed, I think, because the terminal is so new there hasn't been much chance for people to drop crumbs yet. Also, the shiny new floors make it a little difficult for her to jump up, if someone wants her to sit beside them.

[Madman]

Flew out on the 1st and came back last night with relatively little issues using the new terminal.

- Security flying out was very backed up and they didn't expand the lineup into the predefined maze, so everyone was making a line into the hall which caused issues.
- Auto bins are kinda dumb as your stuff gets split up and I think I jammed up the system every time I tried to merge my bin into the lineup.
- Not having to fill out the US customs card was nice.
- US customs felt super generic, and it definitely didn't have that same intimidation factor as the old layout did. Seeing your bag on the screen was a cool addition.
- Top of the escalator with the unmarked sliding doors or the duty free was confusing, I haven't been forced to walk through a duty free before so I didn't know where to go initially - needs signage.
- Don't know if it's by design or not, but that big counter under the huge flight board when you come out of the duty free is going to get slammed by people who refuse to read the sign.
- I for one don't care about sitting right at the gate anyway, I prefer to sit away from people anyway so the not at gate seating totally didn't bother me one bit.
- The availability of plug ins nearly everywhere is great.
- Tons of food and shopping.
- Speakers are placed low inside of sign boards and makes announcements very easy to hear.
- Signage walking from the gate to the jetway was good so you don't get lost on your way to the plane.

- Coming home last night we had to sit at the gate as the terminal was having a problem routing our gate to customs - I guess a drawback to the modular design. We were 20 min early, so this is maybe why.
- Canadian customs was a breeze, although it would be nice not to have to fill out the form on the plane.

All in all, I was impressed by the new terminal.

[Fuzz]

Just curious, did they re-label the meeting area letters? I arrived and told my wife to pick me up at "D", which I had thought was the first one you get to, at the far west. But when I came out it was labelled "A". Am I remember wrong, or did they flip them?

EDIT:Found an old map. Looks like they did flip them.

Spoiler!

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Just curious, did they re-label the meeting area letters? I arrived and told my wife to pick me up at "D", which I had thought was the first one you get to, at the far west. But when I came out it was labelled "A". Am I remember wrong, or did they flip them?

EDIT:Found an old map. Looks like they did flip them.

Spoiler!

I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but it has been a while now. It threw me the first time I saw it as well.

[Bigtime]

The original terminal piers got re-lettered at least two years ago to prepare for the new terminal. They did the switch overnight in a single night when they did.

[Fuzz]

2 years ago, eh? Shows how much attention I paid...

I was at terminal 3 in Toronto and told my friend to pick me up from area "E" which is labelled inside. However, outside there are no letters. Only numbered pillars.