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From Europe Only three airlines currently fly directly to Vancouver from the UK. Air Canada have14 flights per week and British Air- ways have seven flights per week, all from Heathrow. Often the best deals are with Air Transat who have four flights per week from Heathrow, one from Manchester and one from Glasgow (but no winter flights). There are no direct flights from Ireland. For passen- gers from mainland Europe, there are regular flights with KLM, Lufthansa and Air Transat. Whatever your starting point, the cheapest flights often involve changing planes in the United States. Booking far in advance or at the last minute are the other ways of lowering the price. Return flights from Europe average between £500 (or the equivalent in euro) in the low season and £750 in the high season. However, you can get them for as little as £350-400, and at peak times they may soar to over £1,000. From the United States The major companies serving the US are American Air, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines. While booking ahead can save you money with an Apex fare, more often the best-value tickets are available at the last minute on the internet. The cheapest flights are in winter (apart from Christmas), with prices rising to their high-season rate around mid-April. Airport information Vancouver International Airport (YVR), T 2077077, http://www.yvr.ca, is located on Sea Island at the mouth of the Fraser River, 13 km south of Downtown. The very modern International Terminal has all the usual facilities, including a BC Visitor Information desk on the Arrivals floor (level 2) and an Airport Information desk (with a lost and found service) one floor up in the Departure lounge, along with most of the shops and services. There are plenty of phones and ATMs, and the corridor linking the international and domestic terminals has a children’s play area and nursery. All forms of transport heading Downtown are right outside the terminal. City bus No 100 is the cheapest ($3) but involves a transfer at 70th Avenue/Granville onto bus No 8, and takes a good hour. The Airporter shuttle bus, leaves every 15 minutes from 0630-0010, heading to the major Downtown hotels and Canada Place. Tickets ($12 one way, $18 return) can be bought at the Visitor Information desk, Airporter office, or on the bus itself. Taxis operate around the clock, charging $25-30 for the 25-minute trip Downtown. Limojet Gold Express, T 2731331, charge $40 for up to eight passengers. All the major car-rental agencies are located on the ground floor of the car park, across the road from Arrivals. Vancouver airport is a safe and relaxed place. There is a hotel right in the airport and others are a short ride away in Richmond. Almost all hotels have staff on duty 24 hours, or can cater for a late arrival if given due warning. If you’re hungry or thirsty, head for The Naam or Calhoun’s in Kitsilano, which stay open all night. Before you leave the Arrivals building, go upstairs and see Bill Reid’s sculpture, Spirit of Haida Gwaii.
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