U.S. Customs after disembarking in Vancouver?

[Julylady]

We are on the Hawaii to Vancouver cruise in Sept. After disembarking the ship we are going directly to the Vancouver airport. Our first flight takes us to San Francisco before we board another plane to Chicago. For those Vancouver cruisers, when exactly do we go through US Customs? In Vancouver before boarding for SFO? Once we have landed in San Francisco? Do we need our luggage with us in San Francisco or can they check it through to our final destination from Vancouver? How much time should we allow for the customs inspection?

I have never flown internationally before so any advice is appreciated!

 

[erionm]

From the Vancouver Airports website:

YVR is a pre-clearance airport for most airlines flying to the United States. This means you will clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) before leaving Vancouver, eliminating the need to do so when you arrive at your destination. US CBP is responsible for securing and facilitating trade and travel while enforcing U.S. regulations including immigration and drug laws.

Please Note: US CBP is operational between the hours of 4:30 AM - 8:30 PM. Passengers who are departing on flights outside of this time should contact their airline for more check-in information.

http://www.yvr.ca/en/navigating-yvr/customs-immigration/us-customs-border-protection.aspx

 

[clten]

As stated above, you go though US customs in Vancouver airport. After you check in, you go through security then you go to another secure area and go through US customs. Once you have gone though US Customs you stay in that part of the airport. You want to leave enough time to go through this but not too much since there is very little in this area (some spots for food and rest rooms but can't remember there being too much else -- but I could be mis-remembering it). Time to get through security varies (once it took us over an hour; last time we got through in 10-15 minutes) but we have never had a long wait to get through customs.

 

[xlxo]

After a quick exit with cruise terminal Canada customs.... US security will be waiting at the Vancouver airport for luggage, carry-on, weapons, body, hand and cavity searches. They recommend arriving at YVR 3 hours pre-flight for the full meal deal. Those US officers really want to earn their salary when the Canadian currency is so low.

 

[the3dwizard]

I go to Vancouver several times a year. So can confirm the airport procedure. I have been in the airport when the lines where long, (spring ski season) but most of the time it is not too bad. You check in at your airline. If you have a checked bag you have to go to another line where you drop it off. Then you proceed through security and then through US customs. In the US area there are a number of duty free shops, about a half dozen resturants and even a Victgoria Secrets.

Yes you should be able to check your luggage all the way to your final distination.

If you have time go to the area around gate 81-82. There is a large collection of Disney figures that a collector has put on display. One cabinet of Micky's, another with Donald Ducks, etc. I was really surprised the first time I saw it.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

Last year for our DCL Alaska cruise, we had a United flight out of Vancouver, connecting through Houston, back to Tampa. The part in Vancouver went smoothly (except that part of the airport, like others have said, is basically dead when you're waiting for a 10:00 PM flight). But US Immigration in Houston was a nightmare. It was understaffed, and took 2 hours+ to get all the way through. That experience earned Houston a spot on my "Never Gonna Fly Through Again" airport list.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

USA Customs at Vancouver flying to San Francisco took us an hour to get through post our DCL Alaska cruise.