Too much tension at YYZ

[doomhammer]

Hello all,

I travel to US quite frequently from Canada and I always find Toronto Pearson pre-clearance to be the worst...I don't know maybe just my experiences but the US customs officers at Pearson are always kind of pissed off for some reason and they generally dislike you (us).. plus you always see these gun toting security personnel like we're in some maximum security prison! That just adds to your tension! Nobody is doing criminal activity here yet in TO they treat you like you are a suspect all the time.

Vancouver and Ottawa airports pre-clearance to US are so much nicer.

What do you all say?

[Drew87]

When people complain about airports and stuff I never understand it - I just think it's the person that's complaining... - I love using YYZ - Never had a bad experience - As long I get on my plane and to my destination I'm happy...


I love using LaGuardia Airport as well - JFK is cool too -

I've used Gatwick and Heathrow in London - it was cool

The main airport in Berlin was cool too as well as the one with Paris....

[feelthedeal]

I never have issues at YYZ and I used to go to the US quite often as well.

In the end, they're not really there for customer service, so I don't know what you're expecting. If they're nice and friendly, that's a bonus...if not, they're still just doing their job.

In terms of having armed personnel walking around, I think that's more of a show of force/intimidation than anything else. You'd be less likely to try something if you know armed personnel are present. It's also not bad at YYZ with that anyway...having been to airports all over Europe and Asia, many of them have heavily armed security forces walking around in full riot gear with assault rifles, etc. and seem to display a much higher zero tolerance policy for shenanigans.

In the end, a more aggressive/power-trippin/less friendly customs is a reality we just have to live with in travel nowadays.

I also ended up getting a Nexus pass to bypass some of the US-customs related aggravation that is often experienced when going to the US...travel has been much better since One of the best $50 I've ever spent!

[Simaahoy]

I used YYZ once, and try to avoid it, even though my usual destination have direct flights out of there only.

[IceBlueShoes]

I find it's mainly the US agents.
Everywhere else is much more chill. Part of the reason I avoid travel to the US is because of customs, but sometimes the price of a stopover in the US vs. direct is almost double so I just roll with it.

As for the guns, the guards at Pearson are NOTHING compared to other nations. Mexico City comes to mind. Seeing full blown army infantry in vests and machine guns. That was a bit freaky the 1st time I saw it.

[nalababe]

Other than a few issues a few years ago, I don't have much problem with Pearson.

No point comparing with Vancouver or Montreal as I doubt combined they have the Transborder flights Toronto hads...

[AudiDude]

If I ever felt that there was an issue, I would say it was the US agents. The last three I had, we had a great conversation, told each other some jokes and moved on. There was only one ever who was less than polite.

[Pete_Coach]

I hate flying through YYZ, regardless of where I am going.
I think it must be a crappy place to work and everyone there is P'd all the time. There is no friendly or smiling face anywhere.
As for the US customs folks, well, Canada is unfortunately a sieve and a known as being "easy" so the US Homeland Security is perhaps a bit more diligent at Canadian airports?

[rsasp]

I find it's mainly the US agents.
Everywhere else is much more chill. Part of the reason I avoid travel to the US is because of customs, but sometimes the price of a stopover in the US vs. direct is almost double so I just roll with it.

As for the guns, the guards at Pearson are NOTHING compared to other nations. Mexico City comes to mind. Seeing full blown army infantry in vests and machine guns. That was a bit freaky the 1st time I saw it.

lol yes, first time seeing the guards in Mexico. Fully equipped, tact vest, machine gun, helm...you name it, they got it.

[IceBlueShoes]

lol yes, first time seeing the guards in Mexico. Fully equipped, tact vest, machine gun, helm...you name it, they got it.

Sad thing is that the cartels are even more armed!

[flyinggonzo]

When people complain about airports and stuff I never understand it - I just think it's the person that's complaining... - I love using YYZ - Never had a bad experience - As long I get on my plane and to my destination I'm happy...


I love using LaGuardia Airport as well - JFK is cool too -

I've used Gatwick and Heathrow in London - it was cool

The main airport in Berlin was cool too as well as the one with Paris....

You like flying out of Pearson and *shudder* LaGuardia? On a rainy day the AC terminal at LaGuardia reminds of a leaky portable and smells like a locker room. And, besides being expensive, Pearson's design makes it impossible to get in/out of it quickly.

You need to fly out of the good airports to know what you're missing.

[gobbledygoo]

Hello all,

I travel to US quite frequently from Canada and I always find Toronto Pearson pre-clearance to be the worst...I don't know maybe just my experiences but the US customs officers at Pearson are always kind of pissed off for some reason and they generally dislike you (us).. plus you always see these gun toting security personnel like we're in some maximum security prison! That just adds to your tension! Nobody is doing criminal activity here yet in TO they treat you like you are a suspect all the time.

Vancouver and Ottawa airports pre-clearance to US are so much nicer.

What do you all say?

It's their job to be suspicious of everyone... they alone determine if this person standing in front of them is a criminal trying to get into their country and potentially do some harm. If I was doing that job I'd be stressed out and probably burn out soon (which is why I think they all rotate between the customs agents and something else?)

[Swarez99]

You like flying out of Pearson and *shudder* LaGuardia? On a rainy day the AC terminal at LaGuardia reminds of a leaky portable and smells like a locker room. And, besides being expensive, Pearson's design makes it impossible to get in/out of it quickly.

You need to fly out of the good airports to know what you're missing.

+1 on the lagaurdia hate. Terrible airport that has a terrible layout, but I can deal with it . What I hate is how you never fly on time, 630 take off, there's always 10 flights ahead of you and you wait 30-60 mins it seems every time. Now I just do porter to Newark, and sacrifice the points.

Pearson is actually one of the better big airports I have travelled through.

[webdoctors]

Except for US agents not knowing what they're doing, YYZ is fine. Although one problem at YYZ is a lot of strange shady ppl use it to get into the US. I have no idea where these ppl come from. Standing in line in front of me are folks that don't have Canadian passports, barely speak English, lack the proper visas, and I'm wondering how did they get into Canada, let alone are trying to get into USA....

[Cafe_333]

Never had a problem going through Pearson to the US either. If you travel to the US as frequently as you put it, consider getting a Nexus card.

[feelthedeal]

Except for US agents not knowing what they're doing, YYZ is fine. Although one problem at YYZ is a lot of strange shady ppl use it to get into the US. I have no idea where these ppl come from. Standing in line in front of me are folks that don't have Canadian passports, barely speak English, lack the proper visas, and I'm wondering how did they get into Canada, let alone are trying to get into USA....

Well, we all know how they got into Canada....lax standards.

Trying to get into the US is another matter

[nauru]

YYZ is garbage. I fly Porter whenever possible. The airport experience is on another level entirely.

[jandumm]

Never had a problem going through Pearson to the US either. If you travel to the US as frequently as you put it, consider getting a Nexus card.

+1111111111111 It's the best $50 you'll ever spend. I travel to the US frequently and generally get from the front door of the airport to the other side of security in about 20 minutes especially since they opened up the Nexus only Security line. Longest it's ever been was 45 minutes on a Monday morning.

[jacksorbetta]

I hate YYZ and YUL. Pearson is a lot of convoluted walking, but Montreal is a gong show. *shudder*. I get confused everytime trying to figure out what part of customs to go through there...escalator down? Do I turn left or wait in that gigantic line somewhere on the right?

Anyone been to PUJ? (Punta Cana). It's crazy in that place.

My favourite is YXX (Abbotsford). Such a tiny airport, no lines, can get there 30 minutes before your flight. Only problem is it's usually quite a bit more money.

[PCDawg]

lol yes, first time seeing the guards in Mexico. Fully equipped, tact vest, machine gun, helm...you name it, they got it.

Hong Kong airports security staff are fully equiped as well with Mp5s. Im always wondering why as the staff are always pretty lax and friendly at the airport.

Never had any problems with the US customs over by YYZ, they work the same as staff in the US airports.

[GangStarr]

+1111111111111 It's the best $50 you'll ever spend. I travel to the US frequently and generally get from the front door of the airport to the other side of security in about 20 minutes especially since they opened up the Nexus only Security line. Longest it's ever been was 45 minutes on a Monday morning.

Well, the reason porter has an easier outbound flight procedure is because it doesn't have US pre-clearance. So when you land in EWR your treated as an international flight, and must clear US customs in Newark. YYZ might be a bit more hassle but this is before your flight, when you land in EWR you are treated as a passenger disembarking from a domestic US flight. This is paticularly valuable if you don't have checked luggage. If you fly a YYZ based airline, you walk out in EWR right to cab. Fly from Billy Bishop and your in among the same people entering the states on visas and other higher risk travellers. Since you generally need to arrive early for your flight, I'd rather be off the plane faster than on it quicker. Personally I wouldn't fly porter TO the usa because of this (flying to Canada however I would).

Chicago is the exception for this as the Toronto flight is the only international flight that lands at midway.

[duckdown]

YYZ and YUL are both two of the worst I've ever been too. Agreed all the way...