[ad_1]
Travelling quickly? You are doubtless acquainted with Toronto Pearson Airport, Canada’s largest and busiest airport, as a departure level from the GTA.
Nevertheless, a smaller airport close by might simply be a greater wager to fly out of this summer time.
Hamilton’s John C. Munro Worldwide Airport is a smaller airport situated simply 20 minutes from downtown Hamilton and about 1 hour and a half from Toronto.
In response to Tourism Hamilton, the airport is “one in all Canada’s fastest-growing journey hubs because of its handy location, hassle-free single-terminal airport and low-cost flights.”
I recently flew from Hamilton Worldwide Airport on board the inaugural flight of Canada’s newest budget airline, Play, which provides low-cost flights to Europe.
As somebody who has solely ever travelled from Toronto Pearson Airport for worldwide flights, flying out of Hamilton was eye-opening, and my journey expertise was surprisingly far more nice.
Hamilton’s airport homes simply six airways — WestJet, Sunwing, Swoop, Lynx Air, Air Transat and Play — and has direct service inside Canada, in addition to to Florida, Mexico, just a few Caribbean locations, and Iceland.
Whereas this can be a lot lower than Pearson, which has 40 airways that fly to over 160 locations worldwide, the smaller airport provides some distinctive airways and journey alternatives that additionally make it value flying out of.
Whereas it won’t work for each traveller, in order for you a clean airport expertise to begin your journey off in one of the best ways, this smaller airport is the best way to go and I used to be actually shocked at how totally different it was from Toronto Pearson.
This is why you must go for Hamilton Airport this summer time if in case you have the prospect.
You would discover cheaper flights
Being a smaller airport, Hamilton provides competitively priced flights to sure locations.
For instance, you’ll be able to discover less expensive flights to Europe by flying with Play Airways, which solely flies out of Hamilton.
In case you had been travelling round-trip to Paris, for example, for a five-day journey in September, the most cost effective flight presently out there out of Pearson is $763.
The identical journey with Play Airways, alternatively, departing from Hamilton Airport, is as little as $521.
It is manner much less chaotic
In case you’ve flown out of Toronto Pearson earlier than, you’ll be able to relate to the situation of feeling a bit misplaced on the subject of figuring out the place to park, which entrance to make use of or the place you must wait to your Uber.
Travellers have ceaselessly lamented over the complicated structure, and regardless of the various indicators (which could possibly be a lot better), I additionally discover the airport very complicated.
Why are there so many entrances? It is very easy to get circled right here, particularly should you’re not a frequent traveller, and I’ve had situations the place I’ve ended up on the incorrect spot within the airport solely to must stroll for what seems like perpetually to get the place I should be.
Since Hamilton Airport is way smaller, I discovered it manner simpler to navigate (it’d really be actually troublesome to get misplaced there).
The airport has one departures entrance that you just use to get to all flights, whether or not you are travelling domestically or internationally, which I discovered actually useful as somebody who will get circled simply.
It is inconceivable to overlook the check-in desks right here, and so they’re all conveniently situated in a single place. It is also very easy to get dropped off right here should you’re arriving in an Uber or taxi.
A pickup/drop-off zone is situated proper out entrance and may be very simple to get to. It is also simple to seek out for these driving to the airport.
At Toronto Pearson, alternatively, you may discover a number of terminals which can be particular to the place you are travelling and which airline you are travelling with.
For instance, you may want to move to Terminal 1 should you’re flying with Air Canada, domestically or internationally. Nevertheless, you may want to move to Terminal 3 should you’re flying with Aptitude Airways.
Confusingly, there’s also no Terminal 2, and the terminals are to date aside that it’s essential to take a practice to get from one to the opposite.
This will trigger a little bit of headache if you find yourself on the incorrect terminal, or should you’re attempting to coordinate a pickup.
Fewer individuals = much less ready
Hamilton Airport takes the cake on the subject of fewer crowds and fewer total trouble. Because the airport has fewer airways and providers fewer locations, you may discover manner fewer individuals there than at Toronto Pearson.
Once I arrived on the airport, I used to be met with shorter strains, a better time discovering parking and an total higher expertise simply navigating the house.
Getting by safety and checking in for my flight was a breeze, though it was throughout a busier journey interval. I could not consider how a lot faster it was than Pearson, the place safety wait occasions may be so lengthy that the airport has launched a function the place you’ll be able to book your spot in security online.
Final yr, Pearson went by an notorious interval of chaos, with passengers spending hours in ridiculously long security lines, ready hours to find their bags, and likewise coping with tons of flight delays on the airport.
Issues had been so unhealthy that the airport even earned a rep for being the worst airport in the world.
Issues at Hamilton could not be any extra totally different. Throughout my journey, my colleague and I had been the one two individuals going by safety on the time, and the expertise was virtually peaceable.
You may additionally discover the eating places, amenities and repair desks simply usually much less busy on the smaller airport. So should you’re not a fan of ready in lengthy strains, Hamilton is your greatest wager.
That goes for baggage too
In case you’re sick of lengthy wait occasions for luggage, Hamilton is the airport for you.
On condition that there are fewer airways flying into the airport, there’s manner much less baggage coming by right here, so that you’re in all probability much less more likely to discover a scenario just like the massive baggage pileups which were reported at Toronto Pearson.
There are additionally solely two baggage carousels within the airport — one for home flights and one for worldwide flights, making it simple to seek out out which one can have your baggage.
After my flight, I made my technique to the worldwide carousel (which was tremendous simple to find), picked up a free baggage cart and waited only a few minutes for my bag — no drama! It was a nice technique to finish what had been a pleasant getaway.
On the flip facet, should you’ve been to Toronto Pearson, that the airport’s baggage declare space is very large, with a number of carousels. To get your luggage, it’s a must to test the show display on the airport to seek out the bags carousel to your flight quantity.
You may additionally have to attend longer — quite a bit longer. Pearson has turn out to be a “centre of chaos,” as some are calling it, for luggage declare points, with extremely lengthy wait occasions reported in the course of the peak of the journey chaos — we’re speaking hours lengthy — and a few passengers not getting their baggage in any respect.
Hamilton Airport vs. Toronto Pearson Airport: Which is healthier?
There are some professionals for Toronto Pearson that may make it the higher choice for some — the airport has extra day by day flights, airways and facilities like lounges, eating places and shops. It is also in a central location that could be extra handy for many travellers within the metropolis.
Nevertheless, my opinion is that should you can fly from Hamilton, you must. The benefit of navigating the airport and the pleasure of not having to cope with main crowds are extra vital for me than the chance to get a facial earlier than my flight (you are able to do this at Pearson’s new spa) or store for designer items.
Whereas Hamilton has much less on the subject of facilities, the airport covers the fundamentals of what you’d want earlier than your journey.
When you will not discover any lounges like these at Pearson right here, the airport has two Tim Hortons places on website, a duty-free store the place you may get snacks, drinks and last-minute journey necessities, a Finest Purchase kiosk the place you should buy headphones and some other electronics equipment you would possibly want, and a kiosk the place you may get meals and drinks from native companies.
And whereas it could be a bit additional away for some, there are a variety of ways to get to Hamilton Airport that may make it extra handy than you’d suppose, together with by GO Practice from Union Station with just one switch.
As somebody who lives in Brampton and needed to journey about an hour to get to the airport, I would positively do it once more for the benefit of flying from right here.
Principally, in order for you the journey to be simply as pleasant because the vacation spot, you may positively need to fly out of this smaller airport this summer time.
Earlier than you get going, try our Responsible Travel Guide so that you may be knowledgeable, be protected, be sensible, and most of all, be respectful in your journey.
These costs are confirmed on the time of publishing, however they’ll change at any time. Taxes and charges might not be included.
[ad_2]