Region of Waterloo International Airport - YKF

[tomh009]

On the other hand, there was a $180 premium for "flying" out of YKF in February on my way to Japan. No thanks! It would also have required an open-jaw to return to YYZ, or else an overnight in YYZ or YUL, or abandoning a segment.

It's a lot for a bus ride but $180 RT from Kitchener to Toronto is competitive comparing to taxi and Airways Transit or similar. Probably wouldn't take it myself, but more around $100-120 premium would make me think about it.

The nice thing is that you can check in at YKF and they take your luggage from there (at least as I recall).

The biggest downside to me was the infrequent schedule, particularly for the return.

[danbrotherston]

On the other hand, there was a $180 premium for "flying" out of YKF in February on my way to Japan. No thanks! It would also have required an open-jaw to return to YYZ, or else an overnight in YYZ or YUL, or abandoning a segment.

It's a lot for a bus ride but $180 RT from Kitchener to Toronto is competitive comparing to taxi and Airways Transit or similar. Probably wouldn't take it myself, but more around $100-120 premium would make me think about it.

Interestingly, I wouldn't take it for any premium, in fact, it's a dubious value at the price I paid which was "free", literally no difference in fares between Toronto and YKF.

To me, it is basically the same as taking the bus, but possibly less convenient because the times might not align with my flight. But worse, because it goes to YKF (bizarrely, because there is no reason to), rather than somewhere *in* the city.

So yeah, instead of sitting in the city bus terminal at Pearson for 3-4 hours, I can get on the UP Express and connect to the GO train into downtown, and that's a more useful transit experience....even though it does involve 1-2 transfers.

[plam]

It's a lot for a bus ride but $180 RT from Kitchener to Toronto is competitive comparing to taxi and Airways Transit or similar. Probably wouldn't take it myself, but more around $100-120 premium would make me think about it.

The nice thing is that you can check in at YKF and they take your luggage from there (at least as I recall).

The biggest downside to me was the infrequent schedule, particularly for the return.

Yeah, the schedule was a big downside---I would have had to overnight in Montreal to make the schedule work, which is kind of bonkers. Luggage isn't going to be a concern on this trip. (On the other hand, I had 3 pieces flying back to Waterloo just now, 55kg; but bringing it back from YKF is also hard).

$180 is still more than the taxi and generally less convenient except for the checked luggage and protected connection issues. It does give you more AC points but not a huge number.

[tomh009]

The nice thing is that you can check in at YKF and they take your luggage from there (at least as I recall).

The biggest downside to me was the infrequent schedule, particularly for the return.

Yeah, the schedule was a big downside---I would have had to overnight in Montreal to make the schedule work, which is kind of bonkers. Luggage isn't going to be a concern on this trip. (On the other hand, I had 3 pieces flying back to Waterloo just now, 55kg; but bringing it back from YKF is also hard).

$180 is still more than the taxi and generally less convenient except for the checked luggage and protected connection issues. It does give you more AC points but not a huge number.

$180 RT is more than a taxi. I think I paid $280 RT to Waterloo Taxi last time, including tip. Two or more people, taxi is cheaper.

[danbrotherston]

It's a lot for a bus ride but $180 RT from Kitchener to Toronto is competitive comparing to taxi and Airways Transit or similar. Probably wouldn't take it myself, but more around $100-120 premium would make me think about it.

The nice thing is that you can check in at YKF and they take your luggage from there (at least as I recall).

The biggest downside to me was the infrequent schedule, particularly for the return.

They certainly don’t do this in the reverse direction. Schlepping a checked bag and the maximum carryon baggage plus all the winter gear down to the bus was no fun.

[cherrypark]

Sure taxi for multiple people brings the price down. Was speaking to usual business travel for me which is solo nearly always.

And a fair point on it not being really all that much better than just bussing normally on your own schedule, though I haven't yet seen if they are running it at hours you can't get to Pearson by a normal regional service?

[danbrotherston]

Sure taxi for multiple people brings the price down. Was speaking to usual business travel for me which is solo nearly always.

And a fair point on it not being really all that much better than just bussing normally on your own schedule, though I haven't yet seen if they are running it at hours you can't get to Pearson by a normal regional service?

I think GO transit's hours are pretty comprehensive, I doubt Air Canada has service outside those hours.

But outside of the core commute hours GO service is pretty---annoying. So like. obviously it's better to take UP Express to Weston and then the GO Train back into Kitchener.

It's quite a bit more annoying to take the GO Bus to Square One and then the Milk run 25 back into Kitchener for example. And connecting through the 30 Bramalea is somewhere in the middle.

So your priorities may vary. If I'm going with a lot of bags, transfers are quite annoying. If I'm going alone and with a single carry on bag, I'm perfectly happy to take the bus.

[plam]

Yeah, the schedule was a big downside---I would have had to overnight in Montreal to make the schedule work, which is kind of bonkers. Luggage isn't going to be a concern on this trip. (On the other hand, I had 3 pieces flying back to Waterloo just now, 55kg; but bringing it back from YKF is also hard).

$180 is still more than the taxi and generally less convenient except for the checked luggage and protected connection issues. It does give you more AC points but not a huge number.

I added YKF segments after the fact to my YYZ-YQR trip this weekend for $0. I'm not sure it's actually a win over either driving or taking GO, but we'll see. The YYZ-YQR flight is at 9pm and I'm leaving from YKF at 3:35pm. Unfortunately getting to YKF is annoying and parking is not as cheap as I might hope. And then if I leave a car at YKF then I have to pick it up too. I'm flying back on Sunday arriving at 8pm at YYZ and taking the bus at 10pm. Again, that's super slow...

[danbrotherston]

Yeah, the schedule was a big downside---I would have had to overnight in Montreal to make the schedule work, which is kind of bonkers. Luggage isn't going to be a concern on this trip. (On the other hand, I had 3 pieces flying back to Waterloo just now, 55kg; but bringing it back from YKF is also hard).

$180 is still more than the taxi and generally less convenient except for the checked luggage and protected connection issues. It does give you more AC points but not a huge number.

I added YKF segments after the fact to my YYZ-YQR trip this weekend for $0. I'm not sure it's actually a win over either driving or taking GO, but we'll see. The YYZ-YQR flight is at 9pm and I'm leaving from YKF at 3:35pm. Unfortunately getting to YKF is annoying and parking is not as cheap as I might hope. And then if I leave a car at YKF then I have to pick it up too. I'm flying back on Sunday arriving at 8pm at YYZ and taking the bus at 10pm. Again, that's super slow...

Definitely let me know if they do any bag checking on the way to Toronto. If they don’t the fact the bus goes to the airport instead of downtown is a clear unforced error.

[taylortbb]

I added YKF segments after the fact to my YYZ-YQR trip this weekend for $0. I'm not sure it's actually a win over either driving or taking GO, but we'll see. The YYZ-YQR flight is at 9pm and I'm leaving from YKF at 3:35pm. Unfortunately getting to YKF is annoying and parking is not as cheap as I might hope. And then if I leave a car at YKF then I have to pick it up too. I'm flying back on Sunday arriving at 8pm at YYZ and taking the bus at 10pm. Again, that's super slow...

Definitely let me know if they do any bag checking on the way to Toronto. If they don’t the fact the bus goes to the airport instead of downtown is a clear unforced error.

You do the bag check inside at YKF, with weighing, tagging, etc, and they load it on the bus for you. But once you get to YYZ you have to move it from the bus to the check-in/bag drop area yourself.

They also do your ID verification at YKF. It really is treated like you're boarding a flight, so you can't get to YYZ and discover you don't have the right documents, baggage is too large, etc. Once it's accepted at YKF then YYZ is just a connection. I do suspect that they've done the setup the way they have so that the overhead of adding flights out of YKF (e.g. YKF-YVR) isn't as high, as they've already got much of the fixed infrastructure in place.

[danbrotherston]

Definitely let me know if they do any bag checking on the way to Toronto. If they don’t the fact the bus goes to the airport instead of downtown is a clear unforced error.

You do the bag check inside at YKF, with weighing, tagging, etc, and they load it on the bus for you. But once you get to YYZ you have to move it from the bus to the check-in/bag drop area yourself.

They also do your ID verification at YKF. It really is treated like you're boarding a flight, so you can't get to YYZ and discover you don't have the right documents, baggage is too large, etc. Once it's accepted at YKF then YYZ is just a connection. I do suspect that they've done the setup the way they have so that the overhead of adding flights out of YKF (e.g. YKF-YVR) isn't as high, as they've already got much of the fixed infrastructure in place.

If it was "just a connection" I wouldn't need to take my bag anywhere, or do security or anything like that. It is very very much not "just a connection" when I have to go in the front door and do all the usual stuff just like if I was a (well prepared) traveller.

That's my whole point, if they're not really doing anything meaningful at YKF then going to YKF is a complete unforced error, because not a single person travelling that routes wants to be at YKF. The ONLY reason you'd be at YKF is because it has a runway for the plane to land at, and the security apparatus to secure passengers and baggage for the flight, but a bus doesn't need a runway, and they aren't using the security apparatus, so going to YKF is stupid. They might as well have the bus drive to the middle of a farmers field and drop everyone there.

[plam]

You do the bag check inside at YKF, with weighing, tagging, etc, and they load it on the bus for you. But once you get to YYZ you have to move it from the bus to the check-in/bag drop area yourself.

They also do your ID verification at YKF. It really is treated like you're boarding a flight, so you can't get to YYZ and discover you don't have the right documents, baggage is too large, etc. Once it's accepted at YKF then YYZ is just a connection. I do suspect that they've done the setup the way they have so that the overhead of adding flights out of YKF (e.g. YKF-YVR) isn't as high, as they've already got much of the fixed infrastructure in place.

If it was "just a connection" I wouldn't need to take my bag anywhere, or do security or anything like that. It is very very much not "just a connection" when I have to go in the front door and do all the usual stuff just like if I was a (well prepared) traveller.

That's my whole point, if they're not really doing anything meaningful at YKF then going to YKF is a complete unforced error, because not a single person travelling that routes wants to be at YKF. The ONLY reason you'd be at YKF is because it has a runway for the plane to land at, and the security apparatus to secure passengers and baggage for the flight, but a bus doesn't need a runway, and they aren't using the security apparatus, so going to YKF is stupid. They might as well have the bus drive to the middle of a farmers field and drop everyone there.

There are certainly multiple airports I've been at where I've had to retrieve my bag and then check it again, usually but not always because of customs. US customs of course, and also clearing biosecurity in NZ, but also YVR won't keep your bag overnight even on domestic-to-domestic.

Baggage scales, check in desks, etc all exist at YKF. It sounds like it's just like a connection where you have to retrieve and recheck your luggage.

[panamaniac]

Is the service being well used?

[danbrotherston]

If it was "just a connection" I wouldn't need to take my bag anywhere, or do security or anything like that. It is very very much not "just a connection" when I have to go in the front door and do all the usual stuff just like if I was a (well prepared) traveller.

That's my whole point, if they're not really doing anything meaningful at YKF then going to YKF is a complete unforced error, because not a single person travelling that routes wants to be at YKF. The ONLY reason you'd be at YKF is because it has a runway for the plane to land at, and the security apparatus to secure passengers and baggage for the flight, but a bus doesn't need a runway, and they aren't using the security apparatus, so going to YKF is stupid. They might as well have the bus drive to the middle of a farmers field and drop everyone there.

There are certainly multiple airports I've been at where I've had to retrieve my bag and then check it again, usually but not always because of customs. US customs of course, and also clearing biosecurity in NZ, but also YVR won't keep your bag overnight even on domestic-to-domestic.

Baggage scales, check in desks, etc all exist at YKF. It sounds like it's just like a connection where you have to retrieve and recheck your luggage.

All of those things exist but they’re not being used. When you arrive at Pearson you must redo everything. 

And those connections exist but that isn’t the point. This isn’t an airplane it’s a bus. There is no reason to go to YKF.

Also, none of these connections exist at YYZ in fact US customs even doesn’t require unchecking your bag.

[danbrotherston]

Is the service being well used?

When I took it the bus was maybe 1/3 full.