Security issues at YVR (2022)
#76
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
this is one issue. another thing that scares me is the on-time record of AC planes - more than half seems to be 1-2h late in taking off
#77
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75K, IHG Plat, Bonvoy Tit, HH Silver, BW Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 221
That is very dependent on origin and destination. My flight today from YVR-YOW was around 20 min. late due to late passengers stuck in security. Allegedly, things are slowly starting to get better.
#78
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
So, I saw the various photos on the CBC, and in the Daily Hive, and it appears that security screening at YVR is possibly back to gong show mode, but for an entirely artificial reason.
Does anyone have recent first hand experience? Is it Priority DOM, General DOM, TB, INT, or all three?
Does anyone have recent first hand experience? Is it Priority DOM, General DOM, TB, INT, or all three?
There were a lot of very bored looking CATSA people.
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,811
News is that an $8/hr bonus for the summer has expired starting Sunday so workers aren't coming in.
Expect more chaos as the contractor (Allied Universal) has proverbially drawn a line in the sand. Add to that the unions have been w/o a contract for nearly 1 1/2 years.
https://vancouversun.com/news/yvr-se...ace-discipline
Expect more chaos as the contractor (Allied Universal) has proverbially drawn a line in the sand. Add to that the unions have been w/o a contract for nearly 1 1/2 years.
https://vancouversun.com/news/yvr-se...ace-discipline
#82
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: YOW
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 583
ITD OSS (International-to-Domestic One Stop Security) is in place in YVR and YYZ - not sure about YUL.
#83
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: YYC
Programs: A3, AC
Posts: 140
Didn’t realize there was a bunch of changes at YVR. Last time doing INTL-DOM was back in April.
New connections facility was interesting, I’m sure it’ll end up saving some time when the normal immigration is packed(which I’ve never seen it packed??). Of course the connections security wasn’t open so they dumped me out at landslide domestic. Apparently I wasn’t automatically enrolled into OSS since I was connecting from WS to AC from USA.
Also didn’t realize C gate security has changed to NEXUS/PRIO only, went and got a paper boarding pass with a green sticker. Absolutely no people in C gate security, lots of security personnel doing a whole lot of nothing. I think having all of the Dom Y pax clearing over at A gates might be artificially making the lines worse.
New connections facility was interesting, I’m sure it’ll end up saving some time when the normal immigration is packed(which I’ve never seen it packed??). Of course the connections security wasn’t open so they dumped me out at landslide domestic. Apparently I wasn’t automatically enrolled into OSS since I was connecting from WS to AC from USA.
Also didn’t realize C gate security has changed to NEXUS/PRIO only, went and got a paper boarding pass with a green sticker. Absolutely no people in C gate security, lots of security personnel doing a whole lot of nothing. I think having all of the Dom Y pax clearing over at A gates might be artificially making the lines worse.
Last edited by cyralax; Sep 6, 2022 at 6:01 pm
#85
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
#86
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: Aeroplan E50/MM, HH gold, Nat Exec Elite, Kimpton Karma
Posts: 2,354
Haven’t done transborder to YVR and connecting to a domestic flight since before Covid. How is that working now?
I know one clears customs in YVR. Do we still collect bags and put them on transfer belt or just identify them on computer to CBS official?
In the past, there was an elevator from the customs area up to security for connecting pax (not sure that security area was called). Is that still the case?
Anything to be aware of to get thru as quickly as possible?
I know one clears customs in YVR. Do we still collect bags and put them on transfer belt or just identify them on computer to CBS official?
In the past, there was an elevator from the customs area up to security for connecting pax (not sure that security area was called). Is that still the case?
Anything to be aware of to get thru as quickly as possible?
#87
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Under the Big Oak Tree
Programs: Air Bukovina Elite, Circassian Air Gold, Carthaginian Airlines Platinum
Posts: 521
Haven’t done transborder to YVR and connecting to a domestic flight since before Covid. How is that working now?
I know one clears customs in YVR. Do we still collect bags and put them on transfer belt or just identify them on computer to CBS official?
In the past, there was an elevator from the customs area up to security for connecting pax (not sure that security area was called). Is that still the case?
Anything to be aware of to get thru as quickly as possible?
I know one clears customs in YVR. Do we still collect bags and put them on transfer belt or just identify them on computer to CBS official?
In the past, there was an elevator from the customs area up to security for connecting pax (not sure that security area was called). Is that still the case?
Anything to be aware of to get thru as quickly as possible?
The key question is whether or not you are flying with a participating airline and your connection qualifies. For example, flying AC from the U.S. and connecting to AC domestically does. Flying United from the U.S. and connecting to a domestic AC flight does not. Check with your airline.
If your flights qualify, you stay upstairs and use the connections facility. Do NOT go downstairs into the main customs hall. Your bags will be automatically transferred. You make your declarations upstairs and then proceed to your domestic gate. Coming from the U.S. under this process you do not have to be rescreened for security because Canada treats U.S. aviation security as equivalent.
There are staff at the connections facility who will check your boarding passes for both your inbound and onward flight. If you don't qualify they will send you downstairs.
The other key is not to have any reason to answer YES to any of the customs questions. For example, if you exceed any of your allowances or you have any sort of questionable food/meat/produce you will be sent downstairs to the main customs area and your bags will be recalled from the baggage system for CBSA inspection.
#88
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: Aeroplan E50/MM, HH gold, Nat Exec Elite, Kimpton Karma
Posts: 2,354
@TravellingChris, many thanks. Had an AC to AC connection and it was exactly as you report. I did check food on my declaration (online in advance) and on the manual declaration upon arrival (a story). No one seemed to care or ask any questions. What I had was allowable.
I also have Nexus and used that queue upstairs. The machine didn’t read my card. Reported this to the CBSA. He could not get either of their machines to read my passport, hence the need to fill out one of those old forms. He informed me there had to be a receipt from the machine and when there isn’t one, they resort to the manual system. Other people seem to not have machine issues and neither CBSA person on duty at the time could explain why it didn’t work.
Not a problem for me other than wasting time. Prior to Covid I always had to redo security there so this was a huge improvement.
I also have Nexus and used that queue upstairs. The machine didn’t read my card. Reported this to the CBSA. He could not get either of their machines to read my passport, hence the need to fill out one of those old forms. He informed me there had to be a receipt from the machine and when there isn’t one, they resort to the manual system. Other people seem to not have machine issues and neither CBSA person on duty at the time could explain why it didn’t work.
Not a problem for me other than wasting time. Prior to Covid I always had to redo security there so this was a huge improvement.
#89
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 2,120
The machine didn’t read my card. Reported this to the CBSA. He could not get either of their machines to read my passport, hence the need to fill out one of those old forms. He informed me there had to be a receipt from the machine and when there isn’t one, they resort to the manual system. Other people seem to not have machine issues and neither CBSA person on duty at the time could explain why it didn’t work.
#90
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,233
nomadic.relief - Good safety tip.
Oddly enough, I didn't have this issue with my new card - I think.
This was before Xmas, but I tried my card coming back into Canada and it didn't seem to work, so went to the CBSA officer and they scanned it. I've had zero issues either way since. So maybe they activated it as part of that process. Dunno.
Oddly enough, I didn't have this issue with my new card - I think.
This was before Xmas, but I tried my card coming back into Canada and it didn't seem to work, so went to the CBSA officer and they scanned it. I've had zero issues either way since. So maybe they activated it as part of that process. Dunno.