Vancouver Airport

✅ Trip Verified | Starting last year, I have noticed a significant issue with the employees at Vancouver Airport. The employees, especially the security guards, can barely speak English, which leads to misinformation. Last winter, one of the security guards literally yelled at my mother for sitting in the wrong spot. This time, my parents had to stay at the airport for a night due to a snowstorm. I truly attempted to understand the stress and workload of the security personnel, but it was simply unacceptable. Just a few days ago, I met a family member for the first time in a year. We had planned to have lunch before our flights, as they were taking an international flight and I was taking a domestic flight on the same day. I ensured that we could meet after the security check, and the guard was very certain that we could. However, after passing through the security check, we couldn't meet because there was a gate separating international and domestic flights. I spoke to the security officer who was stationed at the gate and asked her about it. She said that it was "common sense" that people taking domestic flights could not cross this gate. She seemed "annoyed" with me, and I reminded her that the security guard had confirmed that I could cross. Therefore, I had to ask her if I could quickly say goodbye to them at the gate, which further annoyed her, and she said, "I hope this doesn't get me fired." If you are employed as security at an international airport, you should at least be knowledgeable about your responsibilities and possess a certain level of language skills that allows for effective communication. I am tired of encountering rude security personnel, and frankly, I have strong doubts that the situation will improve.

✅ Trip Verified | This is the first time I've traveled through YVR in 18 years. What a transformation from 2005. This review is based solely on the US departures terminal. This is a very brightly lit huge terminal with plenty of check in counters for US and International Air carriers as well as Canadian carriers flying to the USA. There are plenty of shops though I felt the dining options were limited pre-security. The bathrooms are clean and the YVR information desk very helpful. Going through security was a little confusing but a breeze. The bonus for YVR is clearing US Customs and Immigration for trans-border flights. The Airport Wi-Fi was fast and worked flawlessly. One added bonus is the SkyTrain which go from the airport to downtown Vancouver. When visiting YVR, I usually fly to Seattle and then drive up; however in this instance my choice to fly to Vancouver directly was well worth it. One of the best airports I've flown through.

✅ Trip Verified | Lacking in charging ports at C gates. One in actual seating area has no power to it. Saw at least 6 people sitting on the floor down the hall and by the bathrooms to charge devices

✅ Trip Verified | Upon arrival at YVR for our trip to Mexico, we went directly to "Westjet International Departures" which is where you would think is the most obvious choice for check-in desks. Four out of the six of us needed to check our bags otherwise things would have been fine. We discovered a sign that stated "if flying to Mexico go to check-in #34". I believe the Westjet International Departure desks were numbered in the 70's or 80's. We proceeded to make our way down to desk #34, which is at the other end of the airport=, only to find it in the "DOMESTIC DEPARTURES". Since when is Mexico domestic when flying out of Vancouver=? Once we checked our bags we then had to hoof it all the way back to "International Departures" to go through security. Who at YVR thought this was a good idea? There are plenty of desks at the Westjet International Departures to accommodate travelers. YVR, you really need to fix this faux pas.

✅ Trip Verified | The security attendant threw away away my Epsom salt. She said organic matter had to be less than 350ml but had no way of verifying that volume amount. She held it in her hand and decided it weighed too much even though she had no way to verify that. This restriction was no listed in the allowances at check in and has never been a problem in the past. I cannot find any other list showing that restriction. Confusing, unnecessary, and very disappointing .

Not Verified | Vancouver airport has quickly grown to be one of my favourite airports in Canada. All of the gates are very clearly labeled, the shops are pleasant, and the airport is clean. I appreciate that I’ve never had a delayed flight out of this airport. The airport Wi-Fi works great, better than any airport I’ve been to. On top of this, there are sky trains that go into the airport to the downtown centre, which come every 3-5 mins. Overall, this airport is arguably the best in Canada in my opinion.

✅ Trip Verified | I actually really like and enjoy the YVR airport, it is easy to navigate through both arrival and departure areas and find the car rental area has easy access. The car rental folks at Enterprise are super friendly they are wonderful. The actual airline team members are also very helpful and really friendly. I however had the worst ever experience going through domestic security. I recently went through security at YYC and PHX and what an awesome experience, friendly organized and really efficient. I found a few of the YVR security people to be moody, stressed, slow and wanted to emphasize they have the control over you and demonstrated an overbearing and rude attitude towards travelers that had to go to second screening, this is where these employees were rude. (the other greeters, scanners, loaders and other folks were fine). The lady I had to deal with was on a power trip and was intentional in making the travelers she was dealing with feel really guilty for having lotions that slightly exceeded the 100ml and combined lotions didn't fit into their little bag. She interacted this way with all she was dealing with. I had a 120 mil bottle of expensive lotion that was 3/4 full and she took pride on confiscating my bottle and another small round tin of lotion. The funny thing is like I told this rude lady that this small 120 ml bottle went through YYC and PHX no problem. Like where is the common sense now where a little bit of extra lotion is a threat to fellow passengers. I viewed her co worker confiscating a small bottle from a young teen and joyfully tossing it across the back area into the garbage. These crazy carry on rules for only 100 ml of lotions etc in a tiny bag need to change and so does the attitude of a few of the YVR security screeners that deal with the public, this is why I gave only a 1 star for airport staff but its only because of these security people as described. Otherwise everything else at YVR is awesome!

✅ Trip Verified | Among the worst airports for food service choices. No management of comfort seats at the gates. Hundreds of millions of passengers airport improvement fees spent for seemingly 15 cents on the dollar value.

✅ Trip Verified | An absolute dumpster fire of an airport every time I’ve been there. Endlessly being herded through hundreds of metres of empty corridors with random check points to verify your boarding passes multiple times. Staff is generally not very friendly, likely because of the number of disgruntled travellers passing through. Avoid this airport if it all possible and save yourself the headache.

✅ Trip Verified | YVR is in complete shambles - and no indication things will improve anytime soon. There was a very long security line for passengers departing on international flights - it took roughly 30 minutes for the security staff to process 100 passengers. And this was not even the peak time for international departures. Once airside, there are limited food and beverage options, such that one must wait some 45 minutes in order to get something to eat. Most shops and restaurants are closed - at 8 or 9pm in the evening. The shortage of staff in general is noticeable at YVR. While walking to my gate, I also noticed extremely lengthy queues in the arrival hall for arriving passengers - I reckon it would have taken those poor passengers some 60 to 90 minutes to clear customs, and collect luggage, before exiting the airport. For an airport that once prided itself as North American's #1 airport, YVR has fallen very far from where it used to be. Time of YVR staff to get off their pedestal, and start fixing their airport.