Canadian winter flight delays!?

[gogo419]

Hopefully i can get some help from all you knowledgeable AFFer's?

I have a booking LAX-MEL (via several cities... look out for the thread i put in the QFF section soon! at the end of January. However i will be up in Canada snowboarding at Kicking Horse (near Banff). The obvious choice is to book a flight from Calgary (YYC) to LAX to connect onto the itinerary taking me back to Australia.

However... The flight i leave LAX on departs at 4pm. So there is basically one direct flight on each of the major carriers that will get me to LAX in time to check in and depart LAX the same day (provided the YYC-LAX flight is on time)

I was hoping someone can provide advice on whether to expect delays leaving YYC at that time of the year? I am thinking its in my best interest to arrive into LAX the day before and stay the night at the airport hotel? Thus giving me a 24hr buffer as insurance.

Historical weather for YYC shows it is very cold that time of the year.. But do they get a lot of snow that could shutdown airport operations? (If you have experience with any other Canadian airports in the winter time? Feel free to jump in as that will help give me a good picture of what is best for me to do..)

Thanks in advance

gogo

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hopefully i can get some help from all you knowledgeable AFFer's?

I have a booking LAX-MEL (via several cities... look out for the thread i put in the QFF section soon! at the end of January. However i will be up in Canada snowboarding at Kicking Horse (near Banff). The obvious choice is to book a flight from Calgary (YYC) to LAX to connect onto the itinerary taking me back to Australia.

However... The flight i leave LAX on departs at 4pm. So there is basically one direct flight on each of the major carriers that will get me to LAX in time to check in and depart LAX the same day (provided the YYC-LAX flight is on time)

I was hoping someone can provide advice on whether to expect delays leaving YYC at that time of the year? I am thinking its in my best interest to arrive into LAX the day before and stay the night at the airport hotel? Thus giving me a 24hr buffer as insurance.

Historical weather for YYC shows it is very cold that time of the year.. But do they get a lot of snow that could shutdown airport operations? (If you have experience with any other Canadian airports in the winter time? Feel free to jump in as that will help give me a good picture of what is best for me to do..)

Thanks in advance

gogo

I think it would be a much safer bet to overnight in LAX as there don't seem to be any other options to arrive in LAX earlier.

If your ticket is LAX is a complicated scenario & missing it would cause you a lot of grief then don't even think of trying to connect.

You may find that the airline you're flying on YYC/LAX won't through check your bags onto the next flight so there's too many potential hurdles that I think are best avoided by a night in LAX.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/qantas-frequent-flyer-program/classic-award-booking-of-lifetime-53479.html

Edit: just found your other thread which only confirms even more why 1 night in LAX is in order.

 

[mushypeas]

I lived in Banff and transited out of Calgary very regularly, never had any major issues - delays up to 15/20 minutes mainly due to de-icing of the plane. Calgary (and Alberta) are very accustomed to severe winter conditions and have appropriate facilities to accommodate their conditions. When chinooks come in (winds, not helicopters) it can get a bit rough in the plane but other than that no issues.

As a side suggestion, have you considered Big White in Kelowna? Personally I wasn't a big fan of Kicking Horse ... You can fly straight into Kelowna and be at Big White within the hour compared to 4 hours Calgary to Kicking Horse - plus factor in additional road works due to the mass flooding of late that destroyed large parts of the Trans-Canada Highway.

 

[BAM1748]

I think delays in that part of the world often result from late arriving flights which turn into your flight. Weather delays flow on so eg a high cross wind in SFO delays the aircraft into LAX before it heads north so it arrives after its scheduled departure time back to LAX.

Airlines have tight turn arounds so the domino effect can be exaggerated if some winter winds start in the morning and your flight is in the evening.

As pointed out, the airports there are well equipped.

Matt

 

[gogo419]

I lived in Banff and transited out of Calgary very regularly, never had any major issues - delays up to 15/20 minutes mainly due to de-icing of the plane. Calgary (and Alberta) are very accustomed to severe winter conditions and have appropriate facilities to accommodate their conditions. When chinooks come in (winds, not helicopters) it can get a bit rough in the plane but other than that no issues.

As a side suggestion, have you considered Big White in Kelowna? Personally I wasn't a big fan of Kicking Horse ... You can fly straight into Kelowna and be at Big White within the hour compared to 4 hours Calgary to Kicking Horse - plus factor in additional road works due to the mass flooding of late that destroyed large parts of the Trans-Canada Highway.

thanks for the suggestion. I have a friend working the season at the horse. So the plan is to sleep on a couch in one of the workers apartments...

 

[mushypeas]

plan is to sleep on a couch in one of the workers apartments...

Sorry to hear

enjoy your trip mate!