ffsim

I'm not sure where dgcpaphd was connecting to (domestic or international flight) but that's exactly what I did with my OSS-marked, YUL-bound BP a couple of weeks ago. I remember hesitating before entering that room because I thought the transfer desk was for international-bound connecting pax only, but the yellow-vested YYZ employee said "domestic connections here" so I gave it a try. Ended up on a bus that brought me to the D gates without ever having to re-clear security.

dudestir

How regular is the bus? On a tight connection would it be better to exit and re-enter through security with a Nexus?

I had to connect from DTW-YYZ-YVR in December. Delays in DTW had us at the gate 35 minutes prior to departure. Running the whole way from F99 I still managed to make it by going out and back in (even with a bit a delay explaining to CATSA why I was sweating so much). The bus route would have been easier on the nerves and body if it was faster.

canadiancow

@dgcpaphd said the departing flight was at an E gate, which means international.

And for this to make any sense, the arriving flight must have been from the US or international.

In both of these situations, you've been able to avoid security on the connection as long as I've been flying (which, for the record, isn't THAT long, but it far predates OSS at YYZ).

ffsim

Don't know how regular the bus is -- I've never missed one to take the following

I missed the E gate bit, but based on the description, OSS is a very similar process except you get on a bus rather than walk to E gates.

canadiancow

I totally get that, but the international/US to international without security is not part of the new OSS initiative. That's all I'm saying

Bohemian1

I hate to sound naive, but does this work if you have checked bags by the way?
I have an upcoming FCO-YYZ-YVR flight and would be happy not have to hassle with YYZ security again.

OSSYULYYZ

I believe so as long as FCO is considered a 'safe airport', but you won't be able to access your checked bags. Otherwise you would have to go through security...

Bohemian1

Thanks. I'm not sure I even consider FCO safe (probably for different reasons relating to sheer chaos). But my checked bags can stay checked, so maybe it will work. I will see.

YYC009

FCO is an OSS eligible airport.

tomvancouver

Even though all 6 (?) CBSA agents were processing incoming, progress was slow. I suspect I would have been quicker to use Nexus, and go through security again.

What they need are automated kiosks (old or new versions, +/- Nexus) then it could be really speedy.

Additionally I had my boarding pass scanned 5 times within about 10 metres! Firstly it was looked at by someone directing me to the right lane (not scanned), then scanned by the CBSA when I had my brief interview, then by a customs guy who took my declaration form, then by another guy literally 3 metres later, then by an AC connections agent (who told me the gate, which was OK even though I'd already been told twice on the flight, as well as by the AC app) and then finally by another guy who said "for the last time" just before I exited opposite the YUL international MLL, for the long walk to the domestic lounge.

Maybe someone can explain what they hope to discover by doing the multiple scans within a secure area.

ScGhost0

Well I can tell you that, on arriving into YVR from Las Vegas yesterday, I talked to three airport employees and one CBSA officer about the OSS on my boarding card, and not a single one of them had even heard of OSS there. They were saying "You MUST re-clear security no matter what". They have a weird system at YVR though where, if you're flying Air Canada (what they deem as "quick connect"), you walk down a hallway, go up an escalator, and get into a security line with all other connecting AC passengers. But you do still have to clear security, and rightfully so as the path to the quick connect takes you through the baggage carousels. Did I miss something at YVR or are they not even part of the OSS conversation yet?

tomvancouver

Answering my own question, maybe this is a way of collecting time and motion metrics for this newly introduced process (at YUL)

InTheAirGuy

This.

I came into YUL the other day on an overseas flight, and had OSS on my boarding pass. I came into the hall, and a ridiculous line. So I went out through regular Nexus, recreated security for domestic, and got to the gate for an earlier connection.

OSS without Nexus is like having a driver without a decent backswing. Pointless.

RangerNS

YYZ was a mess Friday afternoon (see my not-auto-rebook post).

But they did physically have about 6 new terminals installed up there with a couple of techs poking at them. I'm heading to Detroit now, maybe they will be up and running by Thursday.

After Burner

The above could be made more concise by simply replacing the bolded phrase with the word golf.