Info for flying out of or having layover in YYC Calgary?

[tlcdoula]

Looks like on our dates (till west jet changes their minds) we have to lay over in Calgary. We have two options we could fly out from YCD Nanaimo with a layover of 1hr 40 mins to switch planes and go through customs ( I assume because our small airport does not have customs here) or we could fly the evening before and stay the night in a hotel in Calgary before flying out to SNA in the morning.

This wouldn't be till mid November.

 

[Chip#1]

Looks like on our dates (till west jet changes their minds) we have to lay over in Calgary. We have two options we could fly out from YCD Nanaimo with a layover of 1hr 40 mins to switch planes and go through customs ( I assume because our small airport does not have customs here) or we could fly the evening before and stay the night in a hotel in Calgary before flying out to SNA in the morning.

This wouldn't be till mid November.

Hmm thank you for posting this. I didn't realize they were trying to bring back YYC-SNA flights? I want to say it's been years since there was a direct non-stop option to SNA from YYC (we use to always take it) then one day it was no longer there and we did all our layovers in YVR. I wonder if they are now looking to split it up btw YYC and YVR? Anyhoo...is it a first flight out for your YCD-YYC leg; ie if it's early in the morning you shouldn't be late getting into YYC and I think 1hr 40min is plenty of time to get through YYC and customs. WJ is actually pretty good in YYC at making sure it's connections make it to their outbound flights and we aren't seeing nearly the air traffic as YYZ (yes it could/should increase by November but I still don't see it being an issue esp outbound). My mom always connects/meets up w me in YYC via Regina and has never had an issue w connections; even ones under 2hrs. Now of course if WJ comes along and changes it and it's under an hour to connect...then I might consider my alternatives.

 

[tlcdoula]

Hmm thank you for posting this. I didn't realize they were trying to bring back YYC-SNA flights? I want to say it's been years since there was a direct non-stop option to SNA from YYC (we use to always take it) then one day it was no longer there and we did all our layovers in YVR. I wonder if they are now looking to split it up btw YYC and YVR? Anyhoo...is it a first flight out for your YCD-YYC leg; ie if it's early in the morning you shouldn't be late getting into YYC and I think 1hr 40min is plenty of time to get through YYC and customs. WJ is actually pretty good in YYC at making sure it's connections make it to their outbound flights and we aren't seeing nearly the air traffic as YYZ (yes it could/should increase by November but I still don't see it being an issue esp outbound). My mom always connects/meets up w me in YYC via Regina and has never had an issue w connections; even ones under 2hrs. Now of course if WJ comes along and changes it and it's under an hour to connect...then I might consider my alternatives.

Thank you! Yes it would be a 6 am flight out of YCD so we would land around 8:30am in YYC. Then go through customs and get to our next gate. Is it a far walk from domestic over through customs to the next gate? Would be nice to just have the hopper over to YVR going just to lessen our time in the air but the flight home is through there so coming home will be a little shorter.

 

[Chip#1]

Thank you! Yes it would be a 6 am flight out of YCD so we would land around 8:30am in YYC. Then go through customs and get to our next gate. Is it a far walk from domestic over through customs to the next gate? Would be nice to just have the hopper over to YVR going just to lessen our time in the air but the flight home is through there so coming home will be a little shorter.

Oh ya sounds like you are first out in the morning so you aren't waiting for your aircraft to come in or anything. Depends on where the gate is when you land; there could be a decent walk over to customs but they seem to be condensing gates more frequently than pre-covid. I was talking with a gate agent on my last flight to Regina last month because the entire checkin area for WJ had moved and had all new no touch terminals etc (and they had just reno'd not too long ago the old checkin area for domestic) and she mentioned WJ was trying to get better gates assigned for connections esp through US. When the new international terminal came in WJ had the farthest connection points -- but like I mentioned before, WJ has always been good at waiting for connections to make it on their flight. I personally would be fine with your connection time through YYC; you might not have too much time to sit and eat/relax once you are through customs but I don't think you will have any issues. The layout is pretty easy to follow for directions. So right now (and definitely this could change come November) they have closed off the connection area past security -- ie you have to leave the domestic area and make your way over to US security which once you are through that leads you to customs. Your luggage will still be connected and you don't need to grab it. I would look on the YYC website; they keep it pretty updated. But even with that re-security, I still think you are ok. Remember, this isn't any where near YYZ levels for flights -- have we increased, definitely but the new international terminal has a very specific US side to it and if anything, it will probably be a few WJ flights all leaving to the US at the same time.