What to do with 4 hours in Calgary?
May 3, 2008 | 4:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA, Star Alliance
Posts: 17
What to do with 4 hours in Calgary?
I am flying with a couple of colleagues from London (LHR) to Saskatoon on AC and we have a 4 hour wait for the connection in Calgary. Is it worth taking a quick look at Calgary? I could not see any lounge in the domestic terminal, so is there an arrivals lounge in the international terminal or anything else at the airport to pass a few hours?
May 3, 2008 | 4:59 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM, Asia Miles, SPG Gold (life), HH Gold, Golden Circle Jade
Posts: 1,068
I am flying with a couple of colleagues from London (LHR) to Saskatoon on AC and we have a 4 hour wait for the connection in Calgary. Is it worth taking a quick look at Calgary? I could not see any lounge in the domestic terminal, so is there an arrivals lounge in the international terminal or anything else at the airport to pass a few hours?
Maybe...
May 3, 2008 | 5:14 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-PP, HL-DM, MR-LTP, HY-LTG
Posts: 26,017
I am flying with a couple of colleagues from London (LHR) to Saskatoon on AC and we have a 4 hour wait for the connection in Calgary. Is it worth taking a quick look at Calgary? I could not see any lounge in the domestic terminal, so is there an arrivals lounge in the international terminal or anything else at the airport to pass a few hours?
How about relaxing in btwn flights? There is a lounge at domestic departures and you can use that if you're in J or have *A=Gold status.
May 3, 2008 | 5:24 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA, Star Alliance
Posts: 17
Thanks for the help. That is good news if there is a lounge in the domestic departures. I am flying in J from London, but the flight to Saskatoon has no J, and I have no status, so will that be a problem getting into the lounge?
May 3, 2008 | 8:11 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: A3*G, AC, IHG Plat AMB
Posts: 1,606
If your ticket is paid J, I don't see the harm in asking at the MLL if they'll let you spend some time there. It's not like they give you the option on the flights to YXE.
That said, enjoy the CRJ and hopefully it isn't the memory that makes Saskatoon!
Might I suggest:
- Cafe Sola (corner of 23rd and Pacific)
- O'Shea's (if the weather is nice, it has an upstairs patio and is the closest approximation in Saskatoon to an Irish pub. Actually, if you ignore the painfully cheesy Leprechaun Door, it's not that far off either, IMO)
- The Broadway area in general, Particularly pubs like the Yard & Flagon (Ignore the Hose & Hydrant at night if you're looking for a more laid-back atmosphere).
- Take a walk through the U of S campus. I'm not biased or anything, but it is particularly scenic.
- There's a few really nice walking paths along the river, if you have extra time.
- Enjoy the plummeting Canadian Dollar and stock up! OTV Computers is still a fantastic place (24th and Wall Street) where they know their stuff and have some decent deals.
Mostly just enjoy the smaller, better alternative to Calgary
That said, enjoy the CRJ and hopefully it isn't the memory that makes Saskatoon!
Might I suggest:
- Cafe Sola (corner of 23rd and Pacific)
- O'Shea's (if the weather is nice, it has an upstairs patio and is the closest approximation in Saskatoon to an Irish pub. Actually, if you ignore the painfully cheesy Leprechaun Door, it's not that far off either, IMO)
- The Broadway area in general, Particularly pubs like the Yard & Flagon (Ignore the Hose & Hydrant at night if you're looking for a more laid-back atmosphere).
- Take a walk through the U of S campus. I'm not biased or anything, but it is particularly scenic.
- There's a few really nice walking paths along the river, if you have extra time.
- Enjoy the plummeting Canadian Dollar and stock up! OTV Computers is still a fantastic place (24th and Wall Street) where they know their stuff and have some decent deals.
Mostly just enjoy the smaller, better alternative to Calgary
May 3, 2008 | 3:37 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: Aeroplan 75K | Latitude Flight Pass junkie
Posts: 1,813
I am flying with a couple of colleagues from London (LHR) to Saskatoon on AC and we have a 4 hour wait for the connection in Calgary. Is it worth taking a quick look at Calgary? I could not see any lounge in the domestic terminal, so is there an arrivals lounge in the international terminal or anything else at the airport to pass a few hours?
May 3, 2008 | 7:47 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: YTZ
Programs: Hertz & Avis PC; National EE; SPG & Hilton Gold; Flying Blue Platinum; Porter something...
Posts: 6,092
If your ticket is paid J, I don't see the harm in asking at the MLL if they'll let you spend some time there. It's not like they give you the option on the flights to YXE.
That said, enjoy the CRJ and hopefully it isn't the memory that makes Saskatoon!
Might I suggest:
- Cafe Sola (corner of 23rd and Pacific)
- O'Shea's (if the weather is nice, it has an upstairs patio and is the closest approximation in Saskatoon to an Irish pub. Actually, if you ignore the painfully cheesy Leprechaun Door, it's not that far off either, IMO)
- The Broadway area in general, Particularly pubs like the Yard & Flagon (Ignore the Hose & Hydrant at night if you're looking for a more laid-back atmosphere).
- Take a walk through the U of S campus. I'm not biased or anything, but it is particularly scenic.
- There's a few really nice walking paths along the river, if you have extra time.
- Enjoy the plummeting Canadian Dollar and stock up! OTV Computers is still a fantastic place (24th and Wall Street) where they know their stuff and have some decent deals.
Mostly just enjoy the smaller, better alternative to Calgary
That said, enjoy the CRJ and hopefully it isn't the memory that makes Saskatoon!
Might I suggest:
- Cafe Sola (corner of 23rd and Pacific)
- O'Shea's (if the weather is nice, it has an upstairs patio and is the closest approximation in Saskatoon to an Irish pub. Actually, if you ignore the painfully cheesy Leprechaun Door, it's not that far off either, IMO)
- The Broadway area in general, Particularly pubs like the Yard & Flagon (Ignore the Hose & Hydrant at night if you're looking for a more laid-back atmosphere).
- Take a walk through the U of S campus. I'm not biased or anything, but it is particularly scenic.
- There's a few really nice walking paths along the river, if you have extra time.
- Enjoy the plummeting Canadian Dollar and stock up! OTV Computers is still a fantastic place (24th and Wall Street) where they know their stuff and have some decent deals.
Mostly just enjoy the smaller, better alternative to Calgary
-Brian
May 4, 2008 | 5:47 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: A3*G, AC, IHG Plat AMB
Posts: 1,606
...sorry to hijack the thread a bit. I'll try to come up with some stuff and put it in the Canada forum for all of you heading to YXE in the near future... seeing as LX just decided to give me an extra few hours in ZRH to work on it.
May 4, 2008 | 2:46 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 25,052
Give me two weeks. I'm going back to visit my parents, so I should be able to do a drive around and see what's there, what's gone, and what's changed.
...sorry to hijack the thread a bit. I'll try to come up with some stuff and put it in the Canada forum for all of you heading to YXE in the near future... seeing as LX just decided to give me an extra few hours in ZRH to work on it.
...sorry to hijack the thread a bit. I'll try to come up with some stuff and put it in the Canada forum for all of you heading to YXE in the near future... seeing as LX just decided to give me an extra few hours in ZRH to work on it.
May 4, 2008 | 2:58 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YHZ. Previously YYC
Posts: 1,954
There isn't a lot to do in YYC for four hours. 851 gets in at a little after 4pm, so rush hour will be rough! Sometimes it takes me one hour to do a 15 km stretch of the Deerfoot, or even Barlow Trail, both roads which lead to the airport.
by the time you counter in a 20-30 minute possible delay, deplaneing, customs, getting your bags for the connections, etc you'll end up with about a 3 hour wait, keeping in mind you board 20-30 minutes prior to your flight departure, so in fact you might end up with only around 2 1/2 hours to play around with. I would go to the Chilis in concourse A, enjoy some nachos, or maybe one of their burgers or salads, check out some of the retails, which aren't many, then enjoy some drinks in the lounge. By then you'll be ready to take a long stroll to the gate to get ready for boarding.
by the time you counter in a 20-30 minute possible delay, deplaneing, customs, getting your bags for the connections, etc you'll end up with about a 3 hour wait, keeping in mind you board 20-30 minutes prior to your flight departure, so in fact you might end up with only around 2 1/2 hours to play around with. I would go to the Chilis in concourse A, enjoy some nachos, or maybe one of their burgers or salads, check out some of the retails, which aren't many, then enjoy some drinks in the lounge. By then you'll be ready to take a long stroll to the gate to get ready for boarding.
May 4, 2008 | 3:18 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Louisville, KY, USA
Posts: 2,596
Check the airport out at http://www.calgaryairport.com/. Looks like there is good shopping and lots of places to eat.
May 4, 2008 | 4:16 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Closer to YTZ
Programs: Fairmont Platinum | AC Gate Lice Status | VIPorter
Posts: 2,549
As you take Barlow Trail S. from the airport, there is a paved walking/biking trail that skirts the airport ground south, near the fuel storage tanks. I've never accesed it (only gazed longingly at it from the taxi).
Map
This new aviation themed pub is open nearby:
http://flightdeck.ca/directions_1.cfm
Map
This new aviation themed pub is open nearby:
http://flightdeck.ca/directions_1.cfm