Connecting in Toronto

[grover]

there were 49.00 flights on westjet??
i would have saved my airmiles had i known that!

i think no matter which airline you fly..you only clear customs once.

 

[mbb]

..... Even with the heroic measures Mbb describes (wow, I learned a lot of tricks from that post!).......

Awww, shucks

LOL!!
We try to make it an adventure, and definitely a family/team sport event

So if any of you ever see or hear a family of four hoofing through YYZ:
"Go! Go! Go!
We're fun, we're fast, we're having a Blast!
Our Family Rocks!
WooHoo Disney!!"

.
.
.
.
.that's us

But I agree, it is really stressful, and with little ones in strollers or in your arms - it would be impossible...(but for our 8 year olds, it's just part of the Disney experience...and learning how to read departure screens!)

Even for just DH and I, we find YYZ a tough connecting point. If there was a better CDNoption, that didn't involve charters we've tried to find it. YUL and YOW are better, but not by much.

We're going to give PWM on JetBlue a try this trip

 

[hawkaye19]

Evening,

Just to set the record straight, they have redone Ottawa's airport and it is easy to pass through.The one advantage that Ott & Mtl have is that they are both one terminals for all flights....that puts it ahead of YYZ any day! Why do you have to set marathon records just to transfer flights.....with miles of corridors...must have been an airport designed by committee

By the way I must thank Air Canada, now before you start picking yourselves up off the floor, they gave us 9 more hours in WDW. We originally had a 4:30 pm departure, but they changed it to 7:30.......and they kept our 8:30 pm flight back.......sweet

Bruce

 

[mejaie]

We leave Tuesday, Winnipeg to Orlando, connecting in Toronto via Westjet.

We only have 60 minutes to connect to the last leg of our journey and I am so worried about getting off the plane, collecting our luggage, going through customs, etc in only 60 minutes. We are travelling with 2 small children to boot, a stroller and MUCH luggage. Can anyone calm me down!!!

So how did the connection go?

 

[grover]

btt..how did it go???

pre-trip jitters kicking in now..really starting to FREAK out about this connection!

i need to have some visual as to what the heck we will be doing, i have looked up the terminal maps.

palendat--you said that you arrive at terminal 1 and then go to terminal to for the flight to usa right?

someone said get a porter (what will they do--carry our luggage from 1 to 2??), how do you do that-it makes things faster?? will they go with us right to where we need to be at terminal 2?

also..to get to terminal two
-we walk/ride a golf cart to outside the building
-hop on a shuttle bus (i am assuming there are BIG signs telling you where to go?)
-how often do these busses run?
-how far it is from where we collect baggage to get on the shuttle bus?

if i could change my flight and overnight in TO i would, but have a feeling with Airmiles it will be a no-go.

ETA: I just checked my travel info, it states that arrive and depart at Terminal 3. I hope that is right. Now..we have 70mins (if our 1st flight is on time)...btwn connections. If we are NOT having to run from one terminal to the next--do you think we are okay???? crossing fingers

 

[Palendat]

Hi Grover,

We didn't do well with our connection. Even though we arrived 10 min early from Wpg, US customs was back logged, and we would have missed our flight if we hadn't called 1-888-WESTJET while in line from our cell phone (for which we were SEVERELY chastised for by US Customs officials - no cell phone use in line). A couple of Westjet employees came to the line, got us through. The plane waited for us for 10-15 minutes, but another family did miss the connection. Then it was one of those scenes from the movies with the 4 of us RUNNING like we have never run before to make the flight. Suggestions: Stop for nothing once you are off the plane. The Westjet attendant on the ground will show you where to go. (It is NOT in a different building). Call Westjet the moment that you get to customs and let them know if there is a line-up at customs.

I'm not sure if we will use Westjet for next August's trip (Aug 15-29 with about 20 family members). We have enough airmiles, but the stress of this flight almost caused me to have my first anxiety attack ever. (Don't panic too much, I'm very easily stressed).

If you have any specific questions, i can try to answer them.

By the way, we had a great trip, with 2 extra days thanks to Ernesto!

 

[grover]

thank you for the update,

i am glad to hear that it is indeed one terminal that we have to deal with.

did you get a porter? did you need one?

is there somewhere i can find a westjet employee if i can't phone?

how long did it take to get your luggage from the first flight?

 

[mejaie]

Palendat

Did you tell any ground crew in Wpg, or flight crew about your connection?

Hey Grover, we are in the 50's!!!

 

[grover]

okay..i called airmiles today, they can't switch me to a flight the next day.
called westjet--just to ask, of course they say the 70 mins is enough and if for some reason we miss it they will try and get us on the next flight.
we do land and leave in the same terminal and he did say there are westjet agents around if we need assistance.
so i guess i have no choice but to roll with the punches!

mejaie--we leave on the same flight?? sorry i know this came up before..my brain is on overload! we leave on the 8th

 

[mbb]

.....Even though we arrived 10 min early from Wpg, US customs was back logged, and we would have missed our flight if we hadn't called 1-888-WESTJET while in line from our cell phone (for which we were SEVERELY chastised for by US Customs officials - no cell phone use in line). A couple of Westjet employees came to the line, got us through. The plane waited for us for 10-15 minutes, but another family did miss the connection. Then it was one of those scenes from the movies with the 4 of us RUNNING like we have never run before to make the flight. Suggestions: Stop for nothing once you are off the plane. .....

I think you did great!

Cell phone is a good idea - but like you say, that'll get you a big finger wag from the Customs Officials.

Grover, the proters should be right by the luggage carousels... ask one of them for assistance before the carousel starts rolling, and tell them you've got a tight connection.

The idea with having the porter is:
a) they know exactly where to go
b) they look after running your luggage, so you just run
c) they'll get you to a Westjet agent, hopefully (and then you won't have to worry about calling in line)

70 minutes is going to be very, very tight.

Good luck! and let us know how your "Dash to Disney" goes!!

Glad you had a great trip, Ernesto and all!!

 

[pxlbarrel]

Has nothing to do with this thread (not really) but we once took a Conquest flight from Toronto to Orlando and we did NOT clear customs in Toronto. We actually had to clear customs/immigration in Orlando.

For anybody who has ever complained about clearing customs/immigration in Canada...clearing it in the States is much worse. You thought our lines were long? wooooweee...you ain't see nothing yet.

And if I remember, it was a really weird setup in Orlando (at least when we went). We actually had to clear security after we got off the plane...because we had to re-enter the secure area of the terminal before clearing immigration. Or something weird.

But to get this back on topic. Always make sure you tell the people in charge of the immigration/customs line at Pearson that your flight is leaving VERY SOON. They'll put you at the front. I saw that happen a few weeks ago.

 

[bbangel]

Just a calming note. I have never had trouble clearing customs in Toronto. WestJet has great customer service. Explain to the flight crew when you board the plan your situation and ask for a rep to meet the flight to facilitate the transfer. They are really good about that kind of thing. Have a great trip!

 

[grover]

I think you did great!

Cell phone is a good idea - but like you say, that'll get you a big finger wag from the Customs Officials.

Grover, the proters should be right by the luggage carousels... ask one of them for assistance before the carousel starts rolling, and tell them you've got a tight connection.

The idea with having the porter is:
a) they know exactly where to go
b) they look after running your luggage, so you just run
c) they'll get you to a Westjet agent, hopefully (and then you won't have to worry about calling in line)

70 minutes is going to be very, very tight.

Good luck! and let us know how your "Dash to Disney" goes!!

Glad you had a great trip, Ernesto and all!!

why no cell phone?? because it is a electronic device?
okay..so i will find a porter--will need something to do while waiting for the luggage right--maybe keeping busy will keep me sane..lol!

sorry but i just totally envision a AMAZING RACE tv show scenario with us dashing and pushing thru the airport..lmao!

okay..stupid question..how will know who is a porter? do they have a name tag that says porter, do they wear a special uniform?

so if they get me to customs, i can then say..can you please find me a westjet agent??? and in theory they could do that!

 

[pxlbarrel]

why no cell phone?? because it is a electronic device?
okay..so i will find a porter--will need something to do while waiting for the luggage right--maybe keeping busy will keep me sane..lol!

sorry but i just totally envision a AMAZING RACE tv show scenario with us dashing and pushing thru the airport..lmao!

okay..stupid question..how will know who is a porter? do they have a name tag that says porter, do they wear a special uniform?

so if they get me to customs, i can then say..can you please find me a westjet agent??? and in theory they could do that!

I believe the porters do indeed wear a special uniform...they used to wear red caps (hence the name "red caps") but I dont' know if they do anymore. They're usually standing in the baggage area with cart/dolly in hand. You'll know they're a porter right away because they're the only ones with free carts!! The other carts/dollys are locked up and need to be paid for. But remember, the porters don't just expect a tip these days...they have a set price. The price for porter service is $10 for the first three bags, and $2 for each additional item And goodness, they have a form where you can prebook a porter!!!

http://www.gtaa.com/Index.aspx?Sid=Node2/Node2.5/Node2.5.7&Tpl=13

Imagine that!! I've never seen that before until now.

Oh and Amazing Race? Totally...just don't forget to outrace the others on your plane to the baggage area. LOL (I love that show)

 

[mejaie]

mejaie--we leave on the same flight?? sorry i know this came up before..my brain is on overload! we leave on the 8th[/QUOTE]

We leave on the 9th same flights. I believe we are both on the same flights home on the 19th.

 

[Palendat]

Hey grover,

They are good about getting you on the next flight, but most of the year, there is only one flight to MCO out of Toronto per day. Miss it and you miss a day of your vacation.

 

[grover]

mejaie--we leave on the same flight?? sorry i know this came up before..my brain is on overload! we leave on the 8th

We leave on the 9th same flights. I believe we are both on the same flights home on the 19th.[/QUOTE]

okay..so you and I-on the way down...we will be airport commando's!!!!!!!

coming home on the 19th..we leave orlando at about 2:00 i think, get back in winnipeg about 10ish.

OMG I CAN"T WAIT!!

palendat--i did check westjet schedule..they have a 2nd flight that evening..but i would imagine there would not be empty seas.

 

[grover]

I believe the porters do indeed wear a special uniform...they used to wear red caps (hence the name "red caps") but I dont' know if they do anymore. They're usually standing in the baggage area with cart/dolly in hand. You'll know they're a porter right away because they're the only ones with free carts!! The other carts/dollys are locked up and need to be paid for. But remember, the porters don't just expect a tip these days...they have a set price. The price for porter service is $10 for the first three bags, and $2 for each additional item And goodness, they have a form where you can prebook a porter!!!

http://www.gtaa.com/Index.aspx?Sid=Node2/Node2.5/Node2.5.7&Tpl=13

Imagine that!! I've never seen that before until now.

Oh and Amazing Race? Totally...just don't forget to outrace the others on your plane to the baggage area. LOL (I love that show)

i know..we NEED to be first off the plane..lmao!!.. of course only to sit and wait at the baggage carosuel!

well now..i had no clue you could book a porter! my luck i will get someone who is having their first day on the job

thanks for the link!