New TSA Rules for flying into US

[papertraveller]

Even if you are driving across to a U.S. airport, be sure to leave plenty of time. We crossed at Fort Erie the other day into Buffalo, and while it took a lot of time, we also saw car searches that we haven't seen in years. This included pulling an entire family out of a van, marching them across the parking lot under supervision of five customs/immigration officers, while a sixth went back and drove their vehicle to a parking area.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Someone my dad does business with said this past Sunday his family which included 8 Grandchildren were to fly to from Toronto - Florida (I forget which specific city) and the line up at US Customs and the security screening was going to take at least 5 - 6 hours, so they ended up missing their flight that day. Then Air Canada tells him they had no available seats for 5 days, so they ended up canceling their whole vacation.

 

[joandegennaro]

Its interesting to me how they put these restrictions on all international flight into the US. Please correct me if my memory is wrong but didn't the 9/11 flights originate from US airports and not flights from other countries. How does the Dept of Homeland Security justify adding all these restrictions on international flights and let domestic flights get away without increase security on them. Please, if someone is aware of increase security on domestic flights in the US let me know.

What I do know of flights leave MCO to Canada is...they love to pull aside my 6'3" bald Disney T-shirt and sweater wearing husband for the full search. He travels with DW,DD11 and DD17. Why is he their favorite target? Not once in the last 3 years traveling to Disney has he gotten by security without being flaged.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Its interesting to me how they put these restrictions on all international flight into the US. Please correct me if my memory is wrong but didn't the 9/11 flights originate from US airports and not flights from other countries. How does the Dept of Homeland Security justify adding all these restrictions on international flights and let domestic flights get away without increase security on them. Please, if someone is aware of increase security on domestic flights in the US let me know.

You are correct that the flights on 9/11 did originate from US airports, however I think it's Transport Canada that is making these new restrictions for flying into United States from Canadian Airports.

 

[joandegennaro]

You are correct that the flights on 9/11 did originate from US airports, however I think it's Transport Canada that is making these new restrictions for flying into United States from Canadian Airports.

When I fly from Toronto I go from the ticket counter to US customs...from that point on I am considered "In the US" it is after US customs that I go through security therefore it is under US laws and regulations. Transport Canada has no authority there.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When I fly from Toronto I go from the ticket counter to US customs...from that point on I am considered "In the US" it is after US customs that I go through security therefore it is under US laws and regulations. Transport Canada has no authority there.

Well I can see why you would think that and etc, which does make sense. However how come when we heard about these new rules it was made by Transport Canada and not the TSA?

 

[pxlbarrel]

Well I can see why you would think that and etc, which does make sense. However how come when we heard about these new rules it was made by Transport Canada and not the TSA?

Because you're right.

While you may be considered "in the U.S.", security is still run by Transport Canada or CATSU as are the shops, restaurants, etc that are beyond the Customs and Immigration checkpoints. That's why the RCMP are still the authority in the airport, even past the checkpoints. You don't see the FBI or TSA in our airports, do you?

Transport Canada is implementing the "no carry on" rule strictly so that they can get through all the extra security that the TSA wants in place - like hand searching of carry on and pat downs and secondary search at the gates. By restricting the carry on to only items like cameras, laptop, etc, they can get through the masses faster. That's all the "no carry on" rule is all about. It's not about them thinking you're smuggling something on board the carry on, it's all about trying to process as many people through security as they can and still maintain the level of security that TSA wants for all flights heading into the United States. They believe that the only way to do this is to limit the carry on. I guess searching through somebody's rollerbag of clothes can be more time consuming that going through somebody's laptop bag.

Hopefully, some sanity will prevail soon and they'll figure another way of processing so many people without having to resort to this measure again.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Because you're right.

While you may be considered "in the U.S.", security is still run by Transport Canada or CATSU as are the shops, restaurants, etc that are beyond the Customs and Immigration checkpoints. That's why the RCMP are still the authority in the airport, even past the checkpoints. You don't see the FBI or TSA in our airports, do you?

Transport Canada is implementing the "no carry on" rule strictly so that they can get through all the extra security that the TSA wants in place - like hand searching of carry on and pat downs and secondary search at the gates. By restricting the carry on to only items like cameras, laptop, etc, they can get through the masses faster. That's all the "no carry on" rule is all about. It's not about them thinking you're smuggling something on board the carry on, it's all about trying to process as many people through security as they can and still maintain the level of security that TSA wants for all flights heading into the United States. They believe that the only way to do this is to limit the carry on. I guess searching through somebody's rollerbag of clothes can be more time consuming that going through somebody's laptop bag.

Hopefully, some sanity will prevail soon and they'll figure another way of processing so many people without having to resort to this measure again.

Thanks for confirming what I thought because it did seem weird that the TSA can control how security is done at Canadian Airports, even though passengers cleared US Customs but were not officially inside the United States.

 

[tiggerrr]

When I fly from Toronto I go from the ticket counter to US customs...from that point on I am considered "In the US" it is after US customs that I go through security therefore it is under US laws and regulations. Transport Canada has no authority there.

Just as a clarification, after you go through US customs you are not "in the US" in any way. You are not subject to any US laws or regulations. You are still in Canada and subject to Canadian laws. This is why they actually call the customs procedure "USA Pre-Clearance".

I think the other pp explained how that results in CATSA, RCMP still being in charge.

 

[LSmith]

Just as a clarification, after you go through US customs you are not "in the US" in any way. You are not subject to any US laws or regulations. You are still in Canada and subject to Canadian laws. This is why they actually call the customs procedure "USA Pre-Clearance".

I think the other pp explained how that results in CATSA, RCMP still being in charge.

True, you are not considered in the USA in any way, shape or form just because you cleared customs at a Canadian airport.

Peel Region are the full police response and enforcement now at Pearson. I think though it used to be the RCMP. Not sure but they may still have an attachment there.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Here is a link with all the information about United States border preclearance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_border_preclearance

 

[joandegennaro]

Just as a clarification, after you go through US customs you are not "in the US" in any way. You are not subject to any US laws or regulations. You are still in Canada and subject to Canadian laws. This is why they actually call the customs procedure "USA Pre-Clearance".

I was told by security that I was considered in the US. Thanks for the correct info.

Thanks for confirming what I thought because it did seem weird that the TSA can control how security is done at Canadian Airports, even though passengers cleared US Customs but were not officially inside the United States.

The no carry-on rule was put in place to speed people through since the new TSA rules required carry-on bag checks as well as body pat downs prior to boarding the plane at the busiest travel time of the year. This would then be TSA rules affecting how security is done at Canadian airports.

I get that I was misinformed about being considered in the US but it still is the U.S. telling our airports how they want security handled for flights coming from Canadan to the States.

My question still is are they taking the same measures for flights within the U.S? Especially since the 9/11 flights originated in the U.S. I get the feeling that the Dept. of Homeland Security thinks the weaknesses in security is comming from other countries is the problem. Lets not forget how they went on and on about how the 9/11 atackers entered from Canada in the days following the attacks. It seemed as though they had that Blame Canada thing going. No one questioned how they got passed the U.S customs at the boarders ( not sure if they entered from the unmaned borders) or how they were allowed to even get on the planes in the first place.

I know alot of Canadian's who travel to the nearest U.S airport to avoid all the extra security measures put on international flights.This is where I question how the TSA has improved/increased security on domestic travel.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My question still is are they taking the same measures for flights within the U.S? Especially since the 9/11 flights originated in the U.S. I get the feeling that the Dept. of Homeland Security thinks the weaknesses in security is comming from other countries is the problem. Lets not forget how they went on and on about how the 9/11 atackers entered from Canada in the days following the attacks. It seemed as though they had that Blame Canada thing going. No one questioned how they got passed the U.S customs at the boarders ( not sure if they entered from the unmaned borders) or how they were allowed to even get on the planes in the first place.

I think these new measures are only done for those people flying out of the United States to other countries, because I remember hearing that passengers flying within the United States are not subject to them. Now they were started today because last Thursday when my family and I flew home from Tampa - Toronto, we didn't go through any extra security checks at the WestJet gate in Tampa before we would board our flight.

I also remember how the US claimed that the 9/11 hijackers entered through Canada, which would be our fault for letting them into Canada if that was true. However since that was proven to be false it would be the fault of the US Customs agent for letting them into the United States.

Also it's funny that back in late 1999 how that US Customs guard stopped the Millennium Bomber and gave credit to them. However can you imagine what would have happened if they let him get through, since he was coming through Canada and eventually they would somehow blame us. So while it's great he was stopped and etc, it's times like that when they don't mind taking the credit if you know what I am trying to say.

 

[pxlbarrel]

True, you are not considered in the USA in any way, shape or form just because you cleared customs at a Canadian airport.

Peel Region are the full police response and enforcement now at Pearson. I think though it used to be the RCMP. Not sure but they may still have an attachment there.

You're quite right, it's Peel Region cops now, not the RCMP. I was stuck in a time warp.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I'm not flying now till next December so hopefully it will be lifted by then, if not I can still bring my laptop and camera and a small purse with my documents in it and I guess the kids will have to wear their bathing suit under their clothes. It won't matter as long as we are going to Disney. And for us Westjet has TV's in the backs of the seats so my kids don't move during the flight at all.

my question is what do they consider items to care for small children? Can they bring a DS or colouring book and crayons for the long stay in the airport?

 

[joandegennaro]

I think these new measures are only done for those people flying out of the United States to other countries, because I remember hearing that passengers flying within the United States are not subject to them. Now they were started today because last Thursday when my family and I flew home from Tampa - Toronto, we didn't go through any extra security checks at the WestJet gate in Tampa before we would board our flight.

I also remember how the US claimed that the 9/11 hijackers entered through Canada, which would be our fault for letting them into Canada if that was true. However since that was proven to be false it would be the fault of the US Customs agent for letting them into the United States.

Also it's funny that back in late 1999 how that US Customs guard stopped the Millennium Bomber and gave credit to them. However can you imagine what would have happened if they let him get through, since he was coming through Canada and eventually they would somehow blame us. So while it's great he was stopped and etc, it's times like that when they don't mind taking the credit if you know what I am trying to say.

I know exactly what you are saying. It's only our fault if something goes wrong, but if they stop something from happening then it's all pats on the backs for the U.S.

If security is left as is domesticly don't they think that the people responsible for all these act of terror are going to pick up on that. They figured out how to highjack planes, and get explosives past security at international airports. Does anyone else think that the TSA is leaving a door open for those people looking to do harm? They also said that they will be concentrating on people traveling from certain countries. Does this me anyone traveling with a passport from one of these countries or just actually traveling from one of these countries? Isn't this a bit off the mark too. Wasn't the Fort Hood killer an American? Didn't he become involed with Al Quida. What was to stop him from getting on a Domestic flight? Shouldn't security today be standard and across the board in all airports both internationaly and domesticly?

I'm beinging to think that those full body scans (while embarassing and nothing is left to the imagination) may be the only way to ensure safety. I think I would prefer to know I and my family are safe rather than be concerned about my privacy. It would be fine if only security was able to view and it wasn't exposed to everyone.

Anyone else want to give their opinion?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I know exactly what you are saying. It's only our fault if something goes wrong, but if they stop something from happening then it's all pats on the backs for the U.S.

And I like I said before even though someone might think to blame us, the real blame would still be with the Customs agent who didn't notice anything suspicious and let them enter the United States. So that's what really upsets me in situations like that.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I'm beinging to think that those full body scans (while embarassing and nothing is left to the imagination) may be the only way to ensure safety. I think I would prefer to know I and my family are safe rather than be concerned about my privacy. It would be fine if only security was able to view and it wasn't exposed to everyone.

Anyone else want to give their opinion?

I agree, and i heard on the news that they are coming to Canada. I am ok with them scanning me