Oh Canada!

I'm off to Calgary for my brother's wedding in August, and I was wondering how useful VA are at arranging onward travel in the US.

I'll probably use some miles to get to San Fran, then hop over to Calgary – does anyone have any suggestions? Should I ask VA to arrange the SFO-YYC leg? Is it really worth making the trip multi-leg (and very long), or should I – heaven forbid – fly direct with a different carrier [:?]

I don't have enough miles with other carriers, and I'd ideally like to stick with VA, as the trip would take me to silver (I'm not as rich as I'd like to be, so I have to settle for Economy tickets) [:#]

[preiffer]

Hi Martin,

I do this through Boston to Montreal a bit. To be honest, the last time I did it was the only time I've not had a hitch along the way.

VS can book an onward flight for you (usually via AC/UA), but you'll typically find the sector cheaper if you book it yourself. Going through the US presents it's own issues with travel anyway:

1) API from February requires a US address, you won't have this, as you're in transit.
2) You HAVE to pick up your bags and clear US customs/immigration, regardless of being in transit (and after an SFO trip in Y, you might not be up for that...). Your bags will be tagged to YYC, but you still have to collect & re-check them.
3) You have to re-check in for your internal flight, from scratch, at the regular check in desk.
4) You'll have to do Canadian customs/immigration too when you get to your final destination (tired and smelling a bit).
5) You'll then be waiting in a pretty naff terminal for your connecting flight - which may well be delayed.

Although, on the way back, things are a little more seamless as you'll clear US customs/immig. in YYC, it's still quite painful.


Basically, I'd ask the question to yourself: Is flying with VS worth an extra 5 hours (which, realistically, the entire process can take) of your life, over flying direct?


Unless I'm going to the US specifically before/after Montreal, I'd always go direct instead (unfortunately with Air Canada [:$])


Just my $0.02

Thanks Ð I reckon I could cope with Boston to Montreal, but San Fran to Calgary might be pushing it a bit! I might look into staying a few nights in San Fran to break it up, but it all depends on my brothers' schedule, I suppose.

I've flown with Air Canada before, and they weren't too bad. That said, I've also flown with Zoom from Stansted, and they were awful (without an e).

Let's hope Branson spies a moneyspinning route or two to Canada before the summer...

Originally posted by martinmoore50
Thanks Ð I reckon I could cope with Boston to Montreal, but San Fran to Calgary might be pushing it a bit! I might look into staying a few nights in San Fran to break it up, but it all depends on my brothers' schedule, I suppose.

I've flown with Air Canada before, and they weren't too bad. That said, I've also flown with Zoom from Stansted, and they were awful (without an e).

Let's hope Branson spies a moneyspinning route or two to Canada before the summer...

I so agree - he must be missing out on oddles of dosh by not flying there. While we're missing out on oddles of airmiles....[^]

Flying from the UK to Montreal say, and connecting in Boston can be a real pain. The Boston to Montreal flight only takes about 45 mins, but Boston is such an inefficient airport, with poor lounges, few conveniences/stores etc. If I could connect anywhere else I would. Sometimes when I have to take long-haul flights, I have to get down from Boston to New York (JFK/LGA). On the outbound flights, this is fine, but when returned from the Far East say, knowing that I'm just a 35-45 min flight from home, the change at NYC can be the biggest pain in the butt ever.

I just got back to Boston from having been in Casablanca for a few meetings. I had the choice on my return of flying AT to NYC then on to BOS, or BA to LHR connecting on to AA to BOS. With a choice of connecting through LHR, the decision was easy! Such a better airport and always much better to avoid an internal US flight after an international one...

Just my thoughts.