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YVR Reminds everyone flying with gifts, to bring them unwrapped.

Photo courtesy Vancouver Airport Authority

Travel tips for busy air travellers

By Lorraine Graves

Published 1:12 PST, Tue December 17, 2019

Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

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Gather your patience and plan ahead to save your sanity. That’s the basic premise of the Vancouver Airport Authority’s air travel tips for this busy holiday season.

When the kids get out of school for the Christmas break on Friday, Dec. 20 the number of air travellers jumps, according to Reg Krake, YVR’s director of customer experiences.

“We are expecting 85,000 travellers a day through YVR from Dec. 20 until the day the kids go back to school on Jan. 6,” Krake says.

On some days, Krake says that number is expected to jump to 90,000 people and all their bags. The baggage is often packed with gifts.

When it comes to travelling with presents, YVR recommends you bring them unwrapped. Before security screening, you will have to take all the wrapping off. Far better to pack you wrapping supplies in your checked luggage or pick some up at your destination, then wrap the gifts after arriving.

With YVR’s travellers expected to top the 26 million point this year, another record breaker, it pays to pack some patience, as well as act and plan ahead for travel at this busiest time of the year to make sure it is also the most wonderful time of the year.

YVR offers the following tips and suggestions:

YVR offers the following travel tips on how to best prepare and what to expect when travelling through the airport during the upcoming busy holiday season.

• Confirm travel details in advance. Days before your trip, confirm reservations with your airline, and determine baggage specifications and what your airline offers in the way of onboard service.

• When packing, remember that restrictions continue to apply for liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on baggage. These details and a complete list of items not permitted in carry-on baggage, including skis and snowboards, is available through the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) at catsa.gc.ca.

• Don’t wrap gifts before packing them into your carry-on or checked baggage. Their contents may need to be inspected during the screening process.

• Winter weather here in Metro Vancouver or in other parts of the country could impact flights, so be sure to check the status of your flight at yvr.ca before you leave home.

• Online check-in is available for most airlines serving YVR. Print your boarding pass before you leave for the airport or have it emailed to your handheld mobile device.

• If you are driving to the airport, have a parking plan. Pre-book your YVR parking at yvr.ca/parking.

• Travel to YVR on the Canada Line is quick and efficient, delivering you to the terminal door in 30 minutes or less.

• If you are picking up friends or family at the airport, you can park short-term in our Parkade—or take advantage of 30-minutes of complimentary parking at our Cell Phone Waiting Area.

• Allow ample time to check in, clear security and board your flight. Factor in time for traffic congestion, parking and walking to the terminal.

• YVR has more than 170 shops, services and restaurants, including a number of new options. For a complete list, visit yvr.ca.

• For a broad selection of in-flight food, check out YVR Food on the Fly. Your favourite YVR restaurant will package up a meal or snack to take with you on the flight.

• Forgot someone on your holiday giving list? YVR’s retail shops offer up an extensive array of gift options and free gift wrapping is available post-security for these purchases.

• Make sure you say hello to the YVR Ambassador Dogs, part of the Less Airport Stress Initiative (LASI). The dogs are around the terminal Mondays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can be easily identified by their YVR branded leashes and St. John Ambulance bandanas.

• Questions? Keep an eye out for YVR’s friendly group of Customer Care employees in blue jackets and Green Coat volunteers.