Flight recommendation time

[Drbaw5]

Why not fly out of Vancouver?

Long story short. We were originally on a Caribbean cruise and already purchased airline to Orlando with southwest. We changed to the Alaska cruise and can only change our airline destination, not cancel, and southwest doesn't fly into Vancouver.

 

[Drbaw5]

I remember it took awhile to get our rental car at the Vancouver terminal. It wasn't a big deal for us because we were spending 2 nights in Seattle prior to our flight back home. However, if I had an afternoon flight that day in Seattle, I would have been nervous. I also remember a big line of cars to cross the border back into the US and a huge line for security at the Seattle airport.

If we go this route I think we'll rent the car for the week, pay to park it so we'll already have it and be ready to go. Renting it for a week is actually cheaper than 2 one way rentals although we would have to pay for parking. I would be more than happy to spend Monday night and fly home Tuesday morning but my husband is insisting to be back home/to work on Tuesday. It's coming down to doing it this way or not going at all unfortunately. Pretty silly over a matter of hours (2:55 pm flight on Monday vs 5:30 am flight on Tuesday) but it is what it is. I am still working on him to stay Monday night but I want to know my options just in case he doesn't give in.

What about turning the car back in At Seattle? What kind of a process is that like?

 

[Drbaw5]

Monday morning delays at the border should be minor. The bus does have a priority lane to the crossing, but then everyone on the bus needs to be processed by US border control. Unloading a full bus of luggage and reloading will take time. Contact Quick shuttle for advise on how close they make their SeaTac schedule and what is a comfortable time for an afternoon flight.

What time does one need to be at the airport preflight?

Thanks for the info. I would think that we would make better time in the car vs a bus full of people but I have never been to Seattle or Vancouver so that is a naive assumption.

 

[MUN]

Thanks for the info. I would think that we would make better time in the car vs a bus full of people but I have never been to Seattle or Vancouver so that is a naive assumption.

Since you have never been to either city, I recommend spending a couple of days in each city b/4 and after the cruise. We flew into Seattle, rented a car at the airport drove to Vancouver returned the car to a downtown location near our hotel and spent 2 nights in Vancouver b/4 the cruise. After the cruise, we rented a car near the port drove to Seattle and returned the car to a downtown location near our hotel. We spent 2 nights in Seattle and took their light rail to the airport the morning of the flight. It worked out great and we loved both cities and our Alaskan cruise!

MUN

 

[Drbaw5]

Since you have never been to either city, I recommend spending a couple of days in each city b/4 and after the cruise. We flew into Seattle, rented a car at the airport drove to Vancouver returned the car to a downtown location near our hotel and spent 2 nights in Vancouver b/4 the cruise. After the cruise, we rented a car near the port drove to Seattle and returned the car to a downtown location near our hotel. We spent 2 nights in Seattle and took their light rail to the airport the morning of the flight. It worked out great and we loved both cities and our Alaskan cruise!

MUN

We will be flying in the day before the cruise but spending anymore days is simply not an option for us.

 

[Drbaw5]

I also think you are cutting it too close. I have crossed through 4 different Canadian/US Crossings. As others mentioned, getting back in to the States takes FOREVER...and Im an American.

I guess the bigger question you need to ask yourself by trying to make an early afternoon flight..."what will we do if we miss our flight?" If you have status and booked a better category, you may be able to get on the next flight...if you book a cheap category, you may be out a $200 change fee per ticket or the tickets may be forfeited completely and you will have to buy new tickets. Also, will your tickets be covered on your travel insurance if you do miss your flight?

And the travel agent in me says...be aware that the airlines CAN change departure times...typically up to 90 minutes (earlier or later) without having to compensate you or put you on a different flight...and since airlines say to be there two hours early...it covers their tail when they make the change. You simply need to get your butt on that flight and there is nothing you can do about it unless you pay for a different flight. Occasionally, an airline will work with you...but sometimes they will not. We have status on Delta and they changed our flights on Thanksgiving day...it extended our layover by 3, so a 7 hour layover in Atlanta on THANKSGIVING...we left 90 minutes early...and then layover and then left 90 minutes late. We got a few days notice and that was it. I was pissed...I have an IATA and status and there was nothing they could do for me. They even oversold the flights...and well, you know how that can go.

That's a lot to think about. thanks for your input-- I ended up calling Southwest to clarify a couple things. If we know we are going to miss our flight we have until 10 minutes before departure time to call and cancel our flight. The money we spent on our missed flight will go into an account that we can use for the next flight out (or any flight for that matter). There is no fee or penalty. That's pretty awesome if you ask me. Assuming it's not too good to be true. I also asked if there was a chance the flight could be moved up like an hour sooner and she assured me that would not happen. I'm not saying it doesn't happen just stating what she told me.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Have you checked if there are any flights from Vancouver to Seattle? I don't know if that would help you, but maybe it's an option.

 

[MUN]

We will be flying in the day before the cruise but spending anymore days is simply not an option for us.

Ok, I understand. Have you priced flights into Vancouver?

 

[Drbaw5]

Ok, I understand. Have you priced flights into Vancouver?

We have to fly southwest. We canceled a flight with them-that money went into an account that has to be used within 1 year. Southwest doesn't fly into Vancouver. Sure wish they did.

 

[Weedy]

Maybe the train? We took the train from Seattle to Vancouver and didn't have to worry about the border between U.S. And Canada. Customs at the train station wasn't bad.

 

[elvispursley]

There are trains that leave at 5:30am, 6:30am, and 9:00am. I figure the 5:30 and 6:30 trains are out. The 9:00 train is scheduled to get into King St. Station (downtown Seattle in the international district around 12:45). The train would be a good way to bypass the border and the traffic that WILL be present, especially if there is an afternoon baseball game playing that day (I seriously can't stress how traffic impacts things in Seattle). From there, light rail can easily take you to SeaTac. Just beware that Seattle frequently has landslides onto the railways and that they close the rails for 3 days (although less likely to occur during the drier summer months). When we did the train to Vancouver, it does stop periodically for other train traffic, but we certainly didn't have any issues making our embarkation (and we left for Vancouver that morning). If your flight doesn't leave until 2:55pm, you should make it without issues (other than what I mentioned). If it were me trying to make our flight out of SeaTac, knowing the Blaine border crossing and Seattle traffic, I'd roll the dice and go with the train. Then you wouldn't have to rent a car and worry about having to return at the airport...which btw, our rental cars are offsite (but at a big rental car central center) so you will have to wait on a shuttle.

 

[FigmentSpark]

But could a person make a 9am train? That doesn't sound likely.

 

[Dug720]

But do be aware that things CAN happen on the train that delay it. A couple of years ago, I was on the train from Vancouver for a couple of nights in Seattle. On the train with me was a big group going to a baseball game. Then at one point we slowed and stopped and a call came over the PA for any medical personnel on board to please go to the dining car. About 20 minutes later one of the people from my car returned and quietly told us that we had hit someone who was trespassing on the tracks. A little after that, the train personnel came through the cars and explained what they could - making sure that if there were kids in the car they altered what they said (we were all adults, so we got a little more info - someone in the group who was in another car where there were kids came to see if we had heard more than they had - we had) so as not to lie, but not to be insensitive to the kids. At that point they were not sure if we were going to be loaded onto busses at the next station once we got the go ahead to move the train when a replacement engine crew got there or if the train was going to be allowed to continue. It turns out we were, but we lost about an hour and a half or two hours - minor in relation to the person who I believe I read later had been died at the hospital.

From what I gathered, this was a location where there tend to be vagrants and it's not unusual for one to pass out/fall asleep on the tracks.

So it's no guarantee that the train will get you there on time either.

 

[elvispursley]

But could a person make a 9am train? That doesn't sound likely.

Hmm, not sure what time is typical for debarkation in Vancouver. I know the station isn't too far. If the 9:00 isn't an option then the train is out as the next train doesn't leave until 11:30 and won't arrive until 3:30.

 

[xlxo]

@Drbaw5 : What is your cruise date?

• In general, Vancouver is best explored POST-cruise when attractions are less busy on the weekdays.
• Vancouver has a weekend festivals that can impact traffic at certain areas in the city.
• Weekday border crossings are also quieter post cruise.
• Weekends will have less commuter traffic

 

[xlxo]

There are trains that leave at 5:30am, 6:30am, and 9:00am. I figure the 5:30 and 6:30 trains are out. The 9:00 train is scheduled to get into King St. Station (downtown Seattle in the international district around 12:45). The train would be a good way to bypass the border and the traffic that WILL be present,

Thoughts....

• There's typically two Amtrak trains a day between Vancouver and Seattle. One 6:30am and a second 5:35pm from Vancouver. The other posted times are Amtrak BUS.
• Bolt/Greyhound are also other buses
• I like Quick Shuttle that offers 6 or 7 daily one ways trips to fit your schedule. The other options sounds cheap.... but they don't include transfers. Quick Shuttle picks up at the airport or cruise terminal.

 

[xlxo]

Hmm, not sure what time is typical for debarkation in Vancouver. I know the station isn't too far. If the 9:00 isn't an option then the train is out as the next train doesn't leave until 11:30 and won't arrive until 3:30.

Once you debark..... the next train is 5:35pm and it arrives in Seattle at 10pm

 

[Drbaw5]

@Drbaw5 : What is your cruise date?

• In general, Vancouver is best explored POST-cruise when attractions are less busy on the weekdays.
• Vancouver has a weekend festivals that can impact traffic at certain areas in the city.
• Weekday border crossings are also quieter post cruise.
• Weekends will have less commuter traffic

9/4/17-9/11/17

 

[xlxo]

Big pre-cruise congestion warning!!! That is a long weekend pre-cruise so book your flights/hotel early and lock in those rates!

• Vancouver attractions will be super busy at that time.
• think about taking the train into Vancouver to avoid the border conditions.
• crossing the border Northbound late afternoon and evenings will be heavy.

 

[Drbaw5]

Big pre-cruise congestion warning!!! That is a long weekend pre-cruise so book your flights/hotel early and lock in those rates!

• Vancouver attractions will be super busy at that time.
• think about taking the train into Vancouver to avoid the border conditions.
• crossing the border Northbound late afternoon and evenings will be heavy.

Just booked our flight. It comes in at 9:35 pm on 9-3-17. We plan to rent a car and make the drive to Vancouver that night. It will be a late night for sure but I don't want to risk the traffic on Labor Day.