I thought I was being charitable. 7 months of winter is a more appropriate characterization of SFO than YVR!

(I live in Hawaii, so "winter" has a different meaning to me ;) )

Yeah we did. I am a slow learner :-).
I figured this time with no liquor and Nexus, I would be front of the line (which I was with barely 10-15 people ahead of me) and would clear quickly. Lesson learnt.
In general, YVR security is annoying at all gates. Even at C gates, they will send regular pax to the Nexus lines causing delays for genuine Nexus pax. They also put trainees on the Nexus lines. They also love to swab way too many people. The other annoying place is the International gates at YYZ where they also send everyone into the Nexus line with the only benefit being you skip the main line queue.
Is there a list of flights/cities/countries that qualify for OSS ?

So I had 'OSS' on my boarding pass for my connection in YHZ the other day coming in from :LHR and connecting to YYT. YHZ has constructing ongoing in the screening area so that the line up to get into security stretched well out into the atrium. As my connecting flight to YYT was delayed by a few hours due to weather, I got a coffee and waited til things had died down a bit. Before I could present my BP to the agent at the end of the line, I was called over for enhanced security screening (swabbing bag, laptop etc) the payoff of which was being sent into the priority line and getting through security in 5 minutes as opposed to 30+. So I got lucky and OSS, in YHZ at least, appears to be a waste of time.

Yeah, for my LHR-YHZ-YYZ connection in mid-December, the AC app shows "You must collect bags/clear customs/clear security". I don't suppose there's a timeline for them to actually roll out OSS at YHZ, eh?

I have OSS for BWI-YUL-YVR tomorrow.

I haven't flown into or through YUL in several years. Are they set up for OSS?

I got scolded and finger-wagged here before for saying what you just said. So instead of saying it again, I'll just agree with you. :p
Maybe deep down inside you just don't realize how much of a masochist you are. :p :D

YYZ's OSS is kind of a weird not really proper setup also with being sent out a side door onto the apron and then in a bus. at times may be actually slower vs going through security again and walking direct not that i have timed it

I think that's less about OSS, but more about the customs/connections procedures at YHZ that would allow your bag to be checked straight through to YYZ. If you come into contact with your checked bag, you must clear security as you would no longer be considered sterile.

Someone who knows the CATSA people at YYC once spoke to them about why the NEXUS lines are so slow. Supposedly they are not allowed to put trainees on the NEXUS line. However, since the NEXUS line is supposedly lower-risk, they will put brand new staff who have just finished their training and hence are still quite slow. This is a problem not just at YVR, but also at YYC and YYZ, in my experience.

Yes, the YYZ setup does seem somewhat jury rigged. And yes, there are definitely times when it would have been faster to go out and re-clear security. Eventually, if they install NEXUS machines and some kind of corridor so that the bus is no longer necessary, it will be a clear win every time. But even if you get stuck waiting for the bus or in a line at customs, you eliminate the aggravation/hassle factor of having to go through security again, so it's a trade-off. I've also found it became faster since the bus no longer drives all the way around the D hammerhead - that alone cut at least couple minutes off the journey.

New staff I guess are almost as slow as trainees. With all the procedures incl OSS, security, etc I find a bunch of mgmt types walking around in suits and clipboards/tablets but not actually resolving stuff. YVR for example is always short staffed and the connection security from International to domestic (non OSS) has been a disaster every flight I have taken - long lines, putting all liquids thru the liquid scan incl duty free sealed bottles, swabbing all electronics, swabbing passengers and not having enough staff or scanners to do all of this. Its probably costing the airlines incl AC money due to delayed passengers with their bags in the hold and pax held up at security. Its not the checked bag or customs/immig that's the issue, it is the security lines. For my next trip to TPE next month, I will look for a connection in Asia and then direct to YYZ rather than connect thru YVR. Its faster, better lounges, etc. I do not really want to spend 30-40 mins in a line.
If AC wants to be considered more for International traffic, their hubs need to transfer better, with or without OSS.

OSS is nothing more than making the customs/connection procedure better; your comment is just a tautology.

The terminal seems to have enough physical room to easily drop in a couple of customs stations on the second level behind the DOM side of the hermaphrodite gates (or could if they extend the 2nd floor over the double height customs room) to physically implement OSS. But none of the airport authority published plans I've seen indicate that this is on anyone's radar.

Yes. YUL does it the best. When you get out, do not go down the escalator to the right to the normal screening. Go left to the connections sign. You have machines to use (no paper forms) and Nexus terminals to the right.

The line moves fast. And once done, no security. You are exiting at the gates. YVR gate is usually very close.

Sorry no. OSS has nothing to do with Customs procedures. It is merely a recognition of the security standards at the origin airport meet or exceed Canada's standards. Until there is a process in place that allows the through check of a bag instead of having to take it through the Customs check point, OSS will be irrelevant for those that have checked bags.

I guess I broke some serious laws (or regulations with the force of law) last night in YYZ when my checked bag got through to YHZ without me touching it and I took the OSS bus. Having been checked through, I could not have presented my bag to Customs if I wanted. And there were customs officers between the US gates and the DOM gates on the OSS pipeline.

How did the customs officers know to show up at that different location last night? If your suggesting that they don't do anything different, I mean. Someone told them to work the OSS path.

I was speaking specifically about YHZ in my last post.

YYZ and a few other airports have the facilities to through check a bag from an international destination without a passenger having to pick it up to go through Customs. That is a prerequisite to OSS.