YEG ranked #3 - Worst Airport in Canada

[LanceB]

Originally Posted by Edmonton Journal

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...364/story.html

EDMONTON - Edmonton International Airport was voted the third-worst Canadian airport in a national poll released Monday.

The online survey by Internet travel company Flightnetwork.com showed 9.9 per cent of respondents ranked Edmonton as Canada’s worst airport.

Toronto’s Pearson International was deemed the worst by a wide margin with 36.6 per cent of voting. Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport came in second, receiving the ire of 17.7 per cent.

There was no specific breakdown of Edmonton International’s performance.

.

[Medwards]

Originally Posted by LanceB

Al Jamil said the fact that Pearson is on both best and worst lists can be attributed to it being Canada’s largest and busiest airport. “Many Canadians have had experiences there, both good and bad.”

MEdwards said the fact that EIA is on both best and worst lists can be attributed to it being Canada’s fifth largest and busiest airport. “Many Canadians have had experiences there, both good and bad.”

You can quote me on that too.

[LanceB]

Bad Dining was a clear negative, which continues to get better as well..

I'm not sure what "customer service' issues people have though...

[bolo]

^One thing that use to bug me at YEG is when they closed US customs before a US departure (if you arrive at the airport any later than 1 hour early, you wouldn't be able to catch your flight). I've been screwed by it, friends have been screwed by it, and I've even had a couple of flights cancelled because the flight crews were screwed by it. Anyways, YEG is the only airport I make a point to arrive super early at nowadays.

[McBoo]

^ That's a definite turn-off. Guess I've been lucky - hasn't happened to me.

I don't get the dining angle. YVR domestic wings have all of one bar with bar food on the WJ side and one tea and sandwich shop on the AC side - yet it gets raves. (International - different story). Maybe some hometown boosterism.

I've also rarely had issues with Central Security - but I've heard elsewhere that YEG security is over-bearing, so maybe there's some merit to that. I tend to blame infrequent flyers who aren't sure of the rules - thereby slowing down the process.

[sundance]

They only ranked 9 airports on their blog and comparatively Montreal is almost 2x as bad, Toronto 4x as bad
http://www.flightnetwork.com/blog/

I can't seen how LAX doesn't make the worst list, I've found it MUCH more of a pain than ORD

[McBoo]

So more people rank Winnipeg's brand new terminal in 2012 as "worst" than did Winnipeg's old terminal in 2010?

Verges on just plain silly.

[LanceB]

For me it's hard to say in my travels what I vote to dislike so much to make it better or worse...

Out of say, the US Hubs from Edmonton, I like Minny because they have LOTS of restaurants, good retail, and even a bloody arcade to play Ms. Pacman... (Yup that old)...

Denver I find just a long corridor, void of much exploration, but the Food options are fine... Not very aesthetically pleasing - oh well.. LAX I find has the Large Duty Free next to the YEG gate typically... I'm listing more the "likable" things, not so much the "LAX doesn't have an arcade" complaint...

[faraz]

YYC didn't show up in any of their polls - best or worst. Yet YEG does

[Chmilz]

Stupid online poll with no scientific basis. Nothing to see here.

[LO 044]

^Agreed. 400 respondents across the country? The only way this poll could have been less scientific was if there was less than 400 respondents.

[moahunter]

^some of the results look right though. For example, Heathrow is truley a horrible airport so no surprise there. Vancouver is Canada's best airport, at least IMO (even though have to walk a long way domestic to international), its more bright and airy than most.

Top 3 on this one are Vancouver, Toronto (I have mixed experiences of, but the foods ok), and Calgary (it is functional, and I've found much faster US customs when going international than Edmonton):

http://www.flightnetwork.com/blog/20...best-airports/

Calgary and Vancouver also win some points for being closer to downtown (compared to Toronto and Edmonton).

[Paul Cashman]

Hi folks, Just a gentle reminder that copying an entire story from our website is not allowed.

Thanks
Paul Cashman
Journal Business Editor

[Medwards]

^ Hey Paul, I reported your post, along with the original post using the report post button to immediately alert administrators of this site... You may want to do the same for this post, or others you find breaking both copywrite rules, and our own forums rules...

[Paul Cashman]

Generally folks on this site are very good about following the rules.

[24karat]

So according to the article, Pearson was the best and the second worst.

[jagators63]

people may try to discredit Edmonton ?? who knows ?? I'm kinda surprised that there is no mention about Calgary international airport ??

[LanceB]

I'd like to derail this thread some more by asking what "fair use" policy is... how many words am I allowed to quote from a source clearly not claimed as my own with back links?

[FlyFlyAway]

Off-topic: At least we're not the worst airport in the world...this week anyways.

How not to open an airport: Berlin's new airport delays opening

[Admin]

The TOS rule #13 clearly states no more than 150 words. We do not expect that you count every word, but also we ask that you please use some discretion when posting.

We ask that there is just enough quoted to give the reader an idea of what the story is ( a simple headline, byline, and a teaser about what the article is referencing works), but since the story is property of the Journal, we want people to read the complete story on their site. It is only fair to drive the traffic to the daily in question if we are going to be allowed to use their stories. This is best done by not quoting everything.

All dailies and periodicals have been extremely accommodating and generous with us because of this. We had this go around about "fair use" a long time ago as some more prolific posters decided that reprinting almost the entire newspaper every day was "fair use". That practice is not fair in our opinion, it was settled that 150 words was the maximum, and we further clarified why in 2009.

Thank you. Back on topic please.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by moahunter

^some of the results look right though. For example, Heathrow is truley a horrible airport so no surprise there. Vancouver is Canada's best airport, at least IMO (even though have to walk a long way domestic to international), its more bright and airy than most.

(...)
Calgary and Vancouver also win some points for being closer to downtown (compared to Toronto and Edmonton).

I agree with the fact that 400 respondants for all these airports is not a good or representative sample size given the traffic that goes through each one. There are some lessons to be learned from this report, and yes Heathrow is where it should be, but I put as much stock in this as a comment card. Thanks for the info...so to speak...

I do question the "closer to downtown" for Vancouver. Yes, distance wise...ok. Canada Line you say...recent development and why I want LRT (not some conencting bus) out to YEG since we made the decision to put the airport out there...but by cab...I found it to be a wash.

The comments on food and security...(not in your post moa, but the article)...they seem to be more disgruntled rants as I find YEG's preclearance to be on par with the rest. Food, seriously...I am not there to eat and shop. Airports to me are not shopping malls and food fairs...I see why some may want it...but I'm there to check in, get to my gate, and get on the plane. When I get back...at best I want a coffee because after almost 20 years on the road...I just want to go home when I get home!

As an airport...what it really is....YEG is better than this survey relates IMO.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

^ When there is a 2 hour flight delay or when you are told to check-in 1 or 2 hours in advance, the food and shopping do become a priority.

[24karat]

YEG will only keep improving. The US departure area is now outstanding, and I would assume that upgrades to the domestic / international departure area will be as good. Management seems to be trying to make the terminal one of Canada's best. Of course it is not there yet, but they're heading in the right direction.

Now if only we could get an LRT line to the airport that would be a huge improvement.

[Brentk]

Survey's like that shouldn't even be covered in the Media. Bush league.

If people where flying from The North terminal I would agree 110%

[rockyv]

Having visited many airports in Canada and the rest of the world, I can tell you that EIA is one of the nicer ones I've seen, and I always enjoy going there. It's very clean and well maintained, and has a good "flow" to it. It's also not as busy as other airports, which I see as a positive, but it would be nice to get more international flights out of it.

[jonnypage]

I love YEG, it's one of the best ones IMO. Pearson is the worst for sure.

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

^ When there is a 2 hour flight delay or when you are told to check-in 1 or 2 hours in advance, the food and shopping do become a priority.

Food...OK...shopping...no. ...at least not for me in my home airport. The thing I want most is some decent seating, a convenience store with magazines, and a place to grab a bite. I already have my clothes, computer, etc...

I see the shopping more in terminals like LAX...MSP...ATL...etc...when you have a large transient population that may buy knick knacks...or MCO for Disney crap...

I am not saying that shopping shouldn't be added, and I am for the selection of vendors and the work done...but it does nothing for me or my experience.

Originally Posted by 24karat

YEG will only keep improving. The US departure area is now outstanding, and I would assume that upgrades to the domestic / international departure area will be as good. Management seems to be trying to make the terminal one of Canada's best. Of course it is not there yet, but they're heading in the right direction.

Now if only we could get an LRT line to the airport that would be a huge improvement.

All I can say is AMEN.

[moahunter]

Originally Posted by rockyv

Having visited many airports in Canada and the rest of the world, I can tell you that EIA is one of the nicer ones I've seen, and I always enjoy going there. It's very clean and well maintained, and has a good "flow" to it. It's also not as busy as other airports, which I see as a positive, but it would be nice to get more international flights out of it.

I agree with this, it is a good airport in the "regional" / "small" class, fast and efficient for domestic flights. The only real bugbear is with the international aspect, and in particular, US customs. Maybe I just got three bad days, but each time I have gone through it was incredibly slow (which I found stressful and uncomfortable), compared to other airports in Canada. Hopefully that's been worked on.

[howie]

^ Ditto. I've been through the US area a couple of times lately and, nice as it is, it's still a bit of a trudge - not enough customs desks manned.

I'm with RichardS on the food/shopping thing. Why do I need to 'shop' for anything? I'm pretty close to my carry-on capacity without adding anything at the last minute. If I do, it's probably bad planning on my part in the first place.

Overall, YEG's a very nice airport.

[NielCole]

Originally Posted by moahunter

I agree with this, it is a good airport in the "regional" / "small" class, fast and efficient for domestic flights. The only real bugbear is with the international aspect, and in particular, US customs. Maybe I just got three bad days, but each time I have gone through it was incredibly slow (which I found stressful and uncomfortable), compared to other airports in Canada. Hopefully that's been worked on.

I seem to remember years ago reading somewhere that when they train the US Border and Customs personnel when those individuals are posted into postions at airports in Canada they train them at YEG.

This gives them the experience of handling procedure at a "larger" International Airport without being overwhelmed by the huge crowds at say Pearson or Vancouver.

So it could be possible that they are not "experienced" enough yet, So that would slow things down.

But then I have also experienced issues like that flying into Portland Oregon from Vancouver and back around 2005.

Also there is probably no such thing as a "perfect" airport on the planet. Try flying out of Buenos Aires, lousy restaraunts, rude personnel and gung ho "customs" demading a "departure tax" that was posted nowhere in regards to leaving the country in any guide books.

In 2006 we were lucky that I still had some Pesos left over (That I did not manage to unload shopping that last day ) otherwise they would have dinged the 2 of us $30US a piece to escape. LOL

Deparating EIA in 2 weeks will probably be paradise compared to the hell that Heathrow has become in the past couple of weeks with the 3 hour waits in Border Patrol and Immigration checks backlogs. Hopefully my visa will let me skip that queue. If anyone is heading to Britannia during July-August wear your adult nappies! you will be waiting quite a while....LOL.