Hmmmm... From Canada, joined May 1999, 2083 posts, RR: 9 Posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 591 times:
Today, the GTAA performed a series of check-in trials with the help of hundreds of fake passengers to test the baggage check-in system at the new terminal at Pearson. The public got to see the new terminal for the first time.
(The washrooms were so new that the toilets were actually clean enough to sit on. It's quite an honor to christen a new toilet in a major airport. My ass won't see that again until we get the next new terminal.)
What do you think of the new terminal check-in area?
What do you think of the trials themselves?
An optimist robs himself of the joy of being pleasantly surprised
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6398 posts, RR: 67 Reply 1, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 527 times:
My thoughts on today and the new terminal ...
It's very nice overall, but lacks colour and "life." As with many of today's structures, they are going for a modern look which can be at times cold and sterile. It would be nice to see some colour added in spots, such as pillars, or whatever. Maybe once the terminal is up and running, with billboards, artwork, or other splashes of colour, it will add some warmth.
The kiosks were too close to the check-in lines. What this means is that the kiosks will not be easy to find when the terminal is full of people. This becomes a nuisance for both kiosk and non-kiosk using passengers. They should be closer to the entrance or in spots away from the commotion of the regular check-in lines.
One big problem is that the GTAA wants to have separate lines for each individual check-in counter. What this means is that instead of one long queue and an agent serving the next in line from one big line-up, it becomes a race against all other individual lines, much like in a supermarket. So if you get a line-up with a slow agent, or that is running into problems for some reason, or has a few too many slow passengers, you see other lines moving faster than you and people who got there after you getting checked in before you. That can be annoying, especially if you are at an airport with a long flight ahead of you. This seems to be an area where Air Canada and the GTAA have a difference of opinion. Air Canada wants a long queue, GTAA wants separate lines. I'm siding with Air Canada on this one.
The washrooms have those stupid sensors for the toilets. They are fine in a sense, but it would still be nice to be able to manually flush the toilet. Sucks when the person before you had so much to do there, that some of it stayed behind!!! (sorry, that's the most delicate way I could put it ).
Overall though, we only got a peek at a small section of the terminal. These issues notwithstanding, I do like it very much. It's very airy, has great plasma screens, and has lots of natural light, even for the lower baggage area, which is usually dark at most airports.
I think this will be a great terminal when it finally opens. Now let's see how late it will be, and if Air Canada will be around to even take advantage of the new facilities.
Regarding today, it was kind of long, and wish they had other tests to do. Let's face it, check-in is one of the most arduous things to look forward to when flying, and that's all we got to do today. But it was still somewhat enjoyable. I understand the next test will be much more interesting, and they might even give us t-shirts next time around!
Nuno.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Hmmmm... From Canada, joined May 1999, 2083 posts, RR: 9 Reply 2, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 470 times:
Nuno, thaks for your input.
I liked the new terminal, big, airy, sweeping arches, lots of sunlight, which is the design trend for new terminals everywhere. There's not much to dislike. Of course we only saw about 1/3 of the departures level, and none of arrivals or any other level, so let's hope they don't disappoint.
Another trend of new terminals is to go back to the hard surface floor. I always liked Terminal 2 because of its carpeted floors, versus Terminal 1's cement floor. The carpeted floors absorb sound making the airport experience softer on the senses, like in a carpeted posh hotel lobby. I assume the cement floor was chosen for reasons of economy and cleanability, not for esthetics.
As to the check-in system, I had a conversation with a check-in agent and he said the same thing to me -that the stanchion idea - like at a bank or movie theatre - is going to process more passengers in the same amount of time as opposed to the old multi-lined check-in race. Not to mention the annoyance of passengers in stalled lines watching other lines move more quickly. The results from this test may change Air Canada's thinking. The numbers won't lie. I hope that was the whole point of the exercise.
One other note of criticism, I found those LCD screens to be a mistake. LCD screens are hard to read in sunny conditions. In the setting western sun, the one I looked at would get direct sunlight, making it very hard to make out. They should have chosen an LED screen for that reason alone, irrespective of any benefit of the LCD. Readability is paramount for an information screen.
I look forward to future trials when more is completed.
P.S. You can flush the toilet whenever you want by pressing the little black button above the sensor.
An optimist robs himself of the joy of being pleasantly surprised
CanadaEH From Canada, joined Jul 2003, 1341 posts, RR: 6 Reply 3, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 449 times:
Sorry guys, I haven't really been following any news in regards to the new terminal in YYZ. Could you give me some insight as so who it is designed for? Air Canada? Mutiple airlines? Domestic? Transborder? International?
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6398 posts, RR: 67 Reply 4, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 445 times:
It will basically replace T1 and T2 at YYZ. Final completion date is 2007. It will serve domestic and international flights for Air Canada and Star Alliance members
"P.S. You can flush the toilet whenever you want by pressing the little black button above the sensor. " .... OH!
I didn't notice any problems with the screens and the sunlight, so that's why I assumed they were plasma screens. I will pay more attention to that next time around.
One thing of note, Hmmmmm, if you looked down to the baggage claim area, that area there is carpeted. I guess it makes sense as your shoes are generally clean when you get off a flight, but it would be a mess especially in the winter time if the departures hall was carpeted. I would also assume that the area past security has carpeting too.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
EmiratesA345 From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2105 posts, RR: 13 Reply 5, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 439 times:
Hey guys!
I loved the small bit of the new terminal that we were actually able to see!
The huge open space above you was incredible! I think what they could do is hang smaller models of airplanes, to kind of fill the space (if the roof can support the weight). I thought that by placing large, colorful sculptures or some abstract art in certain areas, this might liven the place up.
The skylights that lead to the gate areas is also a nice little feature. I also heard in the movie that aircraft will be visible from the check-in area, however from what I saw, none were visible. The tarmac was not even visible. It may be that that part of the building was simply not open to us, or I might have misunderstood.
I love how rather than having all the check-in counters lined up side-by-side against the wall, they have replaced this idea with the "islands" in the terminal. This provides them with many more check-in counters.
I thought that these islands were too close to one another. Just looking at it today with so few people there, it looked quite large, but then I imagined it full of people. This will probably cause chaos. Then again I'm just speculating from what I saw. There are engineers and folks who have been paid big bucks to figure all this out.
The washrooms were great! I didn't get to try out the toilet's but the urinals were great! Also equipped with auto-flush. I didn't notice, but I'd be disappointed if the toilets didn't have this mechanism that I heard about which automatically places a seat cover over the toilet when you flush it. I think its a great idea, and would provide a "cleaner" way to take a "number 2".
I was also disappointed how the paper dispenser was not an automatic (on a sensor).
Enough nit picking, overall I thought the new terminal was excellent!
The trials themselves were a little bit tedious over time. The sheets were also a pain to fill out. They were easy to understand and all, but were just a nuisance. I LOVED the free things given to us, compliments of Air Canada. The little connect four game will keep me busy for hours on my next longhaul!
The catering service also had some great things for us! Many choices in sandwiches although the cookie department was lacking. LOL
I'm looking forward to see the rest of the terminal during the next trials in November!
EmiratesA345 From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2105 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 440 times:
The (very friendly and helpful) Air Canada agent told me New Terminal 1 will replace terminal 1 and 2, and terminal 3 will be only for charter airlines.
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From Canada, joined May 1999, 2083 posts, 
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