New YYC International Terminal - Opens Oct 31/16
May 13, 2019, 12:14 am
#616
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
They did get rid of call to gate and started to install seats by the gates. However the physical layout of the airport was built around call to gate. End result is there are no amenities around the gates and physical limits to the number of seats that can be installed in that area.
May 13, 2019, 12:20 am
#617
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
Did they even give us directions to follow? I don't ever remember being told (either before or shortly after it opened) that it was intended it to be call-to-gate. I only remember hearing that phrase being invoked in the months after it was opened, when management was responding to the numerous criticisms made.
Perhaps if they had TOLD us it was going to be call-to-gate when they were designing it, we could have either 1) gotten used to the idea or 2) told them it wouldn't fly (see what I did there?
)
Perhaps if they had TOLD us it was going to be call-to-gate when they were designing it, we could have either 1) gotten used to the idea or 2) told them it wouldn't fly (see what I did there?
)
May 13, 2019, 8:15 am
#619
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,767
Mandate
Our mandate is defined by the governing legislation of the Regional Airports Authorities Act of Alberta. Our mandate defines who we are and describes why we exist. We will:
For the general benefit of the public in our region.
Our mandate is defined by the governing legislation of the Regional Airports Authorities Act of Alberta. Our mandate defines who we are and describes why we exist. We will:
- Manage and operate the airports for which we are responsible in a safe, secure and efficient manner
- Advance economic and community development by means that include promoting and encouraging improved airline and transportation service and an expanded aviation industry
For the general benefit of the public in our region.
May 13, 2019, 10:11 am
#620
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,342
The customs arrival area was apparently so poorly designed that, only 2.5 years after opening the terminal, it needs significant redesign. The area that used to house the arriving NEXUS machines and crew lane is now boarded up for construction. The Nexus machines have been moved over to the right-hand wall and both arriving and connecting passengers now use the same machines (which appear to be fewer in number than the total from the two separate lines before). Confusion continues to reign as people have to be directed by white hatted volunteers or CBSA agents to one place or another.
YYC says they're listening, but actions speak louder than words, and there's been very little done to actually improve the customer experience. Most of what they've done has been spending good money after bad on fixing oversights from the initial construction. How they omitted water stations/water fountains in the original design, I'll never understand.
May 13, 2019, 10:20 am
#621
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYC / random hotel in YYZ
Programs: Back of the bus
Posts: 922
I still think YYZ is a much worse mess. Customs hall is a gong show pretty much all the time, and same thing is happening (lots of yelling at people to join certain lines, and then they dump you into the pool of machines with backtracking.
May 13, 2019, 3:13 pm
#622
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
While I absolutely agree with this, if YYZ had YYC's customs volume, it would work fine. The issue is more that given YYC's relatively low international volume and very recent terminal opening it's this bad from the get go.
May 13, 2019, 3:51 pm
#623
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,397
Ratio of employees to pax at YYC 1:10
’Nuff said?
YYZ is fine if you have Nexus. YYC is still incredibly irritating.
May 13, 2019, 4:16 pm
#624
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,226
Going the other way (AC INTL to UA TB) at YYC was silky smooth a couple of weeks ago.
Almost too smooth. I thought the zombie apocalypse was upon us.
Spooky quiet in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. TB lounge was also pretty empty.
Almost too smooth. I thought the zombie apocalypse was upon us.
Spooky quiet in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. TB lounge was also pretty empty.
Last edited by Bohemian1; May 13, 2019 at 4:33 pm
May 13, 2019, 4:21 pm
#625
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
I disagree with this. If you are connecting to domestic in YYZ you either get Nexus and have to go back thru security or you pick OSS but have to fill out a form, because there are no Nexus machines in the T1 transfer area. It is incredibly frustrating and part of the reason I avoid YYZ for TB connections.
May 13, 2019, 4:25 pm
#626
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,397
I disagree with this. If you are connecting to domestic in YYZ you either get Nexus and have to go back thru security or you pick OSS but have to fill out a form, because there are no Nexus machines in the T1 transfer area. It is incredibly frustrating and part of the reason I avoid YYZ for TB connections.
May 13, 2019, 4:29 pm
#627
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
That only sucks relative to YUL. It is better or at least no worse than every other Canadian airport. YVR is terrible for their TB connection. YYC might be acceptable only because they have 3 pax a day use it and 312 staff. But YYZ is not worse. If we are going to judge airports by an objective standard of how they could and should operate well then they are all a colossal dumpster fire.
May 13, 2019, 7:24 pm
#628
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: I'm From Here
Programs: AC*SE & MM/*Wood Gold/HHonors Diamond/Marriott Silver/AirMiles Gold
Posts: 4,567
I could probably go through and give you grips and frustrations of every airport in this country. It is probably very experienced based.
May 13, 2019, 8:40 pm
#629
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 329
They did get rid of call to gate and started to install seats by the gates. However the physical layout of the airport was built around call to gate. End result is there are no amenities around the gates and physical limits to the number of seats that can be installed in that area.
May 14, 2019, 7:08 am
#630
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 669
I would take any Canadian airport over any US airport to transit from. I know many Americans who would rather transit/clear US customs in YVR than fly direct to the US from Asia. They find it easier, faster and just better. AC gets a lot of extra business because of this.