YVR domestic to US transfer
Oct 12, 2010, 9:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: AC SE, SPG Lifetime Plat, ACMM
Posts: 3,535
YVR domestic to US transfer
I did a search but did not come up with anything clear--I am trying to find out if transiting from Domestic to US in YVR do we have to retrieve our bags and go through US customs or is it like the olympics time where you only retrieve your bags if the US Customs wants you to beacuse they do a video check of the bags?
Oct 12, 2010, 9:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1
Yes, I travelled from Edmonton to Vancouver then on to San Diego. Just before US customs, they will present you with an image of your luggage for you to confirm. Then you proceed through US customer only with your carry on. much easier and very efficient! (No Nexus!! when you arrive in vancouver domestically going onto the US).
Oct 12, 2010, 10:02 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ, SFO
Programs: AS 100K, UA*S, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond | Formerly: AC Super Elite
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YEG-YVR-SFO, same experience as DJLenin -- video check of your bags
As an additional note, if you're doing domestic to US transfer and it just so happens that the airport is configured such that you walk through YVR international, don't try to use the int'l MLL -- they will refuse you access
edit: but then again i'm just some lowly E, as an SE you might have better luck than me ;p
As an additional note, if you're doing domestic to US transfer and it just so happens that the airport is configured such that you walk through YVR international, don't try to use the int'l MLL -- they will refuse you access
edit: but then again i'm just some lowly E, as an SE you might have better luck than me ;p
Oct 12, 2010, 10:43 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: AC75 MM
Posts: 959
But then again - the US MLL is better than the international MLL (in spite of the renovations). More space, same food and wine, and none of the heat you get if it happens to be a sunny day due to the SW facing windows which can make it unbearably hot.
Oct 13, 2010, 10:36 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: YUL
Posts: 2,115
Yes, I travelled from Edmonton to Vancouver then on to San Diego. Just before US customs, they will present you with an image of your luggage for you to confirm. Then you proceed through US customer only with your carry on. much easier and very efficient! (No Nexus!! when you arrive in vancouver domestically going onto the US).
Oct 13, 2010, 12:41 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
Welcome to FT, DJLenin. Yes, that is the procedure, and no, the NEXUS lanes are not accessible if you transfer internally. I would think this could become an issue during peak periods, as there only seem to be two agents for connecting flights, and that it may be easier to exit and re-enter completely to be able to use NEXUS. Can anyone confirm this?
You can certainly go land side and used the Nexus to bypass. When I did this I found the security screening with the people originating at YVR to be a hassle (even with priority line, etc.).
When I stayed air side I found the line up at US customs to be a hassle, but then security was very easy (I can't remember, it was either there was no additional screening required, or there was no line because of the bottleneck with the US customs people).
IMHO it is (only slightly) better to stay air side and put up with the line up at US customs).
so I'll ask her to use the US side MLL.
Oct 13, 2010, 1:23 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: YHZ
Programs: meh
Posts: 524
When I stayed air side I found the line up at US customs to be a hassle, but then security was very easy (I can't remember, it was either there was no additional screening required, or there was no line because of the bottleneck with the US customs people).
IMHO it is (only slightly) better to stay air side and put up with the line up at US customs).
IMHO it is (only slightly) better to stay air side and put up with the line up at US customs).
After they tore apart my bag, I went through to US customs and was the only person waiting in the airside lineup (the regular line was massive). The guy closest to the "wait here" sign waved me over as his next person and off I went. I think I cleared that whole process, including the SSSS, and was in the lounge in about 15 minutes.
Oct 13, 2010, 11:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ, SFO
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Plus the US MLL has a shower which I think the international MLL doesn't have. Plus, the US MLL doesn't have a snarky power-tripping lounge maid like the YVR domestic MLL
Oct 14, 2010, 6:54 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Earth
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Welcome to FT, DJLenin. Yes, that is the procedure, and no, the NEXUS lanes are not accessible if you transfer internally. I would think this could become an issue during peak periods, as there only seem to be two agents for connecting flights, and that it may be easier to exit and re-enter completely to be able to use NEXUS. Can anyone confirm this?
Recently, had to go to LAX via YVR from YYZ. I did not know that there is an internal transfer and transferred the long way (i.e. outside and back in). I promised myself never to do that again!
Now I have some hope of repeating the experience but with the airside option. As stated later, if there was Nexus, it would be icing on the cake.