Nexus is still open for business since searches are taking place after immigration.

I flew yyc-ogg yesterday and got really lucky, but it could have been ugly.

Part 1 - Check-in - AC executice class check-in was backed up as people argued with check-in people about what they can/can't bring on the plane. It tok about 20-25 minutes to check-in the 2 families ahead of us.

Part 2 - Immigration - normal sized line, but used Nexus. HOWEVER, in 2+ years of using it, I happened to get chosen for a random check and was taken to secondary inspection. Coincidence....possibly.

Part 3 - Secondary inspection - sat and waited in secondary for around 10 minutes before someone came to "inspect" me. They ran my bag through the x-ray, asked me a couple questions about how much cash I was carrying, and sent me on my way. Very painless considering what I was expecting.

Part 4 - terminal security - no change from normal routine. Short lines and was processed as normal.

Part 5 - gate security. Here is where things got weird. The gate we were using in YYC #23 is at the very end of the int'l terminal and is only accessible through 2 sets of glass doors. Since we arrived early and hadn't experienced any signficant delays up to that point, we were ready to park ourselves at the gate 1h 40 mins prior to takeoff. However they told us that the gate was closed and that they wouldn't start letting people through until an hour prior to the flight. A line began to build at the first set of glass doors. Since no one was actually explaining why people were standing in line, people just continued to queue and the line got longer.

We went for a bite to eat since there was little point standing in line for no reason. Coming back about 45 minutes later, the line was at least 150 people deep and moving at a snales pace as they were now doing the patdown/bag check. I immediately began looking for an angle to beat the line. As luck would have it, I saw several security guards walking towards the other set of glass doors and immediately made a move in that direction. They proceeded to open that set and opened a second inspection area. We were lucky enough to get through second and were at the gate 7 minutes later.

Unfortunately many others were not so lucky and waited in the line-up for well over an hour. At scheduled departure time, there were only 70 people on-board a sold out 767. The blessing in disguise is that I was behind a # of SE's on the upgrade list, who I assume were stuck in the security line, and missed their names being called, allowing my wife and I to snag the last 2 seats in J.

All in all, I once again say that reactionary airline security does absolutely nothing to protect the common man. My laptop bag which was stuffed with miscellaneous electronics and travel necessities was given a mediocre search and if I chose to tape something to my crotch, I'd still be getting it on board.

We got away with only slight inconveniences by sheer luck, but the stress for parents with infants and seniors with mobility issues will certainly make some of those folks think twice about flying while these procedures are in place.