Calgary airport expecting over 1M guests for holidays, offers tips

The Calgary International Airport is expecting over one million people to pass through the airport this holiday season, saying it is “right back to pre-pandemic levels.”

With nearly 50,000 people expected at the Calgary airport daily from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3., officials want to equip travellers with tips to make the trip as stress-free as possible.

“We are going to be exceptionally busy this year,” said Chris Miles, vice president of operations and infrastructure for The Calgary Airport Authority, to reporters Thursday.

“So we are recommending that you take a moment and make your reservation in advance at the airport, which will ensure that you’ve got a parking spot available.”

The airport will have free 20-minute parking from Dec. 15 to Jan. 8, on top of an additional parking lot with 60 minutes of free wait time in the Cell Phone lot “to ensure that you can actually collect your guests in a timely manner.”

Uber, taxis, and Calgary Transit are available for people travelling to and from the airport.

The airport says it will have Customer Care Ambassadors, White Hat Volunteers, and Pre-Board Pals available for pre-boarding to help people navigate the airport.

“Please be timed and understand that this may be your fellow guests, one of our fellow guests that they haven’t travelled in more than 24 months, or that it might be someone’s first day on the job,” Colleen Tynan, vice-president of airports for WestJet.

Arrive early and pre-book

Miles also recommends people show up two hours early to check in for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.

“International is simply because there are continuous protocols from other countries where our airline partners need to validate travel documents, entitlements and such,” Miles said.

He adds travellers should prepare for unexpected delays.

“From a domestic perspective … as we regrow or come back into our pre-pandemic volumes, what, unfortunately, we still see is something showing up in the baggage that slows things down.”

YYC airport also has methods to skip the line through “YYC Express,” where people can “Skip the line at security.”

“Select your airline, select the flight number and then select a time when you’d like to go through security,” Miles said.

People can learn more by going to the website.

Prepare for your trip and return

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) also has a number of tips for people to prepare to travel.

“Have your passport for yourself and those travelling with you in hand and ready to use at that primary inspection kiosk,” said Lisa White, port director for CBSA.

She also recommends people declare everything they have, “even your little cat or your little dog in your duffel bag on your shoulder. Don’t forget to declare him or her.”

“Many times, people just forget that they’re travelling with their pet … It’s quite cute,” White said.

“We do quite see it a lot, actually. It’s quite amazing, especially this time of year with the hustle and bustle and just trying to rush out the door. We want to get you out the door as quickly as possible.”

She also recommends people declare any gifts people are bringing

“We don’t want to be the ones to destroy that surprise and mess up the beautiful wrapping jobs. So we ask that you leave those gifts unwrapped so that we can examine the contents if required.”

White also wants to remind travellers about declaring all currency in all denominations.

“You can travel with up to $10,000 Canadian without having to declare, but anything over and above $10,000 Canadian must be declared to the CDSA quick process fill out a simple form.”

Check what you pack

Various objects on a table inside the Calgary International Airport on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. (Nick Blakeney, CityNews photo)In addition to declaring what you have, Sandra Alvarez with Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) recommends people really examine what people are carrying onto the plane.

“Liquids, gels and aerosol. Make sure those containers are measured in litres or less. And that all of those containers fit in a one-litre clear-size plastic bag, and it’s one bag per passenger and carry-on,” said Sandra Alvarez with Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).

Alvarez says people need to consider the container an item is put into, as that can make things messy and hold up the process.

“It’s important for passengers to really think of the containers themselves,” said Sandra Alvarez with Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).

“If you’re taking it as a carry-on from your camping trip, look through the carry-on first before packing it. There might be something from your camping trip.”

She also says parents should watch out for a kid’s toy called Orbeez as inside the containers are beads filled with a liquid-like product.

“It’s a tactile toy, and it’s restricted under that 100-millimetre volume restriction or under for carry-on bag check baggage.”

A person holding beads from a kid’s toy called Orbeez inside the Calgary International Airport on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. (Nick Blakeney, CityNews photo)

With this holiday travel season being the first one since COVID restrictions were lifted, Miles is reminding people the airport is still keeping up with its cleanliness that came into place before, especially as flu and COVID cases are still a factor in the province.

“We’ve got a very rigorous cleaning and disinfection protocol,” he said. “You’ll have hand sanitizers throughout the terminal; all the things that kept people safe through our terminal through the airport or through the city of Calgary throughout the pandemic remain in place. We haven’t reduced any of the cleaning protocols here.”

For more information about ways to prepare to travel, visit the Calgary International Airport website.