Detroit to Vancouver flight questions

[babynursedawn]

I am booked on Air Canada for travel between Detroit and Vancouver. We have a layover in Toronto both ways. This is our first international flight. Any important things to be aware of? Reading that when we stop in Toronto, we need to get our luggage and go back through everything. How long might this take? All set with passports and have that info with the airline. If we are international, does that mean we can shop duty free now? Any extra info is much appreciated.

 

[adamki]

Here are Air Canada's transfer instructions:

• USA to Canada
• Canada to USA

Air Canada also has videos of the process ...
US to Canada:

Canada to US:

There will be many duty free shops but don't get too excited, you can probably get most items on sale in America for a better price.

 

[Quellman]

There will be many duty free shops but don't get too excited, you can probably get most items on sale in America for a better price.

But what about the exchange rate? Would that matter?

 

[MUN]

But what about the exchange rate? Would that matter?

Yes, currency exchange rates matter. The items will be priced in Canadian currency. Currently, one Canadian dollar is worth approximately 0.72 US dollar. So, something priced at 25 Canadian dollars is the equivilent of $18 US dollars.

 

[babynursedawn]

Thanks for the videos. I had looked but must have missed them.

 

[adamki]

But what about the exchange rate? Would that matter?

Yeah, it could. Since the Canadian dollar has been less than spectacular lately, some items may sell at a discount from the US dollar. For example, I see an iMac on Apple.com for $1299US and $1649CAD which translates to about $1185. So, for an item like an Apple computer that doesn't usually get discounted, it might work out, especially if you live somewhere where sales tax is charged. Other items sell for well under MSRP, so the discount in a duty free store is often marginal or non-existent.