Middle of night arrival at Vancouver
 

Arriving Vancouver on a Cathay Pacific flight that arrives 1:45 AM next June. Seemed like a great deal as I was able to get Business Class tickets for only 50,000 miles each.

I'm beginning to realize that the 1:45 AM arrival may be problematic - our plans were to get a rental car and drive straight to Seattle (we'll have slept on the plane). WILL ANYTHING BE OPEN AT THAT TIME???

If not, what time do you think the car rental agencies would open?

Thanks.

I am pretty sure the YVR airport car rental agencies close at 1:00 AM and open at 6:00 am.

Most other locations open between 6-8 am most mornings.

I think the only option if driving to Seattle is to stay a night in a hotel and start fresh in the morning.

You're right... I did a quick check through the various web sites listed here...

http://www.yvr.ca/guide/toandfrom/car_rentals.asp

...and they all close at 1:00 AM, opening up again at between 5:00 and 6:00 AM, depending on the rental company. If your flight's due in at 1:45 AM and you're in business class you'll probably be off and through customs by 2:15 - 2:30 AM, so it's only 2.5 hours until some of the agencies start opening. Of course whether you should be behind the wheel in that state is another issue.

HOWEVER... (and all that being said) are you sure you're reading your itinerary correctly? I'm pretty sure the two Cathay flights come in at around noon and and 1:45 PM, not AM :D

Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada

We took the same flight and were in the same situation
 

We took the same flight and were in the same situation. All of the rental car companies are closed at that hour. The 800 reservation number said that we could petition them to stay open. We did that, but they declined our request. So we took a cab to our hotel and rented a car in the city the next day.

It's probably 1:45am Geoff. My wife took a Cathay flight onward to Hong Kong two weeks ago (New York to Vancouver to HK). Flight was delayed a few hours so I don't think they ended up departing until 2:45am.

Side note: Cabs can occasionally be scarce too. We flew back from Vegas (I think) once, arriving past 1am and there were no flipping cabs. International Arrivals was dead. That was a couple of years back though.

Stay at The Fairmont...
 

Did CX889 - JFK to YVR just last night and I wasn't looking forward to the 45 min drive home, never mind the 3/4 hours to Seattle! If I were you, I'd make a reservation at The Fairmont Airport - probably one of the best airport hotels anywhere - have a good sleep, then a great breakfast in your room, and have the Concierge arrange for the rental car to be brought to the front door of the hotel for your departure! The hotel is attached to the airport and is a pleasant 5 min stroll thru International Departures to check in. Enjoy yourselves!

>It's probably 1:45am Geoff

Yes, of course, apologies everyone. I was only thinking about the HKG arrival - I forgot there's also a flight from JFK in the *other* direction :)

The business class seats for 50,000 points should have been my first clue.

Cheers,
Geoff Glave
Vancouver, Canada

National/Alamo closes at 0130 not that it stays open long enough, and opens up again at 0530.



Depending on date/day of arrival leaving for the border ASA may be advantageous.

The Fairmont seems to be the best idea. Expecting to sleep on the airplane so I'm not sure how much sleep we'll get in the hotel - and I did want an early start to Seattle.

Still worth it when Continental wanted 100,000 each points for Business Class! Many thanks to all who answered.:)

I don;t understand - you're going to fly CX in business class and intend to sleep through the flight :confused: :D

Should be some great food & drink around to enjoy! Can heartily recommend the Fairmoint too - spent a very pleasant night there after flying in from London and not wanting to rent a car straight away earlier in the summer.

Some car rental agencies will stay open specifically for CX's arrival from JFK. Call the Vancouver airport location to make sure that they will do that if you have a reservation with them.