Heading to Whistler in Feb... Advice?

[Geoff]

Unfortunately there don't appear to be any direct flights out of EWR... crazy since when we went in July there were tons.

There are some direct out of JFK, but they are more expensive (but $100-$150) and it's not that easy for us to get to :(

One more question... anything I should know about, luggage wise? I have a padded snowboard bag with rollers that was bought for a Colorado trip that I never took, so I've never actually taken my equipment anywhere that couldn't be reached by car.

Peak airport traffic season in Vancouver is the summer. Airlines put in non-stop flights from the east coast to service the Alaska cruise ship business. Whistler just doesn't generate enough traffic to keep the planes full. Sucks since I'm usually in Vancouver 2x per year. When jet fuel costs soared and the economy went south, even the summer non-stop flights mostly vanished this past summer.

If it's only $100 more to fly non-stop from JFK, do it even if it is inconvenient to get to the airport. It's winter. Connecting flights are often a problem. If you do connect, I suggest using a hub that isn't as likely to have weather problems. O'Hare and Minneapolis should be avoided if possible. Toronto is OK only because there are hourly flights to Vancouver so if something bad happens, there's always a next flight. You can get stuck in Toronto on the way home... it's happened to me.

Every airline has their baggage policy posted on their web site. Southwest doesn't charge for bags but everybody else does. They will be extracting money from you.

The TSA opens and inspects every ski and snowboard bag. I stopped putting clothes in my ski bag since I don't trust some non-English speaking minimum wage contract employee to zip the bag back up properly. The airline policy is you can only have equipment in your bag but I've never run into an instance where they hassled me. 50 pounds is the weight limit on checked bags. I bump into that on long trips. I always carry my boots and the clothing I need to ski the first day onto the plane. You can rent performance skis. Rental boots aren't something I'd want to consider. Snowboard boots must be the same way.

[jon4snow]

What airline?

It's looking like Air Canada out of JFK to YVR

and then Continental from SEA back to EWR (we decided we wanted to visit Seattle on the way back)

[tyrolean_skier]

What airline?

It's looking like Air Canada out of JFK to YVR

and then Continental from SEA back to EWR (we decided we wanted to visit Seattle on the way back)

You should get MtnMan to give you a tour of Seattle since he is now a resident there.

[jon4snow]

Anybody taken a snowboard / skis on Air Canada?

Skis, skates, and snowboards

Each of the following is considered an individual item when packed separately: one pair of skis* (snow or water), one snowboard*, one set of poles, one pair of boots*, one pair of skates, or a single slalom.

Skis and poles or snowboard must be packaged in a rigid and/or hard shell container specifically designed for shipping. Two pairs of skis packed together are counted as two items.

I looks like if you pre-register the board they waive the fees...
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/ ... equip.html


1) I was planning on taking 2 boards with the bindings removed... but it sounds like they'll hit me with that being 2 bags?
2) I have a soft airline roller travel bag for my boards (padded)... but it sounds like I have to use a hard bag/box? (any suggestions?)


Am I better off just using the shipping bag I have already, keeping the weight under 50lbs and paying a $75 oversize bag fee?
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/ ... ggage.html

Overweight
Between 23kg and 32kg
(50lb - 70lb)
Oversized*
Between 160cm and 292cm
(63in - 115in) $75 CAD/USD† per bag

If a bag is both overweight and oversized, the fee is charged only once.

[robgoose]

1) Have you checked Cathay Pacific's website?
2) Those fares decrease the closer you get to departure time.

[G-smashed]

Canadian woman gonna mess your mind...
Canadian woman gonna mess your mind Oh yeah!
Canadian woman gonna mess your mind...
One more thing - Go to Dusty's on a Friday night and drink 1 bourbon, one scotch, and one beer. Repeat several times. They like that there.

[skianddiehappy]

Been to whistler every year for the past 7 years. Usually one to two weeks at a time. I've flown both Air Canada and Cathay Pacific, JFK to YVR direct. The Air Canada flight is premo and puts you right into prime time to catch the Whistler Express.

Stay in Whistler Creekside, it's usually cheaper and has its own gondola.

Be weary of the Cathay Pacific flights, while they fly 747 Jumbos, which I love, it's a really bad red eye flight that arrives at around 1:50-2 am. The airport is basically closed at that point and the Whistler Express doesn't start running until 8:30 in the morning (I believe). So you'll have to get a room for the night, or sleep in the baggage check area for 6 hours, which is what I usually do. Theres a LARGE difference in price between the Air Canada and Cathay Pacific flights however. The Cathay flight is actually on its way to Hong Kong. So for the JFK to YVR part its usually pretty empty and fills up for the hop to HK.
Lastly, I always takes two pairs of skis in my ski back and pack my boots with my regular baggage and never get charged double, but luggage has changed a lot lately.

Ohh yea, and the pic in my sig. is from the top of Blackcomb about 3 years ago.

[Mtn Man]

Kinda looks like me, I had to do a double take

Me give tours, I take payment in liquid refreshments

B)

[Dr. NO]

Kinda looks like me, I had to do a double take

Me give tours, I take payment in liquid refreshments

B)

I saw that. Same stance, backpack and typical gear. The pants are too extravigent for the MtnMan, but sure does look like him.

[skianddiehappy]

The pants are standard issue Instructor pants from the ASC Killington days. I still have those Red fleeces we wore when indoors. I think the jackets were made by Fila. The pants lasted for ever tho and were warm as hell.

[jon4snow]

Kinda looks like me, I had to do a double take

Me give tours, I take payment in liquid refreshments

B)

I thought the same thing!

And of course I'll ply you with booze if we catch up!

-J

[MrsG]

. . . and Mtn Man does not wear a helmet anymore . . . well, not all the time

[Mtn Man]

. . . and Mtn Man does not wear a helmet anymore . . . well, not all the time

Cue Tazz.....

I just don't wear it in the spring or easier days. I have more a fear of tree wells and avies than head trauma these days.....

B)

[Geoff]

. . . and Mtn Man does not wear a helmet anymore . . . well, not all the time

Cue Tazz.....

I just don't wear it in the spring or easier days. I have more a fear of tree wells and avies than head trauma these days.....

B)

We hadn't seen you mention Tazz in a number o' months. We wuz kinda wunderin'.....

[MrsG]

. . . and Mtn Man does not wear a helmet anymore . . . well, not all the time

Cue Tazz.....

I just don't wear it in the spring or easier days. I have more a fear of tree wells and avies than head trauma these days.....

B)

We hadn't seen you mention Tazz in a number o' months. We wuz kinda wunderin'.....

. . . yes we wuz . . . and a hopin' that all's well