First time flying to Canada: does the same idiocy apply there as it does here?
 

Thread title says it all. I'm headed on my first trip to Canada in 2 weeks. Is it pretty much the same as the US or are there any differences I should know about?

Canada
 

Hi:
Canada. Same idiocy, different idiots. Aside from the speed limit signs being in kilometers you'll think you're in the U.S.A..

P.S.
What's ... or should I Google it?

Martin.

Member of ...: the Anti Shoe-carnival Society

Shoes don't always -- or even generally -- come off in Canada. Other than that, Canada's "CATSA" (or whatever it's called) is basically much akin to our own TSA.

So do everything you do for the TSA minus the shoe carnival and you should be ok in O'Canada land.

For your return, immigration/customs procedures are a bit different; for the major Canadian airports with flights to the US, you'll have to do US immigration/customs clearance in Canada when flying from there to the US. And so after check-in you have to take yourself and all of your luggage past immigration and customs and then hand your bags over for check in.

Similar practices, but people are friendlier and punctuate statements with "eh". By the way if someone says "Take off your shoes" but it sounds like a question because his or her voice rises at the end of the sentence, it's not a question, that's just the way we talk.

Oh, and instead of those food/drug sniffing beagles, they use polar bears and wolverines. Don't try to pat them.

That has changed. Last few times I've gone through security leading into the US transborder area in YUL, everyone was being forced to remove their shoes.

It's been a few months since I've gone transborder in YYZ so I can't say whether that holds true there as well.

Interesting to hear that YUL is being inconsistent.

I've been through YYZ a lot recently and not once have my shoes come off this year, whether flying from Terminal 1 or 3 at YYZ.

Pretty stupid, eh? Just like the US. :(

So I should wear my Kip Hawley Is an Idiot t-shirt (yes I have one :D) and my commented freedom baggie? :D

Ok, so I won't have to go thru customs and stuff when I get to IAD because I'll already have processed at YUL?

Yeah, I'm finding that in my conversations with Canucks. :)

I would have guessed moose, but good to know. :D

This is particularly good as I'll be going to YUL (doing IAD-YUL-IAD on this trip). Do they generally have barkers there yelling about shoes, or will I get lucky if I try not to take them off?

Little OT but maybe you guys know: is it permissible to bring cut flowers in from the US on a flight, or would I be better off buying them there? Someone is probably going to be picking me up and I'd like to have flowers for her. I just don't want to run into hassles with customs. Thanks!

Per YUL's "US transborder area", yes. :)

I wish that were the case with their land border immigrations officers. :(

The guy I dealt with at Niagara Falls was an absolute Bugbear.:td:

on your return make sure you give enough time after checkin for the US immigration & customs . In yyz sometimes the lines can be pretty long.

Good. I hear IAD's C&I is usually a mess.