Flying to the USA - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Tron_fdc · 01-29-2010, 08:36 AM

I'm hoping someone can clarify what's going on right now, because it seems like no one really knows and all my friends are panicking.

I fly out to Vegas this aft, with Westjet, and I was wondering if anyone can answer the following.

- Can I take a carry on? If yes, does the 50ml rule still apply?

- When should I show up? I fly out at 3:30pm.

I'm sure I saw a banner the other day at US customs that said they weren't letting people through until 2 hours prior to their departure time. If you showed up any earlier, you had to wait. Is this the case?

And finally, what hard ways do I bet on?

Sample00 · 01-29-2010, 08:37 AM

its been a bit since I flew to the States and cant give you any honest answer on most of your questions, however, you bet all the hardways!!!

ricosuave · 01-29-2010, 09:02 AM

yes, the gel rule still applies, they werent allowiing more than one carry-on (moreso for women), no carry-on liquids through security and I would get there by 12:30 pm - better earier than later IMHO

The Goon · 01-29-2010, 09:04 AM

Is there still the "no getting up or using electronics the last hour of the flight" rule?

VladtheImpaler · 01-29-2010, 09:11 AM

I just went to Vegas a week ago. 2 hours was sufficient time, but play it safe. They were allowing fairly small carry-ons - if you can manage to pack all your crap into something computer bag sized, you can avoid checking luggage. All the liquid stuff applies. They were not enforcing the electronics rule.

flizzenflozz · 01-29-2010, 09:15 AM

Just came back from Vegas with WestJet. It was basically the same as any experience I have had in the past and I highly recommend you check in electronically instead of waiting in the lines. Saved us a good 20 mins for sure. Why people still use those lines is beyond me.

I budgeted for 2.5 hours beforehand and that was LOADS of time. Carry-ons were allowed both to and from Vegas but be sure to leave the can of Raid and C4 putty at home.

Also, if you get through u.s customs early enough, there is a sky lounge that anyone can go into which costs 25 bucks for all the food and booze/drinks you can handle. It's well worth it.

photon · 01-29-2010, 09:18 AM

Just got back from Orlando. When we went there was the no-carryon rule in full effect, which was challenging to do with a 5 year old. I was able to carry on my laptop bag and smuggle in toys and his iPod and stuff that way. There was no restriction other than the usual ones for electronics. We were there 3 hours before and they let us through security right away. That was a week and a half ago.

Coming back there were lots of people with carry on luggage so it looks like those restrictions have been eased, the signs coming back were saying only one carry on allowed and the same limitations with liquids and gels.

This is where you'll get the most up to date info:

http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/Home.aspx?id=1&lang=en

Suave · 01-29-2010, 09:19 AM

nm

photon · 01-29-2010, 09:38 AM

And don't try to carry on a beer bottle, a guy tried on our flight back.. the FA's missed it when he walked on (not sure how, I could see it he wasn't trying to hide it or anything, carrying it right out in front of him in full view), but when they noticed it they took it away. The guy got snippy about it complaining audibly quite a bit. The pilot came back and said something generic about "let's just relax and have a good flight" to the whole plane (not to the guy), that got him madder and he took a picture of the flight attendant that took the beer. 5 minutes later the pilot comes back again and asks the guy to come with him, and they escort him off the plane! I guess taking the picture of the FA was the problem, but he was pretty vocally complaining too.

Which sucked because we had to wait 20 minutes while they found his luggage.

FurnaceFace · 01-29-2010, 10:08 AM

The carry on restrictions were lifted...last week maybe? It's normal (sane) rules now. Liquid rules still apply.

http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/Page.as...cabine&lang=en

Customs in theory is 2hrs before your flight - unless you have Nexxus.

Jimmy Stang · 01-29-2010, 10:59 AM

I was in Vegas right after Christmas, and I found that the added security measures were overkill leaving Canada, and "normal" coming back.

I spoke with an American client of our earlier this week when she was in Canada. Same thing. Leaving the USA was perfectly normal, leaving from Canada was full of restrictions, extra searches, carry-on restrictions, etc.

Fobby · 01-29-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I was in Vegas right after Christmas, and I found that the added security measures were overkill leaving Canada, and "normal" coming back.

I spoke with an American client of our earlier this week when she was in Canada. Same thing. Leaving the USA was perfectly normal, leaving from Canada was full of restrictions, extra searches, carry-on restrictions, etc.

Make sense.. The US is more paranoid.

The Goon · 01-29-2010, 11:09 AM

Wow, what a ######bag that guy was carrying a beer bottle on board.

Dion · 01-29-2010, 11:15 AM

Just returned from Hawaii and found the carry on restrictions had been changed to one carry on.

Carry-on bags must not exceed a size of 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm
(9 in. x 16 in. x 22 in.), which is equivalent to the size of a small gym bag.

http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/Page.as...cabine&lang=en

FurnaceFace · 01-29-2010, 11:18 AM

Hasn't it always been 1 carry on item and one "personal" item? They were just lax on what they considered a personal item or what it contained.

Clever_Iggy · 01-29-2010, 11:20 AM

Is YYC still following that ridiculous rule that you can't enter US Customs more than 2 hours before your plane's departure time? I went through that crap in November when I was back for American Thanksgiving and it was the most inefficient plan possible.

drewboy12 · 01-29-2010, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Is YYC still following that ridiculous rule that you can't enter US Customs more than 2 hours before your plane's departure time? I went through that crap in November when I was back for American Thanksgiving and it was the most inefficient plan possible.

2.5 hours now. Just because the US area in Calgary is tiny and cant accommodate enough people I guess.

Fobby · 01-30-2010, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewboy12

2.5 hours now. Just because the US area in Calgary is tiny and cant accommodate enough people I guess.

They changed it back to 2 hours.

Ryan Coke · 01-30-2010, 10:18 AM

Yes, 2 hours. And it has nothing to do with the size of the US pre-clearance area, it is bigger than most around the country.

And as for the guy that got kicked off; don't do something stupid that you should know better than (bring a bottle of beer on board), then if when they take it away don't act like a jerk, then when you are warned to settle down you continue to act like a jerk. It becomes pretty obvious you have been drinking too much, and you are not responding to warnings. We don't want to deal with the situation continuing while in flight, and we don't want your behaviour affecting those who you are sharing this metal tube with.

People who are drinking, belligerent, and not responding to warnings will be removed from the aircraft. This isn't a surprise to most.

FlamesKickAss · 01-30-2010, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Hasn't it always been 1 carry on item and one "personal" item? They were just lax on what they considered a personal item or what it contained.

yes but for a couple of weeks they weren't allowing the cary on portion to the states.

So 2 hours is good then right?