em-sk

On 4/26/2024 at 10:26 AM, CDNPolar said:

 

 

We are now looking at a potential Air Canada to Delhi and then Air India from Delhi to Bangkok, and then on the way home LOT from Mumbai to Warsaw to Toronto.  On this we can get business class all but the Air India Delhi to Bangkok.

If it was me I would go with that.  Better to have economy for 4 hours with the rest of the trip in a Air Canada pod vrs and angled product.

On 4/24/2024 at 6:10 PM, mattR said:

Do you have to buy tickets or can you just tap in and out with your credit card?

You can tap using a credit card.  

On 4/24/2024 at 2:28 PM, Jcol5786 said:

Thanks so much for all the helpful replies. I think we will go with the Sky Train.

Good choice.

When you get on the station at the airport, your basically getting on an empty train and have a good selection of seats.  Then Waterfront is the last station on the line for you so everyone else is also getting off.  That makes it easy.

There is also space under the seats for bags.

I find skyrain much faster and easer than the O-train in Ottawa.

On 4/24/2024 at 3:24 PM, 6burghcruiser said:

Thanks. I too prefer to us the currency of the country I’m in. But will only be in Canada overnite so hoping to not have to get CAD. Thanks again

In BC in June minimum wage goes up to $17.10/hour.  So no one is living on tips alone.  That said Vancouver is an expensive city and certain it is appreciated in either US or CDN. No one is going to be offended getting a tip in US dollars.

Canadian banks have no issue working with US dollars in branch.  Fairly easy to deposit in person.

4 hours ago, gottagoacruzn said:

Hey guys, does Vancouver have a cruiseship webcam, like Juneau, Ft Lauderdale & Miami do? Thanks.

It is incomplete.  There is a city Traffic department web cam that captures one side of Canada Place but not the other.

https://trafficcams.vancouver.ca/BurrardCanadaPlace.htm

If your set on spending time in China then its the major US, Canadian and Asian airlines with the associated pricing.

Zipair is the low cost operator between Canada/US and Japan.  You may be able to get some reasonably priced business class seats there.  Spend some time in Japan then travel a much shorted flight into/from China on someone else.

WestJet sometimes have decent business class, however that is going to be a two stop route with both a connection in Calgary and then again in Japan or South Korea. 

On 4/3/2024 at 7:16 AM, blackfly said:

Considering booking airfare to Iceland using Celebrity Cruise Air.  Have always booked flights independently in the past.  We plan to spend several days in Reykjavik before the cruise.  Can to book airfare through Celebrity if you plan to fly 5 days before your cruise starts.

In addition to Icelandic year round service, you also have Air Canada, WestJet, Delta and United that fly into Iceland during the summer.  Lots of direct options as well.

On 1/22/2024 at 3:49 PM, FlaMariner said:

 

We are flying to Singapore in October from ATL.......(one way flight...cruising back to USA on Carnival)

 

 

Air Canada just started a Vancouver-Singapore route today.   When airlines do this they normally have introductory sales.  No idea if it works for you with connections or price vrs the other options.

19 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

The reason we did not want to list her as "needing assistance" is my husband does not want the "pusher", he wants to take care of this himself.  I do suppose however that there are likely some liability issues for the airport if you are doing this on your own.

 

Your making things more difficult for everyone involved.   

Given what you describe, at the Canadian airports you likely will be offered a ride on a golf cart for the long stretches instead of a wheelchair.  That said, if you ask the airline for the chair instead they will likely accommodate.  If you indicate you want to do the pushing they likely will be more than happy to leave you to it.

In Asia there is a different service culture. They will be much more enthusiastic to go above and beyond even if its not exactly what you wanted.  

If you call the airline and describe what you are after they likely will make a note on the reservation and have everything ready for you.

On 3/20/2024 at 5:49 AM, debfed65 said:

We are flying AC Vancouver-Sydney for a TP on Celebrity. We are flying on a 777-200 and have chosen a pair of seats at the back for just the 2 of us so we get the window & aisle. There are four rows of just two seats on each side of the plane.   Anyone have experience sitting in these seats? 

Those are good.  The aircraft narrows towards the back and front.  So those seats are typically in an area where there is not enough room for 3 seats but still more space between the two seats and the wall. 

The only disadvantage is your are at the tail or the aircraft so on arrival you end up having to wait for everyone to get off.

On the domestic narrow body aircraft, the last row is usually blocked for cabin crew rest.  However on the widebody aircraft (like the 777), the crew have a private cabin upstairs so not a worry. 

Some people may complain about lineup for the washrooms, however I don't think that is a big issue on a widebody like that.

Another "creative" option is to drive to Vancouver and fly BA from Vancouver.  

The long-term parking lot at YVR has no shortage of cars with Washington plates. 

On the same ticket you may also find something that includes the Alaska connecting flight to Vancouver.

On 3/6/2024 at 3:53 AM, ski ww said:

I was under the belief that the ArriveCan is no longer in use. On our return last July from Europe we did not use it. What a waste of our hard earned tax dollars. 

You answer the kiosk questions ahead of time before the flight.  At the airport in Canada you jump to the front of the line. On the kiosks, you are asked if your answers are still correct and your done.  Great setup.

The US has a similar app for US entry.  

On 3/12/2024 at 8:42 AM, PitCritter said:

Here I was looking for a simple answer...LOL

 

The link that @Fouremco provided seems to say that I won't need to collect my bags, but I wonder if that's complicated by the fact that this isn't an AC to AC connection.  Also, the lengthy layover may come into play.

 

I would really rather NOT need to collect my bags, I'll be fine at the hotel with just my carry-on.

 

I guess I'll find out at CDG and not before when I see if my luggage is tagged to YHZ or YYZ.

That is a weird ticket.  Air France and Air Canada will interline bags and auto-transfer.  That said, it is weird, in that Air France and WestJet are partners. It would have been far more common to be on an Air France/WestJet ticket or an Air Canada for both legs.  Nothing wrong with what you have, it is just not as common.

Air France goes into Terminal 3 and Air Canada into Terminal 1.  I would expect you will have to pickup your bags and if they are tagged all the way through to have to drop them off again.    

Due to the long overnight layover you may not even be able to tag your bags all the way through.  If Air Canada asks you to pay baggage fees to check them in show them your ticket and remind them your making a connection.  You should be able to encourage them to wave it for you.

On 2/28/2024 at 3:44 AM, planitohio said:

Thank you for looking at it. I’m finding it very confusing as well. The only luggage specified is the very first leg. Following the trail for the others is rather circuitous. There are several of us doing this so I’m trying to sort it out. 

The normal way this works is if you check your bags in VCE all the way to CLE, the rules for the overseas flight trump the rules for the local connecting flight.  If were not a connection and you were staying in Madrid for a few days, then rules for the Venice to Madrid flight would apply.

For what it is worth, business on narrow body aircraft in Europe is very scaled back from what you would use to in the US/Canada when it comes to the seat.  Food/beverage can be better in Europe but your millage varies on that.

Being seated in economy for one leg is not that rare.  It happens sometimes.  I would all call to AA and ask them if you could be moved into business.  Your will quickly find out if it was glitch, if all the business seats are sold out or its something else.  (You may also discover that airline call centre staff have little insight into why the computer does things one way or another).  

Are you on a weird fare with some odd rules? Possibly.  In the case there may be some other rules at play.  

On 3/9/2024 at 2:26 PM, jimlouisesophie said:

Agree..will get a later flight..thx 4 the replies//

Assuming your on Air Canada (Jazz) or WestJet (Encore) into Vancouver.  If so, then you don't go into the same line as passengers who started their trip in Vancouver.   There is a special area for connecting passengers that is significantly shorter and faster than those passengers who are starting their trip in Vancouver.

Bad news, is you will do security part again.  The only difference I have ever noticed, if for the US flight they want you to take your shoes off.

I am based in Victoria and regularly do this.  I can usually do the connection in under hour.  However it is very tight and there is no room of delay.

If you are coming into Vancouver on a different airline (e.g. Pacific Coastal), you will arrive at the south terminal and need to grab a shuttle to the main terminal.  If that is the case, then you will need the hour and likely a bit more time.

On 2/15/2024 at 10:24 PM, Starboard Forty said:

Travelling Tokyo to Vancouver aboard Queen Elizabeth in May/Jun.  Would like to disembark in Victoria (home) rather than travel to Vancouver and return by ferry the next day.

Has anyone been able to disembark in Victoria with similar circumstances?  If so, which cruise line and what was required?

Done this with NCL. 

The problem you have is the cruise line head-office tends to not get into these details.  It is typically something sorted out between the purser on the ship, the port agent.   If you ask the cruise line they will either say no or say they need to contact the ship.

I would ask at the purser desk once your on the ship.    

On 1/23/2024 at 1:51 PM, Shella73 said:

I am trying to research this topic on a few fronts.  What Canada law is and what my husband's actual record is from NY state.

 

In 1989, he was pulled over for speeding  allowed a search of the car,disclosed there was a knife,in the trunks tool box with a blade bigger than his palm.

 

They arrested him for weapons possession, 4th degree. 

 

The charges were eventually reduced to a misdemeanor and all he did was forfit the bail as a fine.

 

He went into the Airforce and had no trouble getting a secret clearance.  

 

This all happened over 35 years ago.

We are booked on an Alaska cruise that ends in Vancouver BC. In September 2025. So,we are trying to settle the questions of what his actual police record from NY state looks like.(we live in MA) and that's been quite a lot of hoops so far with no clear answers,and if it does end up listing a misdemeanor, can he get into Canada?

Anyone have any insight?

What you have going for you in this situation is to be denied entry it has to be something that would be a crime under the Canadian Criminal Code.  Canada has no laws against having a knife in the trunk of your car.  

If it was unlicensed firearm that would be a different story.  

On 1/25/2024 at 8:26 AM, FedEx Guy said:

 Taking a cruise in June. Flying from Detroit (DTW) to Toronto (YYZ) change planes to flight to Vancouver (YVR) 2 1/2 hour layover. Flying CA, do I have to retrieve my bags in Toronto and then proceed to Customs, and then recheck them for the flight to Vancouver?  Is 2 1/2 hours enough time to allow for baggage, Customs, and making it to my connecting flight?

Depends on the airlines.   

If your traveling Star Alliance (Air Canada and/or United) then your in terminal 1 that is setup for automatic baggage transfer through customers.  

If your on Delta, American or WestJet then your in Terminal 3 that is not setup for that and you will likely need to walk them through.

Yes, 2 1/2 hours should be fine with either option.

6 hours ago, Kalynan said:

Thanks em-sk, any suggestions for rental cars in Richmond? 

Nearly all the major rental car companies operate out of the airport.  That includes the major north American ones as well as sixtt this is more of a European brand.  You will likely discover your back at the airport for pickup though there are some locations in Richmond proper.  No strong preference.   

Most of the major brands also have downtown Vancouver locations where you could drop off the car.  

Richmond is made up of two main islands.  Sea Island houses the airport. Lulu Island houses most of the city.

Sounds reasonable.

I would pre-book the ferry crossing at bcferries.com . If you do it in advance you same a small amount but the critical thing is you end up being assured you don't end up waiting for a spot to open up. 

For the first night I would get a hotel in Richmond.  It will save you a bit of money and will make it easier to get over to the terminal.  

On 11/2/2023 at 5:37 PM, Dobby36 said:

The accounts we have miles with are:

Delta

Alaska

AA

Flying Blue

virgin
plus,

Amex

Capital One

 

all of the above have 100k+ each, but none have over 500k, which I feel like is making it tricky.  The easy “off the rack” options don’t seem to present themselves.  

I try to have a small number of programs I participate in.   That reduces the number of islands points end up in.   

In my case.  

I collect the Star Alliance points into Air Canada Aeroplan.

I collect Skyteam and WestJet points in the Delta program.

I collect OneWorld points into Alaska Airlines program.   

The other non-aligned airlines are usually associated with one of those three in some way.   

As a footnote, I have not compared the point programs from different airlines and my picks may or may not be the best options.

Your going to have to make a connection somewhere. 

Try to get everything on one ticket.  When it is on one ticket if there is a delay the airlines is responsible for sorting it out and covering any costs associated with rerouting and rebooking.

Making your connection in Europe, or Canada makes is easier coming back as your bags will be transferred to your final destination.  If your return connection is in the US then you have to walk your bags through customs and put them back in the system.  

With few exceptions, booking a return trip (out and return flight on one ticket) is usually cheaper than a return.  On the airline website this usually an option you can click called "multi-city" or something like that where you can enter the first part to Barcelona and the return from Athens.   

Your trip will likely involve more than one airline.  That is not a big issue, just the reality of international travel.  Behind the scenes they interline with each other to transfer bags etc if it on one ticket.  If it is on seperate tickets they your responsible for doing that.  More reason to book on one ticket.

Someone suggested Southwest.  While it is a popular airline in the US they don't integrate with foreign airlines and your not going to find much there.  Your probably looking at the big three in the US, Air Canada and the European airlines as options.

12 hours ago, Monica887 said:

What is worth doing at 8pm in Victoria? There are some city tour excursions, but is there anything open that we can explore on our own?

In August Sunset is around 8:30 pm in Victoria.  I don't think you will get much out of a bus tour of the city.   

As Heidi13 suggest, you may find it easier to go visit one of the local pubs.  Uber or taxi are convenient.  It is also walkable distance and quite safe.  There is usually a cash shuttle bus from the cruise terminal to downtown that is only a few bucks.

8 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

Question for the air wise:  If I arrived from an international flight (having completed security screening in Tokyo) and did not leave the "secure area", why did I have to go thru security screening again before boarding the connecting (to USA) flight?

Shoes. 

If you were connecting to Canada (or most any other country at a major Canadian airline like Montreal), you would have likely not passed through security again.   

Going the US is the exception.  While I am certain there are some other differences in screen the key difference is going to the US they want you take your shoes and belts off.  

21 minutes ago, mumcat said:

No, we applied for his visa on line and it makes no difference where you are geographically. Canadians worldwide are not being given visas.

Well, that is unfortunate.