Flying Through Vancouver Canada to Phils

[kev_n_jena 89]

Hi Everybody,

We have a question about flying to phils through Vancouver Canada. My wife has her 10 yr. green card in the USA and she has her new passport from The Philippines. We are flying to The Philippines soon and would like to purchase tickets that will stop in Canada on the way. She is allowed to fly through Canada on an USA green card right?

Thanks for any comments,

Kev n Jena

[tallcoolone 102]

Of course she is........

[PaulAbby 4]

As long as you do not leave the secured area of the airport you do not have to go through immigration and customs. Its like you never entered, or left Canada.

[Tahoma 2,291]

Your wife won't have any problem.

By the way, are you flying PAL? The next time Chinook and I visit 'Pinas, we plan on going there by way of Vancouver because PAL offers a direct flight to Manila.

[sojen 0]

I went home to the Phils. with a flight through Vancouer BC. They have a specific Customs and Immigration for those who are there to get to their connecting flight. The officer took my Phil. passport, put a stamp on it, look at my GC and my plane ticket. He ask a few questions, like where is my final destination, what am I gonna do there, when did I receive my greencard. I think he is just taking his time asking me while checking the stuff that I gave him because I was the only who was there at that time.

[Kevin- 13]

Regarding the travel aspect of flying through Vancouver......

I've been doing some research about the best options for getting to the Philippines by asking people who fly extremely frequently for various reasons (flyertalk.com, airliners.net, etc). I assume you're considering the PAL flight, as that would be the only reason to fly through there from the US, and I've considered that route myself. What I've found so far favors other routes. In short: it's apparently better for US folks to avoid the Vancouver PAL flight.

The issue is that transferring in Vancouver for US based folks is a real hassle, according to frequent flyers (this might only be for the return trip) If connecting from pretty much anywhere in the US, you may be better off going through San Francisco. Apparently, SFO is one of the nicest airports in the country, very easy to transfer through and nice to spend a layover in. Plus, if there's a cancellation or significant delay, you're still on US soil.

Another issue which I haven't yet confirmed, is that you may have to go to the check-in area at the PAL departure airport (not your originating airport) to check in for the PAL flight - whether it's LAX, SFO, or YVR(Vancouver). If anyone else here can answer that, please do!

The SFO and LAX flights have a stop, but not a layover, in Honolulu. The plane stops, probably for fuel, and I think it also gets food, but you stay on the plane. Apparently, this stop is often skipped in summer months, sometimes skipped in spring and fall, but almost never skipped in winter. The jet-stream is apparently very strong in the opposing direction in winter, and HNL becomes a needed fuel stop. Anyways, the point of this paragraph is that it's still basically a non-stop flight since you don't have to get off the plane and haul your stuff around.

[sojen 0]

Regarding the travel aspect of flying through Vancouver......

I've been doing some research about the best options for getting to the Philippines by asking people who fly extremely frequently for various reasons (flyertalk.com, airliners.net, etc). I assume you're considering the PAL flight, as that would be the only reason to fly through there from the US, and I've considered that route myself. What I've found so far favors other routes. In short: it's apparently better for US folks to avoid the Vancouver PAL flight.

The issue is that transferring in Vancouver for US based folks is a real hassle, according to frequent flyers (this might only be for the return trip) If connecting from pretty much anywhere in the US, you may be better off going through San Francisco. Apparently, SFO is one of the nicest airports in the country, very easy to transfer through and nice to spend a layover in. Plus, if there's a cancellation or significant delay, you're still on US soil.

Another issue which I haven't yet confirmed, is that you may have to go to the check-in area at the PAL departure airport (not your originating airport) to check in for the PAL flight - whether it's LAX, SFO, or YVR(Vancouver). If anyone else here can answer that, please do!

The SFO and LAX flights have a stop, but not a layover, in Honolulu. The plane stops, probably for fuel, and I think it also gets food, but you stay on the plane. Apparently, this stop is often skipped in summer months, sometimes skipped in spring and fall, but almost never skipped in winter. The jet-stream is apparently very strong in the opposing direction in winter, and HNL becomes a needed fuel stop. Anyways, the point of this paragraph is that it's still basically a non-stop flight since you don't have to get off the plane and haul your stuff around.

I think that's how PAL really works. I remember going home last year from PDX to the Phils. using PAL. I have to check in again when I got to LAX airport. Same thing with my cousin who takes PAL. From OK to LAX to the Phils. She checks in again wiht PAL in LAX. For LAX flight they have a stop over in Guam to refuel.

[Gumbolette 58]

Hi Everybody,

We have a question about flying to phils through Vancouver Canada. My wife has her 10 yr. green card in the USA and she has her new passport from The Philippines. We are flying to The Philippines soon and would like to purchase tickets that will stop in Canada on the way. She is allowed to fly through Canada on an USA green card right?

Thanks for any comments,

Kev n Jena

Her green card can even fly her to Antarctica if she wants to!

Enjoy the vacay.