Looks like YYC’s new consolidated domestic screening point opened today, a few months ahead of schedule. Won’t be able to check it out until my next flight in January.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...ing-checkpoint

I'm flying out of YYC in a couple weeks - will check it out.

I feel like centralized screening is a nice idea, but a real pain in real life. My biggest issue is walking distances. Since YYC gave up on splitting Westjet at the A gates, AC at C, and the rest in between, its not unusual to have AC flights leaving from the far A gates. So now, you'll have to go through security near the B gates, walk back to the C gates for the MLL, and then all the way back across to the A gates for your flight. Heck, A15 - one of the furthest A gates - seems to always get AC's shortest flight out of YYC (to YEG). And in all my years of flying, I've never seen all the walkways in YYC working at the same time, so it can be a hike.

Meanwhile Westjet's lounge is next to this new centralized security area, so I guess its a nice perk for them. The old B security area next to it didn't have a verified traveler lane, nor did the A security area near Westjet's ground gates.

I don't have much faith in the folks that plan YYC. Let's be fair, this is the airport that regularly has the longest domestic connection distances in the country (D/E swing to A), and made a whole new terminal with virtually no seating for its TB/Intl gates.

CATSA hasn't updated their website yet, but YYC's website says there are VT/NEXUS lanes at the new checkpoint. When someone goes through, can they check if they're "front of the line" or full-on VT lanes? Per the article they have the new scanners, so everybody leaves their liquids in their bags, but there are other benefits (namely how long it takes with the traffic cones - by which I mean inexperienced travellers) to a full VT lane.

Im flying YYC-YYZ next Tues and I have Nexus. Will report back on Nexus lane availability. No surprise re Calgary Airport Authority forcing even more walking.
Im ok with walking from B area new security to C for the MLL, but backtracking all the way back to A15 from C when flying to Grande Prairie on AC is a bit much.
Cant believe they wouldnt think of that. I dont get why they still dont have full Nexus lines in the US area and just front of line. Really a dysfunctional airport
when it comes to connections too.

I just came through it, and it’s a huge disaster.

There are 3 (only 3!) boarding pass scanner gates that permit access to central screening. Everyone goes through them, including Verified Traveller. From there, it’s a left/right split, with both priority and VT going through one small doorway, and that’s where they are checking Nexus cards for access to the VT lane (it is it’s own lane). It’s a bottleneck on day 2, and only going to get worse in busy periods. I can totally see huge lineups to get through the initial gates, as people are generally too dumb to work the scanners. And once through there, it’s going to be a massive problem as one CATSA agent works to verify Nexus cards and also police the priority lane.

Once inside, it gets worse as it’s the “new scanners”, as we all know are far less efficient. I watched it kick out 3/4 bags for additional screening for a crew member, despite the crew tags in the scanner, and that’s a consistent experience so far, according to crew members I know. And it’s taking the agents far longer to review each bag, it’s a solid 15-20 seconds between trays being either pulled or sent down.

Overall, it’s exactly the massive, brutally expensive cluster .... you’ve come to know and love from YYC. This airport has been run into the ground since the opening of the new terminal.

i have zero idea what exactly was wrong with the old setup. It worked fine. This was by far the longest security experience I’ve had since the VT program came into effect. The C lane was a dream, walk up drop your crap and walk through. I would say my average screening time was less than 90 seconds. This one took 6 minutes, give or take.

It's been a while, but I think I remember Edmonton/YEG had (at least) five boarding pass scanner gates, and they see much less O/D passenger volume than YYC does, and with two staff or volunteers present to assist passengers. The CGI render did show three gates, but it also showed two sets of regular/priority/VT queues (assuming the three gates are duplicated on the other side, six total) - one facing the AC check-in side, and one facing the WS check-in side. But then, the CGI render also shows the full 13 security lanes that are part of the distant-future plan. (only 7 lanes built for now, then expanding to 9 late next year.)

I did it today and it was quiet, but the new scanners are not very efficient. I was the only one there and it still took longer than the old line.

However, going from what was a great YyC experience instead I dropped off a rental car and came in around door whatever is there (5? At the WS counters) then walked the distance to the AC counters then back across the airport to the Nexus/security line then back across to the C gates to pop into the lounge and then a final time over to A15.

On the plus side, on a day where I have mostly just been sitting I’m nearly all the way to my smartwatch goals. On a down side, that’s brutal and convenient for no one. Anyone with mobility issues is going to have a hell of a time.

Sure looks pretty and new though.

Just a quick note that I experienced "enhanced security" at YYC today. You end up near A gates which is OK for Local Q400 flights but remote from MLL.

Also took close to 20 minutes in Nexus lane to clear. and I had no one in front of me but several on other side of scanner waiting for bags to appear. Oversized bags getting hung up in chamber and other teething issues. Long grappling hook seems to be part of the enhancement.

Was there yesterday and this is a massive downgrade from what we had before at YYC. Used to be mere steps to security from the SE check-in desk and then mere steps to the MLL.

Now it's a walk of half the length of the terminal to get to the security screening and then a walk half the length of the terminal back to the MLL.

To make matters worse that little train system they had doesn't run anymore. Reason given, they used to store them where the new security is so they can't store them anymore. Like seriously, who thinks these things out?? They now have golf carts running where the little trains used to but who knows when they are coming and they seat few people.

Didn't have any issues with the Nexus line, but the placement of the new security checkpoint is a total shaft for anyone going to the MLL or flying out of the C gates, especially if you are dropping a bag at the SE check-in...good for your step count I suppose...I'd love to know how many steps it is from Avis to the bag drop back to Security to the MLL and then to A24...I'm tired just thinking about that!

My first thought was they are catering to westjet with the new location. When i went through on Friday, I was the only one in nexus lane.

The little trains were replaced with golf carts long before the new security changes. Been a couple of years, I think.

According to the young gal it was about a year ago when they started working on the new security area...reason given, that's where they used to park the little trains SMH.

Yes, because CATSA is in on the great Westjet YYC conspiracy. I think it has more to do with the fact that was the best real estate to create a single massive security intake point that will now be mutually inconvenient regardless of what gate you are flying from or what airline you are flying.

We returned an Avis rental, checked a bag at the SE counter, cleared security, went to the MLL and then flew out of A18 yesterday. It was about 4,000 steps and 3.15 km as an estimate based on my total steps and distance walked on Monday.

I'm not saying that wasn't the reason, but it's been gone a long time. Perhaps they started working on the new security area that long ago, forcing them to do away with the trains well in advance? But, it was over a year ago when I asked my YYC golf cart driver where the train went, and he simply replied they were decommissioned over a year ago. Didn't give me a reason. But, I agree it's quite the downgrade. YYC used to be a very efficient security experience, from AC check-in, to security, to the MLL.