Hundreds of passengers wait in line for U.S. departures at Vancouver International Airport on Monday.Hundreds of passengers wait in line for U.S. departures at Vancouver International Airport on Monday. (Steve Lus/CBC)

Travellers departing from Vancouver International Airport faced major delays on Monday after a computer meltdown jammed airline counters and new restrictions on carry-on baggage and security checks added further frustrations for passengers.

The check-in problems began Monday morning when the computer system crashed, forcing airline staff to check passengers in manually and by phone. Airport officials said they did not know what caused the computer crash.

The problem was fixed just before 1 p.m. PT, and officials said most flights for the rest of the day would be delayed by 30 to 60 minutes.

Temporary emergency measures:

According to the CATSA:

  • U.S.-bound passengers are not permitted any carry-on bags effective immediately and lasting for several days.
  • Passengers travelling within Canada are still permitted two carry-on bags (although to make the screening process most efficient, no carry-on is preferred).
  • These rules will be strictly enforced during this period. There will be no flexibility.

Passengers may carry with them the following items:

  • Medication or medical devices.
  • Containers carrying life sustaining items.
  • Small purses, cameras, coats.
  • Items for care of infants.
  • Laptop computers.
  • Crutches, canes, and walkers.
  • A special needs item.
  • Musical instruments.
  • Diplomatic or consular bags.

The computer problems compounded delays already caused by security guideline updates introduced earlier Monday morning, further restricting the kinds of bags passengers can take on flights U.S.-bound flights.

But despite the implementation of the new rules, officials with the Canadian Air Transportation Security Authority did not issue any public notice about the changes until late in the afternoon.

New carry-on rules unclear

People waiting in line said they were getting confusing information about what sort of baggage was being allowed as carry-on. According to some, passengers on U.S.-bound flights were allowed to bring only a small purse or satchel, and previous allowances for backpacks and diaper bags had been revoked.

Connie Brown and her four-year-old son Philip, heading to Florida, were frustrated by the new directives.

"I'm just without necessities right now. He's got a bad cold and I'm not allowed to carry anything extra for him to make him comfortable," said Brown.

"On my own it's a challenge as it is, never mind having to do all of this. I mean, we're carrying valuables and gifts and now I have to entrust it to the airline and hope it gets to the other end? So that's really frustrating," she said.

Passengers to other destinations reported different restrictions limiting them to a single item of carry-on baggage, but Transport Canada was advising all travellers to avoid boarding planes with any unnecessary carry-on items.

The restrictions on carry-on baggage were introduced on the weekend after a passenger was accused of attempting to blow up a flight into Detroit on Christmas Day. The new security directives also prohibit passengers from getting up from their seats during the final hour of flights.