Deplaning / disembarking at a remote stand in YYZ
Aug 16, 2019, 8:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BGI (ex-YYC, YYZ)
Programs: AC*G-E100K (once again)
Posts: 1,701
Deplaning / disembarking at a remote stand in YYZ
Hi all
Arrived in YYZ today and had the first ever Air Canada experience deplaning or disembarking at a remote stand. AC1715 arriving from Barbados. Here is my video. Check it out.
Arrived in YYZ today and had the first ever Air Canada experience deplaning or disembarking at a remote stand. AC1715 arriving from Barbados. Here is my video. Check it out.
Aug 16, 2019, 9:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Toronto
Programs: DL Silver, AC E75K, Chatime Elite
Posts: 339
Had the same first-time YYZ bus experience last week when we boarded BR35 at the tarmac level. It was delayed about 16 hours because of the typhoon and the plane was parked at the remote stands.
We boarded the buses from a dinky hold room downstairs where one alights from the escalators.
We boarded the buses from a dinky hold room downstairs where one alights from the escalators.
Aug 16, 2019, 9:28 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
What did you think? Was it a seamless experience? Pros/cons etc?
The reason I ask is that remote stand operations (RSO) are now common at YVR, and will only become more so. To date, AC mgmt have been resistant to do them, save for some reluctant Rouge (to/from Japan last year) and AC Express (departures to ORD) experiments.
I have my own insight & opinions about the program (based upon timing stats and passenger feedback from JL, AF, WS and UA), but am curious how AC passengers will react to RSO (note that RSO is different than ITD - Int'l to Domestic - bus ops that currently occur at YVR).
The reason I ask is that remote stand operations (RSO) are now common at YVR, and will only become more so. To date, AC mgmt have been resistant to do them, save for some reluctant Rouge (to/from Japan last year) and AC Express (departures to ORD) experiments.
I have my own insight & opinions about the program (based upon timing stats and passenger feedback from JL, AF, WS and UA), but am curious how AC passengers will react to RSO (note that RSO is different than ITD - Int'l to Domestic - bus ops that currently occur at YVR).
Aug 17, 2019, 4:26 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
Reminds me of days at Pearson where there was the remote terminal for Transborder flights on RJs.
I used to to hate the bus as it meant waiting until everyone deplaned before heading to main terminal and was a drag if you had no sky check and were near the front. The plus was getting dropped right off near customs hall.
However i now wish for the buses sometimes when landing at F99 especially late at night and there is the ten minute or more long walk to customs ... especially after a long day.
So while ideal buses may not be bad.
Ideal would be to build connection to main terminal and using moving sidewalk.
i wonder if something like what they had at DFW and terminal E remote gates might be worth it where you connected to the main terminal with an underground moving sidewalk. I wish that was the case with the F99 gates at Pearson.
I used to to hate the bus as it meant waiting until everyone deplaned before heading to main terminal and was a drag if you had no sky check and were near the front. The plus was getting dropped right off near customs hall.
However i now wish for the buses sometimes when landing at F99 especially late at night and there is the ten minute or more long walk to customs ... especially after a long day.
So while ideal buses may not be bad.
Ideal would be to build connection to main terminal and using moving sidewalk.
i wonder if something like what they had at DFW and terminal E remote gates might be worth it where you connected to the main terminal with an underground moving sidewalk. I wish that was the case with the F99 gates at Pearson.
Aug 17, 2019, 4:55 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BGI (ex-YYC, YYZ)
Programs: AC*G-E100K (once again)
Posts: 1,701
What did you think? Was it a seamless experience? Pros/cons etc?
The reason I ask is that remote stand operations (RSO) are now common at YVR, and will only become more so. To date, AC mgmt have been resistant to do them, save for some reluctant Rouge (to/from Japan last year) and AC Express (departures to ORD) experiments.
I have my own insight & opinions about the program (based upon timing stats and passenger feedback from JL, AF, WS and UA), but am curious how AC passengers will react to RSO (note that RSO is different than ITD - Int'l to Domestic - bus ops that currently occur at YVR).
The reason I ask is that remote stand operations (RSO) are now common at YVR, and will only become more so. To date, AC mgmt have been resistant to do them, save for some reluctant Rouge (to/from Japan last year) and AC Express (departures to ORD) experiments.
I have my own insight & opinions about the program (based upon timing stats and passenger feedback from JL, AF, WS and UA), but am curious how AC passengers will react to RSO (note that RSO is different than ITD - Int'l to Domestic - bus ops that currently occur at YVR).
Aug 17, 2019, 8:09 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold, CM Presidential / *A Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 1,648
Arrived into a bus gate a couple of times on AC1949 (PTY-YYZ). I am always ITI so along with it taking longer to get off the plane, you now have a long walk up to the international connections area (against the general flow of traffic)
Makes 1 hour connections more “interesting” at least
Makes 1 hour connections more “interesting” at least
Aug 17, 2019, 10:07 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
Aug 17, 2019, 11:36 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 8,002
Aug 17, 2019, 11:53 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
At any rate, both doors in the COBUS are used at either end (terminal and at the plane) and the L1 and L2 doors are used - with separate Aviramps - on the widebody aircraft.
Upon arrival, J class deplaned using the front L1 door into their bus which leaves first. Y class uses the second L2 door until the J cabin is empty, and then both doors are used. Upon departure, the J bus arrives first, followed by the Y buses. Economy passengers use the front L1 door for seats F-K and the L2 door for seats A-E. Ground staff hold signs and direct passengers as they step off the bus and it seems to flow smoothly. I’m not sure what the procession is like for the J passengers seated on the starboard side of the airplane.
Every RSO arrival and departure is timed at every stage in the quest for continuous improvement.
Aug 17, 2019, 11:59 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,568
Either are closer to civilization than F99 (but then, I've not been to the express MLL yet).
Aug 17, 2019, 12:11 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
From YVR by any chance? I ask because it happened to me, but only after we all got off the plane then realized doors were locked to terminal because we were at INTL gate. Had to get back on and wait for all of Y to board the “mobile lounge” first. Was ridiculous.
Aug 17, 2019, 4:49 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
I'd agree that encountering a locked set of doors due to some bus routing cock-up is ridiculous, but somehow I get the sense that the economy passengers arriving before the premium passengers is the real transgression for some here.
Aug 17, 2019, 5:59 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BGI (ex-YYC, YYZ)
Programs: AC*G-E100K (once again)
Posts: 1,701
Perhaps I misunderstood. Do you mean the rear doors of the bus, or of the plane?
At any rate, both doors in the COBUS are used at either end (terminal and at the plane) and the L1 and L2 doors are used - with separate Aviramps - on the widebody aircraft.
Upon arrival, J class deplaned using the front L1 door into their bus which leaves first. Y class uses the second L2 door until the J cabin is empty, and then both doors are used. Upon departure, the J bus arrives first, followed by the Y buses. Economy passengers use the front L1 door for seats F-K and the L2 door for seats A-E. Ground staff hold signs and direct passengers as they step off the bus and it seems to flow smoothly. I’m not sure what the procession is like for the J passengers seated on the starboard side of the airplane.
Every RSO arrival and departure is timed at every stage in the quest for continuous improvement.
They should allow boarding and deplaning from both the front and rear doors of the plane at the same time which will cut deplaning time by half and help turn the plane around faster. This is a common practice in the Caribbean where there is no bridge.
Aug 17, 2019, 8:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
They deplane 300 passengers from a 777 in 8 minutes. I'm not sure it can get much faster without using cattle prods. There is no desire by the airlines or the airport to turn an international widebody flight in less time than it already takes (under 2 hours). There's no panic for the pads, and none of the airlines are Ryanair.