The Air Travel Guide
Airports
Best Way To Get From YVR Airport To DownTown Vancouver
0It has now been a few years since the Canada Line SkyTrain system was introduced in Vancouver. Initially, people had their doubts about the project, but it has now become an extremely popular means of getting to and from the airport from downtown Vancouver. In fact, I’ve found it to also be one of the fastest modes of transportation to travel to the downtown core. The trains also arrive at stations at regular intervals and are rarely ever late. If you’re concerned about missing a train, there are message boards above the station platform that display how long it will be until the next train arrives.
However, I’ve noticed that quite a few people visiting Vancouver haven’t heard of the train line, therefore, end up paying more for a taxi or a shuttle service. Although at certain times of the day (mainly during rush hour) the SkyTrain fare increases, I still think it’s worth while, as you won’t have to worry about getting stuck in traffic.
What Is The Canada Line?
The Canada Line is an automated train system in Vancouver Canada. It works similarly to a subway system, but runs above ground and doesn’t have a human driver. Furthermore, the trains can reach speeds of up to 90 km/h, providing quick and easy access to the downtown core. What’s even more impressive is that there has never been an accident recorded in the history of SkyTrain. If you’d like more information about how the Canada Line works check out this Wikipedia page.
The purpose of implementing the Canada line was for Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic winter games. It was designed to allow athletes, team personnel, and tourist easy access to downtown venues and hotels.
5 Reasons Why Canada Line Is The Best Way To Travel To and From The Airport
- Reliability – I’ve been living in Vancouver for a very long time and rarely get delayed when I take the SkyTrain. The maintenance crews perform an excellent job in ensuring that on-time performance is maintained by working through the night. Compare this to driving, where traffic jams are a regular occurrence in Vancouver, especially during rush hour.
- Network – Vancouver’s transit system goes way beyond SkyTrain and Canada Line systems. They’re also equipped with a vast bus network that can get you to all corners of the Lower Mainland quickly and efficiently. I usually purchase a day pass and use transit as my primary mode of transportation throughout the day.
- Price – The price it makes it very economical to take transit in Vancouver. Prices range between $2.50 and $5.00, depending on how far you plan on travelling. Additionally, the price of gas in the province is sky high, not to mention that the provincial government has implemented a gas tax on every litre of fuel you purchase. This gives you even more reason to ditch the car and use transit.
- Access – The fact that the Canada Line goes right up to the airport is absolutely phenomenal. In fact, the YVR station is attached directly to the building, making it a short trip to get from your flight to a train. The trip downtown is quick, taking just under 26 minutes.
- You can relax – One of my favourite reasons to take the Canada line is that it gives you time to relax, especially after a long flight. When I take the train, I usually take a quick nap so that I can be ready to go when I have to get off. Even better, the trains are extremely quiet and smooth, making it easy to get some shut-eye.
What If I Get Lost?
As many of you know, Canadians have a very good reputation of being helpful. Furthermore, Vancouver is a multicultural city, with many citizens speaking a variety of languages. If you get lost, I’ve found that Vancouver residents are typically very helpful in getting you on your way. Also, many of the stations have staff members that will be able to help you out. With that said, they are usually located at busier stations, meaning that you may have to travel a bit before you find someone.
Resources
- Canada Line Route Map
- Map of YVR
- Translink Fares
- Translink’s Twitter Account
New Software Blocks Nudity With Full Body Scanner
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The US Transportation Security Administration announced on Wednesday that they’ll be introducing new body scanning software to prevent naked images from being shown to TSA screeners. After continuous complaints from travellers, the TSA began testing this software to ensure that it could protect passenger privacy while still maintaining a high security level.
This addition allows the computer to use a generic body outline, while detecting and eliminating the actual physical form of the passenger. The TSA has says that passengers should expect this new measure in about 40 airports throughout the next several months.
There is still no word as to whether the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority will adopt this technology. Currently, their website states the following about privacy with the full body scanner.
A trained and certified screening officer examines the full-body scanner images from a separate room. This officer has no direct view of the passenger before, during or after the screening process, and receives no personal information that could associate the image to a particular person. To further protect passenger privacy, the images are deleted after they are viewed. Images cannot and will not be stored, printed or transmitted. The screening officer who assists the passenger during the scanning process never sees the image the scanner produces.
The TSA has been trying to recover from a public relations nightmare, as a result of complaints regarding pat-downs and body scanning of young children and senior citizens. However, the organization has maintained that passenger security continues to remain a top priority.
image: InfoWars
Prince George Airport In Talks To Provide Direct Flights To Germany
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The Prince George Airport Authority released a survey on their website suggesting that they’re in talks with an airline in Germany that will provide direct flights between Frankfurt and Prince George. The airport is currently surveying potential customers to see if there’s a strong enough interest to be attractive to the German airline.
According to the Prince George airport website, the flights would occur weekly beginning in 2012 or 2013. However, one drawback to the purposed route would be that it would operate on a seasonal basis. Furthermore, pricing will be a significant issue, especially with the shutdown of mills in the areas and tight family budgets.
The benefits of this new route would be unprecedented, providing quick access to citizens for Northern BC to Europe and its surrounding regions. Furthermore, it would provide some much needed tourism dollars to the Prince George area. There is also a strong student exchange program with countries in Central Europe, and it may encourage more high school students in Prince George to participate in it.
The PGAA has not released any information regarding which airline they’re negotiating with. However, we’ve contacted them via Twitter and will release the information as soon as we get it.
How a Human Being Is Able To Pull a 737 Airliner
0Ever wanted to show off to your friends just how strong you are? Well now is your chance, as the Alberta Aviation Museum will be giving groups of 20 people the chance to pull a 68,000 pound Boeing 737 Airliner. The goal is to pull the aircraft over 100 feet using rope and manpower.
And no, this event isn’t just for fun. It’s a competition, and the team that pulls the aircraft past the 100 feet mark the fastest will become champion. What makes this idea even better is that the winning team will get to choose a charity in which all the entry fees from the competition will be donated. The winning team will also receive a Trophy that will remain in the Alberta Aviation Museum, along with a plaque for each team member.
So if you’re interested, simply pick up a registration form from the Alberta Aviation Museum and return it with a $200 fee before the day of the event.
This is a fantastic event for charity, and if you want to get involved, visit the Alberta Aviation Museum website for more information.
Would You Pay Extra For a Better Airport Security Experience?
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The U.S Travel Association created a survey a while back asking 1000 travelers whether they would be willing to pay $150 to have a smoother airport security experience. Surprisingly, over forty percent of all travels stated that they would be interested in paying the additional fee. Now if you break this stat down between business and regular travelers it’s a little different. 75 percent of all business travellers said they would welcome it, while only 61 percent of recreational travellers agreed with the idea.
Would you be willing to pay more to get through security faster? In my opinion, it’s a waste of money, especially if you’re just going to end up sitting in the waiting room afterwards anyway. However, for business travellers, I can see how paying this fee could alleviate some of the stress of flying on a regular basis. I just cant see the regular traveller willing to to pay extra money on top of the already high fares airlines are currently charging.
Photo: BoingBoing
Ever Wanted To Live On an Island? How About an Airport Instead
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There are many who’ve dreamed of living on a deserted island somewhere out in the tropics. Unfortunately, many of us don’t have the means to be able to do so — we just leave it to the wealthy. This week, Vancouver’s airport (YVR) announced that they’ll give one lucky winner the next best thing, living at Vancouver International Airport for 80 days and 80 nights.
Yes, you heard right, YVR is having a contest in which the winner will live at the Fairmont hotel near the airport and also receive $15 000. Other benefits include free retail shopping within the airport, along with food from the many restaurant outlets in the airport.
There is a catch though. While living there, the winner will have to write stories and create videos about the happenings around Vancouver International Airport. Furthermore, they must update a Twitter and Facebook account during the 80 days they’ll be there. You should also know your way around a camera and have knowledge of video editing software. This is because you’ll be the only one editing the video, and you’ll have to make one every single day.
Making a submission is pretty simple as well. Below are some of the key features that will be required in your application.
To enter, submit a video online that follows these guidelines:
- Tells the story of a person, place or event in the community;
- Is a maximum length of three (3) minutes;
- Is shot and edited solely by you;
- Shows us your interview skills;
- Includes some footage of you on camera;
- Is accompanied by a text description, to be entered on the contest entry form, in 100 words or less, that describes the video and answers the question “Why do you think you should be the Live@YVR Storyteller?” and;
- Must be in English.
This is a great opportunity for those aviation enthusiasts to get close and personal with one of the largest airports in Canada. So if you’re interested, visit LiveAtYVR.ca.
Plane Crash Forces Cancellation of Air Show
0A 71-year-old senior piloting a small aircraft was rushed to hospital after his plane lost power during a routine he was performing at an air show in Nanaimo. This accident occurred while close to 1000 spectators were watching from their parked vehicles nearby.
The pilot is believed to be experienced, with no definite answer to the cause of the accident yet. However, reports suggested that the demonstration being performed was approved by Transport Canada.
The air show was cancelled and the small airport decided to discontinue air traffic so an investigation could be held.
Rainy Weather A Concern For Construction at Pearson International Airport
0The crazy rain that the Toronto area has been receiving in the past month or so is now becoming a cause for concern at Pearson International Airport. The Greater Toronto Airport Authority released a statement today stating that “Rain has fallen in 12 of the first 18 days of May, totalling over 89mm recorded at Toronto Pearson.
The specific construction the airport authority is talking about requires dry weather, meaning that it cannot be completed in the snow or rain. Furthermore, they also say that this delay in construction may also affect airline delays throughout Pearson International airport, recommending that people planning to pick up passengers should look up flight information before arriving to the airport.
The GTAA is maintaining that the goal of this project is to minimize the impact that this constructions will have on flight schedules.
Montreal-Trudeau Added To The List of Airports With Free WI-FI
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Get Wi-fi anywhere at Montreal's international airport.
Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport has now begun offering travellers free wireless Internet access throughout the entire terminal. Yes, this means that access will be available before and after security in both international and domestic terminals.
Accessing the new wireless network is pretty easy to do. Simply add the airport’s wireless network to your list of networks and open a browser. From there, just accept the terms and conditions of using the service. Once complete, you’ll have access to the Internet for 1 hour sessions. Once you’re hour is up, just re-open the browser and accept the terms and conditions again.
Just remember to limit the amount of personal information you send over the wireless network, as you never know if someone may be intercepting the signal. This is definitely going to be much appreciated by frequent flyers and business travellers.
Photo Credit – Beachcomber Pete on Flickr
Why You Need To Go Early To an Airport To Catch a Flight
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There are many factors that prevent flights from leaving on time.
If you fly regularly, you know that a majority of your time is actually spent less on the plane itself and more in the airport. That’s because many airlines require you to be two to three hours early for your flight. With that said, a handful of people always seem to show up just on time and delay the flight. It is this group of people that are one of the main reasons why flights are delayed, apart from weather and airport operations.
Airlines, however, have a very good reason for asking people to show up early for their flights. You see, there are many uncontrollable factors that go into the timing of an aircraft’s departure. Many people mistakenly think that it’s always the airline’s fault when they’re late. Sure, there occasionally is a crew that arrives late or a late arrival, but usually these types of things aren’t the major reasons airlines delay their flights. What is, on the other hand, a major factor is lineups and people arriving late to the airport.
During certain times of the day (especially on holidays and long weekends), lineups can get extremely long at both the airline’s check-in and the airport’s security. Now many of you may reply by saying “Brad, the airline runs the check-in, so how is it not their fault?” There’s a simple explanation to that. As I’ve previously stated, even though airlines recommend arriving at the airport at least a couple of hours ahead, many people neglect to follow that rule. This can cause huge lineups at check-in, and remember, there are usually a group of flights departing at the same time. Another argument that could be made is that airlines need to simply hire more staff. And yes, they could do that, however, only if you as a customer are willing to pay more on your fare to cover the cost of adding more customer service agents. This, as you’ve probably guessed, is something that people aren’t willing to do, especially in today’s economy. Fortunately, on the bright side of this, airlines have improved their check-in procedures. Passengers can now check-in online or at special kiosks spread throughout the airport. Furthermore, in cities like Vancouver, the airport has placed these check-in kiosks at stations throughout it’s Canada line transit system (Check out the article on tips for travellers arriving in Vancouver for more information about the transit system). These kiosks allow travellers to check-in before even arriving to the airport, meaning that they can avoid long lineups and head straight for security (as long as they don’t have checked baggage of course).
Another significant impact on whether a flight leaves on schedule is airport security. If you think about it, security has the most power over any airline at any airport. They are in charge of ensuring everyone is safe, and if that means slowing the line down to ensure a well-done job, they will. Although security makes their best effort to ensure that the lines are moving smoothly, their first priority is to prevent any dangerous items or people from boarding a flight. I’ve been in security for up-to an hour before, and I’ve also heard stories where it’s taken even longer. A TSA or a CATSA (Canada) agent can pick anyone out from the lineup and hold them for processing. I’ve had this happen before, and believe me, it’s not a short process. They will check you from top to bottom to ensure you’re not a flight risk. Security, especially at larger airports, is a huge reason of why you need to show up early to your flight.
There are other reasons why you should leave early to your flight too. One being that you never know just how bad traffic is going to be or what the weather outside is going to be like. An airline can only wait so long for a late passenger before they have to depart. So make life simple for everyone, and show up early and on time to your next flight.
Image source – Airliners.net EL-AL
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