I just cleared through OSS in YUL, and it seems like they really have the bugs worked out. The signage is very clear in the main corridor, and you go past the main escalator and then down. The NEXUS line was opened and manned, and there was a CBSA officer in the booth right at the end of that lane.

The only hiccup, as mentioned, is that they scan your boarding pass literally 5 times, and it is a bit ridiculous. Toward the exit, a security guard scans your pass, then literally 40 feet later, a CBSA officer does (and takes your slip). Then, about another 100 feet down the corridor, another security guard scans one final time.

Even with a 5 min delay at the exit when the CBSA officer couldn’t get the boarding pass to scan (and had to call a Supt and another officer), I deplaned at gate 84 at 17:56 and was at gate 21 at 18:19. That’s pretty quick. I hustled pretty good, outright jogged about half of it.

All in all, very efficient. A much easier transit than YYZ, and YUL doesn’t shut down until March once the temp hits -12.

YUL changed the maze again. Continue straight at the top of the stairs to a new OSS area. Kiosks abound. Much temporary maze after.

Still BP checks every 25m

Nexus kiosk failed to take my picture and my maze was much longer, ultimately dumping me landside with no further interaction with anything more than mindless BP checkers.

RangerNS Can we merge this OSS thread with the one in the Canada Forum?

Same for me last week, except when np picture it told to see the agent. Who was also getting people from another line, and not clear how to prioritize.

Person in front of me could not get her picture either. But no iris can.

I had the same issue with the facial recognition at YUL.

I know some people like the 'new' machines better, but the retinal scan ones worked better for me, even with glasses on.

"Connections" at YVR is not OSS. OSS is unsigned and to your right as you are entering the NEXUS area. You must turn around and head to the back corner of the customs hall instead of going to Arrivals, Connections, NEXUS, or literally anything that has a sign on it.

For entertainment I watch the confusion from the TB PPL which overlooks the customs hall.

Just to confirm (seeing that is for my spouse and I don't want to get it wrong) US->CAN @ YYZ still involves catching the bus per https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...ort/us-ca.html?

As of 2020-01-02, the process is still the same.

Thanks!

Has OSS been eliminated at YUL? Coming back from NRT yesterday, I was searching for the connection signs in Immigration. When I asked, I was told that I had to enter the regular (massive) queue, exit secure area, take the escalator upstairs and go through a typical
hellacious security queue to take my final
flight home to Ottawa.

If it’s gone in YUL going forward I’ll have to arrange my flights to connect only through YYZ, where the OSS connection process makes the final leg home a breeze.

Generally only flights arriving from the US and Europe are ITD OSS eligible as of now. It's no different in YYZ or YVR, although both of these airports have dedicated security areas for OSS ineligible passengers.

I have been flying in and out of YUL for most of the year as it's much better than the gong show at YYZ. Not sure why the maze needs to be so long or having my BP checked every 25M, however they ask you where you are from and I always say New York so I stay OSS and walk right into the domestic departures. The control folks are not well informed as when asked where I am going I always say bendover, Saskatchewan or yellowpee, Manitoba, and never have an issue, lol. You have to have some fun when dealing with this bureaucracy.

Agreed. But the multiple boarding pass checks at YUL makes zero sense to me either. I mean, where could you possibly go?

Having done the YUL maze a number times this year, I am assuming all those folks is a way to lower the unemployment rate in Montreal.

The only issue I can see is if you're flying domestic without a passport, and you ended up in the international section, it would be a huge pain to get out.