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Passenger Terminal Layout of Vancouver International Airport, How to connect to other Terminals, and Formalities regarding Transfers:
Vancouver International Airport has three passenger terminals: The International & the Domestic Terminals are connected, while the South terminal is a bit farther away and is used for general aviation only (the South Terminal Shuttle connects you to/from both the International & the Domestic Terminals from 6:55am to 6:30pm. To get from the city to the float plane facility or South Terminal, take the Canada Line from Vancouver to the Bridgeport Station & transfer to the C-92 bus which stops in front of both facilities. Airlines serving the South Terminal: Hawkair, KD Air, Orca Airways, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Harbour Air & Helijet. Airlines serving the Floatplane facility: Saltspring Island Air, Seair Saplan, Tofino Air & West Coast Air
If you need to transfer from the South Terminal to either the International or Domestic terminals, you can board the shuttle inside the South Terminal, near the baggage carousel. If you need to transfer from the International or Domestic Terminals to the South Terminal, go to the second level.
To get from Vancouver to the Domestic/International terminals, take the Canada Line, an elevated people mover, to the ‘Canada Line Station’, located across the parking garage, with walkways to US & International and Domestic departures on Level 2.
Layout of the Vancouver Airport Domestic & International Terminal Complex:
Level 1 is the ‘Airport Service Plaza’, which connects via escalator to the baggage claim area with baggage carousels 1 to 6, divided by a walkway between the Airport Service Plaza and the Domestic check-in area. An elevator can also get you to Level 2. Level 2, the Domestic Arrivals level, has check-in counters, Information desk, and a walkway, elevator & escalator to the observation area on Level 4. Two security checkpoints lead to the domestic gateways.
To the right of the domestic check-in hall is the international check-in area, with an information desk and separate facilities for US & other international travelers: For US travelers, use the US check-in, go through security and US Customs & enter US departure gate area. International passengers go through security (at left), enter the international gate area with a food court and gates. Next to US check-in is access to the Fairmont Hotel.
US arriving passengers will go through US Customs, and both US & international passengers will use the walkway to the US & International Arrivals Level 2, which connects to the Canada Line Station and Parking (as does the Domestic check-in area).
Domestic & International Gates: Signs to gates are clearly marked – Domestic gates A 1 to 10, B 11 to 29 & C 30 to 52 are marked with the Canadian flag. International gates D50 to 78 are marked with a blue globe & the American Flag. For flights to the US, follow first the international sign, then the US connections sign, which has a yellow circle with a person & the US flag., leading to gates E 67 to 99.
FORMALITIES REGARDING TRANSFERS:
A. Procedures for Passengers Departing for, or Arriving from, the United States:
1. Passengers departing to the United States: It is recommended to arrive at least 3 hours before scheduled flight, particularly for flights departing 4-9am & 3-5pm and Holidays & Spring Break. Proceed to the US departures area.
2. Passengers arriving from the United States: Upon arrival at Vancouver Airport, you go through Canadian Customs and check the illuminated display panels for your assigned carousel number, then proceed to the baggage claim area where you find baggage trolleys. Your airline representative can, at your request, also call for a porter. Before proceeding to the public hall, present your customs declaration card to CBSA border services, where you might be directed for further manual inspection or search, if deemed necessary.
B. Flight Connection Procedures and Rules:
1. Flight connection from & to Canada: Just confirm your departure gate number on the flight screens. However, if you leave the restricted area, make sure to have your boarding pass with you and return timely to your gate.
2. Flight connection to/from Canada to the United States: (a) If your flight originated in Canada and you have a boarding pass for a flight to the U.S., follow US connections signs, go through security screening & proceed to U.S. Customs. Your checked baggage will be automatically transferred (US Customs may recall your baggage for manual inspection). (b) If your flight originated in the US and you have to take connecting flight to an international destination you can (i) go to the special international connections customs counter, should your airline offer the option of automatic transfer of your luggage; or (ii) pick up your luggage from the carousel, follow international arrivals procedures and then US departures procedures – if your airline doesn’t offer automatic transfer of your baggage.
3. Flight connection to/from Canada to International Destination: (i) If your flight originated in Canada and you have a boarding pass for a flight to an international destination, simply confirm your departure gate number on the display screens. However, if you leave the restricted area, make sure to have your boarding pass with you and return timely to your gate. If you don’t have a boarding pass, obtain one at your airline’s check-in counter. (ii) If your flight originated outside of Canada or the US & you need to connect to a Canada destination, clear Canadian Customs. Do pick up your baggage immediately after passing Customs, which you then take to the connecting flight counter. Thereafter follow normal Canadian departures procedures & pass through security checkpoint A. Any liquids over 100 ml must be put into your checked luggage.
4. Flight connection from an International flight to the United States: If your flight originated outside of Canada or the U.S. and you need to connect to a US destination, you have two options depending on whether your airline automatically transfers your baggage or not: (a) if it does, and you have a boarding pass to your connecting flight, proceed via a connecting flights corridor (avoiding Canadian Customs), go through US Customs and your checked baggage will be automatically transferred (US Customs, at their discretion, can recall your baggage for manual inspection). (b) if the airline does not offer auto transfer of your baggage, you have to pick it up from the carousel & follow first normal international arrivals procedures, then U.S. ones.
5. Flight connection from an International to an International Destination: If your flight originated outside of Canada or the US and you have to transfer to another international flight, you have two options, depending on your airline: (a) If your airline transfers your baggage automatically, go to the special international connections customs counter. (b) If your airline does not transfer your baggage automatically, pick up your baggage from the carousel, then follow then normal international arrivals procedures and thereafter international departures procedures.
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