I tend to fly at less busy times, and I've had my laptop swabbed often when entering the Nexus line of T3 security (B/C gates) this year.

Pardon my choice of words. It's more like "Take your laptop out, let me swab it then all around your laptop case" guy. Sometimes they will escort you to the front of the line afterwards if its busy.

Thanks for the clarification. Swabbing the laptop is fine and does not take much time, they are just trying to make sure people do not have narcotics or explosives.

Has anyone been able to successfully scan the QR code at the e-gates from yyz dot americanexpress dot com (sorry, first time poster) to go through the Priority Security Lanes in Terminal 1 Gate E?

My wife wasn't able to scan her QR code on her phone earlier. Nothing was happening when she put the QR code over the reader.

Thanks.

Next time, try scanning your BP to see if the barcode scanner is working on the gate. If it is, it's most likely a problem with the screen on your phone. Set your brightness to 100% and modify the zoom. If that doesn't work, try hovering your phone above the scanner and play around with the distance/angle.

Yes, thank you. I replayed yesterday in my mind and realized that it did scan the boarding pass (as my wife was reading the instructions on the screen). It occurred to me early this morning that my wife's phone was probably too dim. She scanned the boarding pass from her phone (didn't work as we didn't have access on the boarding pass) and her phone went full brightness. Whereas, when she scanned the QR code (twice), both times were either in an email or browser and didn't automatically go full brightness.

I fly out in 2 weeks or so, so I'll try it on my phone with full brightness when I'm at the e-gate.

Interesting scenario on Friday afternoon (~14:00) at T3. The C gates ("international") security check was only accepting customers of the new YYZ Express service. All normal passengers we sent over to the B/C gates security area, which also had a YYZ Express line. It was all very busy.

Is there a Nexus line available at T3 USA departures? Although I haven’t been to that terminal in almost a year, I don’t recall ever seeing it before

Yes - look for signs at far right side of entrance to security for US departures - Nexus entrance is down long hallway past the washrooms. There is a separate security line, then a separate entrance into CBP hall.

Just an FYI, T1 Domestic, they ask you for your Nexus at the usual spot as well at security when they re-scan your BP

They were turning people away who 'snuck' into the Nexus line but didn't have a Nexus card

About damned time. Sorry but what's the point behind having a NEXUS line and such if people can sneak in or if the agents just toss whoever into the line?

Hopefully this is a permanent thing.

Agreed. The last couple of times I used it was explained to me that it was for Nexus members. As I was reaching for my card I was waved through without having to show it.

We have an early trans-border flight (6:15a) on Saturday, Dec 3rd through T1. As US customs doesn’t open until 4:30a, how does the recommended 3 hours thing work? Would arriving at security around 4-4:15a be ok? We both have NEXUS.

In 2017 we had an early trans-border through T1. Got there with the 3 hr buffer, and no other pax at security, then sat at the gate for 2.5 hrs.

Getting there 3 hours early puts you at or near the front of the line for when customs and security open up.

I haven’t read a lot of recent experiences, but I’d be surprised if you really need 3 hours on a Saturday morning. If it was me I’d be content with 2. But perhaps others will contradict that.

if you have Nexus you won’t need 3 hours. On a Saturday morning, you’ll go from check in to the gate in probably less than 10 minutes. Your only real time constraint will be if you’re checking bags you need to have them checked by one hour before departure. I generally get there about an hour and a half and do just fine. If I was travelling with kids, I’d probably shoot for two hours because kids are sort of like molasses.

and for reference, I’ve flown out of Pearson four times in the last two months.