Is 3 hours enough layover time at YVR?
 

Hi all,

We are travelling from the UK to Vancouver in September this year. Once we land in Vancouver, we want to get straight out to Calgary. This would be a self transfer. The flights I've found would give us 3 hours to transfer. Can anyone advise whether this would be enough time?

Thank you so much

Enough time to clear immigration, collect bags and recheck if everything is on schedule, not much time to spare if you have any delays or a long queue. If you have carry-on only, nexus and/or priority security it will be safer than without.

Bag drop at YYR closes at T-45m for a domestic flight so that's your cut-off if you have checked baggage. AC will interline the bags if both flights are on AC but not if OAL are involved.

Really appreciate your response, thank you. I am not a very calm traveller so I think I'll opt for the later flight which will give us 4.5 hours. Hopefully enough time spare in case of any hiccups.

That would be the safest option.

If your earlier flight is on time, and your second flight is with AC, you may be able to move to the earlier flight, or standby for the earlier flight. Sometimes this same-day-change is free, but I am not a master of the rules.
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13F

Thanks 13F, that's good to know! We are flying AC for our second flight so we'll ask the question for sure. If they say no then we'll have time in the airport to grab some dinner then when we finally arrive in Calgary, we can get some much needed sleep straight away.

In my 20 plus years of flying between Vancouver Island and Texas, had very little luck trying to catch an earlier flight on a standby basis, that as United Airlines/Star ⭐ Alliance Gold, and even my 1K days at United.

But it doesn't hurt to ask ......