My question is re. the 3 hours suggested time for US check-in.
Is 3 hours necessary?
I'm trying to avoid having to get up at 4 am.
We are staying one night at the Pan Pacific (Post Cruise) so we can enjoy downtown Vancouver & Stanley Park, and we will be departing the following morning (before the next batch of cruisers get off their ship).
Our hotel is 30 minutes via cab from YVR.
We will be departing YVR on a Saturday 8 am flight to the US.
We are booked 1st class award tickets, so hopefully that helps speed up the process somewhat.
There are LOTS of reports re. Int'l arrivals, or making an Int'l connection thru YVR, but not much re. my situation, so I thought I would ask the experts here.
TIA.

Your airline's checkin counter might not even be open at that hour.

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For starters, I would look at your airline's website to see what their check-in deadline is for such flights. And if you are checking baggage, note that that deadline might be different than the deadline for checking in without baggage.

What time does your airline's counter open at YVR?

We are booked using AA miles, but flight is on US Air metal.
Flight is an 8:10 departure to PHX.

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Check the airline's website for check-in deadlines (with or without baggage, as the case may be).

I fly through yvr all the time. If you go three hours before then you're wasting your time. Go 2 hours before, maximum. You'll still end up waiting doing nothing for an hour.

Thank You!

it can be horrible, seem to recall hours back in summer 2011

Definitely check with US as to what time they close check in for your flight. It will likely be 60 minutes prior - that tends to be the standard for US-Canada and vice-versa.

Don't forget, you'll be doing CBP pre-clearance in Vancouver, one of the reasons they suggest you get there so early. The procedure at YVR is to check in, go through security and then immigration/customs.

Not sure what time it opens, however, I would suspect ~5:30. Less so on Saturday, but there's likely a lot of people backed up when it opens waiting to get through and to their early morning flights. So I'd expect some wait there.

Being in F probably won't speed anything except check in itself, YVR priority line is for AC elites/ AC premium cabin, but not for other carriers, and certain Amex cardholders (there's also a line for Nexus). CBP also doesn't do any special lines for premium cabin - unless you have Nexus/GE, you'll be waiting in the same line as everyone else.

Even as a Nexus cardholder, I normally get to YYZ between 60 - 90 minutes prior to departure, for the U.S., though often I'm through everything in 10 or so (with Nexus), but gives me time to relax in the lounge.

could be smart to get GE if possible

flights start departing at 6AM, but 8AM is probably better than later

And consider taking the SkyTrain instead of a cab (not sure about hours of service). A station is close by your hotel. Make sure you take a train going to the airport, not to Richmond.

2 hours prior to departure should be plenty of time.

Plan to arrive 2 hrs prior to departure at the check in counters. Take the Skytrain to the airport.

Generally you can clear thru check in and security and customs in approximately 35 mins. However, Cruise days can complicate things and lines can be up to 90 mins or more.

Play it safe and be there early. No stress. Even in F class.

I have travelled through YVR a lot, as well as numerous trips originating in YYC (which has similar set up for preclearance).

My recommendation is to leave Pan Pacific 2.5 hours before departure and you will get to the airport 2 hours before departure.

Also US CBP also restricts the maximum amount of time you can go through preclearance before departure. at YYC the difference is 2 hours before departure. At YYZ i believe the maximum time is 2.5 hours. Unsure about the maximum time for YVR.

The security process can take a while unless you have Nexus or a First Class ticket. In my experience at the common feeder line (albeit in the afternoon) - it's taken at least 30-40 minutes. Global Entry does not help here. You use Global Entry after you process through security. I always wondered why they wouldn't let GE folks in with Nexus. Now that I picked up Nexus, I hope to put this waiting line behind me next time