Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - YVR-LAX what to expect?

Hi,

I have a YVR-LAX DL itinerary on an AS operated flight. I have NEXUS and am in the Pre-Check program. Now what should I expect as far as security/immigration at YVR?

1) Do they have any priority lines at the security? Or something like TSA Pre?
2) Will NEXUS card do the trick like Global Entry or do I need to carry my Passport?
3) Are there any DL Skyclubs or AS boardrooms? As a DL DM do I get entry to AS boardroom?
4) Any think else I should lookout for?

Thanks for your comments?
Ik.

Bolded

Hi,

I have a YVR-LAX DL itinerary on an AS operated flight. I have NEXUS and am in the Pre-Check program. Now what should I expect as far as security/immigration at YVR?

1) Do they have any priority lines at the security? Or something like TSA Pre?

Yes there is a priority-ish line, not like Pre Check though. You do bypass a lot of the line but head through regular security. You will need to show your NEXUS card to get through though

2) Will NEXUS card do the trick like Global Entry or do I need to carry my Passport?

Have you done the retinal scan? If not, then you will not be able to use the kiosks. You will have to go through regular immigration, though by showing your NEXUS cards the officers may be a little easier on questioning.

If you haven't done the retinal scan, get it done before you check in with AS, the office is close by and the scan is fairly quick and free.

If you've done the retinal scan, ignore the above. At one point, afte you went through the NEXUS kiosks you just handed your immigration form and reciept to the gatekeeper and that was it, then they added an extra layer where you had to talk to a CBP officer, though you skip to the front of the line and the questioning is rather quick. I haven't gone out of YVR in a while, so I'm not sure if it's back to going straight from the kiosks to your gate or if you need to talk to an officer after

3) Are there any DL Skyclubs or AS boardrooms? As a DL DM do I get entry to AS boardroom?

There is no longer an AS boardroom, there is a Plaza Premium Lounge in the departures area. If you have Priority Pass or certain AMEX cards, you can get in

Thanks for your comments?
Ik.

@Aaron01 Thanks for your help. I have not done the retinal scan. Are there any place when it can be done at the airport before you go through the immigration? Or other places like the peace arch border or something?

@Aaron01 Thanks for your help. I have not done the retinal scan. Are there any place when it can be done at the airport before you go through the immigration? Or other places like the peace arch border or something?

I don't believe it can be done at Peace Arch, I'm pretty sure it has to be done in Canada, there may be an office in downtown Vancouver to do it as well. The NEXUS office at YVR is at the departures level, nearish to the food court, close to the AS gates.

It shouldn't take too long to get it done, provided the office is open before your flight.

I don't believe it can be done at Peace Arch, I'm pretty sure it has to be done in Canada, there may be an office in downtown Vancouver to do it as well. The NEXUS office at YVR is at the departures level, nearish to the food court, close to the AS gates.

It shouldn't take too long to get it done, provided the office is open before your flight.

I have a Sunday afternoon flight next week. I hope it is open on weekends.

At YVR, you can choose to use NEXUS or Global Entry by selecting which kiosk you use.

NEXUS: Requires a retina scan to be completed at least 24 hours prior to departure. You are required to have your NEXUS card, and fill out the blue paper customs form.

Global Entry: Just needs your passport and fingerprints at the kiosk. You answer the customs questions at the kiosk, so you don't need any additional paper form. No retina scan needed.

The NEXUS retina scan is available at the CBSA office pre-departure. If you're at YVR, it's worth it to get it done. The scan itself doesn't take very long, but there may be a wait as the CBSA office handles all sorts of immigration issues.

I have a Sunday afternoon flight next week. I hope it is open on weekends.

It is, and you don't need an appointment. It's in the international terminal near the big canoe statue. Just show up a bit early and say you need to get the retina scan for your NEXUS card.

Neil

2) Will NEXUS card do the trick like Global Entry or do I need to carry my Passport?

You MUST carry your passport with you when traveling by air, even if you are going between Canada and the United States. If, for some reason, you have to talk to an immigration official, failure to present a passport is grounds for immediate termination of your NEXUS/GE access as well as further hassling by customs in the future.

YVR has GE kiosks as well as NEXUS kiosks. If you haven't done your iris scan, you can use the GE kiosk.

I was told by customs agents that anytime you use your Nexus card you must carry your passport, even when driving across the border.

I can't do retina scans because of an issue with one of my eyes (but have a special sticker on my Nexus card for that). I like the US customs line at YVR though because I can use the fingerprint scan and get through quite quickly while my husband uses the retina scanner. They have fingerprint and retina machines for Nexus users side by side in the US customs hall at YVR. It is pretty quick and easy to use.

I was told by customs agents that anytime you use your Nexus card you must carry your passport, even when driving across the border.

The CBP/CBSA folks in Seattle told me that a NEXUS card was sufficient for driving/walking/boating/train across the border. They told me to carry the passport for flying, but the card itself is all you need. I just carry both at all times just to be on the safe side.

If you use the GE kiosks in Canada, grab a blue form just in case. The line dragon at YYZ wouldn't even let me in to the customs area unless it was filled out. :rolleyes:

Thank you very much all for your suggestions. Appreciate it. I will carry my passport and try to get the retina scan done before checking in. Even if it wont help that day, it should help on my way back to YVR.

I was told by customs agents that anytime you use your Nexus card you must carry your passport, even when driving across the border.

I can't do retina scans because of an issue with one of my eyes (but have a special sticker on my Nexus card for that). I like the US customs line at YVR though because I can use the fingerprint scan and get through quite quickly while my husband uses the retina scanner. They have fingerprint and retina machines for Nexus users side by side in the US customs hall at YVR. It is pretty quick and easy to use.

Your NEXUS card should be sufficient for land/sea crossings since it's a WHTI form of ID. The OP was looking to use the NEXUS card alone for an air crossing.

They have fingerprint and retina machines for Nexus users side by side in the US customs hall at YVR. It is pretty quick and easy to use.

I had no idea they have BOTH machines. Since I am in both programs, my choice would be GE since I don't have to fill out that damn blue form...

Thanks to the information provided it was a breeze going through YVR yesterday. I went to the NEXUS counter and had my IRIS scan (Some one I know insisted I call it an IRIS scan and not a Retina scan as IRIS has fingerprint kind of qualities and can be easily scanned whereas Retinal Scan requires specialized equipment that not even some eye doctors possess). Back to the story IRIS scan took less than 2 mins and all they needed was my NEXUS card. I then proceeded to do KIOSK check in to print boarding passes. From then on I moved through a different line at the security that allowed me to bypass few folks (very short line to start with) and used the NEXUS kiosk at the immigration lines. I was again put right at the front of the line and the immigration officer did not ask any questions and I was on my way to the gate. The AS gate agent did want to verify passport information if the check in agent did not already do so. She was calling bunch of folks on the flight for that.

All in all thanks for your help. I only wish AS first class didn't get full even before the 24 hour checkin window opened up on a sunday afternoon flight :) I was hoping for a battlefield upgrade but have to say the 8th row has pretty good legroom and the seat was comfortable.

I had no idea they have BOTH machines. Since I am in both programs, my choice would be GE since I don't have to fill out that damn blue form...

IME, the GE kiosks at YVR aren't as busy as the Nexus kiosks - no line at all for GE, but several people waiting for Nexus.