YVR Priority Acess
 

Online aircananda claims there is a priority security access at YVR but all I ever see there is nexus and a normal lane. Is there something I am missing?

The only line I use at YVR is the NEXUS line....

When I entered the area for International departures for a recent flight, there was a Nexus line AND a priority line. To my great amusement, I was the only person going through the security area at that time and the CATSA agents said "Take your pick".

Domestic security @YVR should only be that pleasant. There are a couple of "lanes" (I often refer to the fake Nexus lane in other posts) but they all end up at the same endpoint with a uniform deciding who from which line they will forward to the scanners.

Rinse. Repeat.

Right. And all scanners are equally full. And if by some miracle they designate a scanner for Nexus they will fill it anyway with all pax.

I've always wondered why this can work so well at YVR transborder, and so poorly at YVR everythingelse.

...also, might be time to start a thread, like the LMU one, in which everyone reports what percentage of the Nexus scanners at YVR International Arrivals were 'temporarily out of service'.

It only works at YVR Transborder when the Nexus line is running - due to the different screening process for the Nexus line at the transborder pre-board screening compared to regular line. In the regular line for transborder pre-board screening, you have to take off shoes and belts and all liquids and laptops. In the Nexus line, you can leave your shoes and belt on for the most part.

And the operating times of the Nexus line at YVR transborder is super erratic.

And don't get me started on the Domestic Fastrack lane closing early in the evening... YVR is just not a good airport for Priority security screening IMHO.

OP: if you're referring to the domestic side C gates (for AC flights), there are two entrances, NEXUS/Priority and the regular entrance.

The entrance on the left is for both NEXUS and priority, though NEXUS is more prominently labelled. Once past the greeter, there are two lane choices, NEXUS on the left and priority on the right. As others have noted, they often merge again to an agent who will direct you to a lane.

However, from time to time, NEXUS goes straight to its own, painfully slow, scanner. This coupled with the fact that every Tom, Dick and Harry in Vancouver has a NEXUS card, usually means the priority line is a more reliable choice. Choose this line regardless.

(To others here, I say an out of comission exclusive NEXUS lane is to your advantage.)

In my experience the procedure, though different at YVR, is no more time consuming than priority security at YUL or YYZ.

Of course, if one were willing to walk down to the A gates at YVR.....

Absolutely agree with you on YYZ as both it and YVR are my main entry/exit Canadian airports.

YVR notwithstanding....many of us have reported on the beyond-painful Nexus line at YYZ Dom. I've heard everything from "they use that line to train the new screeners" (possible, who knows), to "it depends on the day of the week and time of day you are entering". Also possible.

None of this explains how CATSA and the airports haven't figured out when the increased traffic requires increased open lanes or more staff.

At 5:30 in the morning, the YYZ Nexus Dom lane moves the slowest. Most in line seem to know procedure - laptops and liquids out, belts/shoes off if necessary.

I watch the screeners and they either don't know what they are looking for (sniff an open 5ml tube of toothpaste), or they think everyone in the Nexus line is a potential hazard. I once told a supervisor that anyone who uses that line has already been screened by two governments in order to get the Nexus card in the first place. I'll save the answer for another time.

As for YVR Dom at C, my last 8 adventures in that line were painfully slow and no sign of improvement.

Thanks what I was wondering when I travel in the US the Premium Lane is pretty clear. .

As a side not I find in the US that I routinely beat the TSA precheck in the priority lane since they now seam to just randomly give it to anyone not sure how that's a precheck

The last time I went through YVR domestic security it was around 6pm on a Saturday. I recall the nexus and priority line being the same thing. I was told by the agent that I could not access the priority lane without pulling out my nexus card; priority was "closed" so my S100K boarding pass meant nothing.

Whisky tango foxtrot!

So I got out my nexus card but I did not get it! Poor training?

And don't get me started on their not being a Nexus line at YVR transborder for transiting passengers - either for security or immigration. I asked once if I could move to the Global Entry machines due to a long lineup (GE machines for non-transiting transborder PAX), and was strongly rebuffed for thinking such a thing.

Just don't go that way as a transit passenger :p

Your mistake was asking. Nexus includes Global Entry.

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-tr...l-entry-kiosks

You misunderstand. The transit path spits you out on the other side of the immigration hall, and you have no access to the GE machines without going through a couple barriers.

Well that's too silly to be true...

It's why I never take the connection path in YVR :)

Is that an option with checked baggage? I've always toyed with the idea, but been worried about getting to an agent and being thrown into secondary screening for bucking the system.

Does anyone know if the reverse is true for entering Canada? I have Global Entry but am not sure I can use any expedited processing upon entry at YVR. To confuse things even more for me, when departing YVR, the security agents have given me conflicting information on whether I can use the NEXUS line if I have my Global Entry card with me (first time they said no, second time only if I had the card with me which I usually don't because it's not needed).

Canadian NEXUS holders get to use Global entry as NEXUS is a US/Canada joint trusted traveler program. You need to be approved by US DHS/CBP and Canadian CBSA.

Global Entry is a trusted to enter US program. There is no Canadian CBSA participation.

At US preclearance checkpoints Global Entry and NEXUS both head to the GE kiosk. At the security priority line the sign say NEXUS, NEXUS get your through for sure, GE carrying passengers is YMMV.

I'm sure dozens of nicotine addicts do it every day - Otherwise how would you get curbside for a smoke?

Excellent! Never thought of that, but I'm claiming to be a smoker next time if they say anything ;)