If Vancouver International Airport (YVR) was a movie star, they’d be total A-listers, taking home Oscars, BAFTAs and Golden Globes, and making headlines for all the right reasons.
But of course, YVR isn’t in film, so they need to settle for the next best thing: A prestigious Skytrax Passenger Choice Award.
And settling on this awesome award – which is based on overall customer satisfaction – is what YVR has been doing for the last seven years.
This makes YVR the first airport in Skytrax Passenger Choice Award history to have held onto the coveted top spot for seven consecutive years – quite the achievement.
It’s also the only North American airport to appear in Skytrax’s list of top 20 airports globally.
And just in case you don’t know, the Skytrax award is kinda a big deal: it’s a global ranking of more than 550 airports around the world, based on over 13 million submissions.
It measures 39 different aspects of the airport travel experience, including check-in, security, border clearance processes, comfort, efficiency, signage, transportation options, passenger amenities and friendliness.
So yeah, when an airport wins this award it speaks volumes.
YVR is one of Air Canada’s hubs, and functions as a convenient gateway for Aussies keen on exploring both Canada and the USA – easily done on a single Air Canada plane ticket (aka, a two-nation vacation), thanks to the airline’s extensive North American route network.
But let’s get back to YVR.
Here are five reasons why Vancouver International Airport is the best airport in North America – period.
1. You can shop till you take-off.
YVR has amazing shopping options.
The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet shopping centre, offering up to 70 percent off retail prices, is housed within YVR, and gives passengers the chance to snap up bargains galore on the latest brands and fashions.
Yep, it’s a good thing Air Canada offer a generous 2 x 23kg baggage allowance – you’re going to need all the allowance you can get!
2. Clearing US customs is totally seamless.
With Air Canada already flying non-stop daily from Sydney to Vancouver, and a new Dreamliner service ex Brisbane scheduled to start from June this year, YVR is one of the most convenient gateways to the US for Aussie travellers.
This is due to a quick and painless US customs procedure in place at YVR and well-timed connections for passengers booked further en route to other American cities, such as NYC.
3. Business-class travellers are well looked after.
Business-class passengers flying with Air Canada can expect the personalised service and attention to continue upon landing at YVR, thanks to Air Canada’s team of professional Concierge Agents.
This service is all about helping business-class travellers with anything they need upon arrival in YVR, from any airport-related issues, to booking hotel rooms, to reserving theatres tickets, and much, much more.
In case you don’t know, Air Canada is set to introduce a new Premium Economy product for the first-time ever later this year, and the airline is preparing for major cabin upgrades across its fleet slated to begin in May.
4. You can stay the night, and not want to leave.
As if this airport hasn’t won enough awards, YVR is also home to the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel which just so happens to be the #1 airport hotel in North America (and ninth in the world) according to Skytrax in 2016.
This 4-star hotel features all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a Fairmont property, and includes day use rooms available for guests travelling through to other North American cities.
5. Getting into downtown is just a short ride away.
Unlike other airports around the world, YVR is only a short hop, skip and a jump away from the city centre.
Passengers can get downtown in under 30 minutes on the Canada Line –Vancouver’s rapid transit rail connecting YVR to downtown Vancouver in under 30 minutes and to downtown Richmond in 18 minutes.
You can access trains from both the International and Domestic Terminals.
Doesn’t this just make you want to book an Air Canada flight today, just so you can visit the best airport in the world?
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