GJS - yow

What signs are there for OSS? The area just before the escalators down to the Immigration main hall has a number of signs for a confluence of passengers - presumably OSS is for those connecting to flights in Canada (D gates)?

OSSYULYYZ

Last time I flew through YYZ, the connections lane was on the left-hand slide next to the NEXUS line. They have since moved it to the right?

YYC009

MBJ is not an OSS eligible origin.

GJS - yow

That is correct. Furthest right is passengers needing assistance (mobility impaired), then Connections, then foreign passport holders at centre-right, then the kiosks for Canadian travellers at centre-left, and NEXUS at the far left.

GJS - yow

I figured that out after posting. It was a return from FRA the week before that had OSS on my boarding card. Regardless, in both cases I missed seeing the spot to divert to the OSS corridor. That is why I asked about the signage. Anyone have a photo?

Plumber

Thanks! Sounds like some progress has been made. i will check it out on my next trip!

RatherBeInYOW

The secure OSS "corridor" (it also involves taking a bus back airside in to the D gate area) is at the top of the double escalator + stairs (on the left) before you go down to the main immigration hall.

Doc Savage

That was my first thought, too.

irishguy28

Had you gone to Google, you'd have got it in less than three seconds.

ffsim

Correct. If you've gone down the escalator, you've gone too far.

RatherBeInYOW

There is a sign (going from memory) that says something like "all Canadian connections" (says nothing about "OSS") and there is a small doorway going in to a room where the customs agents are. When I went by they had a guy steering people in there. When you go past the agents you go down an escalator to a small room where you walk outside and board a bus.

The bus drops you airside on the terminal D gates area, you go up an escalator and you are at the area just below where the escalator goes up from the D gates to the E/F gates.

ridefar

There is no OSS signage or identification at all. In fact the only sign I recall faces the wrong way for 80% of the connecting traffic. Unless you know where to look, it would be very difficult to find unassisted. Additionally, there are 4-5 GTAA employees asking to see your boarding pass (unnecessarily) every 30m or so. I still think the process needs a couple improvements like Nexus machines, reduced boarding pass checks, and a hallway for walking to D gates rather than being forced to take the bus. But just adding clearer signage with an "OSS" logo or lettering would help. For non FF who have no idea what OSS is (and even many FF) there is no way to know that the OSS clearance area is an OSS clearance area. It is one of many things TSA pre-check does right--the logo and the identifiers are everywhere and are used as visual cues without the need for reading the sign in almost every airport.

OSSYULYYZ

Right now that is not possible because the first idea is to take the path for connections from Domestic to International. That will not work due to TWOV and CBSA...

dgcpaphd

Hi, you suggested that I report back about my experience.

Before I recount my experience, I want to say that I can readily understand why some passengers could get caught up in having to go through security for a connecting flight in Toronto. Quite frankly, the signs for transit passengers there is for the birds.

After a walk of about a third of a mile from the aircraft gate, I saw a sign with several large letters. One of the letters was a large red E with a note that said 'International" and there was an arrow pointing to a little unmarked room.

Although the large crowd from my plane was heading to Customs (along with passengers from other aircraft filled the corridors), I decided to stop at the little room that was just past the sign that said "E" even though the room had no sign indicating it was for transfer passengers. I knew the gate for my connecting flight started with "E" so I decided to inquire.

There were five counters in the room all filled by Canadian Customs employees. There was no passenger in line. In other words, it was not busy or even being used by one passenger.

As I walked into the room, I was motioned to the counter by an officer who asked for my boarding pass (that had the OSS written on it) and for my passport. He also asked for the Canadian Customs card. After that, he did some computer noises then he kept the Canadian Custom card but returned my passport and boarding pass. He then said that I could go to the gate.

It was as simple as one-two-three. No security again.

If I had not gone to that room, I would have continued with the hoard of other passengers and would likely have had to go through security.

Now I know. I learned a lot from this little exercise.

Hopefully my question, my experience and narrative will help someone with a connecting flight in Toronto.

-

canadiancow

I don't think that's OSS. That process has existed a lot longer than OSS.

The OSS discussion is generally referring to international to domestic connections.

Even several years ago, you didn't have to clear security on US-INTL connections in YYZ.