On this trips pairing we were to fly to YYZ and DH back(on that exact same plane). When we landed they came onto the plane and said since we weren't the crew actually flying the plane back that we would have to clear customs. I argued it was ridiculous that we had to go through customs without ever having left the plane but they didn't seem to care. We had to go through Canadian customs, go to the ticket counters to get our tickets, then through American customs, then through security, all the way back to our gate, just to have zero paperwork to show for it because they took everything from us as we went through the checkpoints. It was crazy. Our company only had us scheduled for 15min turn but it took about 45-50min. We even managed to cut in front of all the other crews at the Canadian customs. On the way back the American customs said since we weren't there over 90 minutes they didn't care.

Next time we won't tell them anything and just grab a seat in the back. With the size of that terminal we covered some serious ground.

 

Par for the course. Get used to it.

 

And on the general aviation side its like night and day. out of 200 hours flying to victoria from seattle last year I think customs came out to the plane 3 times. go figure...

 

Frankly, get over it.

If the company wants to schedule you for a 15 minute turn knowing full well you need to clear customs then it looks like they will have to delay the flight. Better yet, a free night out in YYZ.

 

That is a normal thing if you go to Canada and DH in or out. You must clear customs. It is a Canadian Customs regulation. Just because one of the US customs workers said they don't care doesn't mean that it is ok.

But you are right that it was ridiculous that they scheduled it with a 15 minute turn.

 

Next time try taking a seat in the back without going inside and let me know how that goes.

At CYYZ, my record is 25 minutes from the time I got off the plane, got on the shuttle bus to customs, went through Canadian customs, stopped by the ticket counter, went through American Customs, went thru security, rode on the shuttle bus back to our concourse just in time to hear "final boarding call" for our flight.

It's not the ticket agents that make the rule, so instead of wasting the time arguing with them, just hurry through customs and get back to the plane. We work in the airline industry, get used to running through airports and doing things that don't make sense.

 

That's why they're our friendly neighbors, eh??

 

Yeah it can be a bit of a pain. It seems the system is hard on those who pose little threat. My favorite is wearing the orange vest for a walk around so that you are "easier to see". I mean come on you are standing next to a 100 foot aircraft.

 

HAHA I love it...It's kind of like an excerisize in how to look absolutely ridiculous for absolutely no reason at all ;-P

BTW, never had to wear a crazy orange vest for the walk-around in el canada...and never will!!

 

Hopefully thats because you don't operate in and out of Canada. My understanding is that if you are caught without the vest its big fine for you personally and an even bigger fine for your company. And no amount of ASAPing will get you out of it. Hope you enjoy carpet dances.

That said, some places in Canada are real sticklers (Toronto, for example) whereas others don't care or even say you don't have to wear it (Halifax comes to mind).

And to respond to the original post: Boo frickin hoo. If the company scheduled you to do the impossible then that is their fault. By all means, do your best to jump through all the hoops and back out on the plane in a timely fashion but you don't need to be a little b!tch about it. If you get called by the chief pilot about why the flight went out late because of you or why you missed your deadhead, your case is air tight. It always amazes me these guys who run through the airport like mad men because they have a 6 minute turn with a bag drag. I walk fairly briskly (the long legs help) but thats it. If the company wants me at a different gate in 6 minutes but it takes me 10 at a brisk walk to get there, then I'll be there in 10 minutes. Suck it. Maybe the company will get the message that having us drag bags from one concourse to another or clear customs just to get back on a DH on a quick turn is not the most efficient way to do things.