Hello All,
Here's my landing experience
My flight to canada last nov. 26. Manila (Terminal 2) Philippines Airlines to Vancouver International Airport.
First, bags and physical xray. then, check in, need to pay travel tax cost 1,620 philippine money because my ticket not covered by travel tax which my husband purchased my ticket to cheapoair.com and ticket coupon. My 2 bags size is small and medium suitcases which allowed 23 kgs. per bag and my handcarry which is bag pack allowed 7 kgs., next went to another booth to pay terminal fee cost 750 philippine money then went to philippines immigration booth to give my passport with visa and they asked some personal info like who's sponsor me and my husband info, it takes 2 mins, its easy questions. Next, another physical xray again, and straight to your gate destination, another line again, someone from immigration check your passport again with ticket coupon, check your handcarry bags and physical check and that time we are not allowed to bring any liquid like mineral water. Ready to get inside the plane and when your plane ready to touch down to vancouver, I guess in 20 mins, the stewardess gives us a declaration card only so no need for me to fill up b4 form or its depend to every airlines .
Vancouver to Winnipeg:
When you arrive to vancouver, first you need to fall in line at new immigrants at CATSA to ask and check your declaration card, as I remember I check all the box NO but it turns out i bring some bread and I told to the officer that I have 3 breads from the philippines airlines so she write a note BREAD to my declaration card. Next going to new immigrants door, if you're not sure which door ask which way and PLEASE AND PLEASE SAY ALWAYS THANK YOU, they happy and smile to you, they are too nice if you are nice too. When you get inside the room, look for the line under new immigrants family class, someone will assist you and they give you a book, pamphlets, flyers and number because the immigrants officer will call your number, i guess it takes me almost 3 hrs from line to CATSA to immigration officer, lots of family class ahead of me. When my number called, I end up to a very nice immigration officer and he ask how's my trip and asking about my sponsor info, if i been deported, did some criminal record in canada and philippines,if this is my first marriage to mu sponsor and where to send my pr card....and then he said WELCOME TO CANADA and I almost cried because I thought he gonna give me a hard time and saw some siblings been hold to another officer because they had/have some issue. Exit to immigration room, went to carousel to get my 2 bags, keep walking fast went to domestic flight check in bags to another airlines, went another floor to get my boarding pass keep reading and looking on which way i'm going to, check in my 2 bags at air canada, check my hand carry bag pack and they want to check my laptop and after that walk and walk and keep looking my destination gate, look like i'm walking 5 kilometers and too tired and haggard. When I reached Winnipeg gate, went looking to phone card or pay phone but no luck, I want to phone my husband that I'm in Vancouver, good thing is I met a lots of Filipino family, couple and some are travel alone like me. It takes for me almost 3 hrs waiting and its ok than missed my flight even though my husband make sure my ticket is insured. Ride another plane again, scared for the first time because I'm in a new and strange country, almost freak out when i reached winnipeg because its too cold inside of the airport when we're landed...went to claimed baggage area and saw my husband look so much happy and he kissed me in front of a lot of people most of them are filipino and I'm hiding my face, some of them are cheering on me. Get my 2 bags, put 2 winter jacket on me because i'm freezing to death, straight to the car with his friend and he give me a bouquet of flower inside and he look at me worried because I'm too cold and check in to a hotel near to the airport and next day buy a winter clothes (jacket for -50 below temp., gloves, long johns, and winter shoes.
One thing I learned is next time bring a THICK jacket, don't underestimate the temp. here in winnipeg. Hope it helps to a new comer to canada like me. As of now my husband said the temp here the city I live is -10
