New US transit procedures for YVR
Aug 10, 2009, 3:55 pm
#33
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Okay, back at YVR and the back channel is now open. Apparently they close it after 4p and the signs autatically direct you landside. It is all still rather makeshift and I had to be personally escorted by a lad to enter the US preclearance area. I still maintain the walks at YVR are the worst of any Canadian airport and the US wing sucks if you're making a connection to SEA or PDX and have to use the worst gates in the terminal!
Sep 15, 2009, 5:27 am
#34
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When I was speaking to someone at YVR this past week they said new Transborder procedures start today (Tues, 15SEP).
You drop your checked bag off first, then go through security, then US immigration and customs.
The person I was speaking with said security will now open at 04h00 while immigration opening between 04h30 and 04h45 (suppose to be 04h30). We would then wait in the immigration hall like we use to in the past.
At security there is suppose to be a NEXUS / crew line.
I'm at work in ATL therefore anyone flying transborder over the next few days....an update on how the procedure is working as well as confirmation of NEXUS / crew line for security would be much appreciated.
Cheers
You drop your checked bag off first, then go through security, then US immigration and customs.
The person I was speaking with said security will now open at 04h00 while immigration opening between 04h30 and 04h45 (suppose to be 04h30). We would then wait in the immigration hall like we use to in the past.
At security there is suppose to be a NEXUS / crew line.
I'm at work in ATL therefore anyone flying transborder over the next few days....an update on how the procedure is working as well as confirmation of NEXUS / crew line for security would be much appreciated.
Cheers
There will be new procedures by the end of the year for those originating from YVR and heading to the US.
There is construction going on right now and my understanding is the new entrance to US customs/immigration will be towards AA's check-in (i.e. further away from UA's and AC's check-in).
After check-in, drop your bag on the belt and off it goes. You would then go through duty-free and go through immigration and customs sans bags. If you are sent to secondary, then the bags would be brought up to you. Apparently they will also be weighed as that too will be an indication of whether to pull a bag or not. Not sure how all this going to work.
When I was checking for my UA flight a few weeks ago three AC employees talking about it at the podium next to UA's counter. Perhaps Andrew can provide more details of the new process?
Cheers
There is construction going on right now and my understanding is the new entrance to US customs/immigration will be towards AA's check-in (i.e. further away from UA's and AC's check-in).
After check-in, drop your bag on the belt and off it goes. You would then go through duty-free and go through immigration and customs sans bags. If you are sent to secondary, then the bags would be brought up to you. Apparently they will also be weighed as that too will be an indication of whether to pull a bag or not. Not sure how all this going to work.
When I was checking for my UA flight a few weeks ago three AC employees talking about it at the podium next to UA's counter. Perhaps Andrew can provide more details of the new process?
Cheers
Sep 27, 2009, 6:14 am
#35
Join Date: Apr 2001
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New Procedures Transborder at YVR
I'm at YVR waiting for the MLL lounge to open up (it's 04h55 on 27SEP). I just went through the new transborder procedures that I mentioned in my post above on 15SEP.
As noted above you do drop you bags off first before going to security. I checked in with UA and made my way down the hall. I went into the baggage drop area. What was not clear was the "no checked baggage" sign for pax to follow. There is no sign on the walkway down however to the far left, against the wall and outside the ribboned area, there is a walkway for no checked bags pax.
If you have checked bags there is no priority line for NEXUS holders (It was not very busy and so I had time to ask the person working at each step of the process for procedures for NEXUS holders).
A red-coated person (I am assuming YVR employees) then check and let you know if you go through the "Fast Track" line or not. The CATSA person to the right is for NEXUS, prirority and crew. She will scan your boarding pass and then ask if you have any checked bags. The left route manned by another CATSA person is for everyone else.
Continuing on the right you go through a chicaine and continue down a a narrow hallway that is segregated with frosted glass and then come to two security lanes for priority, crew and NEXUS pax.
After clearing security you can only make a left, go past the duty-free shop that you use to before and then walk into the immigration hall at the same point you did prior to the change in process.
As you enter the immigration hall there is an overhead sign that indicates NEXUS users go to the right.
Security opens at 04h00. Immigration used to open at 04h45 however at 04h25 there were two immigration officers working. NEXUS was up and running so it was less than minute event for me.
The sucky thing is no NEXUS line for checked baggage pax or carry-on pax however at 04h15 in the morning there is flow of pax through security so there is no line up when I arrived and suspect that will be the same early in the mornings. Check-in for AC opens at 04h30, UA it is 04h00 and DL (handled by AC) is earlier than 04h00 I think since there is the 05h40 flight to SLC.
Talking to the ladies at UA they said it was talking 2 hours to get through because, the red-coated employees would be looking at the boarding pass and asking how they were today and just taking their time. I think it is just growing pains.
Overall, it was efficient, at 04h15.
Cheers
As noted above you do drop you bags off first before going to security. I checked in with UA and made my way down the hall. I went into the baggage drop area. What was not clear was the "no checked baggage" sign for pax to follow. There is no sign on the walkway down however to the far left, against the wall and outside the ribboned area, there is a walkway for no checked bags pax.
If you have checked bags there is no priority line for NEXUS holders (It was not very busy and so I had time to ask the person working at each step of the process for procedures for NEXUS holders).
A red-coated person (I am assuming YVR employees) then check and let you know if you go through the "Fast Track" line or not. The CATSA person to the right is for NEXUS, prirority and crew. She will scan your boarding pass and then ask if you have any checked bags. The left route manned by another CATSA person is for everyone else.
Continuing on the right you go through a chicaine and continue down a a narrow hallway that is segregated with frosted glass and then come to two security lanes for priority, crew and NEXUS pax.
After clearing security you can only make a left, go past the duty-free shop that you use to before and then walk into the immigration hall at the same point you did prior to the change in process.
As you enter the immigration hall there is an overhead sign that indicates NEXUS users go to the right.
Security opens at 04h00. Immigration used to open at 04h45 however at 04h25 there were two immigration officers working. NEXUS was up and running so it was less than minute event for me.
The sucky thing is no NEXUS line for checked baggage pax or carry-on pax however at 04h15 in the morning there is flow of pax through security so there is no line up when I arrived and suspect that will be the same early in the mornings. Check-in for AC opens at 04h30, UA it is 04h00 and DL (handled by AC) is earlier than 04h00 I think since there is the 05h40 flight to SLC.
Talking to the ladies at UA they said it was talking 2 hours to get through because, the red-coated employees would be looking at the boarding pass and asking how they were today and just taking their time. I think it is just growing pains.
Overall, it was efficient, at 04h15.
Cheers
Last edited by sing-along; Sep 27, 2009 at 9:47 pm Reason: Spelling
Sep 27, 2009, 8:35 am
#36
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Sep 27, 2009, 11:06 am
#38
Join Date: Oct 2006
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I went through on a connection on Sept 17. I was told by one of the staff that this was the second day of the new procedure. Late afternoon / early evening had an enormous line to clear security -- nearly 30 mins. The immigration check afterwards didn't look as bad, but as I (and my wife) had Nexus we breezed through the rest of the way. One of the staff indicated they will have a few more security lanes once the construction is complete.
On my return flight I noticed that they updated the signs for US connections coming from a domestic flight. During the last few months prior to the changeover one had to collect bags on the domestic collection belts and lug them across the airport to the US departures side. As such the signs directed US connections down to the arrivals level. This has now been updated and it looks like you can avoid that and go through the link building directly to the US departures area. I'm guessing you still have to re-clear security to double check that your shoes aren't hiding anything.
The walk is still crazy but at least you don't have to lug your bags across the terminal any more.
They really do need to put a priority security line in place though. I'm sure there will be more than a few missed flights for those with Nexus that expect a priority lane.
--
On a related note, it would be useful if AC could update the IFE to correctly describe the connection procedure in YVR. They still have the old description. Either that, or remove it altogether. Similarly, it probably wouldn't hurt to have an announcement on landing in YVR that you don't collect your bags. I'm sure more than a few people are unaware there is a new system in place.
On my return flight I noticed that they updated the signs for US connections coming from a domestic flight. During the last few months prior to the changeover one had to collect bags on the domestic collection belts and lug them across the airport to the US departures side. As such the signs directed US connections down to the arrivals level. This has now been updated and it looks like you can avoid that and go through the link building directly to the US departures area. I'm guessing you still have to re-clear security to double check that your shoes aren't hiding anything.
The walk is still crazy but at least you don't have to lug your bags across the terminal any more.
They really do need to put a priority security line in place though. I'm sure there will be more than a few missed flights for those with Nexus that expect a priority lane.
--
On a related note, it would be useful if AC could update the IFE to correctly describe the connection procedure in YVR. They still have the old description. Either that, or remove it altogether. Similarly, it probably wouldn't hurt to have an announcement on landing in YVR that you don't collect your bags. I'm sure more than a few people are unaware there is a new system in place.
Sep 27, 2009, 11:26 am
#39
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Maybe chicane?
(road transport) A temporary barrier, or serpentine curve, on a vehicular path, especially one designed to reduce speed.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chicane
Makes me wonder how fast sing-along was trucking through there!
No matter what the spelling, first time I'd heard of one!
(road transport) A temporary barrier, or serpentine curve, on a vehicular path, especially one designed to reduce speed.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chicane
Makes me wonder how fast sing-along was trucking through there!
No matter what the spelling, first time I'd heard of one!
Sep 27, 2009, 7:13 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 92
I went through on Sept 23rd at YVR. Same procedure as described above. But how does it work that we can drop off our bags before going through immigration? Isn't the whole point that we need to have all of our stuff with us while going through US immigration/customs in case the agents want to search our bags? And what if I've declared something on my customs card, like food for example, that they want to take a look at, but it is in my checked luggage? I go through US customs, the guy wants to look at this food but it's in my checked bag which is already on its way to the airline. How does this work?
Sep 27, 2009, 9:56 pm
#41
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: YVR
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Maybe chicane?
(road transport) A temporary barrier, or serpentine curve, on a vehicular path, especially one designed to reduce speed.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chicane
Makes me wonder how fast sing-along was trucking through there!
No matter what the spelling, first time I'd heard of one!
(road transport) A temporary barrier, or serpentine curve, on a vehicular path, especially one designed to reduce speed.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chicane
Makes me wonder how fast sing-along was trucking through there!
No matter what the spelling, first time I'd heard of one!
It was 04h55 and I had been up since 01h00 
Cheers !
Sep 27, 2009, 10:20 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,629
And what if I've declared something on my customs card, like food for example, that they want to take a look at, but it is in my checked luggage? I go through US customs, the guy wants to look at this food but it's in my checked bag which is already on its way to the airline. How does this work?
Sep 28, 2009, 12:27 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YQR
Posts: 2,741
Maybe chicane?
(road transport) A temporary barrier, or serpentine curve, on a vehicular path, especially one designed to reduce speed.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chicane
Makes me wonder how fast sing-along was trucking through there!
No matter what the spelling, first time I'd heard of one!
(road transport) A temporary barrier, or serpentine curve, on a vehicular path, especially one designed to reduce speed.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chicane
Makes me wonder how fast sing-along was trucking through there!
No matter what the spelling, first time I'd heard of one!
Oct 7, 2009, 8:26 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Programs: FOTSG
Posts: 413
Having just gone through (20 minutes ago), it is very quick and painless. I arrived off a domestic flight, so I took the short cut via the Int'l gates. I ended up getting as far as the AC agent, just before security, who told me that the short cut doesn't open until 06:30 (I was there at 06:00). After waiting, it was just a matter of clearing security, showing my customs card to a YVR agent then clearing immigration/customs.
Once they actually opened up the shortcut, it was very speedy, taking only about 5 minutes (from entering security to exiting customs). I couldn't see the line for normal security, but there wasn't much of a line for immigration/customs.
Once they actually opened up the shortcut, it was very speedy, taking only about 5 minutes (from entering security to exiting customs). I couldn't see the line for normal security, but there wasn't much of a line for immigration/customs.
Oct 25, 2009, 6:49 am
#45
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Update on the YVR pre-clearance procedures
Hi Everyone,
I'm at YVR making my way back to work in ATL. Some of the procedures for pre-clearance have changed.
Previously it was CATSA staff checking your boarding passes prior to entering the security hall. NEXUS, Crew, First Class would move to the right and all others would move to the left. I mentioned this in an earlier post where I indicated:
When I went through the procedures this morning the FastTrack Lane for security was closed plus there was a kid in a red vest checking boarding passes.
NEXUS, Crew and First Class lane for security, which was open at 04h00 will now open at 06h00. Crew also have to go to the left however they have a dedicated lane.
I went through at 04h40 this morning so there was no line up, however I can imagine summer time at 05h00 it will be busy.
I asked around questioning why the change. There is a federal law preventing CATSA employees from seeing who is flying which was accessible when they scanned your boarding passes. As a result, CATSA employees are no longer manning the desk and it is YVR employees. As a result, FastTrack lane is now opens at 06h00 instead of 04h00 even though the security employees working the the two FastTrack lanes are manned.
Cheers
I'm at YVR making my way back to work in ATL. Some of the procedures for pre-clearance have changed.
Previously it was CATSA staff checking your boarding passes prior to entering the security hall. NEXUS, Crew, First Class would move to the right and all others would move to the left. I mentioned this in an earlier post where I indicated:
A red-coated person (I am assuming YVR employees) then check and let you know if you go through the "Fast Track" line or not. The CATSA person to the right is for NEXUS, prirority and crew. She will scan your boarding pass and then ask if you have any checked bags. The left route manned by another CATSA person is for everyone else.
When I went through the procedures this morning the FastTrack Lane for security was closed plus there was a kid in a red vest checking boarding passes.
NEXUS, Crew and First Class lane for security, which was open at 04h00 will now open at 06h00. Crew also have to go to the left however they have a dedicated lane.
I went through at 04h40 this morning so there was no line up, however I can imagine summer time at 05h00 it will be busy.
I asked around questioning why the change. There is a federal law preventing CATSA employees from seeing who is flying which was accessible when they scanned your boarding passes. As a result, CATSA employees are no longer manning the desk and it is YVR employees. As a result, FastTrack lane is now opens at 06h00 instead of 04h00 even though the security employees working the the two FastTrack lanes are manned.
Cheers