OSS, One Stop Security Initiative
Jul 22, 2018 | 10:59 am
#151
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: SPG; Marriott Rewards; UA Mileage Plus; Aeroplan
Posts: 7
My understanding is that the OSS bus runs 0600-2200 only. That’s unfortunate you didn’t get to experience it. Hopefully they will expand the hours to include the late night arrivals.
Aug 7, 2018 | 7:36 pm
#153
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,760
Sep 17, 2018 | 7:46 am
#154
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,227
Officially they accept the screening from any location that meet their standards, and every airport offering direct flights to the US is obligated to screen US-bound passengers to their standards. That's why you see separate US-bound gates / terminals with their own security at airport around the world, even those without preclearance facilities (think Z gates in FRA and E gates in ZRH). However, those airport don't necessarily screen non-US bound passengers to the same standards, and therefore the US won't accept in-bound OSS as it's not done to the correct standard.
The issue on MUC-ORD-SFO (for example) is that there is no sterile immigration/customs facilities in ORD (or any other US airport), so you'd have access to your bags and therefore would need to reclear security before your connection. However, if you arrive from a preclearance facility (and therefore don't need to use the immigration facilities), you're good to go assuming you land at the right terminal or can do a sterile terminal transfer. So for example AUH-JFK on EY can sterile connect to JFK-SFO on DL. Same would go for flights from DUB, SNN, etc..
If/when the US establishes sterile clearance/transfer facilities, you'll see this issue come back to the surface. Right now from a practical standpoint they only accept screening done at a preclearance facility. They don't have to worry about if they should accept screening done in, for instance, CAI, because there isn't preclearance there, so everyone needs to be recleared anyways.
The issue on MUC-ORD-SFO (for example) is that there is no sterile immigration/customs facilities in ORD (or any other US airport), so you'd have access to your bags and therefore would need to reclear security before your connection. However, if you arrive from a preclearance facility (and therefore don't need to use the immigration facilities), you're good to go assuming you land at the right terminal or can do a sterile terminal transfer. So for example AUH-JFK on EY can sterile connect to JFK-SFO on DL. Same would go for flights from DUB, SNN, etc..
If/when the US establishes sterile clearance/transfer facilities, you'll see this issue come back to the surface. Right now from a practical standpoint they only accept screening done at a preclearance facility. They don't have to worry about if they should accept screening done in, for instance, CAI, because there isn't preclearance there, so everyone needs to be recleared anyways.
Case in point... I flew from YEG to DEN last week. Those familiar with YEG might have noticed there is a CAN --> US connection door on the domestic concourse at YEG. From what I could tell at the transborder security screening station, that door allows domestic connecting passengers to bypass screening and head straight to US-CBP. In other words, a passenger who has been screened in Regina or Fort McMurray is not re-screened at YEG when connecting to the US.
This is not the case at YYZ (I'm only familiar with T1 so holding my comments to that only) because there isn't a dedicated CAN --> US connection corridor at T1. Yes, there is a connection that bypasses Canada immigration but it only puts you with international arrivals. I believe this is why re-screening is necessary at YYZ T1.
Nov 3, 2018 | 3:57 am
#155
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
In case anyone comes looking at this thread... I just flew SFO-YYZ-DUB, and my YYZ-DUB boarding pass had "ITI OSS" (International-to-International One Stop Security) above the scan block. After deplaning and walking towards connections, there was a lane to the left that was for international transfers. I showed my boarding pass, entered an area where I scanned my passport, got a receipt, then showed my boarding pass again to exit, down an escalator, and I was at the E gates. No customs, and no physical security re-screening. There was no one else using this route in front of or behind me, and total time was less than 2 minutes.
Nov 3, 2018 | 12:11 pm
#156
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,930
Weird failure condition yesterday.
DFW-YYZ-YHZ. 2 hour connection. I had some meetings that became important, so SDC to a later flight over the phone with the concierge[1]. On getting my BP reprinted the MLL agent asked the question about bags, answered it himself. Except, I did. The DFW contract agent did not actually check the bag all the way through.
So I had to leave airside, talk to a baggage agent, get escorted into the INTL claims room, move the bag across the border, and then re-clear security. Having done it before, and having the time, no biggie to me. But annoying AF.
Had I kept my initial connection, or not gotten a paper BP, my bag would still be in the INTL claims room.
[1] Unrelated gripe: SDC off a flight with several dozen on the standby list to a flight that took off with empty seats should not cost anyone $75.
DFW-YYZ-YHZ. 2 hour connection. I had some meetings that became important, so SDC to a later flight over the phone with the concierge[1]. On getting my BP reprinted the MLL agent asked the question about bags, answered it himself. Except, I did. The DFW contract agent did not actually check the bag all the way through.
So I had to leave airside, talk to a baggage agent, get escorted into the INTL claims room, move the bag across the border, and then re-clear security. Having done it before, and having the time, no biggie to me. But annoying AF.
Had I kept my initial connection, or not gotten a paper BP, my bag would still be in the INTL claims room.
[1] Unrelated gripe: SDC off a flight with several dozen on the standby list to a flight that took off with empty seats should not cost anyone $75.
Oct 11, 2019 | 9:27 pm
#158
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: UK
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 506
Just in case anyone else stumbles on this post. Yes OSS (through YUL at least) is much quicker than exiting and entering again, but you still get scanned and still lose your over 100mm liquids.
Last edited by eshroom; Oct 30, 2019 at 10:56 am
Oct 11, 2019 | 9:37 pm
#159
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 443
The only reason you had to go through security again was because you were connecting to the US. Americans want people to be searched right before customs up to US TSA standards so they don't try to harm one of their officers and can arrive as a domestic passenger in the US.
Oct 18, 2019 | 7:04 am
#160
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: UK
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 506
The only reason you had to go through security again was because you were connecting to the US. Americans want people to be searched right before customs up to US TSA standards so they don't try to harm one of their officers and can arrive as a domestic passenger in the US.
Oct 30, 2019 | 10:54 am
#162
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: UK
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 506
I was travelling BCN-YUL-BOS and my YUL-BOS boarding pass had OSS on it. Highly confusing. I now realise the OSS would have needed to be on my BCN-YUL boarding pass in order for it to mean OSS actually applied.
Including OSS on the second segment boarding pass is meaningless as there are no stops.
Including OSS on the second segment boarding pass is meaningless as there are no stops.
Nov 27, 2019 | 8:55 am
#164
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 443