Customs in Toronto Airport??

[SplashMom]

We are flying Westjet from Halifax to Orlando in April. This is the first time we have to go through Toronto and after some of the stuff I have read, I am getting a bit worried. We have 2 1/2 hours but will that be enough time? I have read that sometime soon, you will be able to clear customs in Halifax before you leave. Does anyone know when this may happen? Also on the way home, do we have to clear in Toronto? Last year we flew through Newark and cleared customs in Halifax on our return, although I think this was unusual. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[pxlbarrel]

As long as your plane is on time, 2.5 hours should be enough time to clear U.S. Immigration in Toronto. There are airport staff working the line to make sure people with connecting flights don't get left behind. You should be fine.

When you come back from Orlando, you'll clear Canadian Immigration and Customs in Toronto. After you pass the customs official and they stamp your declaration form, you collect your luggage at the carousel and then move from that area into another area to catch your connecting flight to Halifax.

I think.....somebody will correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure. LOL

Don't you have to clear immigration at the point where you're leaving or entering the country. So in the case of flying to the U.S., you're clearing immigration here so that you don't have to clear there. I have, on one occasion, cleared in Orlando and that was a big pain. On the way back, your first port of entry is Toronto, so you clear there.

 

[ferris198]

In Jnauary we flew Toronto to Charolette with a connection to Orlando. Same on the way home.
Our bags were tagged in T.O and we didn't see them til Orlando, same with the return.
When leaving T.O. we did customs here, and when arriving back home same thing.
You should be fine.

 

[mbb]

We are flying Westjet from Halifax to Orlando in April. This is the first time we have to go through Toronto and after some of the stuff I have read, I am getting a bit worried. We have 2 1/2 hours but will that be enough time? I have read that sometime soon, you will be able to clear customs in Halifax before you leave. Does anyone know when this may happen? Also on the way home, do we have to clear in Toronto? Last year we flew through Newark and cleared customs in Halifax on our return, although I think this was unusual. Any help would be appreciated.

I think I'm one of the worriesome story posters

Like pxlbarrel said, you will clear cutoms on your way home in YYZ. And clearing in Halifax through Newark is completely normal

Some tips we've learned for flying through YYZ:
1) If you're checking bags, get a porter at baggage. They'll run you to the front of the line, and get you in front of the airport agents - if you're short on time...and tip them well
2) If you don't have a porter, or they put you at the end of the long line *AND* you're short on time, ie, under 30 minutes to your departure, take the initiative, and get thee to the nearest agent...there's usually one standing over by the frosted glass doors (straight ahead, maybe a little to the left as you exit the tunnel, USC&I agents are to the right)) with a clipboard and walkie talkie.

We find that it's not necessarily the getting through the customs cattle call that ends up being the problem - the congestion, while frustrating, is as others have said, fairly well managed- it's getting through the next security point.

When you pack, put all your "questionable objects", ie, electronics that need to be swabbed, medications, anything that they might want to take a closer look at, in one knapsack/carryon. If that's all in one easily accessible spot, you're going to save yourself some valuable repacking time.

Stick some baggies in the outside pockets of your carryons, easy to grab those while you wait in line, and stick all pocket contents in them, ie change, wallet, watch...whatever...then you're not trying to clean out the little gray tray and repack the carryons at the same time.

Don't wear a belt...if you must, kids or DH, take them off while waiting, stick them in your carryon, and again, one less thing to worry about one the other end of the xray machines.

Good tips for anywhere, I guess

Oh, and one tip about checked bags
When you pack them at home, make a quick list of what's in 'em.
Put that list with your tickets.
Take a digital photo of your bags, and close ups of identifying tags.
Once you're packed, take a piece of paper, write your name, flight information, destination information and stick that on top of your belongings inside (do the reverse coming home)

If they get lost, this may make it easier for them to find their way home to you....and nope, ours still haven't! LOL!

HTH!!

 

[SplashMom]

Thanks so much for all the useful tips! I will be sure to use all of your hints. I feel much better now.

 

[mejaie]

The loose change in a baggie is funny actually. DW had saved a bunch of US quarters and kept them in a ziploc bag. Well the problem was they all settled at the bottom of the bag in a row, kind of like a roll. Everytime she had to open it up and show them the metal cylinder was just a bunch of coins not anything bad like a gun barrel.

DD and I started walking ahead of her.

 

[U2FanHfx]

Going through Toronto...GOOD LUCK! We are also from Halifax and have been over 13 times. The last two times through TO we have over 3 hrs layover and they actually had to hold the plane by the time we got through! My opinion now is avoid TO (we are going through MTL in August) or don't even get in the customs line right away and take your time as a lot of people on our flight
did and then got pulled right up to the front.

CJM

 

[tribus121]

DW and I travled through Toronto ( from Fredericton ) on our way to DL last Feb it only took us a few min to clear customs ( only 25 on Air Canada flight to LAX ). same on way back
We will be flying from boston next year but only because it is so much cheeper .