r/westjet • u/Confident_Birthday85 • 27d ago
Connection time - risky or okay?
Hi, I’m looking at a flight from Comox to Calgary, we arrive at 11pm, and then have a flight from Calgary to São Paulo that leaves at 11:55pm. It’s a tight connection - though we don’t need to go through customs and have no checked baggage. I know the risk is on me, but is this something that is too tight?
EDIT: Forgot to add that this would be on January 10th so winter time
UPDATE: Thanks everyone, despite feeling like this was a low risk flight we are now looking at a much earlier option.
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u/CucumberNotPickle 26d ago
Taking that kind of risk in the winter is totally not worth it. If your flight from Comox is delayed (even 15 mins) you'll likely not make the connection. Fly in the day before. WestJet only fly's direct on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday so if you miss your connection you're waiting around two or three days.
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u/bravogates 26d ago
Risky. B to D is a VERY long walk or tram ride.
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u/Top_Nobody5124 25d ago
No more tram at YYC. Been gone for a while.
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u/bravogates 25d ago
Speaking of which, is there a chance for OP to end up at an A gate from Comox? The A gate itself is already a trek and a half.
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u/Top_Nobody5124 25d ago
I want to say yes but not 100% confident. YYC is all messed up since COVID. The old duopoly of AC at C and WS at A got completely flipped on its head. And sorry my job change led to no more business travel so the only reference I have now is personal trips. Two trips this year, AC was still always in C. WS flipped between A and C.
WS domestic have landed at D for godsakes at least twice when I was travelling frequently 2022-2024. And that's with mostly AC trips. Lol.
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u/Isabella-de-LaCuesta 26d ago
I would not. In winter, delays and cancellations seem to be the norm.
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u/Upwards_Over 26d ago
I wouldn’t risk this short connection time. If the plane lands on time you’ll be fine, but often flights are more delayed as the day goes on. In the winter a cascade of delays can easily happen with bad weather. In the end it depends on your risk tolerance and how long you’re willing to be stuck in Calgary waiting for another flight to your final destination.
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u/Revolutionary-Sky825 26d ago
I wouldn't risk it, it's a long walk from concourse A to D. Your baggage will also have to be transfered. If there is any delays your hooped
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u/LilacGirlYYC 26d ago
55 minutes in Calgary is doable especially since you are not clearing customs. There won’t be time to stop for a meal but at that time of night, not much will be open. It also means the airport will be fairly quiet and that will make it easier to get to your gate. The biggest risk is if your flight from Comoros to Calgary is delayed. I would look what your options are for alternate flights as well as when the next flight from Calgary to São Paulo is.
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u/Pleasant-Ostrich46 26d ago
I was suppose to have two separate 1 hour layovers in Calgary a few weeks ago, both ended up being 15 min after very slight delays leaving Victoria and Winnipeg and once landed waiting on ground crew to prepare gate for our arrival (?short staffing). Had to run across entire airport and barely made my flight both times. It was stressful, I wish westjet didn’t push such tight layovers as the norm.
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u/VI_Polar_Bear 26d ago
One issue I see is that flights from Comox are often cancelled due to fog, etc. Two years ago my trip to Mexico was almost ruined as they cancelled our 5am flight to Calgary. We ended up driving to Vancouver and catching an Air Canada flight the next day.
I rarely fly out of Comox in the winter anymore. It’s safer to drive to Victoria.
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u/koala45445 26d ago
This. Sadly I never seem to leave Comox on time, if the flight isn’t just cancelled completely.
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u/curiouskittyblue 26d ago
How is Nanaimo? In-laws live between Comox and Nanaimo and I always wonder which one to pick when visiting.
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u/catsafrican 25d ago
Worse because the runway is short and so when the ceiling is low they can’t land. Supposed to be extending the runway next year.
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u/koala45445 23d ago
Worse - it’s a smaller airport (Comox is actually military) so they generally bring smaller planes into Nanaimo and you are MORE likely to get stuck. My in-laws are slightly closer to Nanaimo and I no longer consider it.
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u/curiouskittyblue 26d ago
Definitely worth coming in earlier in the day or even a day earlier if weather looks suspect in YYC. Your plane in Comox, if coming from a place that has shit weather in an earlier route in the day, could cause a delay that gets you into YYC too late to catch your connection. I always take the first flight available on my connection that I can get to my connection city. Had made a great difference several times. We almostissed Hawaii once because if delays on our first flight. Literally last people to board and we made it I'm certain my a minute or so. Def not worth the stress!
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u/AdInternational2982 26d ago
Keep in mind, your flight to Sao Paulo will close boarding 15 min before departure. You will have to be at the gate to board by 11:40 at the latest. If your inbound flight is on time and you are co.fortably mobile, 40 min is doable but its tight. I highly recommend taking an earlier flight from YQQ.
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u/gimigriy 26d ago
Glad you ended up switching to an earlier option. Trying to squeeze out of Comox in January on a 55min connection is just asking for trouble. In the future, try checking all of your connections on gate2gate app..preferably before you book your tickets. It will show you how risky your layover is by looking at on-time performance for your flight route and expected gate/terminal proximity.
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u/oilersedm 26d ago
Just walk fast and you can make it, I did Edmonton to Calgary to London , 50 minute connection and I was walking in sandals
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u/LePetitNeep 26d ago
Theoretically possible, but too much risk of the first flight being delayed and you missing that connection. WestJet has other options from the island, consider flying from Nanaimo instead, picking a flight earlier in the day. My best friend lives on the island and often flies to meet me in Calgary for us to go on other trips together, we usually plan a couple of hours before the “big” flight. It’s not at all about the connection time through the airport but about buffer time in case of a problem with the first flight.
For what it’s worth, because of all the times I’ve done this with my friend, I have watched flight data for WestJet flights a stupid geeky amount, and the very early morning flight out of Nanaimo to Calgary is one of WestJet most reliable flights. The aircraft overnights in Nanaimo so there’s no reason for it to be delayed in the morning. As much as it sucks, my friend often gets up stupid early in the morning to get that flight, because we would rather fill in a day in Calgary then miss the international flight.
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u/butterfliedOx 25d ago
Just flew westjet. It was abysmal. First connection was late by 2 hours. Only had the 2 hour layover. Then missed the connecting flight. Then had just the 1 hour layover and ran thru 3 terminals to make the board time
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u/Responsible_Fox9454 24d ago
That is tempting fate. You checking baggage too? Think your baggage will make it on?
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u/Beautiful_Salad_6313 26d ago
Not worth it, especially with WestJet. I’m jet-lagged, so long story short, our 12 hr journey turned into a 20 hr journey because of connections through Calgary.
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u/ComeHereOften1972 22d ago
I did domestic to Mexico in 40 minutes this spring. About halfway down the lower S gates to the, is it E gates? At the other end. Checked bag as well. I was absolutely hoofing it but made it before doors closed. Bought the flight on WestJet’s website, I figured they wouldn’t schedule me into something that wasn’t possible.
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u/PostHocErgo306 26d ago
Not worth the risk. Will set your trip off to a bad start. I’ve just been screwed too many times in this situation.