US->Canada Transfers in YVR
Jun 9, 2018 | 5:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 2,008
US->Canada Transfers in YVR
I did a US->YYZ->YYC transfer last week and was reminded how much I absolutely despise doing that; the connection was 75 minutes and I was running to final call at the gate, had to clear security AGAIN with no connections line (mind you this was T3 at Pearson and not AC). I always prefer to clear in YYC and will take any airline that will allow me to do that most of the time.
Is YVR just as bad? Do we have to re-clear security again (where did OSS go) when transferring from US inbound to domestic connections?
Is YVR just as bad? Do we have to re-clear security again (where did OSS go) when transferring from US inbound to domestic connections?
Jun 9, 2018 | 5:47 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan 75K, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,461
I did a US->YYZ->YYC transfer last week and was reminded how much I absolutely despise doing that; the connection was 75 minutes and I was running to final call at the gate, had to clear security AGAIN with no connections line (mind you this was T3 at Pearson and not AC). I always prefer to clear in YYC and will take any airline that will allow me to do that most of the time.
Is YVR just as bad? Do we have to re-clear security again (where did OSS go) when transferring from US inbound to domestic connections?
Is YVR just as bad? Do we have to re-clear security again (where did OSS go) when transferring from US inbound to domestic connections?
Jun 9, 2018 | 5:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 67
Yes you'll have to re-clear security after arriving from an international flight (including US).
They have a thing they call 'express' for those connecting from international to domestic, but I find its pretty hit or miss in terms of being quicker, and from what I remember, there is no Nexus or status security lanes. If you want to use it, go to the far back right side of the arrivals hall, past the luggage carousels, and then up the elevator. Most of the time I go landside and walk back over to domestic, because its more predictable and I can use the Nexus lane. YMMV.
They have a thing they call 'express' for those connecting from international to domestic, but I find its pretty hit or miss in terms of being quicker, and from what I remember, there is no Nexus or status security lanes. If you want to use it, go to the far back right side of the arrivals hall, past the luggage carousels, and then up the elevator. Most of the time I go landside and walk back over to domestic, because its more predictable and I can use the Nexus lane. YMMV.
Jun 9, 2018 | 6:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC 50k 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,456
Yes you'll have to re-clear security after arriving from an international flight (including US).
They have a thing they call 'express' for those connecting from international to domestic, but I find its pretty hit or miss in terms of being quicker, and from what I remember, there is no Nexus or status security lanes. If you want to use it, go to the far back right side of the arrivals hall, past the luggage carousels, and then up the elevator. Most of the time I go landside and walk back over to domestic, because its more predictable and I can use the Nexus lane. YMMV.
They have a thing they call 'express' for those connecting from international to domestic, but I find its pretty hit or miss in terms of being quicker, and from what I remember, there is no Nexus or status security lanes. If you want to use it, go to the far back right side of the arrivals hall, past the luggage carousels, and then up the elevator. Most of the time I go landside and walk back over to domestic, because its more predictable and I can use the Nexus lane. YMMV.
Jun 9, 2018 | 9:24 pm
#5
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 18,987
Not sure about this "transfer" process. When I did SAN-YVR-YYC a few weeks ago, there was a YVR employee in the customs area asking people if they had connections in order to help them out with the "express" service, but when I asked him, he said it was only for checked bags. As we had only carry-on bags, we were directed to go through customs and then over to domestic security etc as normal.
On the bright side, it seems that while there's no longer anyone manning the NEXUS/priority security at domestic, if you have NEXUS, they'll let you through the little NEXUS lane off to the side pretty much any time - much more civilized than when they seemed to shut it down at 7:30 or 8PM or something like that.
On the bright side, it seems that while there's no longer anyone manning the NEXUS/priority security at domestic, if you have NEXUS, they'll let you through the little NEXUS lane off to the side pretty much any time - much more civilized than when they seemed to shut it down at 7:30 or 8PM or something like that.
Jun 9, 2018 | 11:05 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
If you tell the person scanning boarding passes at the front of the line that you are a connecting passanger, they will move you over to the priority line this normally reserved for Nexus, premium cabin and people with some high end Visa product.
Jun 10, 2018 | 4:10 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, SK Gold, Bonvoy Plat LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 47,358
You do not need to reclear security in T1 on US-Domestic connections.
There's no NEXUS, and you have to take a bus, but there's no security.
So your T3 experience doesn't match the AC experience.
There's no NEXUS, and you have to take a bus, but there's no security.
So your T3 experience doesn't match the AC experience.
