Vancouver

JoeyandDavid · August 20, 2008

This will be our first trip to Vancouver BC Canada.. we are flying Alaskan air..I know we need passports (no matter where we go we take passports)... but can you tell me what to expect when arriving and departing? Like for example.. what about clearing customs..and how early do we need to be at the airport is it 3 hours like when we fly to Europe or more like 2 hours when we fly domestically? any and all insights are appreciated... new experiences are fun but ...... :biggrin:

Joanandjoe · August 20, 2008

I can't tell you about departing from Vancouver, since we sailed from Vancouver and ended up in Seward. I can tell you that you need to go through immigration when you arrive in Vancouver, and it's very much luck of the draw. Some people are lucky enough to get through in 10 minutes or less. (That's what happened to me in Toronto two weeks ago--through immigration in maybe 6 minutes.) Or you could be unlucky, as we were. We arrived at one p.m., which is normally OK; but two huge 747s arrived from Korea and Japan a few minutes before us. It took us an hour to clear immigration.

By the time we cleared immigration, our bags were waiting for us, and we quickly found a taxi that took us to our pre-cruise hotel.

deb1220 · August 20, 2008

We flew to and from Vancouver and both were relatively painless. Arriving...it was about 10 - 20 minutes getting through immigration and then less than 5 minutes when we departed. As usual...as long as you have all the necessary "papers" in hand - no problem!

JoeyandDavid · August 20, 2008

We flew to and from Vancouver and both were relatively painless. Arriving...it was about 10 - 20 minutes getting through immigration and then less than 5 minutes when we departed. As usual...as long as you have all the necessary "papers" in hand - no problem!

how much lead time at the airport when leaving Vancouver

deb1220 · August 20, 2008

I believe we were there 3 hours before but had plenty of time. I know at the time they recommended 2 hours but we always add an hour onto what's recommended.

JoeyandDavid · August 20, 2008

I believe we were there 3 hours before but had plenty of time. I know at the time they recommended 2 hours but we always add an hour onto what's recommended.

thanks :happy:

hazelson · August 21, 2008

It's pretty quick coming off a flight but longer going on for your return flight. Say two hours.

When you come off it's a really good walk - then you go through the doors and there are several customs officers waiting. As long as you have your forms are filled in it should only take a few minutes. But it will be al ong weekend when you arrive so that might makes it a bit longer.

It is a really nice airport with lots to look at.

Joanandjoe · August 22, 2008

It's pretty quick coming off a flight but longer going on for your return flight. Say two hours.
When you come off it's a really good walk - then you go through the doors and there are several customs officers waiting. As long as you have your forms are filled in it should only take a few minutes. But it will be al ong weekend when you arrive so that might makes it a bit longer.

It is a really nice airport with lots to look at.

If it had been like that, instead of the hour we spent on line (until both of us were exhausted), we would have been able to do something with our first day in Vancouver, instead of collapsing when we got to the hotel.