Quote:
Originally Posted by hoboman27
^good photos. Looks like a lot of open spaces, could be a lot of walking around.
Who's signed up for the trials?
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This past 2 months I have completed 3 transborder and 1 domestic trip, the wait for the new international terminal is turning into agony, mostly due to insufficient facilities to meet demand.
On the outbound, the transborder checkin facilities are crammed at the peak and some non peak times.
Once through bag drop, the entrance to US CBP pre-clearance is woefully small an inadequate. There should be two lines for regular travellers plus empty middle space for Nexus/Global Entry travelers to skip the blue customs declaration card inspection line. There is frequently insufficient space for the Nexus Card holders to get through.
Once in US pre-clearance hall, most of the time only 2/4 Global Entry machines are working. There are more machines that are newer and more reliable installed in the new terminal. This backs up the Global Entry line.
The biggest choke point is the Concourse B pre-board security checkpoint, which frequently backs up to the checked bag drop stations. While there is likely enough checkpoint lanes, the cramped space is insufficient for effective movement of passengers and screening staff.
The boarding lounges have insufficient food and retail amenities and the staff have to contend with cramped quarters. On the recent family vacation, I could not buy milk for my kid's cereal on the morning flight (also apparently Westjet does not cater milk onboard due to lack of refrigeration, but the beer is cold
). Good luck getting anything remotely healthy at food outlets.
The holdrooms have insufficient seating for a full mainline narrowbody aircraft that has slimline seats. The holdrooms were sufficient maybe 20 years ago when the first class cabin was twice the size and the old style seating caused 24-30 fewer pax compared to today's aircraft.
By the time I am onboard I am in a very grumpy mood. Thankfully the one sunshine spot for YYC is about to come, we have a new runway so delays are a lot fewer on both the departure and arrival times. with our current extended wet season I arrived safely and pleasantly on Saturday night in between the thunderstorms, secure in the knowledge that the new runway has the most advanced instrumentation systems, grooved concrete to take away the rain, and 14,000 feet to provide for extended roll out.
The return features cramped CBSA hall for the primary inspection line followed by a cramped bag hall and overcapacity bag carousels. The Saturday night weather forced 3-6 flights to deplane within minutes of each other and backed up the bag hall, creating additional stressers for the pax who had been circling for a while (namely a WS flight from PVR).
Overall the larger spaces, greater amenities, and greater pax throughput are a big compensating factor for the longer walking distances.
Prev
. When we arrived we called Hainan to inquire about our lost bag, and they were rather rude and rushed. Fortunately we did get our bag back (after three days). In Beijing Hainan operates out of terminal 2 (slightly older, though not that big of an issue). Again, their checkin was disorganized (took ten minutes per checkin, no idea why!). Many flights didn't have a gate so we had to take a shuttle bus to board (so did the Boston, Toronto, and Seattle flights). It took us to a remote corner of the airport where our plane was. Service and food were lacking again.
I wouldve thought it's a first flight thing, but our departure from Beijing back to Calgary a month later was the same thing. 
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