YVR EXPRESS

Passengers departing from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) within Canada and to the United States have the option to streamline their experience through security screening with YVR EXPRESS.

YVR EXPRESS allows you to schedule a specific time to enter security screening and avoid waiting in line prior to moving through the screening process. Travellers within Canada and to the U.S. can schedule their time to enter security screening through YVR EXPRESS up to 72 hours ahead of their flight departure time.

Book your spot in line in four simple steps:

1. Travelling from the Main Terminal within Canada or to the U.S.? Schedule your security screening time through YVR EXPRESS in advance up to 72 hours before your flight or when you arrive to the airport.
2. Select the airline you're flying with, destination, and flight number along with the number of people in your party, and your email address to save your spot.
3. Once you are at the airport, check any bags and walk up to your assigned security screening checkpoint within 15 minutes of your reserved time.
4. Look for the YVR EXPRESS signs at Security Checkpoint E (US Departures) or ABC Checkpoint (Domestic Departures). Show airport staff your reservation QR code, and you are ready to go through screening.

YVR EXPRESS FAQ

About YVR EXPRESS

What is YVR EXPRESS? How does it work?

YVR EXPRESS is an appointment system for security screening. All you need to do is reserve your time and show up at your assigned security checkpoint at your appointment time.

How do I use YVR EXPRESS?

YVR EXPRESS is currently available for passengers travelling from the main terminal:

• within Canada with flights scheduled between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; and
• to the U.S. with flights scheduled between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Schedule your appointment up to 72 hours before your scheduled departure or sign up upon arrival at the airport. You can schedule your appointment online at yvr.whyline.com or by scanning the QR code on YVR EXPRESS signs throughout the airport.

Once you schedule an appointment time, you'll receive a QR code via email that you will present to airport staff when you arrive at the security checkpoint at your scheduled time. Check your email for a copy that you can return to later.

Head to your assigned checkpoint at your scheduled appointment time after completing check-in and baggage drop off. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will screen you from there. You can use our terminal maps for directions.

Will YVR EXPRESS allow me to skip the line at US Customs for my flight to the United States?

YVR EXPRESS provides front of the line access to pre-board screening only. If you are departing on a flight to the United States, please make sure you allow enough time to clear US Customs after completing security screening. 

To expedite your process through US Customs, use the Mobile Passport Control app.

Is YVR EXPRESS free?

Yes, it’s completely free for all passengers. There is no account or membership required to use YVR EXPRESS.

Will YVR EXPRESS be available for International Flights (in addition to flights to the U.S. and within Canada)?

YVR EXPRESS will be expanded to include international flights in the coming months. Any updates will be posted on this webpage.

Eligibility for the YVR EXPRESS program

Which airlines and security checkpoints are participating in YVR EXPRESS?

For flights to the U.S. YVR EXPRESS includes advanced reservations and onsite appointments at Security Checkpoint E for all U.S. flight departures scheduled between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; This includes scheduled flights with Air Canada, WestJet, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Flair Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Sun County.

For flights within Canada departing from the Main Terminal, YVR EXPRESS includes advanced reservations and onsite appointments at ABC Checkpoint for all Canada flight departures scheduled between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. This includes scheduled domestic flights with Air Canada, WestJet, Flair Airlines, Air North, Lynx Air, Air Transat, and Canada Jetlines.

I'm connecting at YVR, can I use YVR EXPRESS?

YVR EXPRESS is not available to connecting passengers. The service is only available for those travellers starting their journey in Vancouver. If you have a long connection with a departure within Canada or to the United States - where you will leave the secured area or leave the airport and return to YVR later in the day – you can use YVR EXPRESS because you will then be screened if you are starting your journey in Vancouver.

Can I use YVR EXPRESS if I am a Trusted Traveller?

YVR EXPRESS is available to general passengers to help provide a better screening experience.

Trusted Travellers are encouraged to go to their dedicated lane at each security checkpoint.

I have a domestic flight departing from the South Terminal, can I use YVR EXPRESS?

No, YVR EXPRESS is only available for Domestic departures at the main terminal.

Booking or changing a YVR EXPRESS appointment

How do I book a YVR EXPRESS appointment, and what information is required?

Passengers utilizing the service can proceed to yvr.whyline.com 72 hours in advance of departure. Passenger will be asked to select the date of departure, destination airport, airline, flight number and party size. Lastly, they will be asked to provide an email to receive the appointment confirmation with the QR code as an attachment. There is no account registration or login required.

What times can I use YVR EXPRESS?

For flights to the United States YVR EXPRESS is available daily from 4:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at Security Checkpoint E. Appointments are available from 180 to 90 minutes before scheduled departure time.

For within Canada YVR EXPRESS is available daily from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at ABC Checkpoint. Appointments for Canada flights are available from 180 to 45 minutes before scheduled departure time.

Please note, Slots are limited and may book up fast, so we recommend booking up to 72 hours in advance of your flight. YVR EXPRESS may not have available bookings during peak travel times.

I want to sign up for YVR EXPRESS, but the appointment times are unavailable, what do I do?

Slots are available 180 to 90 minutes before the scheduled flight time for flights to the United States, and 180 to 45 minutes before the scheduled flight time for flights within Canada.

YVR EXPRESS has limited appointments and we're seeing time slots fill up quickly and may be unavailable due to high passenger volumes and demand. We recommend trying to reserve your time as early as possible, reservations can be made up to 72 hours before your flight. Please note, YVR EXPRESS may not have available bookings during peak travel times.

I’m travelling as part of a group; can we book a YVR EXPRESS appointment together?

Yes. Passengers travelling with a group may book on behalf of the other passengers in their traveling party by specifying the total party size in the booking process. The maximum group size eligible to enter under one appointment is 10 passengers.

Can I cancel or change my YVR EXPRESS appointment?

Yes. After you’ve made your initial appointment, you will be able to access the confirmation email which contains a button to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

I'm not seeing my flight as an option on YVR EXPRESS, why is that the case?

Make sure to check that the time, date, airline, flight number are all correct when signing up for your appointment. For flights to the United States YVR EXPRESS is available daily from 4:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Security Checkpoint E for flights scheduled between 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. For flights to Canada YVR EXPRESS is available daily from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.at ABC Checkpoint for flights scheduled between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Appointments are available from 180 to 90 minutes before departure for flights to the U.S. and 180 to 45 minutes for flights within Canada. YVR EXPRESS has limited appointments and we're seeing time slots fill up quickly and may be unavailable due to high passenger volumes and demand. We recommend trying to reserve your time as early as possible, reservations can be made up to 72 hours before your flight. Please note, YVR EXPRESS may not have available bookings during peak travel times.

Note that only the operating airline flight number is displayed. Codeshare flight numbers are not listed. Double check your travel itinerary to search the operating airline name.

I didn't get a confirmation email for my YVR EXPRESS appointment, what do I do?

When signing up make sure that your email is typed correctly and to check your inbox’s junk or spam folders, just in case. If you're still unable to find your appointment information after registering, you can sign up again for another appointment. You will receive a confirmation message with a QR code on the last page of the booking process.

YVR EXPRESS at the airport

I didn’t make an appointment in advance; can I still use YVR EXPRESS?

Yes! When you arrive at the airport, you will see YVR EXPRESS signs with a QR code. You can scan the code with a smartphone or simply follow this link to yvr.whyline.com and set up an appointment.

What’s the grace period for my YVR EXPRESS appointment?

We offer a grace period of 15 minutes per appointment time, so you may arrive any time within 15 minutes of the appointment time and enter the line. If you arrive more than 15 minutes past your appointment time, it would be best to reschedule your appointment (based on availability), or you may enter through the regular queue lanes.

How do I access the checkpoint using YVR Express?

For flights to the United States at Security Checkpoint E a lane is available for travellers using YVR EXPRESS. Follow the ‘YVR EXPRESS’ signage at the entrance to the checkpoint. Make sure to have your boarding pass and QR code ready for scanning at the entrance to the checkpoint. To find out where Security Checkpoint E is located, please follow our terminal maps.

For flights within Canada, follow the signs for ABC Gates or ABC Security and use the YVR EXPRESS Lane at the ABC checkpoint entrance. Make sure to have your boarding pass and QR code ready for scanning at the entrance to the checkpoint. For directions, please see our terminal maps.

I am a Trusted Traveller will my wait times increase due to YVR EXPRESS users in my lane?

Given the checkpoint configuration, YVR EXPRESS shares the same lane as Trusted Travellers. YVR EXPRESS limits bookings at checkpoint E and ABC Checkpoint to off-peak times only. It also limits the number of bookings to avoid crowding the “faster” lanes and ensure expedited access to security screening relative to general screening passengers. 

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For Customer Care questions, please contact us by phone at 604.207.7077, TTY/(TDD) 604.207.7070, by email at [email protected], or by twitter @yvrairport.