Air Canada transfer question

[NeverlandPixie]

Hey all, hoping you can help me out here!

My question is: When flying to MCO via Toronto, do you have to collect your luggage to go through US customs or does your luggage automatically fly straight through?

I've gotten two different answers from Air Canada. One agent said I had to collect my luggage and then go through US customs; the other agent said that my luggage will go straight through, but I would have to collect it on the way back home for Canada Customs.

Thanks!

 

[Mickey1Fan]

Your luggage is taken when you check in at the air line. If you are using Disney's Magical Express to go to Walt Disney World Resort you do not see your luggage until it arrives in your room.

Coming back you pick up your luggage and then go through customs.

 

[satman1962]

Since you're first flight is domestic, once you arrive in Toronto you will collect your bags, clear customs and then recheck you bags. Not quite as awful as it sounds unless your connection time is short..


Have fun.

 

[NeverlandPixie]

Two different answers again ...

 

[drag n' fly]

Your last point of departure is where you clear customs. That would be Toronto. You will need to collect your luggage and clear customs and re-check your bags in Toronto. If you are flying direct from Winnipeg you would clear customs in Winnipeg and would not see your luggage again until you arrive at your resort.

 

[disneymath]

Add one more response to the "collect bags in TO and recheck through customs" option. I agree that it isn't too difficult to do, unless your connection time is super rushed.

 

[cab0899]

We've always had to collect our luggage to go through customs in Toronto. We've flown Wpg to Toronto and then on to Orlando a few times and have always done it this way. Kim

 

[NeverlandPixie]

I have an hour and 10 minutes. Will this be enough time?

 

[disneymath]

I have an hour and 10 minutes. Will this be enough time?

I would say it all depends on how busy it is the day you travel ... on a "normal" day, I think you would be fine. Just make customs your priority when you land at Pearson - relax once you've cleared and are waiting to board your flight to MCO!

 

[purplepeg]

It could be slightly rushed. Just don't waste any time picking up food or drink. Get through customs and get to your gate. If you have time then go for your last Timmie's

 

[OntFamily]

You are getting different answers, so I'll show you the logical answer.

Whenever you appear before a customs agent (either US or Canada) you must have your checked luggage with you (in case they want to search your bags for contraband). You must physically carry all of your own bags through customs.

So, if you're flying Air Canada from Winnipeg to Toronto to MCO, here are the steps:

1) Check bags in @ Winnipeg - the luggage tag Air Canada puts on the bags will indicate they should be checked through to MCO.

2) Your plane arrives in Toronto. When the luggage is taken off, any bags that are checked through to the USA will be taken to a special baggage carousel (that is located next to USA Customs).

3) You pick up your bags at the special baggage carousel next to USA Customs.

4) You walk through USA Customs with your bags. Once you have been cleared by USA Customs, you will place your bags on a conveyor belt (all checked bags are on this conveyor, so everyone else will be doing the same thing). Ensure your DME luggage tags are attached to each bag.

5) You get on the plane, and fly to MCO. Upon arrival at MCO, go to the DME check in counter, then get on the bus to WDW. A few hours after your arrival at MCO, your bags will arrive in your room.

 

[disneymath]

How you explained it is exactly how it worked for us the last two trips.

 

[siobhan1997]

Here is another word of advise. If you get to Toronto and you do not think you will have enough time to clear customs (you also have to clear security again )then you should go to the Air Canada check in counter and request an airline escort to rush you through Customs. Tell them you have to catch this connector to Orlando and you don't think you will have enough time.

 

[Fellowship9798]

I've got a 1.5 hour connection time in Toronto (Vancouver to Toronto to Orlando). Hopefully this is enough time, but with a 1 year old and 2.5 year old in tow, claiming bags, US customs, security, stroller, carseats, etc. etc. I'm a little nervous. Hopefully our first flight gets in on time too.

I guess all I can do it cross my fingers and hope everything works out as planned.

 

[NeverlandPixie]

Thanks everyone! Just a few more short and to-the-point questions:

• How confusing/easy is the TO Pearson aiport to navigate? I usually fly NWA (clearing customs here in the Peg), so this is all a little new to me.
  
• Should I put the DME tags on here, or wait until TO?

On the upside, I am hoping for clear sailing through customs as I am leaving the Peg on a Sunday at 5:10 am, getting into TO at 8:35 am and then leaving for MCO at 9:45 am. It's Winnipeg's spring break, but I don't think it's TO's.

 

[artman]

There is a alot of info on Pearsons website including a mpeg video that shows what you will need to do as well as a terminal map. I assume you are flying into terminal 1. Watch for and follow the signs with the US flag.

I always put my ME tags on my luggage before I leave home.

 

[fan1080]

Thanks everyone! Just a few more short and to-the-point questions:

• How confusing/easy is the TO Pearson aiport to navigate? I usually fly NWA (clearing customs here in the Peg), so this is all a little new to me.
  
• Should I put the DME tags on here, or wait until TO?

On the upside, I am hoping for clear sailing through customs as I am leaving the Peg on a Sunday at 5:10 am, getting into TO at 8:35 am and then leaving for MCO at 9:45 am. It's Winnipeg's spring break, but I don't think it's TO's.

Some Airports have been adding US pre-clearance for flights to the US. They added this service in Halifax recently and it worked great for us on our trip to Disney in July.

Here's how it worked here in Halifax:

Instead of checking in at the normal check-in location in the airport, they've set up a special US customs pre-clearance section. You check in there, and immediately go through US customs. All bags are checked there and you see the US Customs agent following that, before leaving Canada.

Prior to this change, we had to collect our bags in the US (direct flight, Halifax departure) and go through US Customs upon arrival.

Check your airport to see if they have US pre-clearance. That way you won't have to go through the hastle in Toronto.

 

[artman]

Check your airport to see if they have US pre-clearance. That way you won't have to go through the hastle in Toronto.

The thing that really sucks about US preclearance is that you can only preclear at your last domestic connection point, which in OP's case is Toronto.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

I'm so glad I read this! Last few times have flown to Orlando via a US stop so have cleared customs in Calgary. At least now we can be prepared. I never stop being amazed by how much I learn every day on these boards. Thanks to everyone.