a recent Pearson experience
Aug 29th 2023 | 2:25 am
#16
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 40,070
From: Ontario
Re: a recent Pearson experience
Fred drifting....
Halifax is an annoyance when connecting from an international flight from the UK to domestic. They do have the setup for transit pax to go through a seperate immigration area/kiosks and thence straight into airside departures. I've used it, once. But it seems to be always closed off now, forcing you to clear immigration, pick up your bags (if you have them) and then dump them back on to a transit belt. Then you have to deal with legendary enormous queue for security to get back airside. It's a study in inefficiency.
I know the COO at YHZ, she used to be the marketing VP at St John's. I should get around to asking her why this is the case but I suspect the answer will be "CBSA".
Halifax is an annoyance when connecting from an international flight from the UK to domestic. They do have the setup for transit pax to go through a seperate immigration area/kiosks and thence straight into airside departures. I've used it, once. But it seems to be always closed off now, forcing you to clear immigration, pick up your bags (if you have them) and then dump them back on to a transit belt. Then you have to deal with legendary enormous queue for security to get back airside. It's a study in inefficiency.
I know the COO at YHZ, she used to be the marketing VP at St John's. I should get around to asking her why this is the case but I suspect the answer will be "CBSA".
Aug 30th 2023 | 3:49 pm
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 705
Re: a recent Pearson experience
Almost not worth mentioning in relation to all the other (legitimate) complaints about Pearson, but...
It does seem that they have a special algorithm to route *all* landings (and return taxiways), domestic or international, to absolutely the farthest possible spot from the arrival gate, to maximise the time between touchdown and gate arrival -- and that's when everything goes as expected!
I have experienced worse at some other airports (DFW stands out). But DFW sometimes surprises you on the upside, and YYZ never does.
It does seem that they have a special algorithm to route *all* landings (and return taxiways), domestic or international, to absolutely the farthest possible spot from the arrival gate, to maximise the time between touchdown and gate arrival -- and that's when everything goes as expected!
I have experienced worse at some other airports (DFW stands out). But DFW sometimes surprises you on the upside, and YYZ never does.
Aug 31st 2023 | 1:14 am
#18
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,146
From: St. John's, Newfoundland
Re: a recent Pearson experience
If you have checked luggage you can, of course, put it into your checked bag(s) before they go back onto the transfer belt (After CBSA). If you only have hand luggage it is a PITA I agree. Presumably, if the airside-airside transfer was used, you'd be able to take the booze with you.
Aug 31st 2023 | 1:44 am
#19
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 40,070
From: Ontario
Re: a recent Pearson experience
If you have checked luggage you can, of course, put it into your checked bag(s) before they go back onto the transfer belt (After CBSA). If you only have hand luggage it is a PITA I agree. Presumably, if the airside-airside transfer was used, you'd be able to take the booze with you.
I think the key lesson is that one should travel to Canada with Australian wines.
Aug 31st 2023 | 1:55 am
#20
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 208
From: Oxford
Re: a recent Pearson experience
Aug 31st 2023 | 2:00 am
#21
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,146
From: St. John's, Newfoundland
Sep 5th 2023 | 12:48 pm
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 44
Re: a recent Pearson experience
O It did take us only just under two hours to get groundside from stepping off the plane [which itself was delayed by an apparently ad hoc checking of passports at the airbridge exit, thereby holding up everyone on the plane]. This relative speediness was only because we were standing in the right random spot when a new exit was carved out of the swarm of people swamping those border control machines and the queue to have the machine printout checked [it was a single swarm, but multi purpose]. I don't think I have ever been to such a disorganised airport. And the staff... clearly not happy to be there.
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Sep 5th 2023 | 2:10 pm
#24
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 89,087
Re: a recent Pearson experience
I fully agree and the new Nexus machines at Pearson are a godsend. Place your Nexus card on the glass, take photo, then take your receipt to give to the customs guy on the way out.
Sep 5th 2023 | 7:34 pm
#25
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 208
From: Oxford
Re: a recent Pearson experience
Sep 5th 2023 | 10:01 pm
#26
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 89,087
Re: a recent Pearson experience
Sep 6th 2023 | 4:59 am
#27
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,671
From: Toronto
Re: a recent Pearson experience
You just shoot on the side. Tape your card. Quick retina scan and then the machine says "Welcome to the United States".
At least a whole beer in the bar before the sap with out Nexus gets through.
Sep 6th 2023 | 9:16 pm
#29
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 768
From: Whitby, Ontario
Re: a recent Pearson experience
Sep 6th 2023 | 9:39 pm
#30
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 208
From: Oxford
Re: a recent Pearson experience
Under 'who is eligible' for Nexus on the site, it says:
>> U.S. and Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for a NEXUS membership.
All good here.
But the website introduces residency as a requirement under 'What you need before you start'
>> Proof of residency
Sorry for the amateur google-fu, but is Nexus only for those who live in the US and Canada?
Edit - speaking of security queues, yesterday my son found LHR T5 security queued around the building with lots of Border Force personnel around, and even passport checks to get onto the plane. So now we know what happens when the authorities misplace someone suspected of terrorist offences.
>> U.S. and Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for a NEXUS membership.
All good here.
But the website introduces residency as a requirement under 'What you need before you start'
>> Proof of residency
Sorry for the amateur google-fu, but is Nexus only for those who live in the US and Canada?
Edit - speaking of security queues, yesterday my son found LHR T5 security queued around the building with lots of Border Force personnel around, and even passport checks to get onto the plane. So now we know what happens when the authorities misplace someone suspected of terrorist offences.
Last edited by I am I said; Sep 6th 2023 at 9:45 pm.
