Recent/Current YYZ-USA Preclearance Experiences
Jul 17, 2022, 12:05 pm
#136
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
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Went through last Thursday at 930AM. Long line for regular security that went outside the hall and into the strapped lines, absolutely zero people in Nexus, I was through in probably 3 minutes including waiting for my bags to come through.
US Immigration was easily 1+hours, maybe 2+ hours, it's been a long time since I've seen it that bad, but with an empty Global Entry line I was through in about 2 minutes including walking time, so from curb to MLL in maybe 10 minutes total time, most of which was walking from the curb to the Nexus entrance.
Now I'm sure Monday or Friday mornings at 6AM are probably different, but my experience was 99% less stressful than I expected.
US Immigration was easily 1+hours, maybe 2+ hours, it's been a long time since I've seen it that bad, but with an empty Global Entry line I was through in about 2 minutes including walking time, so from curb to MLL in maybe 10 minutes total time, most of which was walking from the curb to the Nexus entrance.
Now I'm sure Monday or Friday mornings at 6AM are probably different, but my experience was 99% less stressful than I expected.
Jul 21, 2022, 11:14 am
#137
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
Only 2 GE kiosks are operating at YYZ this noon (Jul 21, 2022)
Arrived at YYZ around noon and found out all GE kiosks are out of order expect two, speak to the CBP officer and he said for some reason they all crashed at the same time. Thoughts?
Jul 21, 2022, 1:07 pm
#138
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,505
A pilot told me today that CBP at YYZ would be beginning work to rule today and would be slowing down processing. I haven’t heard anything else about that kind of action, but wonder if this would be consistent with it.
Jul 22, 2022, 5:32 am
#140
Join Date: May 2015
Location: EXT, sometimes NYC/LON/YQT
Programs: Aeroplan, SPG/Marriott, Radisson Rewards
Posts: 774
Why would working to rule affect automated kiosks?
Jul 22, 2022, 5:50 am
#141
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,505
Jul 22, 2022, 11:15 am
#142
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: YVR/YUL/LHR/HKG
Programs: TK Gold
Posts: 577
1 hr 15 minutes for Pre-clearance? Risky Connection?
Looking into YUL-BOS via YYZ with a 1 hour 15 minutes stopover.
YUL-YYZ seems to be delayed always
Anyone recently travelled to YYZ, can you suggest the likelihood whether the baggage/ the passenger would be able to make it?
YUL-YYZ seems to be delayed always
Anyone recently travelled to YYZ, can you suggest the likelihood whether the baggage/ the passenger would be able to make it?
Jul 22, 2022, 11:53 am
#143
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,505
No one could say definitively, but it’s definitely a substantial risk these days. I would plan as if you’ll miss the connection and take it as a bonus if you don’t.
Jul 22, 2022, 12:09 pm
#144
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
Nowadays Air Canada has been holding up planes for passengers who have made it to customs and are stuck in line (basically as long as your boarding pass gets scanned right as you are entering preclearance area). Typically every flight has been delayed 2-3 hours leaving to the US, so there's always a good chance you'll make it.
Jul 22, 2022, 3:42 pm
#145
Join Date: Jul 2022
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 8
Anyone have any more information on how the queueing stuff works for T1 US preclearance at YYZ? Have a flight out of YYZ to EWR at 06:30 tomorrow morning. Don't want to show up at 03:30 and get kicked out of line...
As an aside, I applied for Nexus in January 2020 after 5 or 6 awful early morning experiences going through T1 US preclearance. Truly scarring stuff. FINALLY have my interview on August 6 in Niagara Falls. So for one last time, I'm stuck in line tomorrow morning.
As an aside, I applied for Nexus in January 2020 after 5 or 6 awful early morning experiences going through T1 US preclearance. Truly scarring stuff. FINALLY have my interview on August 6 in Niagara Falls. So for one last time, I'm stuck in line tomorrow morning.
Jul 22, 2022, 3:59 pm
#146
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
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Anyone have any more information on how the queueing stuff works for T1 US preclearance at YYZ? Have a flight out of YYZ to EWR at 06:30 tomorrow morning. Don't want to show up at 03:30 and get kicked out of line...
As an aside, I applied for Nexus in January 2020 after 5 or 6 awful early morning experiences going through T1 US preclearance. Truly scarring stuff. FINALLY have my interview on August 6 in Niagara Falls. So for one last time, I'm stuck in line tomorrow morning.
As an aside, I applied for Nexus in January 2020 after 5 or 6 awful early morning experiences going through T1 US preclearance. Truly scarring stuff. FINALLY have my interview on August 6 in Niagara Falls. So for one last time, I'm stuck in line tomorrow morning.
Jul 22, 2022, 5:10 pm
#147
Join Date: Jul 2022
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 8
Jul 22, 2022, 5:44 pm
#148
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,505
I am taking someone to T1 for a 7 AM departure tomorrow. She will not be checking a bag, has no Nexus and no status, and is a US citizen. We plan to have her there for around 4:30.
Jul 22, 2022, 5:56 pm
#149
Join Date: Jul 2022
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 8
Gleaned as much from this thread as well but there doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer on whether they are in fact AC specific. Add communication as another YYZ failing.
My understanding—and someone can correct me if I’m wrong—is that the ”holding pens” are AC-specific (so United passengers can just get into the line at any time).
I am taking someone to T1 for a 7 AM departure tomorrow. She will not be checking a bag, has no Nexus and no status, and is a US citizen. We plan to have her there for around 4:30.
I am taking someone to T1 for a 7 AM departure tomorrow. She will not be checking a bag, has no Nexus and no status, and is a US citizen. We plan to have her there for around 4:30.
Jul 22, 2022, 6:07 pm
#150
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Join Date: Sep 2002
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Having said that, Saturday morning should be less stressful than weekdays, but mornings are always a toss-up and I've seen the United counter very busy. If you can use the kiosk to get your boarding pass, all the better but if you need to see an agent, and have no UA status, budget another 30-40 minutes just for that, and 30-40 minutes for security and 60-90 minutes for US Immigration.