Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Baggage/Customs in YVR for HKG-CX-YVR-AA-DFW?

I read some new rules about TSA baggage inspections.

When one lands at YVR off CX from HKG and in transit to AA to DFW, do you have to clear Canadian customs with your bags and then take them to the USA departure area and go through US customs?

Is there not a way to transit directly into the US area and not have to go through Canadian customs too?

Even if sterile transit was available, you can't use it for YVR-DFW because that flight arrives in a domestic terminal in DFW.

All flights from YVR into the US must pre-clear US customs and immigration.

Here is a link that should answer your question:

http://www.yvr.ca/guide/around/connecting.asp?id=int2usa

I haven't done an international to US connection so I can't comment further.

I have flown an AC TPE-YVR-JFK earlier in 2002. The connection was rather straightforward. You followed the transit sign to the designated USA connection counters. First, you will be directed to a baggage claim, where your USA bound bags will be collected (make sure your bags checking through to DFW... AC is pretty efficient with USA connecting bags, but I am not sure about CX). Then you collect your bag and headed to the USA immigration counters... then customs and then dropping off your bags again.

If you don't have a boarding pass for AA, I guess you will have to clear Canadian immigration and customs (which are not fun) and then head to the USA check in area and follow the usual procedures. The whole process will take two hours... I will allocate at least two and a half hours for connection in this case.

Carfield

Thanks-that link was quite detailed.