Question: Transfer overnight at YVR — US citizen
Sep 24, 2020, 1:58 pm
#46
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
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I wrote to CBSA, mentioning the specific example of ICN-YVR-SFO, and received this from their media-relations team:
Travellers transiting through Canada via air to another country are exempt from the travel restriction. The exemption does not apply to travellers exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Airlines are required to prevent any traveller who presents symptoms from boarding a flight to Canada, including those who intend on transiting through Canada. The exemption allows asymptomatic transiting travellers to enter Canada temporarily when it is essential to complete onward travel (e.g. for terminal transfers or for long or overnight delays) and leave again without contravening obligations to remain in quarantine for the full 14-day period otherwise required.
Specifically, the exemption applies to asymptomatic transiting travellers:
• who are required to leave airside at a Canadian airport and formally enter Canada in order to make their transit connection (e.g. to change terminals at an airport); and
• who face delays in catching connecting flights due to unexpected cancellations, delays, and layovers where they cannot reasonably remain airside at the airport and have to remain in Canada (e.g. overnight).
The CBSA will assess whether the traveller meets the following mandatory criteria to enter Canada temporarily:
• be able to demonstrate proof of their onward travel to an international destination by showing their airline ticket; and
• be able to demonstrate the appropriate travel documentation for temporary entry to Canada (e.g. a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authorization, unless otherwise exempt under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations).
In addition, the traveller must agree to the following conditions:
• must self-monitor and immediately report any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC); and
• must immediately go or be escorted to the nearest available or Government of Canada designated hotel to quarantine until their onward flight is scheduled to depart.
Should the traveller meet the criteria and agree to the conditions they will be allowed temporary entry into Canada until their flight. They must either stay at the airport or go to the nearest available or Government of Canada designated hotel and will be required to quarantine for the period they are in Canada.
Should the traveller not meet the criteria nor agree to the conditions they will not be granted temporary entry into Canada.
Please note, all travellers seeking entry into Canada are required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering. Non-medical face masks are protective layers of absorbent fabric (such as cotton) that snugly fit over the nose and mouth and are secured to the face with ties or ear loops. Travellers can wear homemade cloth face coverings. Masks or face coverings may be provided upon arrival as appropriate.
For information regarding travel within Canada, including international travellers with connecting flights to a Canadian destination, please contact the Public Health Agency of Canada directly at [email protected].Once a traveller is admitted into Canada, the responsibility to monitor and track the individuals from a public health perspective is not within the scope or mandate of the CBSA. This responsibility falls within the mandate of the PHAC and provincial health authorities.
Specifically, the exemption applies to asymptomatic transiting travellers:
• who are required to leave airside at a Canadian airport and formally enter Canada in order to make their transit connection (e.g. to change terminals at an airport); and
• who face delays in catching connecting flights due to unexpected cancellations, delays, and layovers where they cannot reasonably remain airside at the airport and have to remain in Canada (e.g. overnight).
The CBSA will assess whether the traveller meets the following mandatory criteria to enter Canada temporarily:
• be able to demonstrate proof of their onward travel to an international destination by showing their airline ticket; and
• be able to demonstrate the appropriate travel documentation for temporary entry to Canada (e.g. a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authorization, unless otherwise exempt under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations).
In addition, the traveller must agree to the following conditions:
• must self-monitor and immediately report any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC); and
• must immediately go or be escorted to the nearest available or Government of Canada designated hotel to quarantine until their onward flight is scheduled to depart.
Should the traveller meet the criteria and agree to the conditions they will be allowed temporary entry into Canada until their flight. They must either stay at the airport or go to the nearest available or Government of Canada designated hotel and will be required to quarantine for the period they are in Canada.
Should the traveller not meet the criteria nor agree to the conditions they will not be granted temporary entry into Canada.
Please note, all travellers seeking entry into Canada are required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering. Non-medical face masks are protective layers of absorbent fabric (such as cotton) that snugly fit over the nose and mouth and are secured to the face with ties or ear loops. Travellers can wear homemade cloth face coverings. Masks or face coverings may be provided upon arrival as appropriate.
For information regarding travel within Canada, including international travellers with connecting flights to a Canadian destination, please contact the Public Health Agency of Canada directly at [email protected].Once a traveller is admitted into Canada, the responsibility to monitor and track the individuals from a public health perspective is not within the scope or mandate of the CBSA. This responsibility falls within the mandate of the PHAC and provincial health authorities.
Sep 24, 2020, 2:22 pm
#47
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Sep 24, 2020, 2:46 pm
#48
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At least its allowed as worst case scenario for the OP....I m still with the cow on this one tho, AC policy is contradictory, so a contract agent may not be very understanding.
Sep 24, 2020, 2:58 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2012
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If true, and I am not sure I would rely on getting a) an airline agent or b) a CBSA agent who knows this and allows it if I wouldn’t be willing to spend the night in the terminal, this is a massive loophole for anyone who is otherwise inadmissible and wanting to enter Canada. Just don’t show up for the trans border flight and you are in Canada. Yikes.
Sep 24, 2020, 3:08 pm
#50
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Sep 24, 2020, 4:43 pm
#51
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
Flight from ICN departs around midnight local time. The kids will likely sleep on the plane and will likely be waking up not too long before landing, and then be wide awake all night in YVR. Having kids at the airport might actually be preferable to going to a hotel. At the hotel they'll be confined to the hotel room for the duration of their stay. In the airport, the kids can likely move around, and if there is an iPad, etc. with movies or other things to keep the kids entertained, it might not be so bad. If the kids do need to sleep/lie down, make sure you have some sort of blanket packed for the trip that can be used.
My major concern about overnight at the airport would be access to food.
Sep 29, 2020, 9:56 pm
#52
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
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I've collected all the information I got from CBSA's media team, including details on overnight connections, into a blog post.
Please feel free to poke holes in it, or identify any other details I should seek out.
https://www.flyermiles.ca/post/conne...a-during-covid
Please feel free to poke holes in it, or identify any other details I should seek out.
https://www.flyermiles.ca/post/conne...a-during-covid
Sep 29, 2020, 10:06 pm
#53
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If your connection goes overnight, you can stay in the International or trans-border wings of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal airports 24 hours a day.
Are you sure you can stay transborder 24 hours? I have been kicked out more than once, but I never fought back, because I wanted to leave.
Sep 29, 2020, 10:12 pm
#54
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"Both our International and Domestic terminals remain open 24 hours. While the Transborder terminal does close, some US flights leave out of the International terminal when US CBP is not in operation. It depends on the time of the flight."
Sep 29, 2020, 10:21 pm
#55
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From YVR's communications team, this week:
"Both our International and Domestic terminals remain open 24 hours. While the Transborder terminal does close, some US flights leave out of the International terminal when US CBP is not in operation. It depends on the time of the flight."
"Both our International and Domestic terminals remain open 24 hours. While the Transborder terminal does close, some US flights leave out of the International terminal when US CBP is not in operation. It depends on the time of the flight."
If your flight is day-time to the US, it departs from transborder. If you arrive 4pm from not-Canada and have an 8am to the US, MAYBE they'll let you into the international area, but that would defy all my (pre-COVID) experience.
Also, I suspect the "While the Transborder terminal does close" message would be the same from every airport. When CBP goes home, they sweep the area. You cannot overnight there.
Sep 29, 2020, 10:40 pm
#56
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So... the transborder area closes, at which point, you get kicked out.
If your flight is day-time to the US, it departs from transborder. If you arrive 4pm from not-Canada and have an 8am to the US, MAYBE they'll let you into the international area, but that would defy all my (pre-COVID) experience.
Also, I suspect the "While the Transborder terminal does close" message would be the same from every airport. When CBP goes home, they sweep the area. You cannot overnight there.
If your flight is day-time to the US, it departs from transborder. If you arrive 4pm from not-Canada and have an 8am to the US, MAYBE they'll let you into the international area, but that would defy all my (pre-COVID) experience.
Also, I suspect the "While the Transborder terminal does close" message would be the same from every airport. When CBP goes home, they sweep the area. You cannot overnight there.
Because it's a scheduled connection, CBSA is firm in its statement that passengers will not be allowed to leave to a quarantine hotel, and must stay airside.
I could absolutely see this involving passengers getting shunted from the incoming PVG-YVR, to CBP, into TB, then kicked out into Intl overnight, then reclearing CBP the next day.
...to say nothing of the fact that any non-US citizen/PR attempting this itinerary can buy a non-refundable ticket from AC, but be legally unable to enter either Canada or the US.
Sep 30, 2020, 12:40 am
#57
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 67
The one that really surprised me is the current timing of PVG-YVR-SFO/LAX which leaves Asia just late enough to miss MCT at YVR and force a 24h20m connection.
Because it's a scheduled connection, CBSA is firm in its statement that passengers will not be allowed to leave to a quarantine hotel, and must stay airside.
I could absolutely see this involving passengers getting shunted from the incoming PVG-YVR, to CBP, into TB, then kicked out into Intl overnight, then reclearing CBP the next day.
...to say nothing of the fact that any non-US citizen/PR attempting this itinerary can buy a non-refundable ticket from AC, but be legally unable to enter either Canada or the US.
Because it's a scheduled connection, CBSA is firm in its statement that passengers will not be allowed to leave to a quarantine hotel, and must stay airside.
I could absolutely see this involving passengers getting shunted from the incoming PVG-YVR, to CBP, into TB, then kicked out into Intl overnight, then reclearing CBP the next day.
...to say nothing of the fact that any non-US citizen/PR attempting this itinerary can buy a non-refundable ticket from AC, but be legally unable to enter either Canada or the US.
1. Is the Fairmont in-terminal part of the international terminal at YVR. I was told that this hotel is right above the US departure terminal. So will this hotel be an exception to allow travellers to stay overnight?
2. Will you be able to provide the contact person at YVR airport you spoke to?
I already called Air Canada call center, was told that staying overnight at this Fairmont interminal hotel is allowed. I will need to build a case to ask Air Canada to put me on United's direct flight back to SFO. So I really need something to prove that.
Thanks.
Sep 30, 2020, 3:38 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2010
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OP - can you share specifically what flights and date you are booked on in January? Does your current itinerary have an overnight layover in YVR, or are you just anticipating what could happen?
AC26 (PVG-YVR) is currently operating with a tech stop in ICN. Passengers are not allowed to get off or on in ICN. AC is doing this for crew change reasons to avoid crews laying over in mainland China.
The tech stop is not there in January but of course could be added. AC is changing their schedule pretty much 1 month out so I don't think any of us could reasonably predict what will be available.
If the itinerary is good right now, I would start actively monitoring about 1 month out for schedule changes and take action then. Assuming no changes to Canada entry restrictions, if your itinerary is changed to include an overnight in Canada I think it is reasonable to request a re-route that avoids that at that time.
AC26 (PVG-YVR) is currently operating with a tech stop in ICN. Passengers are not allowed to get off or on in ICN. AC is doing this for crew change reasons to avoid crews laying over in mainland China.
The tech stop is not there in January but of course could be added. AC is changing their schedule pretty much 1 month out so I don't think any of us could reasonably predict what will be available.
If the itinerary is good right now, I would start actively monitoring about 1 month out for schedule changes and take action then. Assuming no changes to Canada entry restrictions, if your itinerary is changed to include an overnight in Canada I think it is reasonable to request a re-route that avoids that at that time.
Sep 30, 2020, 7:07 am
#59
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,726
Thanks a lot for this information. Well, I guess I have a few months to figure it out prior to my January's trip. I have a few questions:
1. Is the Fairmont in-terminal part of the international terminal at YVR. I was told that this hotel is right above the US departure terminal. So will this hotel be an exception to allow travellers to stay overnight?
I already called Air Canada call center, was told that staying overnight at this Fairmont interminal hotel is allowed. I will need to build a case to ask Air Canada to put me on United's direct flight back to SFO. So I really need something to prove that.
1. Is the Fairmont in-terminal part of the international terminal at YVR. I was told that this hotel is right above the US departure terminal. So will this hotel be an exception to allow travellers to stay overnight?
I already called Air Canada call center, was told that staying overnight at this Fairmont interminal hotel is allowed. I will need to build a case to ask Air Canada to put me on United's direct flight back to SFO. So I really need something to prove that.
- the Fairmont YVR is landside, outside security and outside the secure International area. It cannot be reached without clearing customs and entering Canada.
- all I can tell you is that the AC staffer you spoke to, gave you advice that directly contradicts AC's own printed policy, which was confirmed for me by AC's media-relations team, which matches the CBSA policy I've listed above. AC is notoriously poor at training its staff on this type of thing, and just as poor at communicating it to customers, that's half the reason I started Flyermiles in the first place.
Sep 30, 2020, 9:45 am
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 67
OP - can you share specifically what flights and date you are booked on in January? Does your current itinerary have an overnight layover in YVR, or are you just anticipating what could happen?
AC26 (PVG-YVR) is currently operating with a tech stop in ICN. Passengers are not allowed to get off or on in ICN. AC is doing this for crew change reasons to avoid crews laying over in mainland China.
The tech stop is not there in January but of course could be added. AC is changing their schedule pretty much 1 month out so I don't think any of us could reasonably predict what will be available.
If the itinerary is good right now, I would start actively monitoring about 1 month out for schedule changes and take action then. Assuming no changes to Canada entry restrictions, if your itinerary is changed to include an overnight in Canada I think it is reasonable to request a re-route that avoids that at that time.
AC26 (PVG-YVR) is currently operating with a tech stop in ICN. Passengers are not allowed to get off or on in ICN. AC is doing this for crew change reasons to avoid crews laying over in mainland China.
The tech stop is not there in January but of course could be added. AC is changing their schedule pretty much 1 month out so I don't think any of us could reasonably predict what will be available.
If the itinerary is good right now, I would start actively monitoring about 1 month out for schedule changes and take action then. Assuming no changes to Canada entry restrictions, if your itinerary is changed to include an overnight in Canada I think it is reasonable to request a re-route that avoids that at that time.