Newsletter

UPDATES

Cancellation of Name Change Policy

A reminder to clients that Air Canada has discontinued their name change policy for tickets issued on or after January 12, 2023.  

Name changes are no longer permitted on Air Canada tickets any fare class, any routing.  Contact your Uniglobe Travel Advisor for more information.

Arrival at Airport 

Airlines advise travellers to arrive at least 3 hours in advance for flights to the US and International destinations and at least 2 hours in advance for flights within Canada.    According to the GTAA website, (Greater Toronto Airport Authority) - airport security screening opens at 4:00am in Terminal 1 and at 3:30am in Terminal 3.  Plan accordingly.

Passport Application Status Checker

In a press conference and statement on March 21, 2023, the Canadian Government  announced the launch of a new online Passport Application Status Checker.

The online tool allows Canadians who have recently applied for a passport to check the status of their application quickly and easily. In addition to providing convenience for passport applicants, the government says that shifting status inquiries to an online tool will free up front-line staff, which in turn speeds service.

Service Canada says that, not only has the post-pandemic backlog been completely cleared, it adds that, since OCT, 2022, passport service delivery has returned to pre-pandemic standards. That is: 10 days to process in-person passport applications received at a specialized passport office and 20 days for applications received by mail or dropped off at a Service Canada Centre.

According to Service Canada, it is delivering most passports by its 10- and 20-day targets, achieving a 96 per cent and 98 per cent rate for complete applications, respectively. The agency is attributing its recovery in service standards to "additional staffing, increased overtime and improved efficiency."

All NEXUS Centres In Canadian Airports To Reopen By April 24, 2023

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have come to an agreement that will allow all NEXUS trusted traveller enrolment centres in Canadian airports to reopen before the end of April 2023

NEXUS enrollment centres reopened in the U.S. in the spring of 2022, with additional centres opening at border crossing locations in the U.S., but centres in airports in Canada have not followed suit.

Reopened airport NEXUS centres will both expand the program’s capacity and help the thousands of travellers who request NEXUS memberships each month get their cards faster.  Travellers can book interviews at the following airports, with interview start dates listed below:

27MAR

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)

03APR

Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

12APR

Calgary International Airport (YYC)

Edmonton International Airport (YEG)

17APR

Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)

24APR

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)

This new enrolment option for air travellers has two steps:

Canadian airport enrolment centres will be staffed with CBSA officers who will complete the Canadian portion of the NEXUS interview, and the U.S. interviews are completed by CBP at Canadian airport preclearance locations when applicants depart Canada to fly to the U.S.

Conditionally-approved NEXUS applicants and renewing members who require an interview will be able to book the Canadian portion of their interview at one of these airports through the Trusted Traveller Programs scheduler as interview times become available.