Fly in to SFO and return from YVR
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Dubai
Programs: BA Silver, EK Gold, LH Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 282
Fly in to SFO and return from YVR
Thinking of doing a 2-4-1 early next summer LHR to SFO and returning from YVR to LHR.
Is this a good idea?
Can you take a US rental car to Canada and leave it in Vancouver or would it be better to fly?
Any advice welcomed.
Is this a good idea?
Can you take a US rental car to Canada and leave it in Vancouver or would it be better to fly?
Any advice welcomed.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: UA gold, AS MVP Gold, AA Plat, HA, DL, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 295
I live in Portland so I definitely live in between those 2 cities. Do you want to stop off in Seattle or Portland and take a leisurely trip? If you do Amtrak might not be a bad option. If you want to get between SFO and YVR faster then you should probably take either UA or AS.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Salisbury Plain
Programs: BA: lowly blue, VS: Red, DC, HH, PC
Posts: 1,141
IME one way hire across the border is expensive. Try one way hire to SEA and then hop across the border (amtrak as has been mentioned) before doing likewise the other side.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: YVR (well, more YPK...)
Programs: BAEC, Tesco ClubCard, PriorityClub Gold now, Amex Gold
Posts: 472
It might be, but it seems to be quite common.
I've been given Washington State-plated Avis cars on three occasions from YVR on YVR-YVR car hires.
The only annoying thing is the amount of Washington State yanks who flash you thinking that you are 'one of them'!
I've been given Washington State-plated Avis cars on three occasions from YVR on YVR-YVR car hires.
The only annoying thing is the amount of Washington State yanks who flash you thinking that you are 'one of them'!
#5
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 14,055
We're doing a similar itinery starting today 
We considered Amtrak, but the train times were horrible.
So, we're renting a car in Seattle, and dropping in Vancouver. Cost about $150 for a day including the one way fee. So, not too bad.
We tried to get the car all the way from LAS to YVR, but it wouldn't price up on Avis.com.
Cheers,
Rick

We considered Amtrak, but the train times were horrible.
So, we're renting a car in Seattle, and dropping in Vancouver. Cost about $150 for a day including the one way fee. So, not too bad.
We tried to get the car all the way from LAS to YVR, but it wouldn't price up on Avis.com.
Cheers,
Rick
#6
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Lewes, UK
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,155
When heading north after Portland, head north west to the Olympic National Park, via the fabuolous coast and round to Port Angeles. Take the ferry across to Victoria on Vancouver Island and after some time there, the ferry from Swartz Bay across to Vancouver itself (great ferry crossing through the Gulf islands). Then headed on down (via the Boeing factory) to Seattle. that way your car ends up in the USA and you have a great trip.
#8
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 14,055
So, don't get into the lounge until an hour after landing

#9
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Kent UK
Programs: BA Silver,
Posts: 132
I'm doing those flights in a month on a 2-4-1 award ticket, in between we are going to Alaska, so flying internally.....
I found flight availability was quite good for award travel to/from those cities, I booked in November for August travel.
I found flight availability was quite good for award travel to/from those cities, I booked in November for August travel.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,243
You might find it significantly cheaper to rent one car in SFO and take to SEA, then switch and rent again for the cross-border element. What's more, public transport in Seattle is good and parking is expensive, so you might win even more on this count.
I picked up a car in YVR for SEA a few years back and it actually had Washington plates on it anyway. Because they presumably wanted to get it 'home' I recall we got a decent upgrade out of it too!
As an aside, I believe there's some weird restriction about Canadians not being able to drive US plated cars back into Canada (or something like that).
I picked up a car in YVR for SEA a few years back and it actually had Washington plates on it anyway. Because they presumably wanted to get it 'home' I recall we got a decent upgrade out of it too!
As an aside, I believe there's some weird restriction about Canadians not being able to drive US plated cars back into Canada (or something like that).
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Dubai
Programs: BA Silver, EK Gold, LH Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 282
Well, thanks for the advice - all booked up!
Now awaiting hotel and car rental sales - early next year I guess.
NB Seems First to SFO has 4 award seats available per flight at the time I'm going - I'm quite surprised at this - is it normal or ?
Now awaiting hotel and car rental sales - early next year I guess.
NB Seems First to SFO has 4 award seats available per flight at the time I'm going - I'm quite surprised at this - is it normal or ?
#12
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 10,243
You might find it significantly cheaper to rent one car in SFO and take to SEA, then switch and rent again for the cross-border element. What's more, public transport in Seattle is good and parking is expensive, so you might win even more on this count.
I picked up a car in YVR for SEA a few years back and it actually had Washington plates on it anyway. Because they presumably wanted to get it 'home' I recall we got a decent upgrade out of it too!
As an aside, I believe there's some weird restriction about Canadians not being able to drive US plated cars back into Canada (or something like that).
I picked up a car in YVR for SEA a few years back and it actually had Washington plates on it anyway. Because they presumably wanted to get it 'home' I recall we got a decent upgrade out of it too!
As an aside, I believe there's some weird restriction about Canadians not being able to drive US plated cars back into Canada (or something like that).
Yes, residents of Canada (not just citizens) cannot take US-registered cars over the border into Canada, on penalty of horrendous tax consequences. UK and other foreign residents have no such difficulties.