Air Canada return trip

[Deirdref]

Has anyone taken the 8am flight from Orlando to Toronto lately? How early do you have to be at the airport? Also, approximately how long does it take for the Mears or other shuttle bus from the Port Orleans to the airport?

Thanks!

 

[Scratch42]

The earlier the better! If you arrive at least 3 hours you should breeze thru! If you are traveling during the week don't forget about those business people! You don't want to get stuck in customs.

I would rather wait at the gate than wait in line worrying if I will make the flight!

Can't help you with Mears but I think it all depends on how many stops it make along the way.

Have a great trip!

Scratch

PS Welcome to the Boards!

 

[RC Fan]

Hello!

I used Mears on my last trip. I do believe they pick you up 4 hours prior to departure.

 

[mom_rules]

We're taking another limo service to the airport and plan to be there 2 hours in advance. When we rent a car at MCO we usually plan on dropping it off 3 hours ahead of time just in case there are any problems but if the transportation company drops you right in front of your check in I think 2hours should be plenty.

 

[CanadianinFL]

I live in Melbourne FL. I've had friends here from Toronto on two separate occasions in the past month (between the hurricanes!!) and both of them went to Orlando International Airport for the 8:00 am Air Canada flight one and a half hour prior to the flight and had plenty of time.

So if you go two hours ahead you will be very safe.

 

[Amberle3]

The general rule is:
- Always at least an hour before a flight where you don't have to go through customs on departure.
- At least an hour and a half before a flight where you do have to go through customs on departure.

The bigger the airport, the more time you need regardless of customs. Hamilton you're probably fine with the above. Airports like Winnipeg I'd add at least 15-20 minutes to those. Toronto etc add more like 30-40 minutes on. Remember that the more people the airport can hold, the more people you have to stand in line behind to go through security.

Just be prepared, bring a book, and try to regard the waiting time at the airport as "down" time. It doesn't have to be boring or stressful.

 

[Deirdref]

Just thought I'd post an update since I originally asked this question and just got back on Tuesday. My sister ended up driving me to the airport in Orlando, it took 25min to drive from the POR to the airport, I got there at 6am, there was no line-up at the Air Canada counter, security check in (where they only looked at my ticket and put my purse and carry-on through the x-ray, didn't even look inside them) and I was at the boarding area for the flight at 6:15! The flight did leave a little early because everyone had boarded and it wasn't very full.

We also had great luck at Pearson on the way down, we thought we were late so parked right at the airport, there was a big line at the check in counter and I was the only one with a executive class ticket but they let all of us (3 adults, 2 kids) check in at the executive counter, then when we got in line for the US customs an employee saw us with the kids and pulled us out of line and took us to the crew customs check, then they let me board early with the kids too, even though they were in the regular section and I was in executive.

I was also the first one off the plane on the return flight so that went really quickly too, although the Canada Customs guy seemed a little suspicious that I was travelling by myself and went to WDW for the weekend!

 

[Scratch42]

Glad to hear everything went smoothly!

Scratch

 

[mom_rules]

We arrived back last Monday-had the noon flight from MCO on Air Canada. Limo picked us up at BWI at 9:40am arrived at MCO around 10:10. No line at check in at all-breezed through (with "heavy" baggage)-usually at least one of our bags gets opened by customs but not this time. Less than 5 mins to go through security-didn't even have to take off shoes this time either and off to the Duty Free Shop. Flight arriving from YYZ to MCO was 15 mins late-boarded 1/2 hour late but pilot made up the time and we arrived in TO right on 3:00pm. Our problems started when the airport shuttle couldn't get into the hotel parking lot because the hotels workers were picketting and held up traffic-waited 10 mins before shuttle was allowed to enter the lot-retrieved our car and waited 1/2 hour before the strikers let us out of the lot-then we hit TO rush hour. If we hadn't been detained it would have been smooth sailing.

 

[Mortlives]

Last time we flew back, all the UA and AC passengers were in the same line, and only two stations were open. After an hour in line we started to get really nervous. Here's the interesting thing, I phoned AC's 1-800 number, and explained what was going on, and expressed my concern about our flight. Maybe it was coincidence, but within 5 minutes, 3 new wickets opened up.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.