Flying Air Canada back to the U.S. after cruise

[Julylady]

I have some questions for you Alaska Wonder cruisers regarding flights back to US from Vancouver. We are flying Vancouver to Seattle using Air Canada, then United from Seattle to Salt Lake City. Our flight information says that we must check in at the Air Canada counter at the Vancouver airport. I'm not exactly sure what that means. Will we be able to purchase the Onboard Airline Check-In service while on the ship? Would we be able to check in using the ship WIFI for the United portion of our trip?

Any one have any experience flying back to the States from Vancouver on Air Canada?

THANKS

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have some questions for you Alaska Wonder cruisers regarding flights back to US from Vancouver. We are flying Vancouver to Seattle using Air Canada, then United from Seattle to Salt Lake City. Our flight information says that we must check in at the Air Canada counter at the Vancouver airport. I'm not exactly sure what that means. Will we be able to purchase the Onboard Airline Check-In service while on the ship? Would we be able to check in using the ship WIFI for the United portion of our trip?

Any one have any experience flying back to the States from Vancouver on Air Canada?

THANKS

AFAIK, the Onboard Airline Check in is only available at Port Canaveral/MCO for domestic flights.

Yes you can use the internet onboard, as long as you pay for it, to check in for the second flight.

 

[jrabbit]

OMG - the last time I did that my arriving flight into Vancouver (from Toronto) was as far as possible from the US Customs / Passport Control as possible .... and only an hour connection. We made it but it was a quick step through the airport... But that's a different story than yours.

I don't know what the Onboard Airline Check-In service is. But you should be able to check in using the ship WiFi - or wait until you get a cell signal on your phone (we have Verizon and were able to text and internet/data in Canada).

You will probably be on Jazz (subsidiary to AC) that does the shorter routes. We used the SkyTrain (Light Rail) from the port area back to the airport without any issues - our luggage and all.

You do passport control in the airport and like magic you're in the USA (the sign above PC says "Welcome to America (or USA)" I forget which it says and pictures in this area are a no no.

We found the process pretty simple after our Alaska cruise several years ago.

Once you arrive in Seattle, I don't know if you need to retrieve your luggage and then recheck it onto SLC or not. On our last flight through Canada, we came from Europe and landed in Toronto, where we went through passport control, picked up our checked luggage from the main "belt" and then walked it over to a second belt where we placed it (no checking with anyone) and it was checked through Vancouver all the way to our final destination. For you since Seattle is your first stop inside the USA it might be the same (retrieving your luggage temporarily). Long time ago flying from Europe to Atlanta to the west coast we had to do the pick up our checked luggage and drop it onto another belt thingy.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

It's also possible that your united flight may be a code share with Air Canada as well and you can double check with the air Canada desk when you check in weather or not your bag are checked all the way through.

 

[xlxo]

@JudyLady: To clarify... what is your Vancouver and Seattle flights?

 

[mevelandry]

You can use wifi to make online check-in while you are on the boat. As long as you can access your e-mails and aircanada website,you'll be fine (they will send you an e-mail 24 hours before your flight).

 

[SirDuff]

It's also possible that your united flight may be a code share with Air Canada as well and you can double check with the air Canada desk when you check in weather or not your bag are checked all the way through.

Even if it is not a code share the bags should be checked all the way through. They have an interline agreement (and are part of the same alliance in addition).

And, the OP shouldn't have to pick up luggage in Seattle. You go through US pre-clearance in Vancouver and arrive as if you are a domestic flight when landing in Seattle (it isn't really, but it seems like it to a passenger).

Also, OP should be checked into the United leg when checking in for the Air Canada flight (which can be done online through the Air Canada website - though there are occasionally weird reasons where AC doesn't allow this).