Your first Harbour Air flight: a practical preparation guide

A seaplane trip feels different from an airport journey: a small terminal, a short walk to the dock and a small cabin. It also has rules that surprise first-time passengers, especially about bags and arrival times. Work through the steps below a few days before you travel, then again the night before.

Step 1: Confirm what you booked and where it leaves from

Check three things on your confirmation:

1. Product type. A scenic tour returns to its starting point. A scheduled flight takes you to another destination. The check-in and baggage rules differ. If you're still choosing a tour, see Vancouver seaplane tours.
2. Departure terminal. In the Vancouver area, Harbour Air uses its downtown Vancouver Harbour terminal in Coal Harbour and a seaplane terminal at YVR South in Richmond. They are about 30 minutes apart by road in light traffic, and longer at busy times. Our terminal guide explains the difference.
3. Fare type. Your baggage allowance and change rules depend on it (Step 3).

If you are booking with someone else's help, note that Harbour Air charges a $15 fee per transaction for agent-assisted bookings that could have been made online, with exemptions listed in its booking conditions.

Step 2: Plan your arrival time

Harbour Air's check-in rules for float flights, as published on November 9, 2026:

Passengers who miss the cut-off cannot board and are not refunded, and Harbour Air says it may cancel return flights. Individual terminals can have their own instructions: the Ganges terminal on Salt Spring Island, for example, asks guests to check in at the terminal 30 minutes before departure and does not allow check-in at the dock. Follow whatever your booking and terminal page say.

Work backwards from the cut-off, then add your travel time to the terminal and a margin for traffic or a slow taxi.

Step 3: Pack to your fare's allowance

On Harbour Air, every bag counts towards one total weight allowance, including purses, backpacks and briefcases. The help centre listed these allowances by fare when we checked:

Other points from Harbour Air's luggage information:

• No single bag may exceed 50 lb.
• Bags travel in the cargo area. Only very small items that fit in the seat-back pocket come into the cabin with you.
• Bags over your allowance may travel standby on domestic flights, which means they could arrive on an earlier or later flight. If you need guaranteed space, Harbour Air sells an extra seat for up to 200 lb of additional baggage.

Keep medication, keys, a phone and anything you need on arrival in a pocket-sized pouch. Our packing and assistance guide has a full checklist.

Step 4: Arrange any help you need before the day

Harbour Air invites children, unaccompanied minors, families and anyone who needs more time to pre-board. You can request this by contacting Harbour Air before your flight or by telling the check-in team. For mobility devices, oxygen, service animals or travelling while pregnant, read the relevant page linked from Harbour Air's extra assistance hub and contact the airline before booking if any detail affects whether you can travel.

A few specifics worth knowing:

• Children under 24 months fly free as lap-held infants, and you must tell Harbour Air at booking.
• Children aged 5 to 11 travelling alone use Harbour Air's unaccompanied minor program, booked through reservations.
• Boarding is from a floating dock. The mobility lift requires the passenger to transfer between wheelchair and seat using a transfer plate.

Step 5: On the day — check-in, dock and boarding

At the terminal, staff will weigh your bags and check you in. When your flight is called, you walk down to the dock with the group. Crew load the bags, and you step into the cabin. Seaplanes are noisy, so many passengers find ear protection helpful; ask at check-in if you need it.

On arrival, the crew hand your bags to you on the dock.

Step 6: If the weather changes

Seaplanes operate under visual conditions, and weather can delay or cancel flights. Harbour Air says it notifies passengers of delays and cancellations by text and email, so make sure your contact details are current in your booking. Its passenger-rights page explains how disruptions are classified under Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations.

Before you travel:

• Know what your fare allows if you need to change.
• Have a backup route for essential trips. For Victoria and Nanaimo, ferries are an alternative.
• Avoid a non-refundable activity booked straight after landing.

Our weather and flexibility guide goes into this in more depth.

A final checklist

• Correct terminal saved, with travel time and cut-off worked out
• Bags weighed at home against your fare's allowance
• Essentials in a pocket-sized pouch
• Any assistance requested in advance
• Phone number and email up to date in your booking
• A backup plan if the flight doesn't go

Check your booking details. Manage your booking and review policies on harbourair.com (opens Harbour Air's site)

FAQs

How early should I arrive? At least 40 minutes before departure for domestic float flights and scenic tours, and 60 minutes for international flights, according to Harbour Air's published guidance.

What can I keep with me on board? Only very small items that fit in the seat-back pocket. Everything else goes in the cargo area.

How do I request boarding assistance? Contact Harbour Air before your flight or tell the check-in team on arrival. For mobility devices, read the extra assistance pages first.

What happens if a flight is cancelled? Follow Harbour Air's instructions and check its passenger-rights page. What you are entitled to can depend on the reason for the disruption and your fare.