Toronto Pearson Airport has launched an education campaign on how passengers and stakeholders can work together to improve wait times at the airport. The Canadian Automobile Association’s South Central Ontario chapter also is offering up airport survival tips.
“With 400+ organizations operating at Toronto Pearson, all partners are working hard every day to improve the passenger experience when travelling through the airport,” Pearson officials said in a press release.
“A better trip through Pearson” walks passengers through Pearson airport, providing simple tips and tricks to help smooth passenger journeys along the way by equipping them with more information about what to expect. Among the suggestions are keeping liquid, gels and electronics ready for inspection at security, and skipping the baggage carousel by using carry-on luggage (which everyone seems to be doing now, and which can cause problems on the plane, if my last flight is any indication.)
“Solving for congestion at Pearson” walks through the steps airport partners and government stakeholders have taken to improve passenger flow through Pearson, and what’s next as industry works collaboratively to improve the travel experience. The infographic, which will be updated later in the summer to reflect continued improvements, highlights arriving and departing airport processes, identifies how the airport and its partners can help ease passenger flow and provides passengers with a roadmap to understand what is being done to restore reliability across all segments of the air travel system. Among the touted improvements are more security workers, more U.S. Customs officers and fewer flights in and out of Pearson, which eases airport crowding but doesn’t help people (like my Dad) who get bumped from their original flight and have to move to other, extremely inconvenient departure times.
“The challenges facing Canada’s largest airport are various and complex, with numerous parties operating their own systems across the airport footprint. Progress has been made but there is more to do to restore the Canadian Aviation System,” said Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “All partners – airport, airlines, the Canadian Government, NAV CANADA and US border control – together must expeditiously implement reforms that will make smoother journeys for the remainder of summer and beyond.”
Toronto Pearson tips.
“COVID-19 turned Canada’s travel economy and infrastructure upside down,” Flint said. “Pandemic recovery has demonstrated that turning off a highly networked industry like the air sector is much less complicated than turning it back on.
:The air sector is important to Canadians for their own travel, and for the role it plays in the economy and the perception of our country. We can leverage this moment to propel faster change in processes and digital tools, and to place the passenger and worker at the forefront. The recovery challenge is our call to innovate, rethink and build the airport of the future,” she said.
Meanwhile, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) has compiled a list of ten things that Ontarians should be aware of if they are considering travelling this summer – both inside and outside the country.
“Those who are considering booking a trip should make sure they understand the scope of what travel looks like at the moment,” said Nadia Matos, manager external communications, CAA SCO. “The checklist for planning a trip has changed and we want to help people navigate this new environment.
“Airports are experiencing delays with varying degrees of impact, and Ontarians should be prepared.”
Through consultation with its top travel agents, CAA SCO has identified ten key considerations that potential travelers may not be aware of. Anyone who is considering travel in the current environment should remember that travel requirements and regulations are continually changing.
Expect itinerary changes. CAA SCO travel agents say their members are experiencing schedule changes for flights.
(This is happening A LOT. A couple friends who attended a wedding in Alberta last week had their return flights changed suddenly. My Dad and his lady friend many weeks ago booked a late morning/nearly noon flight from San Francisco to Toronto for next Friday, only to be told late last night that they were being bumped to a very inconvenient 7 a.m. departure.)
Matos said would-be passengers should subscribe to the airline’s text message service to be immediately notified of any changes, and book connecting flights with more time in between than you normally would if available. A travel agent is also a valuable resource if this happens.
Consider packing a carryon instead of checking luggage. Potential baggage delays mean that your luggage may not arrive with you or take extra time to be unloaded off the plane. If you bring a carryon, make sure it fits the size requirements for all the airlines you are flying on, and with any tour operators. When using a carryon to travel, you still need to follow the 3-1-1 rule: three ounces of liquid, gel, aerosol, cream or paste that fit in one quart-sized resealable bag. If you are checking luggage, make sure your carryon has your hygiene essentials, any medications, and a change of clothing.
Expect longer wait times at the airport. The old standby of being at the airport one hour before takeoff for domestic flights and two hours before international flights no longer apply. CAA currently recommends arriving at the airport a minimum of two hours before domestic flight departures and at least three hours for international flights. (I’ve been recommending this for weeks now. Three hours is the new two hours.)
Make sure all your documentation is in order before you book. Your passport should still be valid six months after your travel date, as this is required in several countries. Passports themselves are taking longer than usual to renew, so it should be done several months before you travel. Each destination has varying documentation requirements, so make sure you fully understand what information you need to have ready and in what format.
A flight information board at Toronto Pearson Airport. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Buy travel insurance and understand what is covered. Make sure you have $5 million in coverage for emergency medical situations and that illness related to COVID-19 is included. Understand your entitlements for situations like denied boarding in the event of a positive test, trip cancellation or delays, what luggage is covered and what isn’t.
Car rentals need to be booked months in advance. High demand as well as a shortage of vehicles means a shortage of rental cars. Some rental agencies, particularly on the east and west coasts, are not allowing vehicles to be rented in one city and left in another. A travel agent can help you navigate this.
COVID-19 is still a major consideration. Confirm the COVID-19 situation at destination prior to booking. Understand the risk level associated with travel to a particular destination by checking the Government of Canada Travel Advice and Advisories website. Individual travel advisories remain on a country-by-country basis. It is important that Ontarians understand the ongoing uncertainty associated with international travel, whether that be related to the continued community transmission of COVID-19, or state of health care systems in destinations hit hard by the pandemic. Canadians returning home must have all required documentation loaded onto the ArriveCAN App or website.
Stay connected. It is important to have access to trusted, up-to-date information while travelling so you can monitor changing conditions and requirements and adapt accordingly. Bookmark the Global Affairs Canada website prior to departure and check it regularly while abroad. It is also a good idea to sign up for Registration of Canadians Abroad and stay in touch with a family or friend that has knowledge of your travel plans. Find these and more information at http://www.caasco.com/travel.
Confirm change and cancellation flexibility with your travel service provider. Many airlines and hotels have been providing more flexibility when it comes to refunds and changes to bookings. Make sure you understand any key dates related to cancellation and changes and whether you are entitled to a refund or a future travel voucher or credit at the time of booking.
Be patient, be kind. Around the globe, airlines are dealing with staff shortages and luggage handling back-ups. Keep in mind that the staff at the airports are there to help you, and that things may take longer than usual.
