Transiting at YVR from Int to Dom flights
 

Just got off the flight from SDY-YVR and transiting for my connecting flight from YVR-YYZ... I know there is a shortcut so one does not need to exit international and walk the 2 miles to Domestic and line up in domestic check-in. I have done this a few times escorted by AC Concierge. but on this flight, there was no one there, and it appears the only way is to clear custom, exit customs into airside and make the long trek all the way to Domestic and line up at domestic with the masses to clear security.

If I remember correctly, you go the far right in the baggage area, a deer going through customs. You exit as normal on the left

Was there no one waving yellow cards, shouting "DOMESTIC CONNECTIONS"?

Right at the entrance the to immigration hall, there's also a sign to your right for domestic connections.

Finally, even if you miss all that, there's a separate transit path (still with a security checkpoint) if you follow the additional signage for domestic connections.

Someone was waving a blue card and shouting "Canadian Connections" when I arrived on the most recent AC 4 from NRT. The problem is, she was standing in front on a line next to the Nexus line. She sent me to Nexus. Then my choices were exit into the terminal and go back through C security or stay to the right, elevator upstairs, long walk down hallway, through 2 lane non-Nexus security up there and then down escalator to the area near the information booth and main security airside.

On this particular day, a concierge was there with a BP for my onward flight. He took me on the airside bus (great plane porn BTW) to the domestic terminal, entering the door at gate 29, across from the MLL.

The problem was, he did not know NRT was not one of the destinations where the bus is yet allowed for inbound pax. The other problem was the extremely poor filtering and info process at arrival to immigration at YVR. It felt like no one took this idea for a test drive before they put that person and their sign in front of the line.

Thanks... I did not get a yellow or blue card, and no one was there shouting connections.. I went through Nexus (which was probably my mistake), and had the long walk to domestic security line. Live and learn...next time

I didn't know you could do that with NEXUS, so thanks :)

For an airport of its size, YVR's INTL-DOM connection process is terrible. Last time I was there, Customs took 5 minutes, but lining up to transfer the bag took another 10 and the no nexus, no priority connections security checkpoint took another 20+. After a long flight from Asia, not exactly the nicest welcome. I wish it was more like YYZ which can be much faster!

I had it last May where I took the elevator upstairs to the mini security area which was closed(arrived at 7pm-ish) and they routed all pax back downstairs airside to go through security again.

You don't need to find a staffer waving a card; they find you. As you descend the stairs or escalator into the main immigration hall (past the waterfall & spindle whorl), there will be several people in bright blue YVR vests intercepting you with CANADA printed on the cards. If you missed them, maybe glance up from your phone. These staff meet all eligible flights.

You need not use the NEXUS lane, although it's definitely an option for those members. There's a separate bank of the regular PIK kiosks to the far right of the hall reserved for the Int to Dom (ITD) customers. They generally have no lineup and are as quick as using the dedicated NEXUS line. If you have NEXUS, you have the freedom to choose between the fastest line.

The process remains faster than exiting normal or taking the Level 4 corridor at the right exit of the baggage claim hall.

For those claiming the process is "a mess", think about the growth that AC and YVR have experienced the past few years. Spend some time at the airport learning about the construction underway to complete the ITD process within the terminal without the need for buses. Offer any helpful suggestions on how you'd have foreseen the situation, and/or how you'd improve upon it. ITD passengers save an average of 24 minutes in connection time (latest figures to January 2019), but perhaps those averse to messes might wish to spend that time in a nice zen-like walk along the old route through customs and a subsequent bag drop and rescreening.

Totally your choice, either way.

As this is a YVR-specific thread rather than an Air Canada or Aeroplan specific topic this thread has been relocated to the Cnadfa FT destination forum for further discussion.

tcook052
AC forum moderator

I completed the Intl-Dom transit last week, and I think I would rather walk if there is a shortcut to stay in the secure area. The bus ride was long and it didn't seem like a far distance.