SEATAC is a bad airport--what happens if not on a partner airline?
May 15, 2018, 6:43 pm
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: portland, oregon
Programs: alaska, united, air france, lufthansa,delta, starwood
Posts: 382
If you have to fly Victoria-PDX in the future, how about doing it through Vancouver (YVR) and doing the customs pre-clearance there, and taking a "domestic" nonstop flight from Vancouver to PDX? That would avoid the fustercluck that is currently International Arrivals at SEA.
May 15, 2018, 7:06 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 468
Another scenic but faster option is the seaplane. Kenmore Air goes from Victoria Harbor to Lake Union near downtown. Customs is handled on arrival and takes minutes. They run a connecting shuttle to Sea-Tac for $20. Probably faster than the AS routing once you count in airport transit and the transfer mess.
May 16, 2018, 7:54 am
#33
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
If you have to fly Victoria-PDX in the future, how about doing it through Vancouver (YVR) and doing the customs pre-clearance there, and taking a "domestic" nonstop flight from Vancouver to PDX? That would avoid the fustercluck that is currently International Arrivals at SEA.
Last edited by ashill; May 16, 2018 at 12:50 pm
May 16, 2018, 2:53 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
As for security, the NEXUS line is usually open until 2p. At least that's been my experience. It was open at 5p the last time I was there in February, though it didn't save me much time.
May 16, 2018, 3:33 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SEA
Posts: 355
Unless you MUST have a car, you should take the Victoria Clipper from downtown Seattle, or Kenmore Air from Lake Union. Both are much, much, much faster than driving to either the Black Ball or WSF ferries.
May 16, 2018, 3:48 pm
#36
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
In YVR? There's at least 10 GE kiosks that are along the far left (IIRC) wall with a totally separate queue. Even during the 4-5a crush of humanity, I've never waited more than a minute for a machine and maybe 2-3 mins for the CBP person.
As for security, the NEXUS line is usually open until 2p. At least that's been my experience. It was open at 5p the last time I was there in February, though it didn't save me much time.
As for security, the NEXUS line is usually open until 2p. At least that's been my experience. It was open at 5p the last time I was there in February, though it didn't save me much time.
Coming from the connecting (airside) side, there was no NEXUS line at security 7 AM on a Wednesday in February when I was there. 30+ minute wait for security. So all told it was close to an hour to clear security and Immigration pre-clearance at YVR while connecting with Global Entry.
If my experience was abnormal, ^.
May 16, 2018, 4:25 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,373
Another scenic but faster option is the seaplane. Kenmore Air goes from Victoria Harbor to Lake Union near downtown. Customs is handled on arrival and takes minutes. They run a connecting shuttle to Sea-Tac for $20. Probably faster than the AS routing once you count in airport transit and the transfer mess.
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Last edited by jrl767; May 17, 2018 at 9:12 am Reason: add pic