What is the point of clearing United States Customs when flying out of Canada?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Last month when my family & I flew Westjet from Toronto - Orlando the flight was delayed about an hour because their computers were down, so they had to wait until the list of passengers on all their flights for the United States were sent to Homeland Security in the United States. Don't get me wrong it's great there are all these new security measures however after the pilot explained this process with Homeland Security, I was wondering what's the point of clearing United States Customs in Canada, if they have to send Homeland Security a list of all the passengers? I mean we go threw the whole process of clearing Customs, so if there was something to be found wouldn't they be the ones to find it & not let someone threw? Or is there another for this that I do not even know about?

Also let's not make this another reason why some people like to fly out of Buffalo & not Toronto, because that is not what this post is intended to be.

 

[drag n' fly]

Last month when my family & I flew Westjet from Toronto - Orlando the flight was delayed about an hour because their computers were down, so they had to wait until the list of passengers on all their flights for the United States were sent to Homeland Security in the United States. Don't get me wrong it's great there are all these new security measures however after the pilot explained this process with Homeland Security, I was wondering what's the point of clearing United States Customs in Canada, if they have to send Homeland Security a list of all the passengers? I mean we go threw the whole process of clearing Customs, so if there was something to be found wouldn't they be the ones to find it & not let someone threw? Or is there another for this that I do not even know about?

Also let's not make this another reason why some people like to fly out of Buffalo & not Toronto, because that is not what this post is intended to be.

It is suppose to expedite travel between Canada and the US. I suspect because the volume of people needing clearance would really choke up the already really slow lines down there. No one can predict a computer going down. That being said I am glad we are clearing customs in Calgary because we are using ME and it makes our lives a whole lot easier as we just have to check our luggage in Calgary and wait for it to show up at our room.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It is suppose to expedite travel between Canada and the US. I suspect because the volume of people needing clearance would really choke up the already really slow lines down there. No one can predict a computer going down. That being said I am glad we are clearing customs in Calgary because we are using ME and it makes our lives a whole lot easier as we just have to check our luggage in Calgary and wait for it to show up at our room.

Intresting observation. Does anyone else have a reason they would like to explain?

 

[basas]

It makes it alot easier...especially for those of us trying to connect.

Example, Northwest has about 6 daily flights from Winnipeg to Minneapolis/St.Paul (although the same situation can be applied to the flights to Denver, Salt Lake City, Chicago, etc.). Now, clearing US customs here in Winnipeg is usually pretty quick and efficient. When the plane arrives in the Twin Cities, everyone takes off in all different directions because everyone is going to different locations. Instead of having to land, clear customs, etc.etc., everyone is able to just get off the plane as if it were a domestic flight, and walk into the terminal heading towards their connecting flight.

 

[ducklite]

The US requires ALL passengers coming in from ALL countries to be precleared before the plane leaves. It's NOT the same process as customs and immigration. It's a computerized background check. Just becaue the plane was coming in from Canada, doesn't mean that only Canadians were on it, and it doesn't mean that everyone who lives in Canda is someone the US wants in the country. The US has a no-fly list, and that applies to Canadians and others as well. Until the passenger manifest can be cleared, the US won't allow entry into their airspace. The other alternative is to have to turn around mid trip--which is a very time consuming and expensive proposition. It's better to just sit until the plane is cleared.

Anne

 

[Cass]

Do you really want to arrive in Orlanda (or wherever) and then face clearing customs? I love that it's done in advance, then you just walk off the plane and your there instead of being herded like cattle.

 

[bavaria]

Clearing Customs and Immigration is required when crossing most borders. If you have done any international travel you would have had to clear some form of Customs and Immigration. Preclearance was established at the major Canadian airports several years ago and expanded to other airports earlier this year.

By preclearing Customs and Immigration in Canada, not only does it make connections quicker in the US, but it deals with any potential issues while the traveller is still in Canada. If for instance entry into the US is denied, it is far easy to return home while in Canada.

If you have an issue with preclearing Customs and Immigration, may I suggest that you and your travelling party invest in the Nexus program.

 

[dsneygirl]

Clearing Customs and Immigration is required when crossing most borders. If you have done any international travel you would have had to clear some form of Customs and Immigration. Preclearance was established at the major Canadian airports several years ago and expanded to other airports earlier this year.

By preclearing Customs and Immigration in Canada, not only does it make connections quicker in the US, but it deals with any potential issues while the traveller is still in Canada. If for instance entry into the US is denied, it is far easy to return home while in Canada.

If you have an issue with preclearing Customs and Immigration, may I suggest that you and your travelling party invest in the Nexus program.

Well said.

 

[SaraMc]

I much prefer to clear customs on the Toronto end. We did it once where we ( Air Transat) cleared once we hit Orlando right after Sept 11th ( its was Spet 30th) . We went through security again, even though we had just got off a plane then through customs. They customs agent guy was super scary and wanted to know how much money we had, what we did for a living, ect ect. He even wanted to see our wedding licence. We had just got married the day before, my hair was still up and my tiara in ( Im a princess Im allowed ) When we cleared in Toronto the next time they didnt even make eye contact.

 

[Little Miss Liberty]

I don't think all people clear customs in Canada. I'm flying Sunwing from Toronto to Orlando next month and I beleive we have to clear customs in Orlando.

 

[twinz]

We flew AirTransat in December 2006 and we had to clear customs in Orlando, what a HASSLE. We had to get our luggage then give it back to them to have them send it over to the main terminal , so we not only waited twice for our luggage but we had to haul it all over the airport looking for the remarkably UNMARKED Magical Express location. It took us what seemed like FOREVER to get out of the airport. I personally prefer to clear customs in Canada that way you don't have to wait forever in Orlando.

 

[bavaria]

I don't think all people clear customs in Canada. I'm flying Sunwing from Toronto to Orlando next month and I beleive we have to clear customs in Orlando.

Correct. Even at some of the larger Canadian airports with preclearance, charter flights do not preclear in Canada.

 

[OntFamily]

By preclearing Customs and Immigration in Canada, not only does it make connections quicker in the US, but it deals with any potential issues while the traveller is still in Canada. If for instance entry into the US is denied, it is far easy to return home while in Canada.
.

This is the big reason why the USA prefers pre-clearance facilites in Canada (and other countries). If USA Immigration refuses a passenger entrance, the refusal takes place outside the USA -- no deportation hassle for them, simply refused entry.

 

[cslittle999]

Beyond the reasons stated, clearing US customs in Canada allows airlines to fly to airports in the US that do not have customs facilities. These are typically smaller regional airports. Even for airports that do have customs facilities it allows the airlines to use gates that allow passengers direct access to the terminal instead of being sent to a customs clearance area first.

 

[Northstar]

Hey, since when does bureaucracy have to make sense? You ask the question like maybe we have a choice! Never confuse customer-service- oriented business with border procedures in ANY country... they don't care whether you have a nice experience and want to come back again!

Actually, the double process does have a reason as everybody's saying. The Homeland Security people are looking for terrorists and people who might seek to overthrow the government. They don't check whether you have a valid passport, are smuggling beef jerky into the country, or maybe intend to sleep out on the beach and panhandle change to finance your vacation... that's some of what Customs and Immi is supposed to look for. Homeland Security can and does put US citizens on its no-fly lists... Customs and Immi normally does not exclude US citizens from re-entering the country, but they can and do confiscate their Cuban cigars.

Think of the Homeland Security thing as pre-screening for getting to Customs and Immigration. Thank our lucky stars we normally don't have to answer any questions or try NOT to look guilty for Homeland Security! And pray that we never get on any of their lists through some mistake, because getting off those secret lists is no picnic!

 

[drag n' fly]

Hey, since when does bureaucracy have to make sense? You ask the question like maybe we have a choice! Never confuse customer-service- oriented business with border procedures in ANY country... they don't care whether you have a nice experience and want to come back again!

Actually, the double process does have a reason as everybody's saying. The Homeland Security people are looking for terrorists and people who might seek to overthrow the government. They don't check whether you have a valid passport, are smuggling beef jerky into the country, or maybe intend to sleep out on the beach and panhandle change to finance your vacation... that's some of what Customs and Immi is supposed to look for. Homeland Security can and does put US citizens on its no-fly lists... Customs and Immi normally does not exclude US citizens from re-entering the country, but they can and do confiscate their Cuban cigars.

Think of the Homeland Security thing as pre-screening for getting to Customs and Immigration. Thank our lucky stars we normally don't have to answer any questions or try NOT to look guilty for Homeland Security! And pray that we never get on any of their lists through some mistake, because getting off those secret lists is no picnic!

well said!