Does direct red eye YEG to MCO clear US customs in Edmonton?

[ABCanada]

Caught the direct MCO YEG flight this am and noticed that the passengers arriving from Edmonton did not exit through the boarding area but stayed behind frosted glass and appeared to go downstairs. Looked to me as if they were clearing customs in Orlando rather than Edmonton. There was a gate change so this may not be normal.

I like the concept of a direct flight, not thrilled that it is a red eye, and would be even less thrilled to clear customs in the US after a red eye flight.

Checked the YEG website but could not find the US Customs hours listed anywhere.

For anyone who has taken this flight - Where did you clear US customs?

 

[ChisJo]

I have never cleared customs in the US, its always done in Edmonton (or Calgary). I would be surprised if that was the case. But, I could be wrong. I've never taken a direct flight to MCO. I have taken several directs to Phoenix & San Fran, and we always do customs here.

 

[chimo2u]

We just flew the direct west jet red eye flight from Edmonton to Orlando in Feb and we ended up having to clear customs in Orlando due to our flight being such an early am departure. Apparently, customs doesn't stay open that late ( we departed Edmonton at 12:45 am) so had to clear when we landed at 7:15 am. It didn't take too long, and the magical express still delivered our luggage to our Beach Club room for us.

 

[tiggerrr]

We've also taken this flight and you do clear in Orlando. Just be aware that after you clear US Customs in MCO, you will have to reclear security to get out of the airport due to a quirk in the airport design.

As part of clearing customs, you have to claim your checked baggage inside Customs. Upon exiting Customs, you have to recheck your bags and then reclear security. This is because Customs is in an Airside terminal and the train to the Landside (and the exit) is within the "secure" part of the airport. You can't have your checked bags with you. So, you check them outside Customs and clear security again. Not a huge issue, just remember the liquids rule - if you bought a bottle or two of water/etc. past security in Edmonton, make sure you drink it all or put it in your checked bags in Orlando. Same goes for a duty free purchase in Edmonton, you'll need to put it in your checked bag once you get to Orlando to get out of the airport.

The trouble for us was that they "lost" a cart of baggage in between the re-check at Customs and the baggage carousel on the Landside. We literally waited an hour for our bags to make it half a mile from one terminal to the other.