Victoria-Seattle-Orlando: Customs?

[blabbermouth]

Hi,

Anybody flown from Vic-sea-orl and back? I don't think you can clear customs in Vic, so does that mean we collect our luggage in Seattle and go through customs there? Or does it just get transfered and we go through customs in Orlando? I haven't flown to the states before so if someone would tell me the steps you go through that would be awesome! Thanks!

 

[tiggerrr]

Hi,

Anybody flown from Vic-sea-orl and back? I don't think you can clear customs in Vic, so does that mean we collect our luggage in Seattle and go through customs there? Or does it just get transfered and we go through customs in Orlando? I haven't flown to the states before so if someone would tell me the steps you go through that would be awesome! Thanks!

I can't tell you from personal experience about that route, but I can give you some information.

Victoria does not yet have US pre-clearance facilities, so you will clear US customs in Seattle. This will mean claiming your luggage in Seattle as part of your customs clearing process, and then once you've cleared, it will have to be re-checked. Most airports have a conveyor belt just outside of customs to allow you to recheck the bag. You won't need a new tag for it. After that (and perhaps the biggest pain) you will need to re-clear security to get on your next flight.

Coming home is a lot easier. Your bags will be checked through to Victoria, since you will clear Canadian customs in Victoria. You will claim your checked baggage as part of your customs clearance activities.

 

[fishfish]

Hi,

Anybody flown from Vic-sea-orl and back? I don't think you can clear customs in Vic, so does that mean we collect our luggage in Seattle and go through customs there? Or does it just get transfered and we go through customs in Orlando? I haven't flown to the states before so if someone would tell me the steps you go through that would be awesome! Thanks!

I've flown Victoria-Seattle many times and you will need to clear customs & immigration in Seattle. It's pretty straightforward:

1. immigration - an immigration agent will escort everyone from the plane to the first set of lines you'll be going through, (just an FYI - you can use the US lines even if you are a Canadian). This is where you show your passport and hand-in the blue US customs form (fill it out on the plane or you will have to do it while in line).
2. pick-up your bags (the carousel is downstairs) and go through customs check
3. transfer desk - take your bags to the transfer desk and give them to the baggage handlers.
4. security and then on to your gate

The transfer desk is on your left after you go through the final checkpoint, while security is on your right.
The whole process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour...depending on how many international flights are landing at the same time....and how far you have to go to get to your gate. Here is a link to a Sea-Tac map - pretty useful to figure out the train system: http://www.portseattle.org/about/maps/transit.shtml

 

[blabbermouth]

Thanks! You guys were both so much help! That works out fine, we have lots of time before our flight to Orlando, so it shouldn't be a problem.