Vancouver Airport

Arrived YVR at 0932 from NRT en route to YYZ on rerouted AC-002. Despite the fact that we landed three minutes after the JAL flight the line for immigration only took 15 minutes and we were treated well. Same for customs who seem to have an excellent system to facilitate connecting passengers. Then everything fell apart! We had to join a security screening line for transit passengers. This area had only one (x-ray?) screening machine when we went through it around 1030. To make matters worse whenever anything suspicious was detected the operator (middle-aged white male) stopped everything to personally inspect the bags in question! Utterly ridiculous! Why YVR management allows this terrible bottleneck to cast a blight on an otherwise excellent airport is incomprehensible! This airport would have rated a 4.5 but the security handling for transit passengers bumps it way down to 3.0!

International arrival from Amsterdam: smooth handling from customs to luggage although with full flights on a MD-11 or B747 the time difference if your suitcase is the first or the last can be 20 minutes (but that is true in every airport). On departure to Amsterdam also everything good. Nice departures area. Some building activities now to prepare for 2010 Olympics (including new metro line to the city) but no major hassle for me.

The ambience is the first thing I notice about Vancouver airport - very nice. That said lines in arrivals for immigration while well-organized enough are appalling during peak periods. Not terribly impressed by the efficiency or attitude of the Canadian Customs agents either. Arrival area space in the international terminal also seems to be inadequate given the crowds of people waiting to welcome family and relatives arriving from Asia. Overall despite the hassles at arrivals this ranks as one of my favorite airports to travel through.

The creeks and waterfalls make for a peaceful arrival after a long flight. We had the misfortune of dealing with a rude border agent. He couldn't understand how we could be holding Canadian passports yet living in the US. The terminal is undergoing some construction work on the domestic and international site but it's all for the greater good.

Parking long term and short term adequate could be greatly improved. Pickup of passengers poor no car waiting area no space for luggage carts. International Checkin inadequate space for checkin queues too long poor layout takes too long unless business class checkin. Shopping facilities - average asian oriented food. Security check poor congested no fast track. International departure area excellent ambience reasonable facilities. International Arrivals - pleasant first impression distance to customs reasonable Customs/passport long lines no fast track. Overall not very good takes on average 1 hour from gate arrival to exit.

Only been to the international terminal and it looks promising. One of the nicest interiors I've seen with numerous water features angled lighting an aquarium and plenty of trees. Architecture is modern and attractive. Not the biggest fan of the baggage claim area/service; the hall is rather cramped and it took 15-20 minutes to get our luggage - could be better. The lines at the customs are also rather long as there are only around a dozen counters (of which only two thirds are for international arrivals) and countless flights coming in all the time; check-in queues are also on the long side (but not unreasonable). Also more seating areas in the departures area outside of the gates would not go amiss. On a more positive note eating/shopping options are reasonably impressive and the staff are generally polite. The terminal is also bright and quite spacious throughout. Once outside there are limos taxis and buses that will take you to the city center within 45 minutes and also coaches that take you south to Washington. Apart from under-par customs and some other services somewhat lacking in organization (inefficient baggage handling and check- in) YVR is a very pleasant airport to spend time in.

I arrived on an international AC flight from Sydney and departing on a domestic AC flight to Toronto. Slightly outrageous walk from international arrival to domestic check-in and then back to international departure . But the walk was welcomed after a 14 hour flight! Only major query is: Why is Tim Hortons the furthest coffee shop away from check-in and arrivals?

Being through this airport many times it looks nice on the surface but services are not what one would expect in a first class airport. When departing the airport the services are very nice with beautiful lounges in the domestic international and transborder areas. Although the departure services are good the arrival services are lacking. When arriving at customs from a recent flight arriving from London I was surprised that the airport has still not decided to create a fast track line for business class passengers. This crucial step in making an airport good is missing at YVR and I cannot understand why?

YVR is the best North American airport I have been through. It has some nice waterfalls and a real nature-like feel to it. I also liked the odd Canadian souvenir shops. Going through US customs was slightly slower than expected but that is my only gripe about Vancouver. It's the only North American airport on par with many of those in East Asia.

Agree with last comment by G Stephens. Although not a world class airport such as Singapore Changi this is a very nice airport. Nice architecture (feels quite cozy) no long walks immigration was a breeze average wait for luggage. For smokers they still have a smoking room. Very good food court just before immigration coin-operated internet PCs everywhere in departure area (1 CAD/12 minutes a bit slow but ok) nice shops. We departed Thursday Jan 4 at 4 pm to Hong Kong and the gates were literally empty (besides our flight). Overall pretty good.