New Transborder Process at YYZ
#62
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
#63
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,251
#64
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,585
making sense of YYZ transborer area
I observed this mess @ YYZ last week. Fortunately, I have NEXUS and carry on only i.e. I was there for less than a minute. Here is what I know:
- the transborder security lines have been moved & there are big line-ups;
- after security, you need to self-scan your bp and wait in a holding area till your checked luggage is identified and you are called to confirm same;
- the next stop is US pre-clearance - which is now located in a massive hall where the old security lines and baggage belts were. Walk on through;
- At the transborder MLL, I asked the dragon why the security was moved? The answer (I am not kidding) is because the US Customs & Immigration pre-clearance agents did not want to be located in the same area as checked luggage. I am not kidding.
- the transborder security lines have been moved & there are big line-ups;
- after security, you need to self-scan your bp and wait in a holding area till your checked luggage is identified and you are called to confirm same;
- the next stop is US pre-clearance - which is now located in a massive hall where the old security lines and baggage belts were. Walk on through;
- At the transborder MLL, I asked the dragon why the security was moved? The answer (I am not kidding) is because the US Customs & Immigration pre-clearance agents did not want to be located in the same area as checked luggage. I am not kidding.
#65
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
I observed this mess @ YYZ last week. Fortunately, I have NEXUS and carry on only i.e. I was there for less than a minute. Here is what I know:
- the transborder security lines have been moved & there are big line-ups;
- after security, you need to self-scan your bp and wait in a holding area till your checked luggage is identified and you are called to confirm same;
- the next stop is US pre-clearance - which is now located in a massive hall where the old security lines and baggage belts were. Walk on through;
- At the transborder MLL, I asked the dragon why the security was moved? The answer (I am not kidding) is because the US Customs & Immigration pre-clearance agents did not want to be located in the same area as checked luggage. I am not kidding.
- the transborder security lines have been moved & there are big line-ups;
- after security, you need to self-scan your bp and wait in a holding area till your checked luggage is identified and you are called to confirm same;
- the next stop is US pre-clearance - which is now located in a massive hall where the old security lines and baggage belts were. Walk on through;
- At the transborder MLL, I asked the dragon why the security was moved? The answer (I am not kidding) is because the US Customs & Immigration pre-clearance agents did not want to be located in the same area as checked luggage. I am not kidding.
// Edit: on more detailed reading, they don't offer gold track, and only rely on gold track in foreign airports...
#66
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: BDL, YVR, CMH
Programs: AC, WN, Nexus
Posts: 74
In light of the attacks in Istanbul, maybe that's not so crazy. The vulnerability of the US customs hall can be reduced by eliminating the presence of unscanned checked luggage.
#67
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
You'll see this change rolled out to all CBP pre-clearance facilities in the near future, and all new facilities require it as standard.
#68
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 433
Do domestic connecting passengers still have to go through security? It doesn't make sense if we are screened by CATSA in Canada and still have to be screened again in Toronto if we didn't leave the secure area. Yes there are 'different standards', but I have been asked to take off my shoes on a domestic flight from YUL...
#69
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
Do domestic connecting passengers still have to go through security? It doesn't make sense if we are screened by CATSA in Canada and still have to be screened again in Toronto if we didn't leave the secure area. Yes there are 'different standards', but I have been asked to take off my shoes on a domestic flight from YUL...
#70
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 433
Just went through yesterday and the lines were longer for connecting passengers after this new procedure was implemented. (I have never flown a direct transborder flight from YYZ) Why can't OSS be implemented?!
#71
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
I would imagine OSS for Int'l->US might never happen because of US requirements, although I don't have any hard evidence either way.
#72
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 9
I also heard that the lines were being bogged down by travellers with big suitcases, whereas now travellers can move a bit faster through the line.
#73
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
I interpreted Antonio8069's point about checked luggage as a security concern for CBP officers, not an efficiency one. Although I guess most of us wouldn't necessarily mind an improvement in efficiency... If only that's what we have here
#74
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 433
But now passengers connecting from a domestic flight are sent through an area where there are only 2 security lanes. In the past when security was post-US customs, I remember there being 4-6 working security lanes. So connecting passengers do have to wait longer...
#75
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
Honestly, just stop and have a coffee (to ensure enough time for your bag to transfer), reprint your BP at a kiosk to it doesn't show as being printed elsewhere and go through the front. Now that everyone drops bags before hand, all CBP kiosks are setup at scan the BPs and see the bags.