Calgary International Airport II

[hoboman27]

Originally Posted by H.E.Pennypacker

Used the new terminal a week and a half ago travelling to/from Mexico.

The lack of a Tim Hortons after you get through security is unCanadian and disappointing.

Seriously though, looks really nice but I didn't like that there wasn't a water fountain either as I usually bring my own empty bottle to fill up. A minor inconvenience. The seating scheme is a bit weird too. I did like the shuttle service. Coming back I was a fan of the set up to get through customs.

They installed some water fountains by the food court, not sure if there's any closer to the gates (washrooms). As for the shuttle service, how was it in terms of convenience and speed? Seems like if it's too slow or the wait too long, people would just walk.

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Hainan switching to the A332 effective September 2, 2017 (am I reading that effective date right?).

9 more seats than the 788.

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airl...hanges-as-of-30nov16/?platform=hootsuite

Huh, I had no idea they had switched to the 788! I guess it's been that long since I have been around the airport or the approach/departure ends of the runway in daylight hours to see it.

[thenoflyzone]

Better off with the A332. Those B788s are a sardine can in the back with 9 abreast seating. 31-32 in seat pitch, 17 in width, compared to 32-33 pitch and 19 width for the A332 in a 2-4-2 layout.

[Johnny Aussie]

Still waiting to see what Hainan does with its remaining allocation!

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by hoboman27

They installed some water fountains by the food court, not sure if there's any closer to the gates (washrooms). As for the shuttle service, how was it in terms of convenience and speed? Seems like if it's too slow or the wait too long, people would just walk.

I didn't use the shuttle but when i was there a couple weeks ago it didn't look like one had to wait more than 2 minutes they were always moving and sometimes would be 3 in a row

[casper]

Originally Posted by hoboman27

They installed some water fountains by the food court, not sure if there's any closer to the gates (washrooms). As for the shuttle service, how was it in terms of convenience and speed? Seems like if it's too slow or the wait too long, people would just walk.

They are more of a fill station than a water fountain. They need more of them....

[H.E.Pennypacker]

Originally Posted by hoboman27

They installed some water fountains by the food court, not sure if there's any closer to the gates (washrooms). As for the shuttle service, how was it in terms of convenience and speed? Seems like if it's too slow or the wait too long, people would just walk.

Well we got there at 5:30am when it was dead, and we walked into the one end of the terminal and got lucky that the shuttle was sitting there. She offered us a ride because we had to go to the opposite end to check-in. It puttered at a slower pace but it's definitely quicker than walking with all the baggage.

We got a nice tour/description of the terminal while we're at it.

[Bigtime]

Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 due in at 1050 from FRA.

Also a post on Calgarypuck says the "terminal fee" is going up by 5% and landing fees by 3% on January 1st. Can anyone confirm?

[hoboman27]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 due in at 1050 from FRA.

Also a post on Calgarypuck says the "terminal fee" is going up by 5% and landing fees by 3% on January 1st. Can anyone confirm?

They've been doing those inflationary increases since the beginning of time, now with a new terminal, not surprised that it's going up a bit higher. Though I thought AIF was going to jump.

http://www.yyc.com/en-us/businessatyyc/aviationfees.aspx

[Canadian74]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Also a post on Calgarypuck says the "terminal fee" is going up by 5% and landing fees by 3% on January 1st. Can anyone confirm?

It was also on the news yesterday

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by hoboman27

They've been doing those inflationary increases since the beginning of time, now with a new terminal, not surprised that it's going up a bit higher. Though I thought AIF was going to jump.

http://www.yyc.com/en-us/businessatyyc/aviationfees.aspx

Since when was 5% inflation in Canada?

[hoboman27]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Since when was 5% inflation in Canada?

Geesh someone need to read the full sentence.

[Bigtime]

Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 visit yesterday, dropping of Porsche's apparently:

• Video Link

[The Fisher Account]

^^

Mountains look awesome in the background in that video!

[Cage]

Good article on the new YYC airport CEO, Bob Sartor.

https://cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/sec.thegl...-bob-sartor/article33199520/?service=amp

[casper]

Originally Posted by Cage

Good article on the new YYC airport CEO, Bob Sartor.

https://cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/sec.thegl...-bob-sartor/article33199520/?service=amp

Sounds like someone very focused on customer experience. Looks like a good move.

Should also have the right business connections to improve the food and beer offering in the terminal. Another positive.

[hoboman27]

Originally Posted by casper

Sounds like someone very focused on customer experience. Looks like a good move.

Should also have the right business connections to improve the food and beer offering in the terminal. Another positive.

From the article:

the Calgary airport’s historical numbers – as it relates to costs per passenger – are the lowest of any major airport in Canada

Is that true? Probably not the case anymore with the new terminal running, but back in 2015?

[Cage]

Originally Posted by casper

(1) Sounds like someone very focused on customer experience. Looks like a good move.

(2) Should also have the right business connections to improve the food and beer offering in the terminal. Another positive.

(1) I am slowly starting to come to the reasoning that Bob Sartor is the right guy for the job. Mostly because Sartor is from outside the airport business and he has a lot of experience as a senior executive with companies operating in customer service business. Also his Big Rock experience is where if the wrong product was offered, or if the customer decided to chose a different product, the company immediately lost out. This is in contrast to the usual Canadian airport viewpoint that passengers (customers) do not have a viable second choice for point of origin or destination.

(2) Doubtful that Sartor will be able to make any dent into the food & beverage options. The tenants for the new terminal building are all on new long term contracts. Tenants for the domestic terminal are all associated with HMS host. The timmies and starbucks employees are all paid by the same company. This is why coupons and other advertisements do not extend to airport locations.

Originally Posted by hoboman27

From the article:

(3) Is that true? Probably not the case anymore with the new terminal running, but back in 2015?

(3) Yes the quote is true. However what the quote fails to mention is the definition of "major airport". The new theory is that major airport only refers to the top four airports in Canada (YYZ, YVR, YUL, YYC). The definition may or may not include YEG as well. However airports 6 and higher are definitely not "major airports".

The definition of major airport will never be created or enforced. The top four airport authorities will continue with the informal definition while allowing for #5-10 to continue to define themselves.

[Cage]

There are signs up by the old trans border check in area that read:
- You see construction, wee see space for more check-in kiosks.
- You see a wall, we see more self serve check in kiosks.

Also, at the last AGM the CEO stated there would not be a combined security check point where USCBP once stood.

On opening day I overheard the Crisplant consultants who just finished the new terminal bag system comment that they were moving over to the former USCBP offices and that they would be located there for the next 2-4 years.

There is construction going on behind the hoarding at concourse B check in stations.

I think that the US transborder bag system (belt based) is being ripped out and the new Crisplant system will be installed.

Second phase will be to install new check in desks for Westjet domestic checkin and feature a lot more self serve bag drop machines.

Third phase will have AC or WS domestic checkin move to the new terminal B space and the respective old domestic checkin area converted to Crisplant system.

Fourth phase will have the temporary domestic checkin system move to their new location and swap spots with the other domestic operator.

I think all these phases will be completed in the next 3-4 years so that the whole airport will be on a single Crisplant bag system.

[Cage]

If you have to photoshop chairs into your brand new 2 Billion dollar terminal, the Call to Gate design is an epic fail.