Originally Posted by
bocastephen
Remembering what I know about YYZ management from my prior dealings with them years back, I would chalk this decision up to nothing more than pure, absolute stupidity and incompetence, with a splash of "more people are coming so let's screw with them."
Who determines what lines are open though? Wouldn't CATSA do that, or at least CATSA in conjunction with GTAA?
Is it just YYZ where the priority/Nexus lines are closed? What about YYZ domestic/International? What about other airports (YVR/YYC/YUL)? You'd think they could at least enable some sort of pass system, kind of like 'Pre-Check lite' in the US, where you carry a card showing you don't have to take your laptop out/shoes off, etc.
And yes, it seems silly to me, given that there are likely more travelers now to go to the US then at any time since March 2020, and you'd think that having separate lines would give everyone more space. I do kind of wonder if this could be a worker shortage issue?
The security was long suspended since early 2020, time saving doesn't really matter since the traffic volume is so low, even a week ago.
One could always check wait time on
https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/air...tional-airport, which has been less than 5 mins evey time I checked.
Is volume really that low? In much of 2020, especially spring, for sure. Not sure Pearson's numbers these days, but at least in the US, TSA was clearing >2 million travelers again on many days (in fact, 20 days in the last month, with most others clearing at least 1.8 mil or more - CATSA shows lots more people through checkpoints in the last couple of weeks - it had its best day in a long time yesterday, at almost 85K at the largest 8 airports). Summer travel surge, and sure, numbers will probably quiet down again after Labor Day, and those numbers don't break down airports, or for CATSA, how many are domestic/transborder/international. But I suspect we're not going to go back anywhere near pandemic lows (<200K in the US, and <5K at the largest 8 some days in Canada) again.
Also, while it may be <5 or 10 minutes most of the day, I suspect the morning rush flights (leaving at 9am or earlier) would see plenty higher wait times (I don't know if historical wait times are available...would be interesting to see). But seems between screening and customs, there are long delays. Anecdotal, but I've been checking YYZ-SFO AC delays, and most days for at least the last couple of weeks, the morning SFO flight has always been delayed, usually 2+ hours. Something clearly is not working.
On another note, CATSA showing this under the Trusted Traveller section of the site:
If Trusted Traveller screening lines are not available, you will receive front-of-the-line service in the queue but must follow regular divesting and screening procedures when using standard screening lines.
Does this at least not happen anymore? Shouldn't these agencies have updated their sites with relatively current info. by now?