As the busiest travel period of the year approaches, industry insiders are warning people to be extra prepared when traveling this holiday season and not to wrap presents until they arrive at their destination.
Winnipeg’s James Richardson International Airport sees more than 12,000 travellers per day, and that number soars over the holidays. Longer lines and wait times are expected, but officials say not wrapping gifts before traveling could help you go through customs quicker.
Angela Young with Canada Border Services Agency told CTV News that gifts must be opened at the border no matter what.
“Don’t wrap the gift, because if a police officer at the border needs to check the declaration, they will have to unwrap the gift and inspect it,” Young says. “We want to meet our obligations while being respectful and responsive to travelers.”
Young says tried-and-true travel tips always apply. Be sure to check wait times online in advance and always have your travel documents ready. He also said that travelers returning from abroad can also pre-declare the items they are bringing back online.
“Biodata, name, date of birth, some of your passport details will be collected and questions that a police officer would ask at the border will be asked,” Mr Young said. “That way, when you arrive at your destination, the declaration has already been made, which saves time for travelers.”
Young said advance registration can cut wait times by up to a third. Travelers can sign up for the service up to 72 hours before crossing the border.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Agency (CATSA) is also warning holiday travelers not to pre-wrap presents and to always put items containing more than 100ml of liquid in checked baggage.
“Snow globes are a popular seasonal gift, but the liquid inside must be less than 100ml. Snow globes are best placed in checked baggage,” a CATSA spokesperson said in an email.
CATSA also encourages passengers to put their wallets, cell phones, keys and change in their carry-on luggage to avoid delays at metal detectors. Another good tip is to put a distinctive sticker on your laptop.
“They all look the same,” CATSA said in an email. “Therefore, if you put this sticker on it, you can easily identify what is yours and prevent you from accidentally stealing someone else’s things.”
Above all, officials are urging patience as thousands of Manitobans travel to see loved ones over the holidays.
