Emotional reunions as YVR reopens international meet and greet area

Golnar Arbabi moves about the YVR International Arrivals’ Meet and Greet area, glancing between the gate and her phone to make sure she didn’t miss a text of her brother. The pandemic has kept the siblings apart for two years and her brother would arrive from the United Kingdom at any moment.

“It means the world to me to be able to actually come pick him up,” she said Friday, glancing past the microphone and camera to make sure he hasn’t arrived yet. “It’s his first time in Canada, so I’m super excited to help him out, but it’s also so nice to see everybody else seeing their family and relatives. I could see some grandparents hugging their grandkids that were like, two of three years old. So it’s a very emotional environment to be in right now.”

She was one of many people mingling about the terminal, anxiously awaiting the arrival of friends and family from outside the country. But just the day before, they all would have been told to wait outside in their vehicles, or on the second floor.

A couple hugs at YVR (Alan Chek/CityNews)

With Canada getting rid of mandatory COVID-19 testing for vaccinated people coming into the country on Friday, YVR has been able to reopen its International Meet and Greet area. When testing became mandatory, the space was taken over by more than 80 cubicles, leaving no room for people to welcome arriving passengers.

Related article: Vaccinated travellers to Canada no longer need to be tested for COVID-19

When Arbabi’s brother finally walked through customs, the pair shared a long hug, and a mask couldn’t contain their smiles.

“I don’t think I’ve been this happy for the past two years now,” Arbabi said.

Next to them, another family welcomed their grandparents, who they hadn’t seen in three years, with tight hugs.

“I’m out of words right now. It’s a bit overwhelming for me,” the granddaughter said through tears of joy. “I couldn’t wait. I was waiting for over one hour and it was really tough so I just ran over when I saw them. But it feels very nice.”

Families greet each other at YVR (Alan Chek/CityNews)

Since many people haven’t travelled outside of Canada, most were unaware Friday was the reopening of the meet and greet area, but professional drivers waiting for clients said they noticed the sudden influx of people, and all the chaos and hugs that came with it.

Anne McIlvaney hadn’t seen her grandchildren in months. She waited with family for the arrival of her daughter, daughter-in-law, and their two kids. She didn’t know the meet and greet area had been closed because she hasn’t had to come to the airport for a while.

“But it’s good to be back,” she said with a laugh.

Phil Lennox travelled to visit family overseas over the summer and remembers returning and seeing the meet and greet area taken over by testing cubicles. Now, he was the one waiting for his dad at YVR, and he’s so glad to see the area has reopened.

“It’s always lovely to come through passport control and then feel like you’re free. And then before when we all had to get pulled in for another lineup … Now, it’s quite nice for everyone to come through and not have to do this as a mandatory thing,” he said. “It’s really nice to be able to come in here and wait with people instead of having to be left outside in the cold.”

@citynewsvan #YVR has reopened its international arrival greeting area. More on our website. #InternationalTravel #Vancouver #VancouverNews #Travel #CanadaNews #LoveActually ♬ original sound – CityNews Vancouver

Anyone arriving at the airport is still being asked to wear a mask inside the building and while travelling, according to Alyssa Smith with YVR. She also reminds travellers they must be vaccinated to board a plane.

“And there might be some entry requirements of the destination you’re travelling to,” she said. “So it’s really about being prepared and not letting those extra steps be intimidating or a barrier to travel.”

While vaccinated international travellers don’t need a COVID-19 test to get into Canada anymore, they still need to fill out the ArriveCan app and could be randomly selected at the airport for a test.

YVR is also expecting to see a bump in traffic.

“Just last month, we were looking at about 35,000 to 37,000 passengers per day. We’re not looking at 40,000 to 42,000 and that’s sort of increasing as we look into the summer months, upwards of 60,000. So that’s really promising and encouraging,” Smith said. “Compare that to this time last year, there were just 6,000 people coming through out airport each day.”