Connecting in Montreal?? Toronto???

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

So two flight options for us for Ottawa to Orlando.

one has us connect in Toronto, 1.5hr layover

one has us connect in Montreal, 1.5hr layover.


WHICH airport is faster/easier to get around for doing the US customs clearance???

Thank you!

 

[smashing]

I'm not an expert in flying but my understanding is you do the customs stuff at the airport you initially board. When landing at the layover airport you are already in the boarding area so don't do all that again. Just have to get to the correct gate on time. We try to fly direct to avoid this with kids but that's how it has been explained to me

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

nope, definately have to do US customs at the city before you go to US.

 

[Gigi22]

Sigh, there is construction at the Montreal airport. It is not bad going to the U.S., actually quite a smooth process going down, but a pure PITA coming back--the gate for your flight from YUL to YOW will be located as far as humanly possible from the arrival gate for your flight from MCO. And, when you return from MCO you have to collect your luggage, go through Customs, then re-check your luggage and go through Security again. Then run to your gate. Insane.

 

[4stroke]

So two flight options for us for Ottawa to Orlando.

one has us connect in Toronto, 1.5hr layover

one has us connect in Montreal, 1.5hr layover.


WHICH airport is faster/easier to get around for doing the US customs clearance???

Thank you!

Which airline are you flying? If AC, then Terminal 1 at YYZ. If WJ, then its Terminal 3 at YYZ. It really doesn't make that much of a difference, but at 1.5 hour connection at either YYZ or YUL, its a wash.

I'm more familiar with CAN-USA at YYZ T1, but I think 1.5 hours is enough to go through US customs and then through security again. You likely won't have a whole lot of time to doddle, but it should be ok.

I assume YUL is similar, but if the above poster is correct with construction, it's probably wise to avoid that if you can.

When do you go?

Cheers,
4S

 

[archrd]

Toronto is the best... Have only done Montreal once and will never do it again.

 

[badiggio]

Why not do customs in Ottawa by flying with an American airline.Imo,it's SO much more convenient and less stressful,especially whendealing with connections.We usually fly united and usually cheaper than either WJ or AC.

 

[bankr63]

Have done both. It is pretty much a wash, but a couple of things to keep in mind.

If on AC into T1 at YYZ and any airline into YUL, your bags will now be prescreened for US customs (Montreal has had this for a while, T1 just added this year). This means that you do not need to collect your bags, they just ask you to identify if from a picture.

T3 at YUL (i.e. any airline but AC) will take a bit longer as you must collect your bags for US customs clearance and then place them back on the conveyor for the final leg. Not a big deal, but adds a bit of time.

If you are travelling summer (which I am assuming since you aren't flying direct - Ottawa has no direct summer flights to MCO ) then 1.5 hours should be plenty. Winter deicing delays at Ottawa can cause problems and eat up a good bit of the 1.5 hours, especially early morning flights. The deicing bays can back up in the morning rush.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

We are doing the trip in October, and in yyz it was with west jet I much prefer flying a us carrier to be able to preclear us customs in Ottawa, which is not bad time wise at all. However cost consciously we can't. We may be able to if we wait for better pricing but westjet yow-mco via yyz or ac yow-mco via yul had times we like esp compared to us carriers. The return is no question....we want the 930pm departure direct with wj.

Mother was wanting to have flights over and done with so we went ahead and confirmed. We are doing yow-mco round trip with west jet....and at least we don't have to pay for bags! Just inconvenience of customs in yyz term 3

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

We are doing the trip in October, and in yyz it was with west jet I much prefer flying a us carrier to be able to preclear us customs in Ottawa, which is not bad time wise at all. However cost consciously we can't. We may be able to if we wait for better pricing but westjet yow-mco via yyz or ac yow-mco via yul had times we like esp compared to us carriers. The return is no question....we want the 930pm departure direct with wj.

Mother was wanting to have flights over and done with so we went ahead and confirmed. We are doing yow-mco round trip with west jet....and at least we don't have to pay for bags! Just inconvenience of customs in yyz term 3

 

[bankr63]

We are doing the trip in October, and in yyz it was with west jet I much prefer flying a us carrier to be able to preclear us customs in Ottawa, which is not bad time wise at all. However cost consciously we can't. We may be able to if we wait for better pricing but westjet yow-mco via yyz or ac yow-mco via yul had times we like esp compared to us carriers. The return is no question....we want the 930pm departure direct with wj.

Mother was wanting to have flights over and done with so we went ahead and confirmed. We are doing yow-mco round trip with west jet....and at least we don't have to pay for bags! Just inconvenience of customs in yyz term 3

I'd say good choice. The baggage time penalty in Toronto is small; and I generally choose WJ over AC when I can. Who knows, by October they may even have the bag pre-screening active at T3 as well. I read a rumour somewhere that it may be coming.