Originally Posted by
smes
So I just ran the blockade at YVR. Came in via KAL with a transit in ICN.
Here's what happened:
- The checkin staff at TPE were sort of shocked that I didn't have a hotel reservation. They made me sign an indemnification form. Meh.
- ArriveCAN was only checked at TPE, not by GA at ICN.
- CBSA will try and flex on you if you don't have a hotel reservation. It's an instant path to secondary inspection (as a side note a hilarious ATIP would be to get the taxonomy for those customs forms the machine spits out)
- Once you tell CBSA that you don't have a hotel reservation you get sent to a counter occupied by PHAC with an RCMP sentry.
- PHAC will make you explain yourself. If you keep your cool and don't act like Chris Sky they are quite professional. I just said that I will be quarantining in the safety of my home that's well-stocked with food etc, and will be challenging the ticket in court on the grounds of charter violations. You get sat in a dunce's corner while they take your passport/DL and write you a ticket ( I wonder what would happen if I said I didn't have a DL)
- As an observation, there were a lot of people that also didn't have hotel reservations; they weren't challenging it but just didn't have/couldn't afford/wanted to do it at home. They seemed to be giving out free accomodations to the families and tickets to everyone else.
- Before you get the ticket you get a PHAC officer that comes over and gives you one last chance to explain yourself. In my case the officer was stern but fair. My argument was that I pointed out that on the balance of probabilities a fully vaccinated (or even half vaccinated) PAX with a negative Covid test + getting a second covid test is not going to pose a risk.
- Then you are guided out to the Covid test area to register and get the swab done. I will say that this part was extremely efficient, and the registration/test took less than 15 mins. Compared to some of the brain busters I've had before, they are quite gentle.
- But then again being forced to do a Covid test that penetrates the body is such BS when the Quarantine Act literally prohibits it, but you've got a stronger case against hotel quarantine if you cooperate with this part.
- After you do the test you can either wait for the hotel shuttle or go on your way. For all the seriousness the PHAC goons and CBSA puts on you in the international arrival hall you are literally free to do whatever you want after leaving.
Hopefully, the charter challenge goes through. If not, looking forward to fighting this ticket myself!
This all sounds great. My thought is . . what if you just pretend to have a booking all the way through the process and then just proceed home? I arrived and nobody asked for any paperwork to substantiate my booking. I did the stay but really thought that I could have skipped it etc. There are so many hotels now and you can book on the fly - can book direct etc - - and so there cannot possibly be a cross-reference to every single passenger . . and even then . . what are they going to do when they find out you're not there? You already will be home?
So - it is just the hypothetical - what if you just diverted yourself home and not having actually even had a booking.