Hi. Question to the audience.....

I have a tight connection at YUL this coming wednesday. Coming in to YUL from BDL on AC 7301, arriving at 08:52 and connecting to YVR on AC 10:00AM on AC 1557. In all my years of flying -including tons of times through YUL, I've never connected there from the US. I have Nexus and will only have carry-on but I'm still nervous about the short connection time.

Questions:
1. Is this doable 1 hour 8 min seems tight.
2. Any tricks to this? Suggestions?

Thanks

I flew into YUL for the first time less than a month ago. I can't guarantee anything, but I know I was through customs/immigration in less than 10 minutes with NEXUS. They even have a NEXUS-specific corridor leading up to the customs station (i.e. the end of the journey through CBSA) bypassing the regular queue.

I wasn't connecting but I remember seeing a sign for transferring pax, so you may not need to reclear security? Not sure but that would be in your favor.

It's tight but not impossible. Being NEXUS is necessary. Being carry-on only helps. Any flight delays or a trip to secondary and you are missing that flight to YVR, however.

On a domestic connection you'll have to pass through CATSA on the departures level once exiting the international arrivals area downstairs.

OP, your connection is tight but not impossible as long as your BDL-YUL is on time. That flight unfortunately almost always arrives in the gate 87 area which is the furthest from the arrivals hall. I strongly recommend power-walking as it's a hike. Once at CBSA NEXUS it, head down the stairs next to the elevator, keep heading right along the wall in front of you for the NEXUS exit and hand in your cards.

Once outside the CBSA area stick to your left, head up the escalator you'll see in front of you (it's in front of the cafe/bar). Once upstairs turn immediately left and head towards the back of the building. You'll see signs for the security checkpoint. The NEXUS priority line is at the opposite end from where you'll be. Head past the Burger King, St. Hubert and the sandwich place and you should see the signs for the NEXUS line.

Like I said, it's tight, but doable if you hustle. Good luck.

Such a written comment is right on CBP's main NEXUS page.

"the NEXUS card has been approved as an alternative to the passport for air, land, and sea travel into the United States for US and Canadian citizens."

December 7, YYZ Same situation, Nexus made no difference whatsoever. Got the full monty pat down.

Interesting. Can't recall if I mentioned this further up on the thread, but when I phone Burlington CBP the guy clearly stated I couldn't and would need a US passport.

Hoping they phone me this week to come pick them up, but failing that, maybe I can print that page out and show it if they give me a hard time.

The approval of the NEXUS card in lieu of a passport for air travel is a fairly recent change. It seems like CPB's officer training of the changes is lacking.

I'm driving into the US today with a friend using the regular lane. Will the border guard know I'm a Nexus member just by scanning my passport?

That's interesting. Everytime I've seen that before, its been followed by something noting its use at the kiosk only. Implying if you're not at the kiosk, it's not a valid document.

And again, that's assuming you can get that far - not all airlines necessarily accept a Nexus card as valid ID for transborder flights - YMMV, of course, but if an agent won't let you check in, its moot about what CBP will take.

In my experience, they have never acknowledged my Nexus status. And in many cases they've been on the ruder side of things, especially to my friend.

How do people with eyeglasses deal with the retina scans?

It seems like I've always had an issue with them. I only utilize the NEXUS card when I drive to the border and I rarely save time at the airport because of this.

While they may be able to tell (I'm not sure one way or the other), I don't think they really care.

If you really want him to know you're a NEXUS member you can always use your NEXUS card instead of a passport. Unless you were planning on doing something illegal (ie not declaring items, etc) and didn't want your status to be known.

I find the interaction at NEXUS vs non-NEXUS lanes to be almost identical. The only difference is the amount of time required to get to the booth. This part doesn't apply in your case.

has not been a problem for me either with glasses or contacts, and i'm a +4.5 blind

I haven't tried it with contacts but they always ask me to remove my glasses. You're far-sighted, which is easier to aim.

I'm near-sighted so I have eyes like a magnifying glass. :(

What it doesn't say is "an alternative to the passport under all circumstances", because it isn't.

See http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizen...ocs-air-travel

"passport, NEXUS card (if utilizing a NEXUS kiosk when departing from a designated Canadian airport), Merchant Mariner Document (for U.S. citizens traveling on official business), or Military Identification Card (for members of the U.S. armed forces traveling on official orders)" (emphasis added)

and http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/whti-air-faq
"Q: Can the NEXUS card be used at any air location?
A: NEXUS cards will only be accepted in conjunction with the NEXUS program at designated NEXUS sites." (emphasis added)