Customs?

[trudycanada]

I booked our flight with West Jet from Halifax to Orlando but we have to stop in Toronto, just wondering if we do customs in Halifax or will we have to do it in Toronto because we only have a little over an hour stop-over there. How does that work, anybody know?

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

I would think that you would clear customs in Toronto. The Halifax to Toronto portion would be considered a domestic flight and the Toronto to Orlando would be the international portion. If you are transferring in Toronto you would clear Canadian customs in Toronto as well.

 

[Chickkypoo]

We fly out on WestJet next month from Regina to Orlando. We switch planes in Calgary. The actual direct flight is from Calgary to Orlando so it will be in Calgary where I will go thru customs. (I verified this with WestJet.) I imagine your flight will be the same as the direct flight to Orlando is out of Toronto. Your flight from Halifax to Toronto is just a connector flight.

WestJet sent me the following e-mail which may be helpful to you and anyone else flying on WestJet:

Following are a few details we would like to share with you that may be helpful
in your upcoming travels with WestJet as you head across the border:

1. Terminal Information:
If you are flying to or from: Your Terminal is:

Los Angeles - LAX Terminal 3
New York - La Guardia Central Terminal

2. Where to Check In (Flights from Canada to the United States)

If you are leaving from Calgary - please check in at Concourse C at least 90 minutes prior to your flight departure. If you would like special assistance, please check in two hours before your flight. Our check-in counters will be identified by “WestJet” signage on the overhead monitors. You will be directed into the
U.S. Customs area, and your luggage will be examined by customs prior to boarding the aircraft.

If you are leaving from Toronto, please check in at our WestJet counter in Terminal 2. You will be directed into the U.S. Customs area, and your luggage will be examined by customs prior to boarding the aircraft.

If you are leaving from another WestJet location with a connection in Calgary or Toronto:
- Please check in at least 90 minutes (two hours if special assistance is required) prior to the flight in your departure city.
- When you arrive in either Calgary or Toronto, you will be asked to deplane and will be directed to the U.S. Customs Hall. You will pick up your luggage inside the Customs area, and not at the domestic luggage belts.
- In Calgary, you will arrive at the D Gate and will need to follow the signage out of the secured area (you will end up on the arrivals level). Turn right, walk past the luggage carousels and down the corridor to the C gate area. Go up one
level.
Ultimately, you want to end up at the C Gate US Check-in counters on the Departures Level. You do not need to check in again, and should go directly to US Transfer Baggage belt located behind the US Check-in positions 19 & 20.
- In Toronto, you will arrive at the Domestic gates in Terminal 2 and will need to follow US flag signage to a blue flashing light located across from Gate 231.
- In both Calgary and Toronto you will claim your luggage at the US Baggage Transfer belt and proceed to US Customs and Immigration for document (identification and entry requirements) inspection.
- You will then proceed through U.S. Customs, and your luggage will be inspected.
- After your luggage is inspected, you will be asked to place it on the baggage transfer belt, where it will be loaded onto your flight to the United States.

3. Where to Check In (Flights from the United States to Canada)

There is prominent WestJet signage at our U.S. airports. Please follow the outside terminal signage to the WestJet check-in counters. Our check-in counters will be identified by “WestJet” signage on the overhead monitors. Your luggage will be received
at check-in, and you will be directed to go through to the boarding area.
Guests travelling from the United States to Canada will go though Canada Customs on the first point of arrival into Canada, so you will board the plane first, and then be checked at Customs on arrival.

Upon arrival in Canada, all guests will be asked to deplane and proceed through Canada Customs. Your baggage will be available on the luggage belt just inside the Canada Customs
hall. If you have reached your ultimate destination, simply take your luggage with you after clearing customs and make your way outside the terminal.

If you are continuing on a connecting flight, after clearing Canada Customs and Immigration there will be a WestJet CSA at the Baggage Transfer baggage belt to assist and direct WestJet Guests.
- In Calgary: Guests with domestic connections will place their baggage on the baggage transfer belt, leave the secured area, and proceed to the D Gate (D Concourse) on the Departures Level (one floor up). Once on the Departures Level, you will proceed to the D Gate (D Concourse) security for screening
of your carry on luggage after which you will continue to your departure gate.
- In Toronto: Guests will take the “up” escalator to the Departures Level, turn right and proceed through security to the Domestic Departure gates.

If you have any questions about your upcoming travels with WestJet, please contact our Sales Super Centre at 1-800-538-5696.

Thanks for choosing WestJet!

My situation is a little different as my stopover in Calgary on the way there is an overnighter

Hope that helps!

~Jamie-Lyn~

 

[trudycanada]

Thank you SO much, very helpful, I just hope an hour is long enough to do that!!

 

[Sandyincanada]

This is pasted from Air Canada, we are also connecting in Toronto....the info is really the same but this reads easier, lol

You arrive from your domestic flight at: New
Terminal 1

You depart for your U.S.A. flight at: Terminal 2

Gates: 200-299

Which way to my gate?


When you arrive, follow the overhead directional signs marked Connections or "200-550", and take the escalator down to level 1.
On level 1, follow the overhead directional signs marked "200-299" and board the bus to Terminal 2.
In Terminal 2, follow the overhead directional signs to the U.S.A. connection carousel and pick up your baggage.
Proceed through US Customs and Immigration, and Security to your departure gate


I find Toronto pretty easy to get around, lots and lots of signs. They sure make this difficult now. Would be so much easier to clear US customs in your departing city like you would with a straight through flight and the airline just transfer your luggage to the new plane like they do with other connecting flights, sheeeeesh lol

 

[Staceysmom2004]

Hi there, we have done trip from Halifax many times. You go through customs in Toronto but now you have to change terminals. You will have to hussle with only one hour between flights.

 

[trudycanada]

Well I booked the trip with WestJet from Halifax to Orlando and they have the stop over in Toronto, you think they would give people enough time to get from one terminal to another, espically with kids. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[lisaes]

We flew out of Halifax and were supposed to go through customs in Toronto and had 1 hr. & 10 mins! Given you have to get your luggage, put them on another belt and change terminals, it's not a lot of time. We were hauled out and moved up in the first customs line as were everyone on the MCO flight but even then the lines were huge. We were then hauled out and passed right through since they were on their final bording call. If you nervous about the time you have mention it to one of the representatives, I find them very helpful.
Coming home we had 3.5 hours and they barely glanced at us at all.

 

[trudycanada]

just got an internary change from our airline, there making the stopover connection 1.5 hours now from 1 hour 10 minutes hopefully this will help a little