We have a Lufthansa flight from Vancouver to Frankfurt that departs at 14:45. We want to fly in from Seattle that same morning, so it will be 2 separate tickets. Carry-on only. How much time should we plan to go thru customs in Vancouver? We’re considering an Air Canada flight that is scheduled to land in Vancouver at 11:45.
Will we stay airside, or will we be going thru security as well as customs?
Lufthansa and Air Canada are Star Alliance partners so you can be on one ticket and get checked through from Seattle to Frankfurt. YVR keeps undergoing changes but according to their website:
“US passengers connecting to international flights go through Canada Customs (CBSA) on Level 4 and then proceed directly to their next gate on Departures Level 3.” You do not leave the secure area.
When is this travel?
A possibly foggy November date or a probably sunny July date?
Not sure I would risk this as a 2 ticket venture.
Why not take the direct SEA-FRA flight on Lufthansa?
@Lesley, I saw that sentence but didn’t feel confident that it applied when traveling on 2 separate tickets. Although LH and AC are in the same alliance I don’t know if the 2 tickets can be combined into a single ticket when purchased at different times especially when one is on pts and the other is cash. It would definitely be nice if it worked. Have you ever done it?
@joe32F, how much time has it typically taken you to navigate this type of transit at YVR?
The only time I did SEA-YVR-Europe, was 10+ years ago. It was a single ticket ( biz class using miles). I don't recall how long it was between flights at YVR. Spent our time in the BA lounge. (Believe it was more than 3 hrs)
No real recall of how much time was spent 'processing' through.
3 hrs is probably enough time, if all runs per schedule. The concern is what might upset the schedule.
From a security perspective, I don't think whether you're on one ticket or two matters
in this situation. You don't need to (re) check luggage, and the security folks just need
to see a valid boarding pass and ID.
Where 1 vs 2 tickets matters is if you are delayed on your first flight and miss the second
one. Then, you're not protected and are at the mercy of LH for how they can get you to
FRA.
There are nuances; what is the ticketing airline for each flight? If they are the same, you
may be able to get a (well-trained) agent to combine them under the same record locator.
If you, for example, booked with $ on AC and miles on UA for the LH flight, no dice, I don't
think. You would be derisking things if you can get your flights on the same record locator.
Your comments about paying for one ticket in cash and the other with miles doesn't make a
lot of sense, though. If you have enough miles to book YVR-FRA, you probably have enough
miles to book SEA-YVR-FRA all with miles, or, as joe32F notes, the direct SEA-FRA flight. Or
some other connection on Star Alliance, such as SEA-ORD-FRA. If you are low on miles and
need to pay cash for the YVR-FRA flight, you might be throwing away miles for nothing,
as I would guess the SEA flight doesn't add much on. But you haven't mentioned dates, so
I am just speculating.
@ shoeflyer Good thoughts on who the ticketing airline is. I booked the LH flight thru Avianca Lifemiles so possibly a no go there. Can you speak to your experience moving thru YVR with the scenario described?
So you had enough miles to book YVR-FRA with Avianca but not SEA-FRA?
I believe that award flights can be xcelled for free (they most definitely can on
AA or UA) so my take is to look for other award options for SEA-FRA. Mileage
redemptions amounts can definitely change. You don't mention timeframe for
travel, so I can't comment much further.
I would be very hesitant to book two separate tickets. If your flight from SEA to YVR is significantly delayed or cancelled, you will miss your flight from YVR to FRA. Also, your airline for the missed flight will most likely mark you as a no-show and not provide any assistance. On top of that, you will not be able to check any luggage because it will not go all the way through to your final destination. Since you have two different tickets, you would have to pick up the luggage in YVR and then check it for your flight to FRA.
If it were me, I would fly into YVR the day before and stay at a nearby hotel. I used to live in Vancouver, and the SkyTrain is an easy connection to anywhere in the city. Also, there is a bus that will take you between Seattle and Vancouver, but I'm not sure where it picks up or drops off.
Connecting through Vancouver - From the U.S. to an International Flight
Follow the overhead signs “Welcome to Vancouver”
Have all documentation in hand and ensure all applicable forms have been completed.
Follow the “All Passengers” signs to International Connections and enter the Canada Customs Inspection line.
Clear Canada Customs.
Take the escalator to level 3 Departures to your next flight.
Your checked baggage will be delivered to the final destination, unless advised otherwise at check-in.
This from this aircanada site. ( https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/at-the-airport/airport-information/vancouver-Int-airport/us-int.html#/ )
Scroll down to the "Connections Map-International" Appears no security screening between flights, with some exceptions.
INTERNATIONAL/USA ARRIVALS
CONNECTIONS MAP
All U.S. and international-arriving passengers will proceed up escalators/elevators from their gate to Connections
Level 4. Passengers arriving with through-checked baggage may stay on this level and use the connections facilities
here.* Check the flight information screens to locate your next gate. Passengers will proceed through Passport
Inspection (Customs). Some passengers may be required to go through security screening, so please pack duty-free
liquids in your check baggage. Keep all inbound and outbound boarding passes ready for scanning
@joe32F — I hadn’t found that info on the terminal map, so thank you for that, it’s very helpful.
Carolyn
@shoeflyer
My question was about people’s experience going thru security and customs rather than which flights I should book.
It’s apparent you don’t yet have much experience booking award flights via alternate airlines. It’s an interesting process you might want to explore.
@LaurieC
You totally get why I’m asking about the timing. A very late or cancelled flight can really gum things up. As I mentioned, only carry-on so that simplifies it. But your comment about the Skytrain is useful, I wasn’t aware of it. In addition, I see there is an Amtrak train to Vancouver that hooks up with it. That will be something I can check into. Thank you.
We’re considering an Air Canada flight that is scheduled to land in Vancouver at 11:45.
Is there an earlier flight that would buy a longer time cushion? Delta at 07:15? Looks like they have additional later flights if there's a problem with that one.
There is no sure thing in this life. If you aren't comfortable with an earlier flight, then flying in a day early is a viable option.
It's been years since I flew in/out of Vancouver from the States, but I remember it as being very efficient. Three hours seems adequate, IMHO.
