Vancouver Airport Question

[Italy52]

In the past, we have extended our stay in Vancouver by one day to avoid the crowds at the airport. While looking over some recent postings about Vancouver I came upon the following text: "You will fill out a Canadian immigration form on the ship that will be left in your room. You will hand that in when entering Canada place and go thru immigration.

 

When you get to the airport you will go thru US Customs & Immigration before boarding the plane. Since you have a US Passport, you do not have to fill out the US immigration form, instead you will use the kiosk."

 

From past trips through the Vancouver Airport I don't remember using a kiosk. We came into the airport, filled out the US Customs & Immigration forms that were on the table and proceeded to check in at the airline ticket counter. Is this "kiosk" something new?

[Arusha]

From the Vancouver airport website, May 10, 2013:

 

http://www.yvr.ca/en/blog/posts/Made-at-YVR_Technology_Improves_U_S_Customs_Process.aspx

 

Another made-at-YVR first was unveiled this month with the launch of Automated Passport Control, an expedited customs entry process that uses self-service kiosk technology to help clear the U.S. border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection worked closely with the simplified passenger team at the Airport Authority to launch Automated Passport Control. U.S. passport-holders will be the first travellers to have access to the new system, and the program will be offered to Canadian passport-holders in the coming weeks. This innovation is expected to reduce wait times and congestion for U.S.-bound passengers, while still meeting high standards for safety and security.

 

Travellers heading to U.S. destinations from YVR will see a new set of self-serve kiosks in place in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance area. At the kiosk, on-screen instructions prompt a traveller to scan their passport and answer questions about customs declaration using a touch screen. When finished, the kiosk prints a receipt, which the passenger takes to an officer to clear the border.

 

From electronic check-in kiosks to Automated Border Clearance (ABC) kiosks found in the Canada Customs Hall, self-serve technology that speeds up the passenger experience can be found everywhere at YVR. Beyond YVR’s walls, this home-grown innovation is expected to show up at other airports across North America. The Canadian version – ABC – is already in place at Toronto and Montreal airports, and recently Chicago O’Hare announced its purchase of 32 kiosks to offer its passengers the same safe and efficient U.S. border clearance experience now available at YVR.

[Italy52]

From the Vancouver airport website, May 10, 2013:

 

http://www.yvr.ca/en/blog/posts/Made-at-YVR_Technology_Improves_U_S_Customs_Process.aspx

 

Another made-at-YVR first was unveiled this month with the launch of Automated Passport Control, an expedited customs entry process that uses self-service kiosk technology to help clear the U.S. border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection worked closely with the simplified passenger team at the Airport Authority to launch Automated Passport Control. U.S. passport-holders will be the first travellers to have access to the new system, and the program will be offered to Canadian passport-holders in the coming weeks. This innovation is expected to reduce wait times and congestion for U.S.-bound passengers, while still meeting high standards for safety and security.

 

Travellers heading to U.S. destinations from YVR will see a new set of self-serve kiosks in place in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance area. At the kiosk, on-screen instructions prompt a traveller to scan their passport and answer questions about customs declaration using a touch screen. When finished, the kiosk prints a receipt, which the passenger takes to an officer to clear the border.

 

From electronic check-in kiosks to Automated Border Clearance (ABC) kiosks found in the Canada Customs Hall, self-serve technology that speeds up the passenger experience can be found everywhere at YVR. Beyond YVR’s walls, this home-grown innovation is expected to show up at other airports across North America. The Canadian version – ABC – is already in place at Toronto and Montreal airports, and recently Chicago O’Hare announced its purchase of 32 kiosks to offer its passengers the same safe and efficient U.S. border clearance experience now available at YVR.

 

 

Thank you very much for the reply, I appreciate it.

[Putterdude]

Here is a link to a little easier read format re the passport scanner kiosks. This system was only installed in May but so far we have read only good things about it and how it has reduced lines.

 

http://www.yvr.ca/en/navigating-yvr/customs-immigration/us-customs-border-protection/AutomatedPassportControl.aspx

[Philob]

We just got back. We flew WestJet and here's what happened to us.

 

1) Filled out US Custom Forms in departure area.

 

2) Use the airline kiosk to get your luggage tags or if that doesn't work (like us) to the airline counter to get your tags.

 

3) Once tagged you, next you drop off your bags onto the conveyor belt, where someone will scan your boarding pass and luggage tags.

 

4) Clear security.

 

5) US Immigration area: directed to above mentioned kiosk, where you scan your passport, have your picture taken, and complete same US Custom Form on the kiosk. When done receipts with your picture on it is issued.

 

6) We were told to toss the previously handwritten Custom Form and directed to the Border Agent for a "where you going?, where you live?, any fruits, vegetables, food? (SWMBO was carrying a box of pastries for the mid-flight munch) and have a nice day" chat and directed to the Gate area. While he's asking you questions overhead photos of your luggage on the conveyor belt appears on his monitor (remember someone scanned your boarding pass and luggage tag?).

[Putterdude]

Thank you for your information re the passport kiosks at YVR. A poster on another thread asked if each person in a family group had to answer the "declaration" type questions or did each person have to do there own?

Could you please share some light on this?

[Philob]

Thank you for your information re the passport kiosks at YVR. A poster on another thread asked if each person in a family group had to answer the "declaration" type questions or did each person have to do there own?

Could you please share some light on this?

 

Up to four family members may be processed with the kiosk on a single declaration, same as the paper form.

 

Each person must scan their passport and have their picture taken, but only one declaration is need for the four.

 

When finished a "receipt" is issued for each person, the receipt has all the passport information and the recently taken picture on it.

 

You then head over for the "talk".

[subtchr]

We disembarked from our ship last Friday, stayed a night at the Pan Pacific (amazing hotel, fantastic location, and we had credit card points to make it very affordable!), and had an 11:20 am flight home to Ohio on Saturday.

 

Although it was very much a multi-step process, as detailed in previous posts, we didn't have lines anywhere at the airport. I can't claim I did it on purpose, but the timing seemed to be perfect, well before the crowds from the two ships that arrived that morning.

 

We took the Canada Line train to the airport from the Waterfront station, just around the corner from the hotel. Easy, clean, and only $2.75 per person! (It's usually two zones, so twice that cost, but on weekends they only charge one zone for anywhere.) We each had a backpack and one rolling suitcase, so it was no problem getting to, on, or off the train.

 

The first Delta kiosk we went to to check in and print boarding passes wasn't working, but the second one was. We joked about the number of times your passport and/or boarding pass is scanned - at the airport checkin kiosk, at the airline desk, at the luggage drop off, at security, at customs, and at the gate before boarding. They REALLY know who you are by then! But it was all painless, and the international terminal is very nice. Modern and clean with plenty of places for shopping or dining. We got very good sandwiches from a place near our gate (E87).

 

It was all a very nice and relaxing (well, as relaxing as air travel can be!) way to end an amazing vacation!

[scottbee]

We disembarked from our ship last Friday, stayed a night at the Pan Pacific (amazing hotel, fantastic location, and we had credit card points to make it very affordable!), and had an 11:20 am flight home to Ohio on Saturday.

 

Although it was very much a multi-step process, as detailed in previous posts, we didn't have lines anywhere at the airport. I can't claim I did it on purpose, but the timing seemed to be perfect, well before the crowds from the two ships that arrived that morning.

 

We took the Canada Line train to the airport from the Waterfront station, just around the corner from the hotel. Easy, clean, and only $2.75 per person! (It's usually two zones, so twice that cost, but on weekends they only charge one zone for anywhere.) We each had a backpack and one rolling suitcase, so it was no problem getting to, on, or off the train.

 

The first Delta kiosk we went to to check in and print boarding passes wasn't working, but the second one was. We joked about the number of times your passport and/or boarding pass is scanned - at the airport checkin kiosk, at the airline desk, at the luggage drop off, at security, at customs, and at the gate before boarding. They REALLY know who you are by then! But it was all painless, and the international terminal is very nice. Modern and clean with plenty of places for shopping or dining. We got very good sandwiches from a place near our gate (E87).

 

It was all a very nice and relaxing (well, as relaxing as air travel can be!) way to end an amazing vacation!

 

Glad you enjoyed your visit to Vancouver and YVR. One minor edit, you were in the "Transborder Wing", whereas "International" are the [most of the] C and [all of] D gates. E is a special wing isolated from the rest of the airport for US pre-clearance flights only, on the far side of US Immigration and Customs.

[subtchr]

Glad you enjoyed your visit to Vancouver and YVR. One minor edit, you were in the "Transborder Wing", whereas "International" are the [most of the] C and [all of] D gates. E is a special wing isolated from the rest of the airport for US pre-clearance flights only, on the far side of US Immigration and Customs.

 

Thanks for the clarification - that makes sense. We got a kick out of the "welcome to the USA" sign after customs.

[scottbee]

Thanks for the clarification - that makes sense. We got a kick out of the "welcome to the USA" sign after customs.

 

Technically not the United States at all. As a Canadian I find the sign rather insulting

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[subtchr]

Technically not the United States at all. As a Canadian I find the sign rather insulting

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

That's why we were amused by it - because it is technically not the US, as you say. And I don't blame you.