How long to clear Customs to/from YVR?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: missing YX more every day
Programs: Delta KM/PM/MM, Nexus, CLEAR, Sharriott Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,105
How long to clear Customs to/from YVR?
Newbie, please help:
How long can we expect to clear Customs in YVR for a U.S. transborder flight?
We're arriving late Friday morning and leaving early the next Friday morning.
The posts I see are from before the Olympics, and they mention 2-3 hours! You would think/hope that the facilities are better now.
How long can we expect to clear Customs in YVR for a U.S. transborder flight?
We're arriving late Friday morning and leaving early the next Friday morning.
The posts I see are from before the Olympics, and they mention 2-3 hours! You would think/hope that the facilities are better now.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC Aeroplan - Elite Status. DL Skymiles - Regular Status
Posts: 509
Newbie, please help:
How long can we expect to clear Customs in YVR for a U.S. transborder flight?
We're arriving late Friday morning and leaving early the next Friday morning.
The posts I see are from before the Olympics, and they mention 2-3 hours! You would think/hope that the facilities are better now.
How long can we expect to clear Customs in YVR for a U.S. transborder flight?
We're arriving late Friday morning and leaving early the next Friday morning.
The posts I see are from before the Olympics, and they mention 2-3 hours! You would think/hope that the facilities are better now.
Are you a US citizen? If so, it should be even shorter because Vancouver has special lanes.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: missing YX more every day
Programs: Delta KM/PM/MM, Nexus, CLEAR, Sharriott Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,105
thanks!
Yes, U.S. citizen. Appreciate the help, especially for the 6:30 A.M. departure.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, FB Plat, AS Gold, Marriott Gold, Fairmont Plat, BA wannabe
Posts: 684
Beware that summer season generally brings peak wait times up.
I left YVR last friday morning (8:30 am departure) and it took 1+hours.
6:30 times should be better, but allow for an hour IMO.
Into YVR you're at the mercy of your timing against jumbo jets from Asia/Europe. I've literally walked right up to an agent with no wait, and have waited 1.5 hours.
I left YVR last friday morning (8:30 am departure) and it took 1+hours.
6:30 times should be better, but allow for an hour IMO.
Into YVR you're at the mercy of your timing against jumbo jets from Asia/Europe. I've literally walked right up to an agent with no wait, and have waited 1.5 hours.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC Aeroplan - Elite Status. DL Skymiles - Regular Status
Posts: 509
Like the person above posted, if a jumbojet from Asia lands early that morning (and alot of passengers are connecting to the US), you may have a slightly more wait time. Generally though, 1h30m is more than enough time.
Also - Not sure about YVR, but at YYZ, even though the airport suggests that you arrive 3 hours before your flight, US CBP doesn't open until 4:30AM.. Therefore only leaving 1h30m for a 6 AM flight..
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
AFAIK, for transborder in Canada, you won't be allowed to line up for CBP processing until 2 hours prior. It's this way in YEG and YYC now.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC Aeroplan - Elite Status. DL Skymiles - Regular Status
Posts: 509
#8
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 9
Unfortunately, someone with my name has been tagged as undesirable at the US customs. Invariably, flight or cruise, I am pulled out of line while they look into this. Almost missed our flight to Disneyland when we took our granddaughter, and thank heavens the cruise was delayed as on a Sunday it was difficult to get anyone to verify. I have a nexus card, but I am still undesirable at customs, so I have given up and only drive over the border.
#9
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Posts: 86
You may have been given a random compliance check if you have nexus.