Vancouver--duty free??

[grover]

We are going to clear customs in Vancouver for a flight to the USA on Westjet.
Having never flown thru Vancouver I am not sure how duty free works...do you go thru customs first and then the duty free store can be visited...or do you do your shopping first and then go to customs?

Do they give you your purchases right away or do they bring them to the gate?

 

[aristocat65]

We are going to clear customs in Vancouver for a flight to the USA on Westjet.
Having never flown thru Vancouver I am not sure how duty free works...do you go thru customs first and then the duty free store can be visited...or do you do your shopping first and then go to customs?

Do they give you your purchases right away or do they bring them to the gate?

You go through the Duty Free shop and then to customs. I'm not sure if you get your purchases right away or not. We've never stopped to shop as the customs lineups can be scary. It may be a little different if you're in transit though.
HTH.

 

[grover]

We will be connecting from Winnipeg.
We would like to pick up a couple things..so if it is before customs I guess we can then pack it in our suitcase-no liquids on board thing eh.

 

[Sue M]

We will be connecting from Winnipeg.
We would like to pick up a couple things..so if it is before customs I guess we can then pack it in our suitcase-no liquids on board thing eh.

You can't buy Duty Free in Vancouver then, as you will have connections in Winterpeg! But, if there is a Duty Free near your gate in Winnipeg, you can get it there. I'm not familiar with that airport, but have seen Duty Free in airports by the gates. It has to be your last stop in Canada to be able to use the Duty Free shop.
I had a connecting flight from Orlando thru Salt Lake, and couldn't get Duty Free in MCO, but guess what, there was no Duty Free in the terminal I was at in Salt Lake, and it's also a dry state So no bottle of Grand Marnier for me!

 

[grover]

Sorry..I wasn't clear..we are connecting in Vancouver from Winnipeg..heading to the states..so Vancouver is our last stop before entering the USA

 

[Sue M]

I must have read it wrong, oops. There is a duty free at YVR very close to customs. It's a fairly large one. Some stuff you can take with you, but if you buy booze, it's delivered to your gate.

 

[grover]

Thanks for the info!

 

[calgarygary]

Unless you are going to buy Cdn. tobacco products for while you are away, Cdn. Duty Free is not a bargain. You will typically get better deals on alcohol in any U.S. liquor store vs. our duty free and the DF stores in the states for your trip back will be much cheaper.