I flew out of YVR a few days ago.

After you go through check-in, immigration, and customs, there is another counter where they charge you an Airport improvement fee ($10?). Since I connected domestically first, I did not have to pay this [???].

Can they legally charge this fee? What happens if you refuse to pay the fee? Anyone else know anything else about it?

In short, yes, they can charge the fee. It's $10 North America and $15 International. The fee is charged by other airports but is usually part of the ticket (US airports charge $3). Personally, I rather like the fee being separate as every traveler is "affected". This way, it is less likely for an increase to be pushed through. If you don't like the extra line, there are kiosks that will take credit cards.

[This message has been edited by YEG Guy (edited 07-09-2001).]

It's not that unusual for foreign airports to charge a departure tax. I got hit in YVR last year, and I think Buenos Aires also charged one. However, it would be nice if they told you about the tax before you got to the tax window.

The interesting part about this is knowing where the AIF actually goes. The answer may surprise you.

Some years ago, the Canadian government turned over YVR to the Vancouver International Airport Authority (VIAA), a not-for-profit private organization. As part of the deal made, they agreed to pay the Canadian government yearly fees that would then be distributed to other, needier airports. In practice, this has meant redistribution to poorly-run airports in Quebec.

The VIAA imposed the AIF to raise money for improvements. If you've been through YVR in the last few years, you know just how spectacular a job they've done -- it's easily my favorite airport in North America, and certainly one of the most beautiful in the world -- a great introduction to Canada.

As it happens, YVR's revenues have grown, and they can now pay for further improvements on their own. Unfortunately, they still must subsidize other airports, and coincidentally, the amount of this subsidy is approximately equal to the revenue raised from the AIF. In other words, if the Canadian government would stop taxing YVR for its success, the AIF could go away.

This was all in a Vancouver Sun story some months ago, but I can't locate a URL at the moment.

-- Frank

YVR certainly isn't using the revenue from the AIF for airport operations. I walked into DTB men's bathroom and it smelled worse than an outhouse, absolutely disgusting!

I think YVR operates a few airports overseas and uses the YVR AIF to fund this hobby.

They charge this fee past check-in, US Customs/Immigration, and past where you leave the suit cases.

What happens if you refuse to pay? I do not think it is possible to 'go backwards.'

My peeve is actually WHERE they collect it and not the fact that they collect it. Having the AIF booths and security screening after U.S. Customs and Immigration makes quite a little bottle neck at that point especially when the Cruise ships dump off a large number of busses. I wish they were before Immigration/Customs and right after the Duty free shops. And maybe a little better signage before the AIF so people would have their money ready.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Leisuremiles:
My peeve is actually WHERE they collect it and not the fact that they collect it. Having the AIF booths and security screening after U.S. Customs and Immigration makes quite a little bottle neck at that point especially when the Cruise ships dump off a large number of busses. I wish they were before Immigration/Customs and right after the Duty free shops. And maybe a little better signage before the AIF so people would have their money ready.</font>

Here's a tip for those transiting YVR for the first time - buy the AIF ticket before you check in for your boarding pass. There are AIF kiosks all over the entry to the terminals; in international, they are right by the GST refund and I-94 Customs forms. When you exit the Duty Free shop, you can go to straight to the "paid AIF fee" line, and skip the queue of people trying to figure out how to use the AIF machine and how much to pay.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Leisuremiles:
I wish they were before Immigration/Customs and right after the Duty free shops.</font>

Your wish has been granted. They startd doing this sometime between March and July.