Connecting flight in Toronto - we have to go through customs??!! Help!

[Four Swampers]

We have done similar passport and customs checks through Tokyo, Amsterdam, and others. I like having a little over an hour. Two hours will be easy.

If you remain concerned, consider upgrading to an economy plus seat (assuming Air Canada has such a thing) or getting seats as close to the front of the plane as possible on the flight from Philly to Toronto. Front of the plane is better for two reasons: 1. You are off the plane in five minutes, not fifteen. 2. You get to passport control before the people behind you on the plane.

Have your stuff ready when you land, exit the plane appropriately, and walk briskly to passport control.

 

[drclaws]

Yes, I booked it as connecting, but through Kayak and not Air Canada. Don't know if that makes a difference. And I just realized that coming home I don't have to go through customs until I hit Philly. So I will assume they will just move my luggage for that leg.

You'll actually clear US Customs at the Vancouver airport. You check in get your luggage tags placed. Go to another line to show your passport and boarding pass and you place your luggage on the conveyor belt. Move on to scan your passports and have a photo taken and printed out like a boarding pass. Take that, your passports and boarding pass to the US customs line to meet with a border agent. Sounds worse that it actually was...perhaps it's because we had a 6:30 a.m. flight and arrived at VYR before 4:00 a.m.

Interesting thing I noticed was that the US border agent had a screen that brought up your photos loading each piece of your luggage on the conveyor belt after he scanned in the boarding pass.

 

[wilderness_gal]

We recently went through Toronto coming to/from Copenhagen for the inaugural 7-night Norway cruise. We had 2 hours and 15 minutes going out and 2 hours and 30 minutes going back and both times had to run at near breakneck speed to make our flights. We didn't eat. We didn't stop for ANYTHING. And we definitely had to retrieve our checked bags in both directions. The distance between terminals and gates is vast - especially if you're traveling to/from a smaller US airport nowhere near the gate for your international flight. Don't underestimate it, nor how long it takes to go through Canadian and then US Customs on your return trip. Good luck!

 

[Jasrhon]

You'll actually clear US Customs at the Vancouver airport. You check in get your luggage tags placed. Go to another line to show your passport and boarding pass and you place your luggage on the conveyor belt. Move on to scan your passports and have a photo taken and printed out like a boarding pass. Take that, your passports and boarding pass to the US customs line to meet with a border agent. Sounds worse that it actually was...perhaps it's because we had a 6:30 a.m. flight and arrived at VYR before 4:00 a.m.

Interesting thing I noticed was that the US border agent had a screen that brought up your photos loading each piece of your luggage on the conveyor belt after he scanned in the boarding pass.

This is true for someone leaving Vancouver on a flight with the first leg going to a U.S. Airport. I believe the OP said they were connecting through Toronto on the way to Philidelphia in which case they will clear customs in Toronto since that is where they leave Canada to enter the U.S.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Yikes - we flew through Toronto on the way to Copenhagen and it was the worst connecting experience ever and we had three hours. Vancouver on the other hand is a piece of cake.

I'm sure part of the issue was Air Canada was clueless. We were told conflicting things multiple times and were too afraid to test anything heading over for our cruise.

No one could officially tell us if we needed to collect the luggage so we did and it WAS on the carousel and not like other airports where you just put it back on. We had to go through the full security again as well. Our bags were tagged to CPH.

What a mess and I dread the connection home again as we only have two hours

Heather

 

[IzzyBella]

This is related to a question that's been on my mind recently;

If flying from a small-town US airport and connecting direct (no plane change) through Chicago on to Vancouver, do we need to get off the plane and/or do anything with bags in Chicago?

Thank you!

 

[CarolynU]

In my experience a lot depends upon the time that your flight lands and how many other flights have landed at the same time. Not much use to you really, but my advice is if you have not chosen your seats already try and sit near to the front of the plane so that you are one of the first off the flight. Then don't hang around follow the signs as quickly as you can until you have completed all the formalities and have arrived at your next gate. Then you can relax and maybe backtrack a bit and look for food.
I last did the journey to Vancouver via Toronto last October, but my experience was incredibly different to previous times because I landed at around 10pm and the place was deserted. Providing your flight isn't late you should make your connection, but may not have a lot of time to spare.

 

[glk2009]

We just flew Boston-Toronto-Vancouver and back an Air Canada and it seems so long ago. It also seems quite fuzzy bc my flights both started at 6 am.

We had a 2+ hour layover on the way out and it was plenty of time. We cleared customs and then had to pick up our bag and drop it on another belt. And we had to go through another security line. It did go pretty quickly. We had a lot of time at the gate to get breakfast and browse the shops.

On the way back, we had a 90 minute layover and it was just enough time, even with us having to go through the regular customs line because my MIL had smoked salmon to declare. There was an Air Canada agent who checked for people who were close to their flight times and she would expedite them to the next agent. After clearing customs, we went through security again and then to our gate. We did not have to pick up luggage on the return flight. When we get off the plane at Toronto, the info boards will not show which gate you need to go to until AFTER security. If will just tell you to go to area F.

HTH!

 

[tinkerone]

i personally find person airport in Toronto a nightmare and only fly out of it if I have no other options. its so big and completely unorganized IMO. we live in the middle of two airports, one being Toronto and the other a u.s. and as I mentioned, we go the other route if we can.
just be prepared for anything because at that airport the right hand never knows what the left is doing. make sure you get to your gate before you make up your mind if you have the time to eat or shop.....just in case.