The border..

[minnie56]

Not sure what's going on..I am thinking it was Canadian's hoping for July 4th sales ...the Agent at Customs...said since the HST came into be it's been crazy with Canadian's shopping but yesterday the border

We spent 2 hours waiting to cross at Lewiston..went there because the phone number posted on the Hwy said Fort Erie was more than 2 hours and Lewiston was 50 mins....Daughter missed her flight back to NYC...Jetblue was a nightmare...line up was miles long and as we hadn't called to say she would miss her flight, her reservation was out of the system! We got an agent that was a newbie...most helpful..but he had to keep referring to his training manual to figure out how to get her on the next flight so that killed another 90 mins. Tops was packed with Canadian's shopping...beer too....as was the gas station and the wait coming back was 90 minutes at 10:00 at night.

I am exhausted from the long day...

Just a heads up!

 

[Tower]

Not sure what's going on..I am thinking it was Canadian's hoping for July 4th sales ...the Agent at Customs...said since the HST came into be it's been crazy with Canadian's shopping but yesterday the border

We spent 2 hours waiting to cross at Lewiston..went there because the phone number posted on the Hwy said Fort Erie was more than 2 hours and Lewiston was 50 mins....Daughter missed her flight back to NYC...Jetblue was a nightmare...line up was miles long and as we hadn't called to say she would miss her flight, her reservation was out of the system! We got an agent that was a newbie...most helpful..but he had to keep referring to his training manual to figure out how to get her on the next flight so that killed another 90 mins. Tops was packed with Canadian's shopping...beer too....as was the gas station and the wait coming back was 90 minutes at 10:00 at night.

I am exhausted from the long day...

Just a heads up!

So, it was worth it then?

 

[minnie56]

I was only going to take my daughter back to the A/P and NOPE not worth it!
Air Canada and Porter are looking a whole lot better let me tell you!

We were there..so we browsed the Outlet mall and a few stores in Williamstown. There were some buys...and I also got gas a few items in Tops but were I not going anyways....nope.

 

[2meezers]

We crossed yesterday too and always call the border info phone number as we are approaching to see which one is less wait. We ended up doing Rainbow bridge and only waited about 10 minutes....it was saying that both other bridges were over 1 hour.

Nothing worse than waiting at the border.

 

[MamaLema]

While I'm sure the HST has something to do with it, we crossed the border after doing a day trip in August and December and waited 2 hours each of those times. I used to love to cross-border shop. The 2 hour wait to cross has ruined it for me. I haven't been for a few months just for that reason.

 

[minnie56]

I think lots of folks called the 1-800 # and chose the Lewiston crossing over Fort Erie because of it. I am thinking likely the other one was less busy because of it. Of course, I will never know!

It was not fun!

 

[jtdl]

I've found the Sarnia border to be backed up quite often over the past few months. Saturday I sat on the bridge for 1.5 hours coming back into Canada. That was the second time I have had to wait in line in Port Huron before even getting to the toll booths!

Going into Port Huron usually requires a minimum of 20 minutes even if there are only three cars in front of me! I think they are trying to promote Nexus

 

[minnie56]

Well, I have Nexus and even to get to that lane can take ages some times!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Well, I have Nexus and even to get to that lane can take ages some times!

OMG!! I can't believe you have Nexus and are still using those bridges!!! Don't you know about the Whirlpool Bridge in Niagara Falls? It is a Nexus dedicated bridge and only people with Nexus can cross there!!!!! It's a god send I tell ya!! We have Nexus because all of my family is in WNY..that's where I am from. The only problem with that bridge is it's only open until like 11pm and you need to pay for your return toll by adding money to your card before crossing back to Canada....but that is sooooo easy, and by 11pm the other bridges are clear...

If you are interested in more info about that bridge you can probably call the number on your nexus booklet..or even pm me with any questions..I might be able to answer them!!!

 

[bdoyledimou]

I've found the Sarnia border to be backed up quite often over the past few months. Saturday I sat on the bridge for 1.5 hours coming back into Canada. That was the second time I have had to wait in line in Port Huron before even getting to the toll booths!

Going into Port Huron usually requires a minimum of 20 minutes even if there are only three cars in front of me! I think they are trying to promote Nexus

I am heading to Detroit tonight and have to check in with ICE (as my girlfriend needs a Visa Waiver as she is a Perm Resident but not a citizen). The wait is plenty long as it is, am i going to have to wait longer just to wait?

Would it be better to go through Windsor? I usually go through Sarnia because it is a shorter wait!

 

[snickerboo]

I went over to Niagara, NY area twice in the spring and went Rainbow both times with almost no wait. I think people are avoiding it b/c of construction. Queenston-Lewiston is pretty much always a nightmare now. My parents live in Niagara and say they always take the Rainbow Bridge now.

I think Sarnia really depends on time of day. We've never ever waited more than half an hour. I hate crossing at Windsor.

 

[minnie56]

Really? I didn't know that about the Rainbow bridge...I better start reading those emails they send me!

Wouldn't have helped this time..as myself and my DD were the only 2 with Nexus passes anyways and we had 3 others with is that don't. I am flying out of Buffalo tomorrow morning too...sure hope there's no wait at Fort Erie at 4 a.m!!!!

 

[Reese]

We went to the Buffalo Museum of Science on Sat. There was no wait to get to the US but it took us over an hour to get back to Canada at 4 in the afternoon. That was using the Fort Erie bridge.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Really? I didn't know that about the Rainbow bridge...I better start reading those emails they send me!

Wouldn't have helped this time..as myself and my DD were the only 2 with Nexus passes anyways and we had 3 others with is that don't. I am flying out of Buffalo tomorrow morning too...sure hope there's no wait at Fort Erie at 4 a.m!!!!

I think you'll be fine
That's one of the reasons why we love the first flight out of the day..easy border crossing!!!!

 

[sjsjbrook]

Wow reading this really makes me happy that we have decided to pay the extra money and leave from Toronto. It would really suck to miss a flight because of a wait at the border.

 

[jtdl]

I am heading to Detroit tonight and have to check in with ICE (as my girlfriend needs a Visa Waiver as she is a Perm Resident but not a citizen). The wait is plenty long as it is, am i going to have to wait longer just to wait?

Would it be better to go through Windsor? I usually go through Sarnia because it is a shorter wait!

I just checked the Bluewater Bridge wait times and it is saying that right now (1:30 pm Thursday afternoon) there is a one hour wait to get into the US! Here's the link, you might want to check it before you leave.

http://www.bwba.org/traffic_e.html

There is a link on there for all the other bridges - right now it is saying no delay at Windsor.

There is also a ferry at Sombra (about 30 minutes from Sarnia) that usually has less wait times.

 

[alohamom]

I am a pretty big fan of flying out of Buffalo (we always avoid Queenston/Lewiston) BUT my Aunt and Uncle almost missed their daughter's wedding this May because of a backup at Queeston/Lewiston. They missed their original flight and came running into the rehersal at the Boardwalk with only minutes to spare. Mind you, it was the Saturday of our May long weekend so there were tons of shoppers going over and I guess once they were in line at that bridge they couldn't get out of the line up to try another. It certainly reminded me to make sure I give myself tons of time to cross in the future because we are always kinda cutting it fine when it comes to the flight times!

 

[bdoyledimou]

I just checked the Bluewater Bridge wait times and it is saying that right now (1:30 pm Thursday afternoon) there is a one hour wait to get into the US! Here's the link, you might want to check it before you leave.

http://www.bwba.org/traffic_e.html

There is a link on there for all the other bridges - right now it is saying no delay at Windsor.

There is also a ferry at Sombra (about 30 minutes from Sarnia) that usually has less wait times.

Hey thanks for that website i added them to twitter, so i can get alerts and make a call Windsor or Sarnia once i get to London!

 

[DISDANCEMOM]

I am a pretty big fan of flying out of Buffalo (we always avoid Queenston/Lewiston) BUT my Aunt and Uncle almost missed their daughter's wedding this May because of a backup at Queeston/Lewiston. They missed their original flight and came running into the rehersal at the Boardwalk with only minutes to spare. Mind you, it was the Saturday of our May long weekend so there were tons of shoppers going over and I guess once they were in line at that bridge they couldn't get out of the line up to try another. It certainly reminded me to make sure I give myself tons of time to cross in the future because we are always kinda cutting it fine when it comes to the flight times!

OMG...that is why I always stay over the night before. I couldn't handle sitting in a line at the boarder worrying that I was going to miss my flight!!!

As for bridges...I have crossed over at the Rainbow bridge 3x since March and have not had to wait more than 5min. I don't know if it is b/c people want to avoid going right into Niagara Falls or if it is fear b/c of the construction but it has not been busy when I've crossed at all lately!!!

 

[bdoyledimou]

Just an update now that we are back.

Hit the Bluewater bridge, was in line for 5 minutes, before heading in for i-94 processing.

THAT took a bit longer.. 10 minutes!

The Border agents were awesome, friendly and very helpfull.

Just got back-- and will be posting a note in the Transportation board about our mini adventure on the way home!