Canadian Airport Thread - Page 118

esquire · #**2341** Posted **Dec 1, 2015, 10:32 PM**

^ Haha, sounds like the old YWG transborder area

Procrastinational · #**2342** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 12:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Haha, sounds like the old YWG transborder area

The closest thing I've come across was the temporary terminal at Bellingham Airport. It was basically just a portable, with washrooms and a door or two to the tarmac. Thankfully it was well worth it, as the new terminal is great for such a small airport.

casper · #**2343** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 2:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by niwell

The worst North American airports I have been in by far are those in the NYC metro area. Truly terrible. Charlotte was also an... experience. Despite looking fairly decent.

For major airports the best was probably Denver. I really liked terminal 2 at SFO but heard the rest weren't as nice. Never had a huge issue at some of the smaller airports, and they seem to have better food and drink options than their Canadian counterparts. New Orleans was dead easy, as is Chicago Midway (plus you can get drinks to go at both!).

The problem with most of the older US airport terminals goes back to pre-9/11. While in Canada and most other parts of the world only passengers were permitted through security in the US anyone go to the gate area. You could meet incoming friends at the gate etc. The screening was a quick pass through a simple metal detector. That resulted in the screening are being very compact and not much on issue.

Post 9/11 security because a multi-step process with equipment that takes up a lot of space and lineups that take even more space. The older terminals were not design to accommodate this. Places like Newark and LaGuardia that this stuff put installed into space that was originally intended to just be a hallway.

Basically some of these older airport just have the wrong layout and they have never redesigned the terminal.

The newer terminals are fine. It is these older ones.

eemy · #**2344** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 2:29 PM**

MCI in Kansas City is perhaps the worst example of this.

Airboy · #**2345** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 4:49 PM**

Doesn't affect most here but thought people will be interested. But Buffalo has its licence suspended. The few times I have been on some of their aircraft has been an experience.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/buffalo-airways-suspended-1.3346524

Big Sky · #**2346** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 5:23 PM**

LRT out to YEG would be a massive waste of money. I'm not trying to slag YEG, but just saying that there are better ways to use transportation dollars. It's way to far from the core, and would cost mega bucks relative to how much it is needed. Bus shuttle service makes more sense. They aren't even looking at rail service to YYC which is a busier airport and isn't very far from one of the lines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

' All that said, Edmonton built has a nice modern airport. What it needs now is a good rail connection to downtown.'

LRT will come ^in 10-15, but the 747 + LRT is perfectly reasonable. I can go door to door from downtown in 50-55mins for $5.

halifaxboyns · #**2347** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 6:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicko999

I concur. Laguardia is the worst airport I've been to.

Amen - flew out of LGA in the summer with Delta to YHZ; what a dump. It stunk and the ac didn't work so they had giant fans blowing air down the concourse.

I've not done JFK yet; I'm hearing the terminal 4 upgrades have made it quite impressive.

I have to say SEA is a great terminal - I've always had great experiences there and it feels comfortable/spacious (except in the arrivals hall - that does feel a little cramped). The musicians in the food court is a nice touch too. The worst airport I've experienced is MSP (Minneapolis). It's old, crumbling and have the wash rooms weren't functional.

esquire · #**2348** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 6:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

The worst airport I've experienced is MSP (Minneapolis). It's old, crumbling and have the wash rooms weren't functional.

How long ago was this? In my view MSP is among the best US airports. Nice, modern, spacious, plenty of amenities, good transportation links, nice little perks (hundreds of iPads to use for free throughout the terminal).

eemy · #**2349** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 8:54 PM**

Yeah, MSP was actually pretty nice compared to a lot of airports.

jmt18325 · #**2350** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 8:56 PM**

I had no problem with the gates that Delta has (where the 1 Westjet gate is) at LGA. It was actually quite typical. Where we landed with AA on the other hand....yuck.

Airboy · #**2351** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 11:22 PM**

I though MSP was a decent airport the last few trips through.

SkydivePilot · #**2352** Posted **Dec 2, 2015, 11:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

Yeah, MSP was actually pretty nice compared to a lot of airports.

MSP is very nice and very easy to navigate.

MSP is where "Airport" (1970) was filmed. The core of the initial first phase of the airport is still very preserved - however changed.

casper · #**2353** Posted **Dec 3, 2015, 2:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Amen - flew out of LGA in the summer with Delta to YHZ; what a dump. It stunk and the ac didn't work so they had giant fans blowing air down the concourse.

I've not done JFK yet; I'm hearing the terminal 4 upgrades have made it quite impressive.

I have to say SEA is a great terminal - I've always had great experiences there and it feels comfortable/spacious (except in the arrivals hall - that does feel a little cramped). The musicians in the food court is a nice touch too. The worst airport I've experienced is MSP (Minneapolis). It's old, crumbling and have the wash rooms weren't functional.

I find MSP pretty good.

SEA has its problems. If you are coming from Calgary (pre-clearance) it is not bad. If you are connecting from Victoria (what I do) the issue is international arrivals is into a remote terminal. US boarder control can be pretty good given they have the automated machines. It can also be very painful if you arrive at the same time as multiple international arrivals. Once you clear it is two separate people movers to get over to where Alaska has domestic flights.

thenoflyzone · #**2354** Posted **Dec 3, 2015, 2:45 AM**

HA is eyeing new routes to the east coast after 2017. YUL and YYZ were mentioned on a slide at an investor day presentation, along with PHL, IAD and BOS.

Interesting.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/business/b...-add-more-east-coast-flights-in-2-years/

SkahHigh · #**2355** Posted **Dec 3, 2015, 8:32 PM**

October update:

1.YYZ - 27,982,740 +6.9% (from September)
2.YVR - 17,206,481 +4.8%
3.YUL - 13,247,689 +4.6%
4.YYC - 13,035,840 +1.57%
5.YEG - 6,105,218 -0.7%

The Chemist · #**2356** Posted **Dec 3, 2015, 11:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

LAX bad but not awful

Newark a bit ghetto, some decent areas, stupid runway+delays due to winds

Logan, AWFUL

Minny - fantastic

Denver - fantastic

S.F - fantastic

LAX is the worst airport I've ever had the misfortune of travelling through. I had to fly back to Calgary via LAX in February, and aside from the nightmare of passing through customs (why, oh why does the US insist on making even transfer passengers pass through customs?) when I cleared customs there was absolutely ZERO signage indicating where to go for my connecting flight, and I had to wander around for more than 15 minutes before I could even find a member of the airport staff to ask where to go. Absolutely unacceptable for such an important airport.

I've been through Logan a couple of times and while it's old I never found it to be particularly terrible.

Denver's airport is huge, but well laid out and is overall an excellent experience.

SFO is fantastic.

SignalHillHiker · #**2357** Posted **Dec 3, 2015, 11:28 PM**

The primary runway at YYT has been re-opened following construction. The CAT 3 system will be operational by 2016.

• Video Link

Tropics · #**2358** Posted **Dec 4, 2015, 12:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

October update:

1.YYZ - 27,982,740 +6.9% (from September)
2.YVR - 17,206,481 +4.8%
3.YUL - 13,247,689 +4.6%
4.YYC - 13,035,840 +1.57%
5.YEG - 6,105,218 -0.7%

Are there any estimates on the air traffic that YYC will have once the international terminal is compete and operational? From the look of it once YYC gets that additional capacity it has a good chance of becoming the clear third busiest airport in Canada for the foreseeable future.

I am hopeful they add a direct flight to Turks and Caicos from YYC once the thing is open. Is there anywhere we can see a list of new proposed international routes from YYC or are they all still being sorted out?

Denscity · #**2359** Posted **Dec 4, 2015, 12:19 AM**

Should YYZ's numbers say 37... and not 27...? They've always been roughly double the count of YVR. Therefore they should be pushing 40M and YVR 20M.

Denscity · #**2360** Posted **Dec 4, 2015, 12:21 AM**

Regarding YYC ive checked out their thread many times and I see more reductions/cancellations than new flights being added due to the economic downturn. Granted many are domestic reductions. A local Calgarian can correct me.