FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Question about Canadian passport control

Sep 12, 2018, 10:01 pm

#6

Finkface

Join Date: Dec 2012

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RealHJ

Much slower than that is CATSA (the Canadian "TSA"). Always extremely slow and inefficient. Nexus (supposedly faster) lanes are always a good 4 fold + slower than general lane, so if you have Nexus/Global Entry, just go in the regular line; the "faster" line is always slower and almost every "pre-cleared low-risk" traveler gets a painfully slow secondary screening, quite unlike the general public lines that are longer but much faster (though still slower than US TSA).

At HNL, DCA, SEA, etc. I rarely get to airport (int'l or domestic) more than 45 min before flight departure. In Canada you'd better get there at least 1h30m before, if not a full 2h. You'll need plenty of extra time for the painfully slow CATSA experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHXflier

My experience with CATSA is much different; about on par with the TSA, and perhaps a bit faster.

Same here. With Nexus and no bags, I stroll in around 35-40 minutes before any flight, including pre-cleared transborder flights. Never waited long enough at CATSA to make it even a close call.

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