Canada - Checked bags / transborder: YVR

Probably a stupid question, but is it possible to check bags for a flight to the USA at YVR and then exit to the city? I'd expect you'd have to go through US customs with your bags after checkin, and then you're stuck in the terminal. But, the YVR airport guide (http://www.yvr.ca/en/navigating-yvr/passenger-guides/departing-from-yvr.aspx) is ambiguous and suggests that you send checked bags into the airport prior to clearing US customs.

Probably a stupid question, but is it possible to check bags for a flight to the USA at YVR and then exit to the city? I'd expect you'd have to go through US customs with your bags after checkin, and then you're stuck in the terminal. But, the YVR airport guide (http://www.yvr.ca/en/navigating-yvr/passenger-guides/departing-from-yvr.aspx) is ambiguous and suggests that you send checked bags into the airport prior to clearing US customs.

Are you connecting from somewhere, or does your trip begin in Vancouver?

If it begins in Vancouver the sequence is -

- Check in (get bags tagged)
- Wheel bags to conveyor belt yourself
- Drop bags on conveyor (bag and boarding pass are scanned by clerk)
- Proceed through security
- Go through US CBP
- Enter transborder terminal

Once you drop your bags on the conveyor you're expected to herd yourself to security. I *suppose* you could do an about-face and leave, but depending on how they've put up the queue management barriers it might be tricky and/or might lead to some raised eyebrows/problems.

Might be easier just to store your bags at the YVR luggage storage counter until you're ready to drop them on the conveyor.

I'm departing from YVR. Thanks for the tips. So you don't pass through US customs with your checked bags? That seems... odd.

So you don't pass through US customs with your checked bags? That seems... odd.

Correct - And yes it's a little bit odd.

You used to pass through CBP first (with your bags), then drop them on a conveyor, then go through security. However, they had to expand security for the Olympics and the only place they could do that was before CBP, so that meant the pre-security / pre-CBP bag drop.

If you've checked your bag when you present yourself to the CBP officer he scans your boarding pass and an image of your bag displays on his monitor. If he approves he can send it on his way, if he disapproves he can order it pulled and you and the bag sent to secondary.

Correct - And yes it's a little bit odd.

You used to pass through CBP first (with your bags), then drop them on a conveyor, then go through security. However, they had to expand security for the Olympics and the only place they could do that was before CBP, so that meant the pre-security / pre-CBP bag drop.

If you've checked your bag when you present yourself to the CBP officer he scans your boarding pass and an image of your bag displays on his monitor. If he approves he can send it on his way, if he disapproves he can order it pulled and you and the bag sent to secondary.

Apropos of nothing, this is exactly how you do USA pre-clearance in DUB.

Of course, I am old enough to remember doing pre-clearance at the gate in YYZ in the early/mid 70's.

Official word from AC rep was that there was no exit after check-in, so I left my bags at the storage counter in the arrivals area. On returning I saw that it would have been very easy to exit after dropping my bags - there was a wide passage back out into the ticketing area just before entering immigration.

On returning I saw that it would have been very easy to exit after dropping my bags

This would have been much harder if it was busy, as there would have been a queue at drop off and you would have been herded to security.