gtpdiddy

I'll be transiting at YYC first time this December from FRA-YYC then YYC-DEN. I'm NEXUS/GE member. How long will it take? Do they have dedicated US connection section?

Never been to YYC before so tips appreciated. Been through YYZ/YUL/YVR before

GT

YYC009

You will get off the Air Canada flight in Concourse C, then proceed through Canada Customs where you will need to have your customs form ready to enter Canada. Once clearing the first Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer, you will pickup your checked luggage. Then you will clear the second CBSA Officer and are 'in Canada'. You will take your baggage with you up to the Departures Level (as you exit Canada Customs you will be on the Arrivals Level) and proceed to checkin with United Airlines. If you have your boarding pass and if your luggage is through checked, you can skip the United Airlines counter and proceed directly into US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP). You will need to complete your customs card to enter the US. You will bring your luggage to a US CBP Officer and clear US Customs and 'enter the US'. You will then drop off your luggage, and then proceed through Security before heading to your gate to board the aircraft.

There can be long lines at Canada Customs when Frankfurt arrives, but there will not normally be long lines at US CBP in the afternoon as they are busier in the morning.

I believe the legal minimum connection time is no less than 1:15 and that will be cutting it close. Ideally you will have close to two hours as a flight from Europe-YYC can easily loose up to 30min on an average day due winds, nevermind all the connecting process aspect to your travel plans, plus a reasonable buffer. Additionally, remember that United Airlines closes their Checkin Counters one hour prior to departure, so if you do not have your UA boarding pass by then, you will automatically miss your connection.

There is a special line at US CBP for Nexus/Global Entry/etc., but this is more helpful to those passengers on morning flights YYC-USA due to the volume of passengers at that time.

There is no lounge that AC/UA have inside US CBP and Security, although there is a contract Servisair Lounge (Chinook I believe it is called) if you did plan a long layover.

Hope this helps...

sp4294

Quite awkward process. Amazing that you can't just pick up the bags and redeposit them if checked through after seeing the agent like in YVR and then head to US Customs.

gtpdiddy

Thank you. Are there NEXUS kiosks at arrival at Canadian CBP? I never check my bags so should be quick, but sounds like it's a pain to exit and re-enter rather than directly bypass Canadian customs and go to US customs since it's a direct connection. I have over 2 hours.

How's the weather in Calgary in early December in terms of delays and IRROPS?

GT

Tedgrrrr

Yes there are Nexus kiosks.

It's impossible to predict the weather, but YYC doesn't have fog as often as YVR or YYZ, which helps. My YYC flights have rarely been delayed.

I_Can_Fly_US_Airways

Not if you use the Global Entry Machine. You do NOT have to fill out a US Customs card*

*Nexus Yes, GE No. That's why I prefer the GE machine, one less form to fill out (-: