Scoop

Note to all - Flew syd-hnl-yyz and yyz-yvr-hnl-syd in the past week, and the procedures have changed. You now must collect all baggage, clear US customs and immigration, re-check your bags, clear airport security, and re-board. It's adding about an hour to the layover time.

As an aside, the concierge staff in HNL are excellent. The concierge who met me on the way to Toronto picked out my luggage and had it on a baggage cart waiting for me after I cleared immigration. Great service!

Shareholder

Well, at least US Customs want to make sure our onward flights are safe. But what a drag! Thanks for the scoop, Scoop. [Couldn't resist...]

After Burner

If there's no sterile connnection at HNL, does this mean than YYZ/YVR-HNL flights will now pre-clear US customs in Canada?

If this is the case, then I consider this procedure change to be good news.

Shareholder

These flights, as well as others by QF and Air NewZealand, have always used a cut off part of the HNL terminal which was designated sterile for these transfers. Those diembarking the aircraft were channeled either to US Customs/Immigration downstairs, or into the lounge areas of the terminal if they were connecting. This has been the procedure for the 30 years I have flown this service, back in the days it was operated by CP.

I agree that the nature of this previous "sterility" was always a mystery to me. It appeared that I could exit the terminal building through normal doors, though not sure what lay beyond. It was still not akin to walking into the rest of the terminal, which was blocked by security, with the only exits via the downstairs Customs/Immigration area. I am not sure how much more sterile one can get other than having a mid-field terminal, or locking all doorways.

Altaflyer

I think there were always "eyes" on you when in-transit. In fact when transferrring from CP to QF a couple of years ago a Customs or Immigration inspector came and talked to us in the transit area and I think had a look in my friend's purse!! While it would appear you could just walk out of the place I don't think this was truly the case.

YVR Cockroach

So the procedures for transit passengers have changed from no inspection in 1996 to (cursory) questioning and inspection of documents in 1999 (where Empress was hassled) to this today. All the more reason to go via Asia.

I always thought it could well be a I.N.S. fishing expedition (to catch unpardoned deserters and draft dodgers among others).

AlmostThere

Deserters perhaps, but Vietnam era draft dodgers were granted a blanket pardon in 1977 by Pres. Carter

cf: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg/codific/procs/p04483.html

Andrew Yiu

That would be a wonderful idea so we can avoid the long lines at HNL especially since the flight arrive close to midnight. I never understand why they don't pre clear HNL flights.

Shareholder

They don't preclear because HNL was not mainland USA. And I doubt we'll see it now because of the mixed carriage of US-bound and Australian-bound passengers on these flights. For example, what happens if AC is carrying passengers who require the type of entry visa into the US that must be acquired in advance? But these passenges are going through to Australia? They would need to get this visa from the US consulate/embassy, otherwise could not pre-clear. Under the new system, at least they could be held in "quaranteen" and be reboarded under escort.

YVR Cockroach

Actually, some of the leisure flights (namely TS and certain 2T flights) that have the ultimate destination of Hawaii (and not going on to the South Pacific) do preclear in YVR. At least they did last December.

The new/current system as Scoop describes it does require the transiting pax to clear entry into the U.S. at HNL (unless it is a more formalised fishing expedition and entry visas are not required). It is the old system (prior to mid-September or whenever Scoop's experience was) that had this sterile transit. There is no opportunity for pax to transit in a quarantined area inbetween flights.

This new procedure could actually make the flight via LAX more attractive (more time to sleep, at least for YVR/west coast pax).

FlyerGoldII

We are flying from YOW to HNL today on AC 47, via YVR. Will we preclear US customs in YVR, or not? If so, we would go on the concourse dealing with US flights? If not, we would go onto the concourse dealing with international flights?

The Lev

Yes you pre-clear in YVR (and meet your bags at a luggage belt half way through US Customs).

taupo

I hope this gets to you in time.
http://www.yvr.ca/guide/around/connecting.asp?id=ca2usa

Make sure your bags are tagged all the way through. When you walk up the ramp from the DOM MLL towards the exit to the public area, hang a hard left, do NOT walk out of the secure area, their are signs saying US connections.
You will clear INS, pick up your bags, clear Customs, security again, then on your way.

Clipper801

(deleted)

yyznomad

I wonder if Scoop is still posting/lurking here...