New service lets travellers skip security line at Vancouver airport
There's a new way for travellers to skip the sometimes-lengthy security lineups at Vancouver International Airport.
The YVR Express service lets travellers book an appointment for their security screening up to 72 hours before their flight, allowing them to jump to the front of the queue once they arrive.
The appointments are expected to "reduce wait times for security checkpoints" while "creating a more predictable experience for both passengers and staff," the airport said in a news release.
Over the summer, YVR saw massive lineups caused by a mix of staffing shortages and an influx of travellers, many of whom were flying for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials said passenger traffic over the Labour Day long weekend approached pre-pandemic levels, with more than 67,000 travellers flowing through YVR on the Sunday alone. The airport saw about 77,000 passengers per day in 2019.
While the YVR Express service will likely be an appealing option to many travellers, it's only available for those bound for the U.S. – at least for now.
In a statement, Robyn Mcvicker of the Vancouver Airport Authority said officials "aim to expand YVR Express to our domestic and international security checkpoints at the airport over the coming months so that all travellers at YVR have more control over their travel journey."
To book a screening appointment, travellers have to enter their flight details and email address online. They are then given a QR code they can use to claim their reservation within 15 minutes of their allotted time.
YVR officials acknowledged the delays and congestion that have frustrated travellers over recent months, but said the airport has "not experienced the level of operational disruption that has systemically impacted major airports worldwide through the summer," despite a massive spike in demand.
Passenger traffic increased by roughly 170 per cent from January to August, they said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.