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-   -   One Stop Security (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-canada-aeroplan/1753887-one-stop-security.html)

GJS - yow Mar 18, 2016 1:38 pm

One Stop Security
 
I had a new code on my boarding pass for today's YYZ-YOW flight, which was a connection after flying CDG-YYZ with AC. The new AC code was OSS.

It appeared on the paper boarding card just before the Zone. i.e. it was printed as "OSS - ZONE 1."

On my mobile boarding card, it had "OSS" just below my name, to the side of the QR code.

When I asked in Paris, they weren't sure about it, so I Googled it and found that the EU and Canada have agreed to recognize each other's security procedures.

New airport security option made available to speed up connections for air travellers
February 29, 2016 – Ottawa, Ontario – Transport Canada

The Government of Canada is pleased to announce the implementation of a new One Stop Security (OSS) arrangement for flights from Europe and the U.S. connecting through some Canadian airports.

Under this OSS arrangement, passengers and their belongings that have been screened at their point of departure may not have to go through additional screening at participating Canadian airports where they have connecting flights. Making airport connections simpler and faster allows travellers to reach their family and friends more quickly and allows business travellers to get their business done more swiftly. It also helps the Canadian aviation industry attract more flights to or through Canada.

The OSS initiative is made possible when two or more countries agree that their aviation security standards are equivalent.

Existing high security standards found in Canadian airports will not be impacted as a result of OSS.
Unfortunately, it has not been implemented yet in Toronto. When I asked several AC employees (gate agent, lounge staff) none knew when it would come into effect.

[apologies if this has been covered elsewhere on this forum - I searched and couldn't find it]

canadiancow Mar 18, 2016 1:53 pm

I have this on my SFO-YVR today.

The bigger issue at the moment is that you go through baggage claim, so you have access to "unscreened" objects.

They'd need a sterile transfer pathway for this to work.

HerpaYvr Mar 18, 2016 2:08 pm

FINALLY! this is happening.

Flying home through YYZ it will be nice not to go outside and again through YYZ security to fly home.

Better yet when flying through LHR and not going through security again and enjoying more MLL time!

Bartolo Mar 18, 2016 2:44 pm

Does anyone know if this is already in effect for YYZ-LHR? If connecting onto LH, is it the same terminal? If BR I expect it's a different terminal and this wouldn't help. Any advice on these issues appreciated.

WR Cage Mar 18, 2016 3:12 pm


Originally Posted by Bartolo (Post 26352418)
Does anyone know if this is already in effect for YYZ-LHR? If connecting onto LH, is it the same terminal? If BR I expect it's a different terminal and this wouldn't help. Any advice on these issues appreciated.

Unknown if LHR can react quickly, but AC and LH are in the same terminal. Additionally T2 was designed to accommodate OSS type pax flow.

I would give it a try on the ground in LHR if you get OSS onto your BP.


Originally Posted by canadiancow (Post 26352174)
I have this on my SFO-YVR today.

The bigger issue at the moment is that you go through baggage claim, so you have access to "unscreened" objects.

They'd need a sterile transfer pathway for this to work.

YVR does not have a sterile transit corridor that could accommodate OSS pax flow.

YYZ does have this sterile corridor. the corridor runs above gates 53-57 and used to transfer domestic pax to International flights. There is a CBSA desk in node F just after international security screening that could handle the entry card formalities. Additionally there is a security desk at either end of the corridor to prevent people from getting lost and accidentally winding up in the wrong area.

YYC new International terminal will have a connections center that can handle sterile international to domestic connections. The sterile connections connections center will be located where the AC Transborder MLL would have gone if AC decided to take up the lease. However AC did not provide for a Transborder MLL in the new terminal New terminal opens in fall 2016.

Bartolo Mar 18, 2016 3:28 pm


Originally Posted by WR Cage (Post 26352545)
Unknown if LHR can react quickly, but AC and LH are in the same terminal. Additionally T2 was designed to accommodate OSS type pax flow.

I would give it a try on the ground in LHR if you get OSS onto your BP.



YVR does not have a sterile transit corridor that could accommodate OSS pax flow.

YYZ does have this sterile corridor. the corridor runs above gates 53-57 and used to transfer domestic pax to International flights. There is a CBSA desk in node F just after international security screening that could handle the entry card formalities. Additionally there is a security desk at either end of the corridor to prevent people from getting lost and accidentally winding up in the wrong area.

YYC new International terminal will have a connections center that can handle sterile international to domestic connections. The sterile connections connections center will be located where the AC Transborder MLL would have gone if AC decided to take up the lease. However AC did not provide for a Transborder MLL in the new terminal New terminal opens in fall 2016.

Thanks!

Edit, thinking about this and realize if you want the arrivals lounge, you would have to redo security if connecting within T2 due to its location in the terminal.

The Lev Mar 18, 2016 3:45 pm

This speaks of people transiting through Canada (from Europe and US) but no mention of Canadians transiting through European airports. I would be delighted if we no longer had to face the second security line when transiting through LHR, FRA, MUC, ZRH, etc.

28isGreat Mar 18, 2016 4:06 pm


Originally Posted by The Lev (Post 26352695)
This speaks of people transiting through Canada (from Europe and US) but no mention of Canadians transiting through European airports. I would be delighted if we no longer had to face the second security line when transiting through LHR, FRA, MUC, ZRH, etc.

Ah, but it does!


Originally Posted by The news release referenced above
Quick Facts

- As One Stop Security will not be mandatory, its benefits to passengers and industry will depend on which airports and airlines apply the initiative.
- In December 2015, the European Commission announced its intention of implementing OSS for flights originating in Canada and connecting through European airports, this also takes effect today at participating European airports.


GJS - yow Mar 18, 2016 5:16 pm


Originally Posted by HerpaYvr (Post 26352244)
FINALLY! this is happening.

Flying home through YYZ it will be nice not to go outside and again through YYZ security to fly home.

Better yet when flying through LHR and not going through security again and enjoying more MLL time!


Originally Posted by Bartolo (Post 26352418)
Does anyone know if this is already in effect for YYZ-LHR? If connecting onto LH, is it the same terminal? If BR I expect it's a different terminal and this wouldn't help. Any advice on these issues appreciated.

It is definitely not happening for returns to Canada right now. I would love to transit YYZ on a return from an international trip and not need to be re-screened through security. Hopefully YYZ is planning to make it happen.

As noted by 28isGreat, the FAQ on the press release linked in my OP noted that airports are not required to adopt OSS. Let's hope they all do!

Jasper2009 Mar 18, 2016 5:21 pm


Originally Posted by The Lev (Post 26352695)
This speaks of people transiting through Canada (from Europe and US) but no mention of Canadians transiting through European airports. I would be delighted if we no longer had to face the second security line when transiting through LHR, FRA, MUC, ZRH, etc.

Fully agree - it would make life much easier.

I've been told FRA recently implemented the OSS initiative (afaik pax arriving from the US at T1 have been able to take advantage of this for the last few years).

WR Cage Mar 18, 2016 6:23 pm


Originally Posted by Jasper2009 (Post 26353028)
Fully agree - it would make life much easier.

I've been told FRA recently implemented the OSS initiative (afaik pax arriving from the US at T1 have been able to take advantage of this for the last few years).

Last May, I arrived to MUC T2 from EWR on UA and did not have to reclear security for my onward connection to ARN.

During a private tour of LHR T2 later ithat same week there was mention that pax can be routed from aircraft to simple customs line and then out into sterile departures area. There is one catch, pax arriving from T2B must go back to the central terminal in order to be processed by customs. The one saving grace is that most European flights departing T2 leave from T2A.

GJS - yow Mar 19, 2016 9:05 am

Have any airports in Canada announced intentions to open OSS-compliant "sterile" transfer areas? Which airports in Europe have them in terminals to which AC flies?

I often connect both when travelling to Europe (i.e. connect in an AC European city to my final destination) and on the return to Canada (i.e. connect in YUL or YYZ to get to YOW). I would select my connection point based on whether or not I needed to reclear security, when there is no other disadvantage to an OSS airport over a non-OSS airport.

Perhaps as this information becomes known we could have a Wiki with the list of airports providing/intending to provide OSS-compliant transfers.

Shareholder Mar 19, 2016 10:27 am

These secondary screenings are really absurd. My last trip was SYD-DXB-LHR-HEL and though I was in sterile areas in every airport once I checked onto my SYD-DXB flight, yet I had two additional security screenings (at DXB and LHR). Not only does this require discarding any large bottles of water given to me on the planes, but at LHR I was made to open all my sealed amenity kits given to me by QF on their flight segments and consolidate any liquids/gels into my 1 "sealed" baggie! I find LHR to have the most anal security screening in the world...yes, I know, it's for my own "protection", but to have to dump items actually given inflight by an airline is the height of absurdity. (Not to mention, there is still not international consistency to prohibited items since NAmerica and the EU began to permit small scissors but the rest of the world still does not permit these in carry-on!)

skofz Mar 19, 2016 1:30 pm


Originally Posted by WR Cage (Post 26352545)
YYZ does have this sterile corridor. the corridor runs above gates 53-57 and used to transfer domestic pax to International flights. There is a CBSA desk in node F just after international security screening that could handle the entry card formalities. Additionally there is a security desk at either end of the corridor to prevent people from getting lost and accidentally winding up in the wrong area.

I wonder if this arrangement would be considered sterile enough for OSS purposes. Passengers from non-OSS countries are not re-screened when transiting through T1. There is inter-mingling of passengers from all origins in the international departures area. In contrast, airports like MUC and ZRH are able to completely segregate passengers from OSS vs non-OSS origins.

ACYYZ/SD Mar 19, 2016 2:41 pm

Thanks for clearing this up! A very astute SE*MM pointed this out on his boarding card last week and it was clearly a case of "Stump the Chump". The best I could come up with was:

>Office of Strategic Services
>Out of School Suspension

Mystery solved :p

YOWgary Mar 19, 2016 3:16 pm


Originally Posted by ACYYZ/SD (Post 26356276)
Thanks for clearing this up! A very astute SE*MM pointed this out on his boarding card last week and it was clearly a case of "Stump the Chump". The best I could come up with was:

>Office of Strategic Services
>Out of School Suspension

Mystery solved :p

It's actually the opposite of the Shaves on a Plane thread - Objectively Superior Seatmate.

Denotes people who don't talk much, practice good hygiene and never, ever get up to pee.

DNAwizard Mar 19, 2016 3:54 pm

I have this OSS code on my BP for my flight tomorrow CDG-YYZ-YQB. Too bad it is not in place in YYZ yet but I certainly look forward to it. I just hope it does not take too many months (years :eek:) to implement!

islandcub1 Mar 19, 2016 6:04 pm


Originally Posted by YOWgary (Post 26356409)
It's actually the opposite of the Shaves on a Plane thread - Objectively Superior Seatmate.

Denotes people who don't talk much, practice good hygiene and never, ever get up to pee.

Or better yet (if they've got the aisle seat), always get up to pee just before you need to and then take a short walk to stretch their legs, and don't return to their seat until a minute or so after you do. :D

I swear, this was one of my best memories from the first time I flew to Hong Kong.

hydrogen Mar 19, 2016 8:51 pm

Made no difference at YUL today. Not sure how it could be implemented at YUL since all int'l arrivals are funnelled directly to customs and bag claim.

ls17031 Mar 20, 2016 12:23 am


Originally Posted by hydrogen (Post 26357425)
Made no difference at YUL today. Not sure how it could be implemented at YUL since all int'l arrivals are funnelled directly to customs and bag claim.

At YUL OSS is focused on INTL-INTL or US-INTL connections, as these passengers do not have access to their checked bags. That condition is the main thing that will keep INTL-CANADA passengers waiting a very long time before seeing any benefit from OSS due to infrastructure requirements.

GJS - yow Mar 20, 2016 5:19 am


Originally Posted by ls17031 (Post 26357975)
At YUL OSS is focused on INTL-INTL or US-INTL connections, as these passengers do not have access to their checked bags. That condition is the main thing that will keep INTL-CANADA passengers waiting a very long time before seeing any benefit from OSS due to infrastructure requirements.

One of the potential benefits of OSS is that INTL-CANADA passengers would not need access to their checked bags. The infrastructure should not be that onerous in this situation (depending upon the airport).

literallyafloat Mar 20, 2016 11:28 am

One Stop Security
 
I recently had OSS on my MCO-YYZ-YVR return. I had checked baggage but was not aware of any changes in YYZ.

Once through immigration I waited for my baggage to arrive only to be told after 15min of waiting "oh are you connecting passenger, then you can go directly to security and your gate the baggage is now being checked through to your final destination".

Is this the case now for all US-Canada connecting flights? AC.com still shows old info for connecting through YYZ.

yyznomad May 2, 2016 10:22 pm

I got the OSS on the domestic portion of my BP today, which was useless since I didn't have any checked luggage.

zrh2yvr May 3, 2016 7:08 am

I had a tour through the LX Operations centre and we had talked about how this was now implemented in Zurich as of April 1. Thus, for arrivals to ZRH - you should not require any screening now for your onward connection.

This is likely airport-dependent. I would be most interested in the LHR experience as that long walk out to the security and back again for T2 transfers has been a pain. Also - in FRA - it would be very welcome to not need to go out to the front for the security as well.

A great enhancement but the INTL-DOM Canada connections are the hardest to figure out due to the historical need to access checked baggage.

Let's see how this develops.

RZR May 3, 2016 10:34 am

I flew Yul- Fra and then on to DXB. Arrived in FRA and did not need to leave the secure area.
Not sure if this is what you are talking about or not. {I only fly intl 4 times per year so don't keep track of this }

yyznomad May 3, 2016 10:37 am


Originally Posted by RZR (Post 26571209)
I flew Yul- Fra and then on to DXB. Arrived in FRA and did not need to leave the secure area.
Not sure if this is what you are talking about or not. {I only fly intl 4 times per year so don't keep track of this }

You weren't entering Schengen though...

Did your BP have OSS on it?

pewpew May 16, 2016 1:30 pm

Quick question : flying PHL-YYZ-YEG with OSS on the second bp. Do I need to pick up bags in YYZ? The agent said yes, but I don't trust him

The Lev May 16, 2016 3:07 pm


Originally Posted by RZR (Post 26571209)
I flew Yul- Fra and then on to DXB. Arrived in FRA and did not need to leave the secure area.
Not sure if this is what you are talking about or not. {I only fly intl 4 times per year so don't keep track of this }

I flew YYZ-MUC-MAD over the weekend and was unleashed directly into the H departure terminal (non-Schengen) from whence I proceeded to the Schengen area (G gates) with the usual cursory passport check but without having to trudge through the security line.

A tiny bit disorienting at first if you are used to the "old" routine, but very quick and efficient for transfers. ^

yyznomad May 16, 2016 3:11 pm


Originally Posted by The Lev (Post 26635074)
I flew YYZ-MUC-MAD over the weekend and was unleashed directly into the H departure terminal (non-Schengen) from whence I proceeded to the Schengen area (G gates) with the usual cursory passport check but without having to trudge through the security line.

A tiny bit disorienting at first if you are used to the "old" routine, but very quick and efficient for transfers. ^

Was this because of OSS?

This has happened to me a total of one time flying connecting into Schengen after deplaning AC846... And OSS didn't exist at the time.

All other times flying thru MUC I had to do the security rigamarole again after being spit out into the departures land side zone.

The Lev May 17, 2016 3:40 am


Originally Posted by yyznomad (Post 26635083)
Was this because of OSS?

Can't say for sure, but seems more than a coincidence.

Seat13F_AC_CRJ May 17, 2016 4:34 am

There is a similar thread in the Canada Forum here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/canad...nitiative.html
--
13F

NWIFlyer May 17, 2016 6:07 am

I'm afraid anyone waiting for OSS to take effect at any UK airport - not just LHR - will have to be extremely patient!

The current secondary screening at LHR is not the choice of the airport - if they could get away with employing less people and charging the same transit fees they would - but that of the UK Government which regards its security processes as more stringent than anywhere else in the world, and therefore there is absolutely no trust of incoming passengers who have originated in a country other than the UK. This includes our partners in the Common Travel Area, The Republic of Ireland. Anyone transferring from a non-UK airport will have to pass through security, a situation that is unlikely to ever change.

Academic May 17, 2016 3:51 pm

I'm coming in from TPA tomorrow and have OSS on my BP, so I'll see what happens. I'd contemplated bringing in some duty-free, but it sounds like OSS is still hit or miss and I don't want to check my bag for the last segment. I'll report on the outcome.

As an aside, for the first time in a while I didn't get TSA pre on my TPA-YYZ BP. Could that be a consequence of flying with a non-status spouse? ;)

yyznomad May 17, 2016 3:56 pm


Originally Posted by Academic (Post 26640885)
I'm coming in from TPA tomorrow and have OSS on my BP, so I'll see what happens. I'd contemplated bringing in some duty-free, but it sounds like OSS is still hit or miss and I don't want to check my bag for the last segment. I'll report on the outcome.

As an aside, for the first time in a while I didn't get TSA pre on my TPA-YYZ BP. Could that be a consequence of flying with a non-status spouse? ;)

Maybe you're booking, checking in, un checking in, and then cancelling flights left right Centre... :p

canadiancow May 17, 2016 5:10 pm


Originally Posted by Academic (Post 26640885)
I'm coming in from TPA tomorrow and have OSS on my BP, so I'll see what happens. I'd contemplated bringing in some duty-free, but it sounds like OSS is still hit or miss and I don't want to check my bag for the last segment. I'll report on the outcome.

As an aside, for the first time in a while I didn't get TSA pre on my TPA-YYZ BP. Could that be a consequence of flying with a non-status spouse? ;)

OSS can't work in YYZ until they segregate passengers coming from compliant countries.

Right now, everyone is funneled into the same area.

FlyerGoldII Jul 16, 2016 9:50 pm

How will OSS on boarding pass affect me tomorrow?
 
I am going from DFW to YOW via YYZ tomorrow.

I have OS printed on my YYZ-YOW boarding pass (and TSA precheck on the DFW to YYZ boarding pass).

I have a nexus card. No checked bags.

So how will the OSS impact me - I presume that I still have to go through the security check-point at YYZ?

canadiancow Jul 16, 2016 9:53 pm


Originally Posted by FlyerGoldII (Post 26927010)
I am going from DFW to YOW via YYZ tomorrow.

I have OS printed on my YYZ-YOW boarding pass (and TSA precheck on the DFW to YYZ boarding pass).

I have a nexus card. No checked bags.

So how will the OSS impact me - I presume that I still have to go through the security check-point at YYZ?

It will not impact you. You will still have to go through security in YYZ.

yvr76 Jul 17, 2016 1:32 pm

Can confirm that OSS worked on both CDG YYZ YVR and FRA YYC YVR this month (for baggage only)

OSSYULYYZ Jul 17, 2016 3:07 pm


Originally Posted by yvr76 (Post 26929425)
Can confirm that OSS worked on both CDG YYZ YVR and FRA YYC YVR this month.

Where is the new corridor to bypass security at YYZ? There is no announcement on the community portal...

http://apps.torontopearson.com/torontopearsoncommunity/

yvr76 Jul 17, 2016 4:22 pm


Originally Posted by OSSYULYYZ (Post 26929748)
Where is the new corridor to bypass security at YYZ? There is no announcement on the community portal...

http://apps.torontopearson.com/torontopearsoncommunity/

Sorry I thought this meant for both baggage and persons. I guess the OSS initiative is people only and clearing bags straight through is another effort?


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