Vancouver Flights

I offer you a suggestion, one that solves your transportation problem, but also will give you an unforgetable experience. Take the sea plane from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver, or vice versa.

http://www.harbour-air.com/

You are already taking a ferry from Seattle to Victoria, so a second ferry trip won't offer anything new. If you calculate the costs and time involved for 4 people on the ferry versus a float plane, you should seriously consider it. The float plane terminal is right in downtown vancouver so depending on which hotel you are staying at you may be even be able to walk to it, or at the very least a short cab ride (ALMOST door to door service).

YVR is Canada's second busiest airport, with some 16.9 million passengers (including same plane transit), approximately 222,900 tonnes of cargo and 270,000 take-offs and landings in 2006. It's also currently being billed as Canada's portal to the 2010 Olympics. One of the most state-of-the-art airports I've been to, its one of my favorites. I don't care much for the location and handlings of the rental car agencies, and the fact that wifi isn't free, but its comfortable, speedy, high-tech, and great service. International Customs is a breezeway - especially from Canada into the US. Very professional and making the whole process a smooth transition. Rating 5 stars out of 5. Visited 3/21/08; 3/31/08.

Operated by Air Canada, partnered with United Airlines. This plane is a small city-hopper jet and when I emphasize small, I mean small. Too small to dock with the terminal, so as the Air Canada flight arrived, I walked down the catwalk stairs, out onto the runway around the baggage carts and up the stairs to the Air Canada Jet, very small, my carry-on didn't fit in the overhead, but was able to half-scrunch under the seat. It was tight, friendly, and like an airline out of the past. I haven't been on one of these city-hoppers for ages. Even though it was only a 1/2 hour flight, they still served beverages. Crazy. Very pleasant staff anyhow. They were on top-of-it with the customs forms and gave them as you boarded the flight. Luggage arrived quickly and efficiently, fastest luggage delivery I've experienced in my travels, that was impressive. Even though it was cramped, I enjoyed the flight. Rating 3.75 stars out of 5 (for city-hopper jet experience) .. flown 3/21/08.

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There are many ways to get to Vancouver. I have flown both with Japan Airlines and Mexicana de Aviacion in a 5-hour flight from Mexico City. Vancouver Airport is huge, beautiful and full of totem poles. It's considered one of the world's most architecturally appealing airports.

Here's a quick tip, as I was just here "passing thru". My October flight from NYC to Hong Kong stopped here on the way, and we were here for almost an hour while passengers either got on or off. I was sleeping and the brief stop woke me up briefly, but no big deal. My Oct. flight back to the US did not include a stop in Vancouver.

But, on the way to NYC (JFK) from Hong Kong during my trip in November, my plane stopped here and the new Homeland Security "law" made all the passengers wake up & "de-plane" (get off the plane). When I learned it was for a security sweep, I was fine with it, but I had planned my "sleeping hours" such that it didn't include a plan for waking up when we landed, and my itinerary didn't say anything about landing in Vancouver.

TIP: Make sure you ASK if there are any stops on the way for any flight.

Located just 25 minutes from downtown, YVR (Vanc. airport) is rated one of the best airports in North America.

FLYING TIMES

Toronto - Vancouver - 4 hrs. 30 min.
Los Angeles - Vancouver - 2 hrs. 55 min.
London - Vancouver - 9 hrs. 45 min.
Tokyo - Vancouver - 8 hrs. 50 min.
Hong Kong - Vancouver - 11 hrs. 50 min.
New York - Vancouver - 5 hrs. 15 min.

DRIVING TIMES

Vancouver - Whistler - 2 hrs (120 km/75 mi)
Vancouver - Seattle - 3 hrs (235 km/145 mi)
Vancouver - Kelowna 4 hrs (400 km/250 mi)

TRAIN TIMES

Vancouver - Bellingham - 1.5 hrs
Vancouver - Seattle - 4 hrs
Vancouver - Jasper - 18 hrs
North Vancouver - Whistler - 2.5 hrs

Flying into Vancouver was very expensive from Chicago, I looked into flying into Seattle and either renting a car or taking a bus, I believe it takes about 3 hours to do this. If you book early enough you can get $99 one way fares on Southwest into Seattle . But since it was just me traveling, I bit the bullet and flew directly into Vancouver on United. The plane was full in both directions, mostly because of cruise line passengers who fly into Vancouver to start their Alaskan cruises, and I was crushed into a seat obviously made for someone no taller than 4'10", if the person in front of me had tried to recline, they would have been sitting in my lap. And exit rows seats are now going for a premium of an additional $50, not to mention the $5 charge for a snack. Well, at least they still let you watch movies for free :-)

The customs line was long but I got through that before my luggage came out. Oddly, on a day when there was a terrorism red alert in the US and serious security delays in Britian because of the shampoo terrorists, I was only asked two questions by customs, to which I gave highly suspicious answers, and passed right through.

I think the only public transport option from Vancouver is the bus although I understand a subway link is coming. I was lucky enough to get a ride from YVRDave on my way in and Robert insisted on a cab on the way back (I think he wanted to sleep longer) which was a little over $20, would be slightly more from downtown.

An option to Vancouver's locals is Abbotsford International Airport. It is located 61km SE of Vancouver. The airport is the largest airport in the lower mainland after Vancouver International Airport, and is the only other airport to host any major airlines. To get to the airport, travel on Highway #1 to Mt. Lehman Road (Exit 83), head south. Mt. Lehman Road leads directly to the airport., and follow the directional signs to the airport entrance.

Parking options at Abbotsford Airport are quite varied. You are allowed 5 minutes for curbsite drop-off or pick-up (you may not leave the vehicle unattended). There is hourly/daily short term parking next to the YXX Terminal, which costs 75 cents per half hour up to $6 per day). The Long Term Lot is south west of the YXX Terminal offering guests better rates for long term stays, at a cost of $6 per day or $30 per week.

If you need to get to & from the Abbotsford airport, Airport Link Ltd (852-2399) services Vancouver Airport, Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale, Langley, Aldergrove, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack.

The following airlines operate out of Abbotsford:
Westjet flies to Calgary and Edmonton.
Air Canada flies to Calgary and Toronto.
Airspeed Aviation flies to Victoria.
Harmony Airways and Air Transat fly seasonal routes to places such as Honolulu and Cancun.