One Stop Security
May 21, 2017, 4:47 pm
#166
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,516
I just flew Europe-YYZ-USA the other day, and my YYZ-USA BP had OSS on it. I compared this to my Canada-YYZ-USA boarding passes which do not.
Is this an error on AC's part? Or will this eventually be implemented for connections to the US?
Is this an error on AC's part? Or will this eventually be implemented for connections to the US?
May 21, 2017, 10:41 pm
#168
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
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.
The bus ride was interesting, I think there are the same buses they used for the infield terminal in years past. The airport must be the habit of just storing these and pulling them out from time to time as needed.
May 22, 2017, 12:47 am
#169
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,194
May 22, 2017, 7:10 am
#170
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
May 22, 2017, 8:17 am
#172
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC 50k 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,402
May 22, 2017, 5:36 pm
#174
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
May 22, 2017, 6:27 pm
#175
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Right right. Except the airlines that gate check them 
Didn't know about pre-check. Or NZ actually. Not travelled with a laptop there! I do seem to recall them (or Australia?) allowing water thru in some cases.
Tbh it reminds me of China that had me open my backpack with camera stuff so the X-ray could see it all better. I decided a long argument (in China) was a bad idea but I may have muttered something
Didn't know about pre-check. Or NZ actually. Not travelled with a laptop there! I do seem to recall them (or Australia?) allowing water thru in some cases.
Tbh it reminds me of China that had me open my backpack with camera stuff so the X-ray could see it all better. I decided a long argument (in China) was a bad idea but I may have muttered something
Last edited by jc94; May 22, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Jul 20, 2017, 3:39 am
#176
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YYZ, YTZ, YHM
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 77
OSS at YOW?
Does anyone know if there's OSS when transiting from the US through YOW onward to another Canadian destination?
Jul 20, 2017, 5:13 am
#177
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,827
Jul 20, 2017, 4:04 pm
#178
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YYZ, YTZ, YHM
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 77
Thanks for the info! I asked because I had OSS on my BP, but didn't think that YOW had a corridor for that. Glad I wasn't on a wild goose hunt looking for an alternate path.
Jul 20, 2017, 8:42 pm
#179
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC 50k 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,402
I would say that CATSA definitely needs to work on either signage or education for OSS. Couple recent experiences: Montreal, asked CATSA employee about OSS. Neither he nor his work colleague spoke english. (Or pretended not to.) So AC has to provide services in both official languages but CATSA doesn't? Fast forward to this week. Asked CATSA employee in Toronto about OSS. She had less than no idea what I was talking about. And resented me interrupting her personal phone call. (She was sitting at a work desk supposedly directing incoming pax traffic at YYZ.)
Jul 21, 2017, 12:31 pm
#180
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,232
It's pretty sad when FT becomes the authoritative source for a government program. Not that you all aren't fine upstanding members of the realm, of course.
