Calgary International Airport II - Page 291

LO 044 · #**5801** Posted **Dec 6, 2016, 7:25 PM**

^I gotta say that is hilarious.

jmt18325 · #**5802** Posted **Dec 6, 2016, 7:26 PM**

I think you guys are really overplaying this. It's not that big of a deal.

Cage · #**5803** Posted **Dec 6, 2016, 9:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmt18325

I think you guys are really overplaying this. It's not that big of a deal.

For the first three weeks after opening I thought the same. However for the past two weeks I have witnessed a lot of negative responses to the new terminal.

The biggest indictment of the new terminal comes from an airlines head office. The new terminal is viewed as a "brand damaging passenger experience". Reasons for their indictment:
(1) Call to Gate.
(2) CATSA security.
(3) everything that occurs at the CBSA hall (connections, OSS, automated passport terminals, primary inspection line, ramp up to exit gates, etc.).

lubicon · #**5804** Posted **Dec 6, 2016, 10:56 PM**

2 and 3 should be simple fixes. Call to Gate is going to continue to be an issue until people get used to it and even then there will be complainers. Frequent travelers through the terminal will adapt however the infrequent ones (families, foreign travelers who visit infrequently etc.) will likely continue to have a negative view of the terminal experience.

McMurph · #**5805** Posted **Dec 7, 2016, 12:01 AM**

I just completed my first out and back through the transborder portions of the IFP and I'm impressed. It's not jaw-droppingly gorgeous but it is roughly 1000 times better than what we've had and will likely have us punching above our weight for years to come. I would have loved to have better, but I'm happy.

I had zero issue with CTG, outbound security, and either US or Canadian customs. It was one trip and crowds were light, but all was seamless and pleasant. As a fairly new Nexus card holder I may be confusing a bit of Nexus and IFP joy, but there were no problems at all.

Many parts of the terminal are superb -- airy, light, efficient, huge. Others are fine. Compared to the soul-destroying, life-sucking experience of many airports (I traveled through IAH to central america) we're doing quite fine.

My only issue is with the sterility of the corridors leading from the central holding spot to the gates and from the gates to immigration. I would have liked to see something a bit more intimate or impressive... it's a bit like walking through an empty convention centre. For those who insist on going to the gate early, CTG just makes that part of the experience worse.

But seriously, people have to get a grip. It is a lovely building that is working fairly well given that it is a massive undertaking and only 1 month into operation. It is also way better than what we had and likely better than what any city our size ought to expect.

casper · #**5806** Posted **Dec 7, 2016, 12:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cage

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

Oh dear.... When the YYC marketing people see the problem, it can't take long until operations starts to get it.

Did I see a photo shopped water fountain in the distance.

Perhaps not.

They have all that seating sitting over in B that is not being used. One could just move it over until a more permanent solution is found.

suburbia · #**5807** Posted **Dec 7, 2016, 12:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

They have all that seating sitting over in B that is not being used. One could just move it over until a more permanent solution is found.

What? Why would you move the furniture if the issue is people needing to get used to call to gate?

Obesity is a problem and people need to eat better, but because that is a challenge, let's give out ice cream till a more permanent solution is found.

casper · #**5808** Posted **Dec 7, 2016, 2:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by suburbia

What? Why would you move the furniture if the issue is people needing to get used to call to gate?

Obesity is a problem and people need to eat better, but because that is a challenge, let's give out ice cream till a more permanent solution is found.

Perhaps being customer focused the airport would say...

"Wow, the passengers like to sit near their gate. Who would have expected that. Given they are sitting on the floor, they really want to be here and not in that area they just walk past that has comfortable seats and a lovely food court where they can sit and admire all the shops and fast food outlets we have carefully selected for their amusement. Ok, lets give our passengers some seating where they want to be."

or

"Bad passenger. You do not know how to be an airline passenger. You are not to sit here until commanded by the overhead display to move from the comfortable food court and shop waiting area. If you continue to come here you will be subject to passenger re-education. We have prepared youtube videos for your re-education in our CTG system."

One perspective is of a customer focused organisation, the other is the plot for a George Orwell movie on airport operations.

Cage · #**5809** Posted **Dec 7, 2016, 6:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by suburbia

What? Why would you move the furniture if the issue is people needing to get used to call to gate?:

The problem is that Call to Gate does not equal No Seats at Gate. The YYC new terminal Call to Gate is not equivalent to LHR or LGW, but rather the comparable is to LCY (London City located on the docklands). LCY doesn't have seats because the airport is equivalent to YXD, Edmonton municipal, but with 3 'million more pax. In LCY instance, pax wait in the central area until boarding time, then walk to their gate and straight onto the aircraft. Largest aircraft is only 100 seats, no need for large lines At the gate.

In the instance of LHR and LGW, pax are called to gate prior to boarding but the lounge has seats for most pax while they wait for boarding call. There is just no food or retail near the gate.

cyeg66 · #**5810** Posted **Dec 8, 2016, 2:59 PM**

So I'm gonna go ahead and ask of those of you who've passed through it, how would you rate the IFP on a scale of one to ten (no decimals)? Consider weighing intended functional form against your own personal expectations 'cause I get the impression some users were hoping for the proverbial Happy Ending

... "Sure, I expected more but my hopes were realistically unattainable."

msmariner · #**5811** Posted **Dec 8, 2016, 6:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyeg66

So I'm gonna go ahead and ask of those of you who've passed through it, how would you rate the IFP on a scale of one to ten (no decimals)? Consider weighing intended functional form against your own personal expectations 'cause I get the impression some users were hoping for the proverbial Happy Ending

... "Sure, I expected more but my hopes were realistically unattainable."

I found it very smooth (travelled to LAS in in early November). Myself and most other passengers seemed to find CTG easy to figure out. Only issue I had was the walking through the duty free (prices were outrageous ) overall the whole process both directions was an 8.5

McMurph · #**5812** Posted **Dec 8, 2016, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyeg66

So I'm gonna go ahead and ask of those of you who've passed through it, how would you rate the IFP on a scale of one to ten (no decimals)?

Seven

(based on one passage out and back via the trans-border portion)

outoftheice · #**5813** Posted **Dec 8, 2016, 10:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyeg66

So I'm gonna go ahead and ask of those of you who've passed through it, how would you rate the IFP on a scale of one to ten (no decimals)? Consider weighing intended functional form against your own personal expectations 'cause I get the impression some users were hoping for the proverbial Happy Ending

... "Sure, I expected more but my hopes were realistically unattainable."

9 for the publically accessible portion of the terminal.
6 for the international departure/arrival airside portion (haven't been through US departures).
YYC Link service also gets a 9.

Those are aggregate scores based on operating about half a dozen flights through the IFP and getting the opinions of my colleagues each time.

dazzlingdave88 · #**5814** Posted **Dec 8, 2016, 10:41 PM**

Just travelled out and back in to Phoenix this weekend and found it very nice. Our gate was the closest to the lounge area, so we just hung out in the lounge until our boarding time. Security was the longest thing to go through as they were hand checking what seemed to be 75% of the bags after the x-ray machine. But it was friday at 3pm, so it literally took 10 minutes to get through. US customs was no line and through in 2 minutes. Coming back in at Monday at 6pm there again was no line at Canada customs and it took 2 minutes. The connections lineup looked quite long however. It was all very efficient and clean.

PPAR · #**5815** Posted **Dec 9, 2016, 1:10 AM**

I would give it a 7.5
It is spacious, bright and new. Attributes that would be expected of a new build that was not a screw up. I liked the services at departure. Nice mix of things and definitely a step up from the old terminal. I get the "call to gate" concept and think that people will stay in the central area if they have an hour before boarding (IMHO I really wish this forum would get over the whole controversy- it is driving the interesting contributers away).
Return trip through a little less positive. Arrived at the farthest gate and had a long walk through institutional like corridors with no visual interest. Customs area ok, but it does not hold a candle to YVR's impressive entry hall.

Johnny Aussie · #**5816** Posted **Dec 9, 2016, 7:02 AM**

Effective 1 June 2017

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airl...exico-plans-calgary-launch-in-june-2017/

Finally some really good news! And something to help fill the new international terminal!

AM612 will arrive at 2230 and AM613 will depart at 2350.

Planned to be flown by 738s.

casper · #**5817** Posted **Dec 9, 2016, 8:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Effective 1 June 2017

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airl...exico-plans-calgary-launch-in-june-2017/

Finally some really good news! And something to help fill the new international terminal!

AM612 will arrive at 2230 and AM613 will depart at 2350.

Planned to be flown by 738s.

Interesting. Given they are codeshare partners with WestJet that probably also helps both airlines. The times are not great for connections, but a positive addition.

thenoflyzone · #**5818** Posted **Dec 9, 2016, 1:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

Interesting. Given they are codeshare partners with WestJet that probably also helps both airlines. The times are not great for connections, but a positive addition.

It's well timed for connections in MEX. The route should perform well in winter with all the beach market connections.

Now. How do you say "call to gate" in spanish ?

jmt18325 · #**5819** Posted **Dec 9, 2016, 3:25 PM**

It's a good connection - MEX flights are often an overnight thing from Canada.

Bigtime · #**5820** Posted **Dec 9, 2016, 4:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thenoflyzone

It's well timed for connections in MEX. The route should perform well in winter with all the beach market connections.

Now. How do you say "call to gate" in spanish?

llamar a la puerta according to Google.

Happy to see this route return, connections are one thing but having a flight to non-resort Mexico is great. We've often talked about MEX as a destination for a family trip. This makes it even easier for us.