YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[Yume-sama]

Well, with the new Visa requirements they can bet on me not going any time soon

I'm surprised they only have one embassy, in Ottawa.

[SpongeG]

most places only have one embassy they might have multiple consolates though

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

most places only have one embassy they might have multiple consolates though

Yeah, that's what I meant. As far as I can tell they only have one.

Unrelated question, where does one go to get a Chinese tourist visa in Vancouver? I wonder what the processing time is~

[SpongeG]

saudi arabia only has one in ottawa

do you apply through mail for it via the embassy?

[mr.A]

The Visa Office is located at 288-1338 West Broadway, Vancouver BC
7. Visa Fees: Single Entry $50CAD Dual Entries $75CAD Multiple Entries(6 months) $100CAD Multiple Entries(1 year) $150CAD.

For U.S.passport (single,dual or multiple entries ) $130CAD

Service Fees: Rush Service (same day pick-up) $50CAD Express Service (2 to 3 working days pick-up) $35CAD

[Hot Rod]

I think Mr A was talking about Saudi's Embassy in Vancouver.

China has a big embassy in Vancouver on south Granville.

[Yume-sama]

That address does appear to be the Chinese consulate. They probably have a few locations in Vancouver lol

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

That address does appear to be the Chinese consulate. They probably have a few locations in Vancouver lol

Address: 3380 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3K3
Tel: 604-734-7492

The Visa Office is located at 288-1338 West Broadway, Vancouver BC
Tel: (604) 734 – 0704
Fax: (604) 734 – 0311

[giallo]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Address: 3380 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3K3
Tel: 604-734-7492

The Visa Office is located at 288-1338 West Broadway, Vancouver BC
Tel: (604) 734 – 0704
Fax: (604) 734 – 0311

The easiest way to get a Chinese visa is to go across the street from the consulate to Star Travel. It's a HK company the specializes in doing EVERYTHING for you. Just go in with your picture, fill out a piece of paper (they'll even change stuff on it to make the application process 100% successful), and pay an additional $15 for the service. Compare this to being miserable waiting for hours in a stuffy room with a bunch of equally miserable people.

Best $15 I ever spent.

[teriyaki]

Originally Posted by giallo

The easiest way to get a Chinese visa is to go across the street from the consulate to Star Travel. It's a HK company the specializes in doing EVERYTHING for you. Just go in with your picture, fill out a piece of paper (they'll even change stuff on it to make the application process 100% successful), and pay an additional $15 for the service. Compare this to being miserable waiting for hours in a stuffy room with a bunch of equally miserable people.

Best $15 I ever spent.

Wish I knew this before I went through the grueling process of getting a Chinese Visa. Took 3 trips, each with a 1-2 hour wait time inside a packed room. Won't ever be doing that again.

[Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by giallo

The easiest way to get a Chinese visa is to go across the street from the consulate to Star Travel. It's a HK company the specializes in doing EVERYTHING for you. Just go in with your picture, fill out a piece of paper (they'll even change stuff on it to make the application process 100% successful), and pay an additional $15 for the service. Compare this to being miserable waiting for hours in a stuffy room with a bunch of equally miserable people.

Best $15 I ever spent.

do they also do US people?

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by giallo

The easiest way to get a Chinese visa is to go across the street from the consulate to Star Travel. It's a HK company the specializes in doing EVERYTHING for you. Just go in with your picture, fill out a piece of paper (they'll even change stuff on it to make the application process 100% successful), and pay an additional $15 for the service. Compare this to being miserable waiting for hours in a stuffy room with a bunch of equally miserable people.

Best $15 I ever spent.

Good advice! I am planning on a tour through China later this year. Well, Beijing / Shanghai / Xian (maybe), Hong Kong and then on to Macau.

Are you sure that's their name, though Google can't find them.

[nova9]

Originally Posted by teriyaki

Wish I knew this before I went through the grueling process of getting a Chinese Visa. Took 3 trips, each with a 1-2 hour wait time inside a packed room. Won't ever be doing that again.

last time i went was also the same time as the canadian passport surge in 2007. i waited from 5:30am for the office to open and still was packed.

i recommend everyone getting a chinese visa to get the multiple entry visa. and do it quick, mine was only ready a few hours before my flight!

[SpongeG]

Emirates, Air Canada battle escalates

November 12, 2010 | 16:09
MARKUS ERMISCH | QMI Agency


In yet another round of Emirates Airline’s battle for more landing slots in Canada, the Middle Eastern airline is resorting to “busting myths.”

The carrier has hired public relations firm Temple Scott Associates Inc, which specializes in government relations, to do the busting for them.

On Friday, the PR firm, fired off a two-page press release, packed with facts and figures aimed at attacking seven “myths” spread during the increasingly acrimonious battle between the United Arab Emirates carrier on the one hand and Ottawa and Air Canada on the other.

“While Emirates respects the government’s recent decision to deny additional flights, we must rebut the myths of Air Canada in its attempt to deny choice to Canadian consumers and protect itself from fair and reasonable competition,” the release says.

Emirates, currently restricted to three flights a week from Dubai to Toronto, has been trying for years to fly daily into some of Canada’s largest airports, including Calgary. Ottawa has denied the request for more landing slots, considerably chilling the relationship between the two countries. Air Canada, meanwhile, has attacked Emirates, claiming that the airline is subsidized and seeking to divert traffic over its hub in Dubai.

Not so, says Emirates.

“By securing daily flights to Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, Emirates is seeking to fill significant unmet two-way demand between Canada and Dubai, the Middle East, Africa and the Asian subcontinent, all regions for the most part ignored by Air Canada,” says Emirates.

People travelling to these regions from Canada currently have to fly through major European airports, including Frankfurt, the major hub for Air Canada partner Lufthansa. Demand for service to Asia and Africa is high, as Canada is home to many immigrants who regularly visit these parts of the world. Demand for direct service is also high between Calgary and Dubai because of oil and gas industry links.

“(Air Canada) would rather its passengers be diverted through hubs in Europe to access these destinations, no matter how inconvenient, costly or time-consuming,” Emirates says. “Why should Canadian consumers be dictated to by the narrow interests of Air Canada and its fellow Star Alliance member Lufthansa?”

The government of Alberta has said it supports direct flights between Calgary and Dubai. Former Calgary mayor Dave Bronconnier, too, has spoken in support of the service.

...

http://money.canoe.ca/money/business/canada/archives/2010/11/20101112-160934.html

[SpongeG]

skymark to fly to vancouver? the A380?!!

Skymark intends for the A380s to be profitable in the first year of operation, he said. Future destinations will include Los Angeles, Honolulu, Vancouver, Melbourne, Bangkok, Singapore and Rome, he said.

Skymark May Order 15 A380s in International Expansion
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11...15-a380s-in-international-expansion.html

[SpongeG]

Lufthansa S11 Chicago & Vancouver Aircraft changes as of 10NOV10

Frankfurt – Vancouver Airbus A340-600 to continue operation in Summer 2011, replacing plan of Boeing 747-400 operation

http://airlineroute.net/2010/11/10/lh-ordyvr-s11/

[SpongeG]

YVR wins award of excellence for its concessions


YVR has gone up against some of North America's top airports and soared to the top.
Photograph by: Les Bazso, PNG

VANCOUVER -- YVR has gone up against some of North America's top airports and soared to the top.

The Vancouver International Airport beat out 140 other airports to win the Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence winner in the 2010 Airport Concessions Contest. The purpose of the Airports Council International-North America contest is to inspire creativity in the industry and to recognize innovative and outstanding airport concessions.

Contest organizers cited YVR's 167 shops, services and restaurants and its series of 10 zoned streets and plazas that showcase regions of B.C. and feature artwork, water-features, aquariums, and unique interior design.

Concourse C at YVR placed second in the best specialty retail category for small- and medium-sized airports.

...

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/wins+award+excellence+concessions/3808640/story.html#ixzz15QE1ydCV

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

skymark to fly to vancouver? the A380?!!



Skymark May Order 15 A380s in International Expansion
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11...15-a380s-in-international-expansion.html

Wow... I really don't know about their plan. They only fly 737s right now. This would be the equivalent of WestJet suddenly saying: "We're ordering A380s and going to start flying them to compete with Air Canada"

[nova9]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

YVR wins award of excellence for its concessions

YVR has gone up against some of North America's top airports and soared to the top.
Photograph by: Les Bazso, PNG

VANCOUVER -- YVR has gone up against some of North America's top airports and soared to the top.

The Vancouver International Airport beat out 140 other airports to win the Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence winner in the 2010 Airport Concessions Contest. The purpose of the Airports Council International-North America contest is to inspire creativity in the industry and to recognize innovative and outstanding airport concessions.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/wins+award+excellence+concessions/3808640/story.html#ixzz15QE1ydCV

not for nothing but i posted this last week.

[teriyaki]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Wow... I really don't know about their plan. They only fly 737s right now. This would be the equivalent of WestJet suddenly saying: "We're ordering A380s and going to start flying them to compete with Air Canada"

Definitely an odd move for such a small company. Their current fleet is only 15 planes, and they focus on low-fares to domestic destinations. Now they're suddenly doing an about face, and trying to tackle the business/premium international market. Ambitious plans.