I really should know the answer to this, but I honestly cannot remember.

I am travelling to SFO on UA in Y out of YVR in a couple of weeks and wondering how long the process takes if you have Nexus from check in to clear security at a busy period in the day?

I only have carry on, but I cannot remember if you must verify your documents with a check in agent. I know Nexus will get me through immigration quickly, but does it get priority security as well (not sure if this is just a benefit for domestic security)?

I feel like it should be no more than 20 minutes tops, but that is assuming that I don't have to verify any documents at check in and that I get priority security.

thanks

OLCI and print out your boarding pass so you can just go directly to security, and then immigration.

You'll get priority security, you can use the Nexus/GE kiosks and then you report to an agent to verify your paperwork (you cut through the regular queue to do this).

Just show up at least 1 hour before your flight even with carry on. If you cut it to close you risk getting an immigration officer scolding you.

I am flying out in the morning (8am before the Crusiers show up at 11am). Don't use Nexus, use Global Entry. It's a little quicker since you don't have to fill out CBP form 6059B

"Sometimes."

If you have Nexus they may spin you off into the 'express' line. However, this isn't always faster because a) it may not be open and b) the line is sometimes full of strollers & wheelchairs.

Are you travelling for business or pleasure? If business, there is still the risk you get sent to secondary, which could add up to 40 minutes.

You do not.

You might.

You need to pass through bag drop > security screening > Nexus / GE Kiosk.

If they are feeding the security line with the economy class overflows, then it will slow you down.

Should not be more than 30 minutes though.

Couldn't find a better thread to post this to, so here goes -

I've got my Nexus card a few months ago and would like to take care of the iris scan thing this weekend. I can fly up to YVR from SEA (on Horizon) on Saturday - I know they have walk up service for the iris scan daily. But that's the only reason for my trip, I'm just going to turn around and fly back to Seattle after. So, what's my best game plan?

Do I have to clear customs on the way in? It appears the location for the scan is very near the Horizon gates in T3, is that right? Should I do the scan first or clear customs and do it on the way back to my departure gate?

Or is it too much to hope that I can get off the inbound, get the scan, get back on the return without having to clear (hey, one can dream, right?) customs. Sorry, had to ask.

Sorry for the newb questions, any advice is appreciated.

Yes - The office is in Canada, so you have to clear Canadian Immigration and Customs, then take the escalator upstairs for the office.

Not year the gates, near US departures checkin.

You will have to clear customs first.

Too much, I'm afraid. Process will be

Arrive
Canada Immigration and Customs
Upstairs
Scan
Security
US Immigration and Customs
Horizon/Alaska Gate
(Home)

Advice doesn't get much better than this. Love ft. Thanks again gglave

Short follow up - (a) how much time would you allow for the whole process start to finish taking into account I'll be doing it on a Saturday so things shouldn't be as busy as a Sunday or business day? (b) all I need for ID is my nexus card, right? Hopefully that'll help make the transit time pretty smooth. Thanks again

A lot of variables here that make it hard to say how long things will take... I'd allow at least a couple of hours to be comfortable.

I would strongly recommend you also take your passport along. The airlines get uppity when you don't have it.

Thanks - will do.

Inbound landed early at 9:40am and got extremely lucky with lines - made the return gate in time for the 10:30am but no open seat. Made the 11:20am easily. Thanks for the help

Bumping this thread for a slightly different question:

We've booked a 1:10 connection in YVR - Canada>US - which flies in the face of everything I believe about connections anywhere, but which really just worked better than any other option, so I let it go without thinking. I really don't want to change this again, since I already used some special kind of voodoo to even make this flight exist, and I don't think I can create a major schedule change again just so Aeroplan will create reward inventory. So let's assume that 1:10 is here to stay. Mercifully, it's single-ticket, and at least all with AC so no funny-business of sending it over to UA or anything.

MrsBarn is concerned that we're not going to have enough time to make the connection and we'll get stuck (although there are two more flights that night and one the next morning we should be protected on, so I'm not worried yet). I've only ever done the Intl.>US version of this connection and recall it was fine. Realistically, though, with a checked bag* is 1:10 going to be enough? This is of course the time listed as MCT on the AC site, and I recall the process being relatively painless, but I also recall it taking a while for bags to appear at the transborder check. This, however, could have been due to coming in from international, and not a CRJ from YXE. So a bit longer to unload, probably.

EDIT: This will be a Friday afternoon, but the Friday between Christmas and New Years', so that will likely have an impact. In my experience it's a quiet time for travel, but maybe that's also a bad time for this route. Not sure there either.

I just need someone who's done it before to confirm it's not a worry. That way I can say "Flyertalk says it's fine" and we can both relax.

*There is no way to avoid the checked bag. Despite my near-constant pleas, there will be a checked bag and it will be filled with clothes and junk, most of which will never be worn. There will be a TR about this trip and there will be pictures of the bags. But for now, assume the bag is non-negotiable.

I live in Vancouver, so I've never connected in YVR (well, once, but that's a different story).

However, it's my understanding that if you transit to the USA in YVR you no longer have to claim and recheck your bag. The CBP officer views your bag it on his screen and asks you his questions.

There's a wizard here that explains it -

http://yvr.ca/en/navigating-yvr/pass...rough-yvr.aspx

So the question becomes one of whether you have time to deplane, walk to the transborder area, go through security, go through US CBP and make it to your gate. I'd say tight, but do-able.

The bag-on-the-screen thing is something I recall from my last trip through, but I also recall it taking a while (but this could be due to coming off an international flight and being at the bottom of a can or something). If it were just walking, I wouldn't bother myself with it, but it's this accursed bag

I will, however, accept "tight but do-able" as "no problem" (and promise I won't tell her who said that).