Major positive changes announced for the main benefit of NEXUS membership

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Being a NEXUS member is one of the best examples (among the many examples) of how there are such simple pro tips that almost all travelers don’t even know about, unfortunately. You can avoid all wait lines so easily!

It’s sometimes chaos in Canadian airports (as it is in many places run by the federal government). But it’s sometimes chaos just for “normal” travelers; there’s really no chaos for NEXUS members!

And the main benefit of NEXUS membership is about to get even better! Here are the details.

Contents hide
Reminder of the basics of NEXUS
Overview of changes to NEXUS benefits
Analysis of changes to NEXUS benefits
Experience with the changes to NEXUS benefits
Summary

 

Reminder of the basics of NEXUS

If you prefer this format, you can watch the short video I had shared on the basics of NEXUS. 

 

 

NEXUS is a bilateral (Canada and USA) government program for “trusted travelers” that saves you a lot of time during your travels.

It’s really great! It means you can arrive way later… or spend more time in airport lounges!

The NEXUS program gives you the benefit of almost completely avoiding line-ups at 6 different locations:

  • Canadian security checkpoints (Canadinan airports)
  • USA security checkpoints (USA airports)
  • Canadian customs (Canadian airports)
  • USA customs (USA, Canadian, and other airports*)
  • Canadian customs (by land and sea)
  • USA customs (by land and sea)

*You probably know that many Canadian airports have USA preclearance customs, but there are also a few others elsewhere in the world

And for all of these benefits, except the 1st one, in addition to avoiding the wait time, the process itself is faster too. That’s exactly what’s going to change, by the way. That’s all. Just the process at security checkpoints in Canadian airports. I’ll get to that in a minute.

But I just want to remind you that several credit cards pay for your NEXUS membership for free, in addition to giving you hundreds of dollars in free travel as a welcome bonus too. You have to pay for NEXUS with the credit card in question to get NEXUS for free, so you have to start with that!

Best credit cards with
NEXUS credit
NEW
 TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $10k in 12 mos. (or $6k for lower bonus)
WELCOME BONUS
( VALUATION)
ends June 3rd
Rewards: ≈ $761
Annual fee: $139
NEXUS credit: C$100
and free bag on AC
$5k spend option also available
TD® Aeroplan® Visa* Infinite Privilege* Card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $15k in 12 mos.
WELCOME BONUS
( VALUATION)
ends June 3rd
Rewards: ≈ $958
Annual fee: $599
NEXUS credit: C$100
and AC lounge
access (AC flights)
CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card
CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $6k in 4 mos.
WELCOME BONUS
( VALUATION)
Rewards: ≈ $660
Card fee:
NEXUS credit: C$100
and 4 lounge
passes (worldwide)
CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $6k in 4 mos.
WELCOME BONUS
( VALUATION)
Rewards: ≈ $660
Card fee:
NEXUS credit: C$100
and 4 lounge
passes (worldwide)
NEW
 American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $7.5k in 3 mos.
WELCOME BONUS
( VALUATION)
Rewards: ≈ $1041
Card fee: $599
NEXUS credit: C$100
and AC lounge
access (AC flights)
Platinum Card® from American Express
Platinum Card from American Express
Card:
Bonus: spend $10k in 3 mos.
WELCOME BONUS
( VALUATION)
Rewards: ≈ $1600
Card fee: $799
NEXUS credit: C$100
and unlimited
lounge access
American Express® Gold Rewards Card
American Express Gold Rewards Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $1k/mo for 12 mos.
WELCOME BONUS
( VALUATION)
Rewards: ≈ $1180
Card fee: $250
NEXUS credit: C$50
and 4 lounge
passes (Canada)
Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information.
Best credit cards with
NEXUS credit		 WELCOME BONUS
( VALUATION)		 NEXUS
credit
NEW
 TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $10k in 12 mos. (or $6k for lower bonus)
Rewards: ≈ $761
Annual fee: $139
C$100
and free bag on AC
$5k spend option also available
ends June 3rd
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
TD® Aeroplan® Visa* Infinite Privilege* Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $15k in 12 mos.
Rewards: ≈ $958
Annual fee: $599
C$100
and AC lounge
access (AC flights)
ends June 3rd
CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card
CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $6k in 4 mos.
Rewards: ≈ $660
Card fee:
C$100
and 4 lounge
passes (worldwide)
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card
CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $6k in 4 mos.
Rewards: ≈ $660
Card fee:
C$100
and 4 lounge
passes (worldwide)
NEW
 American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $7.5k in 3 mos.
Rewards: ≈ $1041
Card fee: $599
C$100
and AC lounge
access (AC flights)
Platinum Card from American Express
Platinum Card® from American Express
Card:
Bonus: spend $10k in 3 mos.
Rewards: ≈ $1600
Card fee: $799
C$100
and unlimited
lounge access
American Express Gold Rewards Card
American Express® Gold Rewards Card
Card:
Bonus: spend $1k/mo for 12 mos.
Rewards: ≈ $1180
Card fee: $250
C$50
and 4 lounge
passes (Canada)
Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information.

 

That said, the best offer ends THIS WEEK and it’s on the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card. It doesn’t give you NEXUS for free, but it does give you $825 for free as simple points that can be redeemed for (almost) any travel. It’s literally the highest offer ever seen in Canada for simple points.

In short, if you want a lot more info, you can read part 1 of our guide to the NEXUS program.

 

Overview of changes to NEXUS benefits

Yesterday, the Canadian government announced some exciting positive changes that will make the airport experience even more efficient for NEXUS members:

  • NEXUS will give you access to new program at security checkpoints
    • It’s called “Verified Traveller” (“Voyageur vérifié” in French)
    • It’s automatic, you don’t have anything to do to get access
  • It’s an accelerated and simplified security screening process
    • It will no longer be just to avoid the wait before the screening
    • The security screening itself will be faster too
  • It’s very similar to TSA PreCheck at USA security checkpoints
    • What is already included with NEXUS when you are in the USA
  • It will be launched from June 7th to June 21st 2023 at the latest
    • Date depends on the airport
  • Not available at all checkpoints (just in 6 airports)
    • At the others, the current benefit of avoiding the line remains the same
    • That is now called “Front-of-the-line”
New program logo (image credit: CATSA)

 

With the Verified Traveller program, it’s going to be just like customs (and security checkpoints in American airports): not only will your NEXUS card allow you to avoid the line completely, but the process itself will now be shorter too!

Specifically, at these security checkpoints, NEXUS members will no longer need to:

  • Remove certain items from carry-on baggage
    • Liquids, gels, and aerosols
    • Computers and large electronics*
  • Remove certain items
    • Light jackets
    • Belts
    • Shoes
    • Hats
    • What they have in their pockets

*The only exception is for computers and large electronics only at transborder security checkpoints (to the USA): they will continue to have to be removed from carry-on luggage (as is it is now)

Also, this benefit will be shareable with some travelers (and this time it’s at transborder security checkpoints that it’s less restrictive):

  • It’s for certain travelers at domestic and international security checkpoints
    • Minors aged 17 and under
    • Adults aged 75 and above
  • It’s for all travelers at transborder security checkpoints (to the USA)
    • Regardless of age
  • Accompanying travelers must be on the same flight as the NEXUS member
    • At all security checkpoints (domestic, international, transborder)

Note that at checkpoints where there is simply Front-of-the-line (but NOT the new Verified Traveller benefit), your accompanying travelers can continue to use the line as well, regardless of age.

(This is ABSOLUTELY NOT the case at customs, where it is always just NEXUS members that are allowed!)

So to be very clear, depending on the type of security checkpoint and the airport, for NEXUS members there will be either:

  • The priority queue to avoid the wait like now (Front-of-the-line)
  • A dedicated priority queue AND an expedited screening process (Verified Traveller)

Here are the details of the types of benefits depending on the airport and the checkpoint:

  • Toronto-Pearson (YYZ)
    • Domestic flights (T1 Level 3): Verified Traveller
    • Domestic flights (T3): Verified Traveller
    • Transborder flights: Verified Traveller
    • International flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Toronto-Bishop (YTZ)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Ottawa (YOW)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Montreal (YUL)
    • Domestic flights: Verified Traveller
    • Transborder flights: Verified Traveller
    • International flights: Verified Traveller
  • Québec City (YQB)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Moncton (YQM)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Halifax (YHZ)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • St. John’s (YYT)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Vancouver (YVR)
    • Domestic flights (North sector): Verified Traveller
    • Transborder flights: Verified Traveller
    • International flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Victoria (YYJ)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Kelowna (YLW)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Edmonton (YEG)
    • Domestic flights: Verified Traveller
    • International flights: Verified Traveller
    • Transborder flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Calgary (YYC)
    • Domestic flights (Sector C): Verified Traveller
    • Domestic flights (Sectors A and B): Front-of-the-line
    • International flights (Sector C): Verified Traveller
    • International flights (Sector D): Front-of-the-line
    • Transborder flights (Sector E): Front-of-the-line
  • Saskatoon (YXE)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Regina (YQR)
    • All flights: Front-of-the-line
  • Winnipeg (YWG)
    • Domestic flights: Verified Traveller
    • International flights: Verified Traveller
    • Transborder flights: Front-of-the-line

Finally, it’s not very relevant to the vast majority of travelers, but NEXUS members are not the only ones who will have access to the new “Verified Traveller” program. So will these other travelers (with their valid ID):

  • Global Entry members (program for Americans)
  • Members of the Canadian and American armed forces
  • Canadian police officers
  • Canadian airport employees (with RAIC)
  • Canadian flight crews (with RAIC)
  • International flight crews in uniform

 

Analysis of changes to NEXUS benefits

In short, the NEXUS benefit at Canadian airport security checkpoints will now greatly resemble the much better benefit at USA airport security checkpoints (TSA PreCheck)… provided you are at one of the included Canadian checkpoints.

Right now, in Canada, the NEXUS card simply allows you to skip the line. To get through immediately, but that’s all. The actual screening process is not expedited or any different than that of “normal” travelers.

In the USA, in addition to avoiding the line, you already don’t have to remove your electronics and liquids from your bags, you don’t have to remove your coat, belt, or shoes. So the screening process itself is faster and more efficient.

That’s what’s coming to Canada on June 21, 2023!

I travel to the United States a lot and it’s so great to get through the entire security screening process in less than 5 minutes total, without having to take anything out or do anything basically. It’s so efficient.

I can’t wait for it to be like this in Canada too, it’s really great news for an already incredibly great program!

The American TSA PreCheck program included with the NEXUS card is still superior, because expedited screening is offered at absolutely every USA airport (whereas in Canada this new expedited benefit is just at a few airports). But any improvement is positive!

 

Experience with the changes to NEXUS benefits

I have an opportunity to travel to Asia in early July so I’ll be able to test the new process for you and report back, as I’ve done recently with most other NEXUS benefits.

 

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Summary

Being a member of the NEXUS program is already one of the best travel pro tips, but the most useful benefit is about to get even better in June 2023! In addition to avoiding the wait, the actual security screening process will be expedited!

What would you like to know about the NEXUS program? Tell us in the comments below.

 

See the deals we spot: Cheap flights

Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration

Learn pro tricks: Travel tips

Discover free travel: Travel rewards

 

Featured image: Laptop at security checkpoint (photo credit: CATSA)

 

 

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Andrew D'Amours

Andrew is the co-founder of Flytrippers. He is passionate about traveling the world but also, as a former management consultant, about the travel industry itself. He shares his experiences to help you save money on travel. As a very cost-conscious traveler, he loves finding deals and getting free travel thanks to travel rewards points... to help him visit every country in the world (current count: 71/193 Countries, 47/50 US States & 9/10 Canadian Provinces).

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Bonnie R May 25, 2023 Reply

    Will the new Nexus rules allow larger amounts of liquid like full size sunscreen, toothpaste etc. in your carry on luggage.

    1. Andrew D'Amours May 25, 2023 Reply

      Nope, the only changes announced are the ones we wrote about. The UK is eliminating the liquids rule so maybe it will come to Canada some day, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. And if does come, it’s major enough that we’ll cover it for sure 🙂

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