Calgary International Airport II - Page 116

Johnny Aussie · #**2301** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 6:56 AM**

Per airlineroute.net

http://airlineroute.net/2014/11/28/ba-yyc-feb15/

Looks like effective 10 Feb 2015 the route reverts back to the 763.

I will finally concede yes the BA route appears in trouble.
I'm going to guess they are struggling to fill the premium seats.

Perhaps until they decide what to do with it once and for all.

Bigtime · #**2302** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 1:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggopher

I am planning to go to Barcelona Spain in April, flying BA thru Heathrow. What are the odds that Flight to Heathrow remains as a 788? I really want to try that plane out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Per airlineroute.net

http://airlineroute.net/2014/11/28/ba-yyc-feb15/

Looks like effective 10 Feb 2015 the route reverts back to the 763.

Sorry ggopher, looks like you are getting the 767 for sure.

LO 044 · #**2303** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 3:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lineman

If I recall correctly, at Heathrow T3 (which is also call to gate), you didn't know your gate number until half hour prior to boarding.

I'm not sure how AC's LHR-YYC route worked but i have flown AC's LHR-YEG route twice (Terminal 1 i believe) and it isn't the most entertaining experience per se. You sit in this huge food court with some stores surrounding the food court. They don't post the gate number until the latest possible minute. Then you trudge over to a hallway with a moving sidewalk and there's your gate. The gate holds about 30 people yet they board a 767 at it so it is basically 220 people standing in line before the entrance to the gate. Reminds me of lining up for food in Eastern Europe during communist times. I found it an annoying experience.

Someone correct me if i'm wrong but wouldn't this type of setup at LHR come about by accident due to lack of space? Or is LHR one of the pioneers of this setup. It is unfortunate that YYC is going to this in my opinion from an avgeek perspective. The last thing i want to do at an airport is shop. Which reminds me of another beef in the fact that you have to walk through a duty free store to get to your gate. YEG has this. Not sure if YYC does.

CorporateWhore · #**2304** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 3:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lineman

If I recall correctly, at Heathrow T3 (which is also call to gate), you didn't know your gate number until half hour prior to boarding.

Ok that's not too bad then. I was fearing it would be like Penn Station in NY where everyone crowds around a big billboard waiting for the station to be called out, and since they only do it 5 minutes before departure, you get this massive stampede as soon as it's revealed.

Full Mountain · #**2305** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 4:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denscity

Haha hilarious. And ya even tho our airport is called West Kootenay Regional, YVR has always called us Castlegar. And I see our flight is late but Chicago is right beside us and also late so don't feel too bad. Pretty good airport company.

I think that ORD flight is delayed everyday, once had mine delayed close to 4 hours

Riise · #**2306** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 5:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

I will finally concede yes the BA route appears in trouble.

On the bright side, AC is in Terminal 2 at Heathrow now. At least I'll get to see the new terminal!

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorporateWhore

I was fearing it would be like Penn Station in NY where everyone crowds around a big billboard waiting for the station to be called out, and since they only do it 5 minutes before departure, you get this massive stampede as soon as it's revealed.

Hahaha! I'm not familiar with Penn Station but I can definitely relate. You won't have to worry, though, London Heathrow's call to gate is much more convenient than London Victoria's call to platform.

If you are travelling with kids, you might find this method a bit more rushed. However, I find the holding rooms to be a lot less boring than simply waiting at a gate.

lubicon · #**2307** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 8:06 PM**

Wasn't a fan of the holdroom concept before and reading these last few posts just re-affirms it. I don't care for the idea.

suburbia · #**2308** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 8:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lubicon

Wasn't a fan of the holdroom concept before and reading these last few posts just re-affirms it. I don't care for the idea.

It is much more efficient at a high level, and I think if we want a big-boy airport, we need to adapt.

Anyone who is for a higher density core that is a happening public space should philosophically be in support of this concept, as it achieves the same within the contexts of an airport. You only go to the gates to get on the place.

Bigtime · #**2309** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 8:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by suburbia

It is much more efficient at a high level, and I think if we want a big-boy airport, we need to adapt.

Anyone who is for a higher density core that is a happening public space should philosophically be in support of this concept, as it achieves the same within the contexts of an airport. You only go to the gates to get on the plane.

Ok ok, you get bonus points for this one.

Surrealplaces · #**2310** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 8:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorporateWhore

Ok that's not too bad then. I was fearing it would be like Penn Station in NY where everyone crowds around a big billboard waiting for the station to be called out, and since they only do it 5 minutes before departure, you get this massive stampede as soon as it's revealed.

And I think they should install the big billboards with the little flip numbers and letters like the old train stations in Europe used to have. Every time you hear that clacking noise, you know an update has been posted

s211 · #**2311** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 10:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by suburbia

It is much more efficient at a high level, and I think if we want a big-boy airport, we need to adapt.

Anyone who is for a higher density core that is a happening public space should philosophically be in support of this concept, as it achieves the same within the contexts of an airport. You only go to the gates to get on the place.

Im not sure I'd be a fan of the mad dash from the holding pit to the gate so that everyone can be assured of being first on the plane to cram their over-sized carry-on luggage in the overhead bins. The dash right at the gate is bad enough already.

LO 044 · #**2312** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 10:24 PM**

^Agreed.

And as for those flip numbers and letters, you'd be surprised how many people like those arrival/departure boards. They still exist in many train stations and airports in Europe. Frankfurt Airport actually has this type of board.

Riise · #**2313** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 10:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

Im not sure I'd be a fan of the mad dash from the holding pit to the gate...

Either am I, which is why I wait in the terminal pub until I can walk over just in time for the start of boarding.

suburbia · #**2314** Posted **Nov 28, 2014, 11:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

Im not sure I'd be a fan of the mad dash from the holding pit to the gate so that everyone can be assured of being first on the plane to cram their over-sized carry-on luggage in the overhead bins. The dash right at the gate is bad enough already.

It works in much larger airports. If we were picking up best practices from Springbank airport, I'd be more worried.

ItsALondonThing · #**2315** Posted **Nov 29, 2014, 9:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Per airlineroute.net

http://airlineroute.net/2014/11/28/ba-yyc-feb15/

Looks like effective 10 Feb 2015 the route reverts back to the 763.

I will finally concede yes the BA route appears in trouble.
I'm going to guess they are struggling to fill the premium seats.

Perhaps until they decide what to do with it once and for all.

Low oil price making 767 viable without the premium seats?

McMurph · #**2316** Posted **Nov 29, 2014, 4:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

Im not sure I'd be a fan of the mad dash from the holding pit to the gate so that everyone can be assured of being first on the plane to cram their over-sized carry-on luggage in the overhead bins. The dash right at the gate is bad enough already.

I've been in a number of airports with the centralized pit and the experience largely depends on how nice the central area is. If it is a decent lounge with lots of windows and good seating then it's usually pretty good. If it feels like the food court at North Hill Mall then it sucks. Also keep in mind that at YYC it won't take a whole lot of brainpower to figure out which gate your plane is at before they announce it (hint: if you're flying to Amsterdam look for a blue one). I don't think the Penn Station platform dash is what we're looking at -- I'm pretty sure you'll be able to wander to the gates anytime you want.

Maple Leaf Loungers already do exactly what the airport is going to be asking all of us to do in the IFC. I'm fairly confident that they'll give us a space worth wasting time in.

s211 · #**2317** Posted **Nov 29, 2014, 6:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McMurph

I've been in a number of airports with the centralized pit and the experience largely depends on how nice the central area is. If it is a decent lounge with lots of windows and good seating then it's usually pretty good. If it feels like the food court at North Hill Mall then it sucks. Also keep in mind that at YYC it won't take a whole lot of brainpower to figure out which gate your plane is at before they announce it (hint: if you're flying to Amsterdam look for a blue one). I don't think the Penn Station platform dash is what we're looking at -- I'm pretty sure you'll be able to wander to the gates anytime you want.

Maple Leaf Loungers already do exactly what the airport is going to be asking all of us to do in the IFC. I'm fairly confident that they'll give us a space worth wasting time in.

For me, the issue isn't how wonderful the holding pit is. It's the everyone-for-themselves mad dash to the gate. It's bad enough with people already sitting at gates acting like they don't even have a reserved seat, so just imagine what it will be like with a jog to the gate. Think Black Friday, for each and every flight you take at an airport with this feature.

lineman · #**2318** Posted **Nov 29, 2014, 7:01 PM**

I wouldn't exactly call a 300m walk over a half hour a mad dash. If it works fine in some of the busiest airports on the planet, it'll be fine here. Only the stupid won't be able to figure it out. Hell, they haven't figured out the hold at gate system or moving sidewalks, so whatever.

It'll only be harried experience for those who don't pay attention. That's their problem.

PPAR · #**2319** Posted **Nov 29, 2014, 11:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItsALondonThing

Low oil price making 767 viable without the premium seats?

I fully intended to book on BA for LHR flight this January. Wanted to book premium economy and use points to upgrade to business class. But... No upgrade available! So either premium seat sales are not a problem out of YYC, or BA has given up.

Cage · #**2320** Posted **Nov 30, 2014, 1:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

For me, the issue isn't how wonderful the holding pit is. It's the everyone-for-themselves mad dash to the gate. It's bad enough with people already sitting at gates acting like they don't even have a reserved seat, so just imagine what it will be like with a jog to the gate. Think Black Friday, for each and every flight you take at an airport with this feature.

Some points to put your mind at ease.

For starters, there is no reason for the gate planners to do their assignment activities on short notice. So I fully expect that gate assignments will be known 24 hours ahead and larger airline operators will have common gates. AC international, BA, KLM all leave from essentially the same gates each night, this practice will continue. To get your gate number ahead of the FIDS or announcement, look at the boarding card.

The airlines will have the gate assignments ahead of the general announcement. This is true for LHR where if one goes into the London lounge or now LHR MLL the FIDS had gate assignments when outside general hold room had gate unassigned indicator.

What to expect from the new terminal, all food and beverage and retail will be centrally located. Expect one large timmies location and do not expect there to be a small satellite location like what's currently at old gate 33. Washrooms and seats will be the only amenities near the gate locations. Want food, go back to the central hold room.

Each airline has different boarding signage, stanchion requirements, process, nod protocols. Therefore expect that airlines will generally use the same gates throughout the day. A mad dash to the gate is more inefficient for the airline than for the customer, so the first to complain will be the airlines if the YYCAA wants to put everyone in the hold room until the last possible second.