YHZ - what is good&bad?
 

Hello, I've turned into a regular user of YHZ and I'm curious about other travellers perceptions. Would you mind sharing your YHZ experience?

What are you missing at the Halifax airport?

Is there anything "too much" of?

And what do you like about it?


Maybe the experience is materially different for business and leisure travellers. So please add to your response from which point of view you are responding, if you may.

Thank you!

For an Airport serving 3.5 million passengers a year, I find the services and amenities available at YHZ are on par with anything you would find at a much larger facility…….just lacking the line-ups. Security is a breeze and having US CBP Pre-clearance here certainly avoids any lineups you might encounter at EWR, PHL or ORD.

And the range of non-stop destinations is excellent plus LHR year ‘round, other European destinations in the summer, lots of winter sun spots and the connections available at YYZ, LHR, EWR or ORD will get just about anywhere with that one stopover.

So what could be improved upon?

More Airlines, more destinations…….but that’s the same for any airport!!

There no dental floss to be found. That I could fine. True story I needed it.

Airport is 30min north of Halifax.

Post security is largely depressing: Hudson news, Starbucks, Tim Hortons.
There is a little cafe and Legends pub food.


Last week I was there and heard of the shuttle bus's cancellation? Used to be a little bus making the hotel rounds, to the airport, around $12 pp.

The shuttle replacement is a bus that needs help
 

The Metro Halifax transit system has taken over with hourly service (#320)at regular transit fares. The departure point at the airport is vaguely indicated by "Metro Express" signs directing you to a lower level - ask at the information desk. On the way in it, tours an industrial area near the airport and stops at a parking lot off the highway and at a terminal in Dartmouth before crossing to Halifax and stopping behind the mall by the Delta Barrington on a recently renamed street that no one is aware of. The trip back is also from behind the mall by a tiny bus shelter. Most of the connecting lines go from the other side of the mall, about three blocks down a big hill. The engine is loud and the ride is rough but they give you a transfer if you have an idea of where to go - plan ahead because the drivers can't tell you. When the bus run first started, they banned luggage. Now, after much noise, it's tolerated. And if you are bringing your bike - they're ready for you "The MetroX features 40’ buses, accommodating 36 seated passengers, with allowance for standing passengers. Each MetroX bus features limited-capacity luggage racks, air-conditioning, and a front-mounted bike rack, which carry two bikes." http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/metroexpress.html
Trip report. The bus goes on an expressway but is really meant for local street use. It is noisy and bumpy. Whoever bought these should not proclaim their genius too loudly. The proclamation on their website might be considered ironic.

Yeah, it's just a local bus come Airport Express. If you have local bus tickets, you just add $1 in cash. I'm not sure where these tickets would be sold at the airport. (That should be improved, as well as the signage to the bus stop - a more prominent location wouldn't hurt either.) Otherwise its $3.25 (less for Children and Seniors), no change given (soon a little more). The value for money is great.

YHZ didn't have any local public transport until May 31, 2012, so this is a big improvement. The 320 might get better busses some time, but then I would expect the ticket prices to be raised. So I'm happy with what we have.

This bus has VERY few stops. The last stop doesn't look like much, but a lot of people are dropped off/picked up by car there. And on the other side of the mall there would be no space for that. So its not the worst solution, I say. If you want to connect to other buses, the terminal in Dartmouth is usually your better option, even if you want to get to the other side of the bridge.

The Airporter Shuttle bus closed down, I think for the 3rd time, and this time for good.

How much is a taxi from airport to downtown Haliax?

Taxis are expensive. I want to say $50 with tip? It's been two years so I'm not sure.

Otherwise I find the airport to be fine. It's clean and comfortable and easy to navigate. I had to update my wife's NEXUS information (no NEXUS office at my home airport) and I took advantage of being there to do it, and had no issues finding it at all.

There was a good pub (D'Arcy McGee's) that I wish I'd known about before I was flying home. :) I was at their main pub near Parliament Hill and really enjoyed it. I'd stop at the airport location for a drink if I ever were there, with time, in the future.

I like the size, and the lack of queues, the Maple Leaf Lounge is small and not usually very busy, which is nice. It also covers the LHR flights as domestic and international are out of the same section. I would like some more US destinations (something more west), and a non-stop Vancouver, but since they aren't run now it is safe to say there isn't a market, so connections it is. I don't like that there is no lounge of any sorts on the US side, but that is just indicative of the number of US flights, and the size of the planes that travel transborder. The preclearance is a nice feature.