Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

We arrived at Vancouver international airport on a flight from London Heathrow. I am afraid to say that upon arrival we had a connecting flight to make to Vancouver Island (Via float plane) so I did not have chance to take much in as it was bit of a rush due to out flight being an hour late arriving. However saying that the initial impressions were favourable. It has been several years since I had actually flown into Vancouver and I was impressed ...
...to have gone into bringing the airport out of the 80's style time warp it had been. Lots of money has been spent on melding the 21st century with native Indian heritage of the area. Everywhere you looked large Indian murals and statues sit comfortably next to the glass and steel of the buildings structure.

Customs was relatively straight forward with over head signs in several languages (English and French included) that directed us ... more

We arrived at Vancouver international airport on a flight from London Heathrow. I am afraid to say that upon arrival we had a connecting flight to make to Vancouver Island (Via float plane) so I did not have chance to take much in as it was bit of a rush due to out flight being an hour late arriving. However saying that the initial impressions were favourable. It has been several years since I had actually flown into Vancouver and I was impressed by the improvements that had been made. Much effort seems to have gone into bringing the airport out of the 80's style time warp it had been. Lots of money has been spent on melding the 21st century with native Indian heritage of the area. Everywhere you looked large Indian murals and statues sit comfortably next to the glass and steel of the buildings structure.

Customs was relatively straight forward with over head signs in several languages (English and French included) that directed us to the international visitors booths. W e were greeted in a very friendly and welcoming manner (not like America) and processed through. The customs officer noticed my numerous Canadian stamps on my passport, which, led much to the annoyance of the couple behind us a brief conversation about "Nanaimo" our destination, and the fact that that this particular officer actually knew my aunt and uncle.(Any way I digress).As before the directions were easy and clear so it was very easy for us to find our way to the Bus that takes you across the airport the 5 min journey to the South Terminal where were booked in courteously and efficiently.
As we were making a connecting flight we found that our luggage had automatically been collected and taken to the south terminal to be boarded onto our internal flight (We were very impressed with this) - This left us time to try and get ourselves to the South terminal ourselves.

The South Terminal Building
The South Terminal Building, and the public Seaplane Facility on the Fraser River, provides a regional hub for small aircraft, float planes, helicopter operations, corporate charters, sport fishing camps and aerospace facilities. There were a few coffee shops and restaurants and some commercial shopping outlets, but not as many as the main terminal as this terminal seems much more geared to local use- So if you have any last minute gifts to but then you are better off getting those in the main terminal
Internal Airlines that serve the South Terminal
Craig Air - Eagle air - Harbour Air --Hawkair - Helijet -Integra air - K D air corporation - Orca airways ltd - Pacific Costal airlines ltd and Sonicblue airways
Floatplanes that use the South Terminal
Amigo Airways - Baxter Aviation Pacific - Wings Airlines - Saltspring Island Air Seair Seaplanes - Tofino Air - West Coast Air.

The main terminals
The main terminals have everything an international traveller should and would require there are numerous shopping outlets from the ubiquitous "Roots" "tastefully Canada" to convince stores such as "7 eleven" too many in fact for me to mention individually -I recommend visiting the official airport web site to give you an idea. Should you be stuck here for any length of time then there are numerous food concessions to while away your time at from "traditional" burgers to Chinese, Japanese, pubs and Italians again have a look on the site. There are also duty free shops to spend those last "loonies" (A loonie is the name the Canadians have affectionalty give to the dollar due to the fact it has a picture on it of the the loone Canada's national bird).
There are two main terminals Domestic and International I have not used the Domestic Lounge so I can only comment on the international lounge
The departure lounge is on level 3 its large and airy yet somehow you don't feel small in this vast space. It is set out on two long arms that come together at the food hall and shopping area (There are concessions all through this area) It is a very relaxed area and there are lots of information booths and customer service assistance should you need them.

There are Several Bus tour operators outside the main frontage of the airport and there is terminal for local and nation busses at both of the terminas.
The local and national tourist information stations situated on the ground floor are excellent places for sorting out trnsport links and have a system for booking reservations with local hotels should you need it -Along with a wealth of local inforamtion and guide books/maps and leaflets.
There seemed to be plenty of wheel chair access and dedicated customer assistance for disabled travellers.

Yes - There is an airport tax When we went it was $15 dollars each (about £5.50 then) don't know what it is now - its supposed to pay for the air port - What can you do?

On the whole I found it all a very friendly and efficient experience - Unlike some other international airports that seem to wind you up even before you have boarded the plane. A good parting shot of Canada for a visitor I would think.

 

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