Anybody clear customs in Halifax?

[hockeymom3]

I am wondering if we'll be able to clear customs in Halifax for our direct flight to Orlando - that way eliminating the need to pick up our luggage before we head to the Magical Express.

Anybody know??

 

[hockeymom3]

Oh I may have found my answer. For anybody else wondering, I guess you can do customs in Halifax as this is what the Halifax International Airport says:

Non-stop U.S. bound passengers traveling from Halifax Stanfield International Airport now use the new U.S. Preclearance Facility. The new facility, located at the far end of the terminal building (see inset in FAQ below), will allow non-stop U.S. bound passengers to go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection prior to their departure.

· Passengers should make their way to the far end (north end) of the terminal building
· Ascend twin escalators to the second level
· Proceed to ticket counter and check baggage
· Go through pre-board security screening
· Proceed through U.S. Customs and Border Protection
· Once cleared, proceed to departure gates and arrive at their destination as a domestic passenger

Non-stop U.S. bound passengers should make their way to the north end of the terminal building - simply follow the U.S. Preclearance signs displaying the American flag, located throughout the terminal building.

 

[dvcdisney]

About 3 years ago, they added the Customs area for the airport. If we don't get direct flights, we usually try to take a connecting flight that's somewhere in the states, that way we still clear customs in Halifax.

(Unfortunately, we have flights with Westjet in the summer so we would have to go throught Toronto . I absolutely hate that. I had lived in Toronto for a very long time, and I have never gotten used to the airport, hate it, hate it! But we got a very good seat sale with Westjet for our summer trip to Disney, so we went for it, I was afraid we would have to pay as much as we paid for our March trip )

 

[Northstar]

The Halifax preclearance is awesome. We have never run into the lines you hit in Toronto for preclearance, and the people running things at both Customs and Immi and Security, being less stressed with the lower numbers I guess, are usually pleasant. They've even been known to smile at us, which never, ever happens in the Toronto preclearance!

The area after you clear security, where you wait to board, is pretty small with limited food and shopping options (one cafeteria with basic food, one Hudson News with snacks, books and magazines, and a couple cheesy souvenirs). Do not use the money exchange machine available in the boarding area!!! I saw one poor guy nearly fall over when he saw what the fees were going to be. Of all the many options for getting your US cash, that has to be the very worst.

 

[Puccaw]

We cleared here on our direct flight last April and it was great. Checked our luggage in Halifax and then just waited for it to arrive @ POP.

 

[hockeymom3]

Well this is all music to my ears!!! Of course we have to be at the airport a couple of hours early anyway, so to not have to deal with bags or customs in Florida is amazing

So, is this area separate from area (people who have domestic flights or who have not pre-cleared??

And I guess that means the food, drinks and cheesy souvenirs are paid for in US funds??

 

[OntFamily]

And I guess that means the food, drinks and cheesy souvenirs are paid for in US funds??

You can still pay for everything in Canadian funds.

There is a common misconception about going through USA customs in a Canadian airport. Some believe that once you go through customs, it is basically like being in the USA -- ie you are subject to American laws, etc. This is not accurate, you are still in Canada, and only Canadian law prevails. In Toronto airport, they've had to station Canadian police officers inside USA customs, as the American Customs guys tried to enforce USA laws (ie on marijuana possession) and impose fines. This was illegal on their part. The Canadian police officers are there to protect the Canadians from the USA customs officers.

 

[MikeyNS]

Well this is all music to my ears!!! Of course we have to be at the airport a couple of hours early anyway, so to not have to deal with bags or customs in Florida is amazing

So, is this area separate from area (people who have domestic flights or who have not pre-cleared??

And I guess that means the food, drinks and cheesy souvenirs are paid for in US funds??

It's a little small, but it is a different section of the airport. You go up the escalators near the arrivals section. LOVE the direct flights and the customs preclearance. So easy!

 

[mackeyapp]

It is the best!! No rush, no crowds................virtually stress free in comparison to clearing customs in Toronto. One of the benefits to flying out of Halifax with an American Airline. We flew with United at Christmas and didn't have to deal with the Toronto lines.

 

[Boncho]

We cleared here on our direct flight last April and it was great. Checked our luggage in Halifax and then just waited for it to arrive @ POP.

Hey!! We'll be at Pop from Apr.29 - May 6th.

 

[braddillman]

I agree with Northstar and mackeyapp - Halifax pre-clearance is often faster than domestic, in my experience. They don't have a timmy's or starbucks after security (it is separate from domestic of course). Once you're cleared, everything works pretty much like you're already in the U.S., so you should have no problems. I haven't and I travel several times per year, including Orlando via connections.

 

[Tigman_NS]

Hey Boncho we will be at POP as well Apr 29 - May 6.

 

[Puccaw]

Boncho and Tigman...where are you from?? We will hopfully be staying in the 50's section poolside with our window decorated!!

 

[Boncho]

Boncho and Tigman...where are you from?? We will hopfully be staying in the 50's section poolside with our window decorated!!

Paula,
I just noticed that you have 11 yo twin girls, I have a 13yo son (5'11" ,plays rep hockey, rep baseball, golf and boxing - you know the type)
Oh yeah, we're from Truro.

 

[Tigman_NS]

Hello Puccaw and Boncho we are from Halifax and bringing our soon to be 6 month old when we go. Sorry for hijacking this thread.

 

[hockeymom3]

any of you going to CBR? We're there from May 2 - 13th

 

[Puccaw]

I know how busy you must be!! One of my daughters plays Ringette for a house league and the provincial team....busy and expensive. My other daughter plays basketball with the MBA. I work full time so life is beyond busy. I am totally in need of a Disney trip!! Can't wait!!

 

[jules94]

Hi everyone, am I glad I just found you guys, we are planning our 7th trip to WDW this September, we're just waiting for the free meal plan to be available so we can book.
Anyway we just moved to Nova Scotia about 3 weeks ago and we will be flying out of Halifax and was REALLY HOPING that they have direct flights to Orlando in September? From what I read from you it seems that there is, that would be awesome , I really HATE having to change planes. We were in Moncton before and always had to transfer in Toronto.

 

[redrosesix]

I'm, so jealous! Last year we flew on United so we did customs in Hfx. This year, we went on Westjet and connected in TO -- I HATE that airport! The customs people are nasty there, and that just adds to how much I hate being there.

I'm pretty sure we won't do it the same way next year. so what if we got our tickets with Airmiles? We didn't land until 11 pm in Orlando, and spent a lot more time traveling than was necessary.

Never again.