YVR Airport & Sea Island Developments Discussion

[craneSpotter]

Originally Posted by Canadian74

let's not get too ahead, YYC doesn't even have seats, so even if they can get that it would be an accomplishment for them

Just had the misfortune of spending time in concourse C @ YYC - it does have seating but no charging stations! Concourse reminded me of something US corrections would design for Conair. I'm sure is slated for a reno tho.

[SpongeG]

I flew with westjet today, I usually fly Air Canada. The security for that entry is totally different. The bins are different and they pop up and you put your stuff in them and they go through and then they either go to you or it seemed most of them went to the other side where an agent than asks to go through your bags at a station to the side. It wasn't that busy and there was no lineup and the procedure seemed quicker than the grab your own bin or bins and schlep it along etc.

Will they be changing the security to this style for the AC security as well?

[Orcair]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I flew with westjet today, I usually fly Air Canada. The security for that entry is totally different. The bins are different and they pop up and you put your stuff in them and they go through and then they either go to you or it seemed most of them went to the other side where an agent than asks to go through your bags at a station to the side. It wasn't that busy and there was no lineup and the procedure seemed quicker than the grab your own bin or bins and schlep it along etc.

Will they be changing the security to this style for the AC security as well?

They've been rolling it out across the country... I assume Concourse C should be getting it soon-ish?

https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/catsa-plus

[SpongeG]

oh ok

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I flew with westjet today, I usually fly Air Canada. The security for that entry is totally different. The bins are different and they pop up and you put your stuff in them and they go through and then they either go to you or it seemed most of them went to the other side where an agent than asks to go through your bags at a station to the side. It wasn't that busy and there was no lineup and the procedure seemed quicker than the grab your own bin or bins and schlep it along etc.

Will they be changing the security to this style for the AC security as well?

It's been changed for international departures too, main entry point for D and E gates. Although I'm Nexus, the whole process seemed faster despite some confusion from users.

[casper]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

oh ok

I went through Pearson Terminal 1 earlier in the week and they look to have the security lanes under construction. Looks to be making it way in around the country.

Signs up in Pearson saying "Security re-imagined coming" odd working for something that has been in YVR and other airports for a number of years.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by connect2source

It's been changed for international departures too, main entry point for D and E gates. Although I'm Nexus, the whole process seemed faster despite some confusion from users.

When I was there it was 8 am or so there was a 0 minute wait, I walked straight to the bin area with no one in front of me and only 1 other person who was a few minutes behind me.

One of the security guys had a bin and kept calling out who's stuff is this? and no one was answering, there was less than 12 people at security at that time. Finally some guy standing next to me was like oh that's mine.

They need to get people to pay attention to what the heck they are doing and watch their bins as most of the people were just standing there not knowing what to do or not even looking at the bins. Meanwhile bins were stacking up basically as security tried to figure out whos bin was whos. I can see it causing problems if its busy. The bins that didn't need to be searched just sat there, there were two women who didn't grab their stuff until a security person said something. I can see non-frequent flyers holding things up as this process is less intuitive to the other way.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by stiffdeadman

Fares are quite expensive other then the promo ones. Yes it was a bummer that Southwest decided to sell their 5 slots to Alaska. I guess they figured it wasn't worth it to staff a new station for just 5 flights with no real possibility of expansion since the airport is already capped out. Alaska benefits going from their initial 13 to 18 daily flights.

PAE is more convenient for anyone in North Seattle, and is only a couple miles further than SEA from Amazon and Microsoft HQ. It'll be interesting to see how this airport does and what kind of clients it attracts. It will undoubtedly be more convenient due to its size, but will it be more suited as a lower-cost LCC airport, just a SEATAC alternative, or a Business travellers airport.

I imagine morning outbound flights will be a little more convenient for employees at MS and AMZN as they'd be going against traffic.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Johnny Aussie

Some people must just wake up and think how can I be miserable today.

Comparing YVR and SEA YTD to 30 SEP 2018:

SEA Intl up 7.0% up 276,573 to 4.21 million
YVR Intl up 9.4% up 899,170 to 10.45 million

Taking out "transborder" (USA for YVR and Canada only for SEA)
SEA is still at only 3.0M
YVR is at 5.6M

If you want to compare long-haul international, technically for SEA we should remove Mexico as well as that is also transborder with their own unique relationship. Even taking out transborder YVR is more than double SEA for intl passengers and the gap is actually widening this year. That’s right it’s WIDENING by a huge number.

So in 2018 so far YVR international is still growing way faster than SEA in both % terms and aggregate pax numbers. And Sept 2018 YVR was stronger in growth % and pax numbers.

SEA, although it has just huge numbers, is still very much a domestic airport. 89% of all pax are domestic compared to less than 50% for YVR.

Yes SEA is getting some new routes too...

Daily JAL ato NRT
Daily DL to KIX
4 x weekly CX to HKG
4 x weekly SQ to SIN

But SEA also recently lost DL to HKG and flights to CGN and MUC.

Look what YVR has gained in the past few years... YVR is not just sitting around watching the grass grow but SEA is definitely a serious competitor... always has been. Nothing new.

I’m sure SEA will get plenty of new routes in the future just like YVR will... but as you can see... intl at YVR is still more than double that of SEA and the gap is widening this year. SEA intl may grow faster than YVR next year but realistically how long would it take SEA to catch up to YVR’s numbers? Think about it.

So hope this helps...

Take some deep breaths... relax and try and have a good night’s sleep tonight.

That's interesting DL getting KIX. KIX is very much turning into a LCC hub for Asia. I think there's untapped opportunity there, for a major airline to strike a deal with jetstar or peach for some integration and expand their reach.

If AC didn't have YVR-KIX it'd be great to have seen WestJet make an alliance with Peach or Jetstar, much like they have an alliance with EasyJet.

Does anyone know how to tell WHICH 5 days the KIX-YVR flight will fly next winter?

[nname]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Does anyone know how to tell WHICH 5 days the KIX-YVR flight will fly next winter?

Still summer seasonal. Last flight on the end of October.

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by nname

Still summer seasonal. Last flight on the end of October.

I'm seeing direct flights on Aeroplan as late as November 10th. I was wondering which days they're flying on. I'm hoping for a return on Nov 11th, but availability hasn't opened up yet and I'm wondering if it's because it's not scheduled Mondays or if they haven't released seats.

[Johnny Aussie]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

I'm seeing direct flights on Aeroplan as late as November 10th. I was wondering which days they're flying on. I'm hoping for a return on Nov 11th, but availability hasn't opened up yet and I'm wondering if it's because it's not scheduled Mondays or if they haven't released seats.

Are you sure about that?

I’m not seeing anything in their timetables, availability or on Aeroplan.

Pretty sure KIX will remain seasonal, like FRA, CDG, ZRH and DUB. YYC-NRT also not showing after late October 2019 as well... probably moved to seasonal.

[thenoflyzone]

Always found it strange that AC only flies to 1 European market out of YVR year round. Something very underwhelming about that.

[s211]

Hi everyone. A quick question: does YVR only have non-stop flights to/from Atlanta during the summer season? Is that expected to change (for the better) in the next while?

[casper]

Originally Posted by s211

Hi everyone. A quick question: does YVR only have non-stop flights to/from Atlanta during the summer season? Is that expected to change (for the better) in the next while?

I have been on that flight once or twice. Arrives and returns after US customs closes, so it departs from the international gates. Good flight. At least there is a skyteam lounge in that part of the airport.

Given WestJet and Delta are becoming stronger partners going forward I would expect over time for service into Atlanta. Perhaps it might switch to being a WestJet aircraft in the future.

[s211]

Originally Posted by casper

I have been on that flight once or twice. Arrives and returns after US customs closes, so it departs from the international gates. Good flight. At least there is a skyteam lounge in that part of the airport.

Given WestJet and Delta are becoming stronger partners going forward I would expect over time for service into Atlanta. Perhaps it might switch to being a WestJet aircraft in the future.

Dang. I don't / won't fly Westjet. Just personal choice. I don't enjoy their planes or inflight experience.

[moosejaw]

Originally Posted by s211

Hi everyone. A quick question: does YVR only have non-stop flights to/from Atlanta during the summer season?

Thanks good to know i have a direct source to transport my Ketchup Chips and Crush Cream Soda......

[LeftCoaster]

I'd imagine once Delta gets more A220s they will take this route year round daily with A220 in the winter and 739 in the summer.

Given the WestJet/Delta JV I wouldn't be surprised to see this route grow a fair amount over the next few years.

[s211]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I'd imagine once Delta gets more A220s they will take this route year round daily with A220 in the winter and 739 in the summer.

Given the WestJet/Delta JV I wouldn't be surprised to see this route grow a fair amount over the next few years.

While I won't fly Westjet, I wonder if Westjet will try to funnel Vancouver fliers through Calgary to support the new Calgary-Atlanta run of theirs. Talk about non-starter.

[LeftCoaster]

Of course they will. WestJet's entire model is now to funnel YVR fliers through YYC wherever possible.

I doubt it will work well though, with the bevy of one stop options from YVR through the US at far more attractive times. Plus you can pre-clear in YVR rather than YYC which I think would necessitate another trip through security. No thanks.

They will have to offer cut rate fares to attract YVR fliers to that flight which would likely send their yields to the tank. If they can't fill it with Alberta+Sask fliers I doubt the flight survives.

Quite frankly with oil prices in the gutter for the forseeable future their entire YYC hub concept is in trouble IMO.