Looking at flight to Vancouver with a layover in Toronto

[wdwfan]

My husband and I are cruising Alaska this summer. We're looking at a flight that leaves from Philly and connects in Toronto with a 2 hour layover (round-trip) and then to Vancouver. It's with American Airlines. What can I expect at the Toronto airport? Will I have to go through customs there? Both legs of the trip are American but say Air Canada? Does anyone know what that means? Should I avoid the Toronto airport altogether and look for something else? Need some advice from people in the know. Thanks so much!!

 

[MunFam]

American and Air Canada are a code share. So you will buy a seat through American, but the plane and crew will be Air Canada.

Deplane -> Immigration (where they will hand you back your Customs form that you have filled in on the plane) -> collect bags -> Customs (where you hand in the form) -> Connecting Flights where you deposit your bags -> next flight.

The official minimum connect time for US to Domestic at Toronto on Air Canada is 90 minutes (last time I checked). If you have NEXUS, you won't have any problems. There are plenty of Air Canada connections between Toronto and Vancouver each day.

 

[wdwfan]

Thank you MunFam, so much for the info. I'll have to look into NEXUS.

 

[deanimal]

I don't want to be a downer, but I avoid Toronto airport whenever possible. My husband used to fly to the east coast twice a year to visit his grandparents and almost always had to change planes there and had terrible experiences with long lines, lost luggage, missed connections, etc. I don't know what it is about Toronto airport but it's like our travel bad luck charm.

When we were coming home from our honeymoon our arriving flight was late and we were told when we got off that we might not have time to make our connection since it was at the other end of the terminal. We were young and fit at the time and sprinted there, easily making it to the gate while they were still boarding. Then we were told that our bags hadn't been transferred since they didn't think we'd make it so we couldn't get on! We were put on a later flight and then our bags ended up going somewhere else anyway. I know that kind of thing can happen anywhere but that was the last straw for us.

I'd consider going through Toronto only if that was the cheapest option by quite a bit. Of course, your luck may be different!

 

[wdwfan]

Thank you deanimal for the warning. I appreciate it!

 

[FigmentSpark]

My husband and I are cruising Alaska this summer. We're looking at a flight that leaves from Philly and connects in Toronto with a 2 hour layover (round-trip) and then to Vancouver. It's with American Airlines. What can I expect at the Toronto airport? Will I have to go through customs there? Both legs of the trip are American but say Air Canada? Does anyone know what that means? Should I avoid the Toronto airport altogether and look for something else? Need some advice from people in the know. Thanks so much!!

I'm a little confused. Are you sure it's American and Air Canada? American Airlines flies into Terminal 3 in YYZ (Toronto Pearson), while Air Canada flies out of the new (10 years old) Terminal 1. Also, I thought American code shares with West Jet (oneworld), while Air Canada code shares with United (Star Alliance).

Anyway, if you're flying into Terminal 3 and then have to change to Terminal 1, it will be a hassle. Doable, but a hassle. Yes, you go through U.S./Canadian customs in Canada. So you'll leave Philadelphia without having gone through customs. Similarly, on your return to the U.S., you'll go through customs in the last airport before leaving Canada. Leave a little time in your itinerary for that.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I agree with @deanimal about it being a bad luck charm! We had a horrible experience connecting before our flight to Iceland in 2015 and we had three hours. Same connecting on the way back. I've had peers travel to Toronto and not have to connect and have issues. I will avoid it at all costs as well because I have to assume it's bad luck and all cards stacked against us lol.

Heather

 

[Geomom]

We flew through Toronto on Air Canada this past August--Boston to Vancouver for the Alaskan cruise. We did NOT have to pick up our luggage, it was ticketed straight through to Vancouver. We DID have to go through customs, fill out the online form, etc in Toronto AND through security again. There is a LOT of walking--up and down the stairs--with no bathrooms in sight until you are past customs. Once you're actually through customs and security, there are lots of restaurants and shops--so that part was enjoyable!

 

[MunFam]

I'm a little confused. Are you sure it's American and Air Canada? American Airlines flies into Terminal 3 in YYZ (Toronto Pearson), while Air Canada flies out of the new (10 years old) Terminal 1. Also, I thought American code shares with West Jet (oneworld), while Air Canada code shares with United (Star Alliance).

I wasn't paying close enough attention when I responded...Canada Air operated by Compass Airlines (is my guess) for the codeshare. Either way a codeshare means that you buy a ticket through one airline and a different airline actually operates the flight.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I wanted to add - as you see or might discover you'll get different experiences. We were booked on Iceland Air through to Copenhagen and from RDU to YYZ it was code shore on Air Canada. We were advised we did NOT need to claim luggage in Toronto and the next time we saw it would be in Europe (we were connecting in Keflavik). We had fellow cruisers that had travelled on other airlines and through different airports before we left and they had lost luggage and I wasn't taking any chances. I asked a 2nd or 3rd time in Toronto and started getting wishy washy answers which made me say I'm not trusting anyone. Someone finally said, I'd suggest you go downstairs and check the luggage belt and if you see your luggage going around on it, get it and re-check it. That's what we did and wouldn't you know it - all our luggage was there. Because we had to leave the secure area to go check on the luggage, we had to then go to the normal check in area and re-check the luggage with Iceland Air, then go through TSA again. It was just nuts. I had been reassured by many the luggage would either go through to Europe and if not, at a worst case scenario it would be in the area where you just claim it briefly, then re-check in the secure area so you aren't ever leaving. That did NOT happen. I will say they were doing construction at the time, not sure that impacted it or if that was new.

Coming back home connecting through YYZ it was just bonkers with customs, passport checks, etc. We had to sign in and wait to be called up for the passport checks and our name never got called. We had waiting their 15 minutes (I think) and then finally had to approach them and say - we have a connection and need to get through (which they acknowledged). They re-entered everything in the computers and again we sat and waited, at the back of the line as every one who came after us was being called up. It took at least 30 minutes, then had to to go through security again. We were seriously laughing at that point from the exhaustion of traveling from Heathrow and the long day of traveling and decided - Toronto just has it in for us I've never had to go through so many hoops to get to a connecting flight - even Frankfurt didn't seem as complicated

I said all that to say - double check and triple check the information you are given about your luggage is correct and allow plenty of time just in case. Others have no issues at all but that has not been ours, nor friends or others that I've honestly read on the boards. I promise I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer but wanted to share our experience and like I mentioned, I've travelled a lot in my lifetime.

Thanks,
Heather

 

[FigmentSpark]

I've never heard of Canada Air and Compass Airlines is a regional airline out of Minnesota. Odd. Anyway, when you're choosing your flights, if you go through Toronto (or wherever, really), make sure you are transferring from the same terminal. If that's not possible, make sure you leave plenty of time to change terminals and go through security again.

 

[starvenger]

I'm a little confused. Are you sure it's American and Air Canada? American Airlines flies into Terminal 3 in YYZ (Toronto Pearson), while Air Canada flies out of the new (10 years old) Terminal 1. Also, I thought American code shares with West Jet (oneworld), while Air Canada code shares with United (Star Alliance).

It's a bit confusing, but code shares are not restricted to those within an airline alliance. So AA could code share with Air Canada, but it is more likely that a flight through Canada would be via WestJet.

I wasn't paying close enough attention when I responded...Canada Air operated by Compass Airlines (is my guess) for the codeshare. Either way a codeshare means that you buy a ticket through one airline and a different airline actually operates the flight.

OK, so Canadair (which I believe is part of Bombardier) makes the CRJ planes so it's likely that Compass Air is dba American Eagle. Which means you would be in T3. The whole customs/reclaim baggage/drop off still applies. Being on a smaller plane and in T3, your bags may be on the carousel by the time you clear customs. I say this somewhat facetiously as the T1 baggage handlers appear to move at a pace I describe as... deliberate.

Once you get back into the departures area there is a lot of food options if you have the time. On the south wing (higher gate numbers) there is a Caplansky's Deli (overrated, but still pretty good) and a Paramount (shawarma). In the center food court there is a SmashBurger, Shanghai 360 and Smokes Burritos. And of course Timmy's and Starbucks, all of which you can bring on the plane.

 

[MotherKnowsBest]

No. Just say no to YYZ! We live only about an hour away and we avoid that airport whenever possible. The connections look particularly awful.

 

[wdwfan]

I'm a little confused. Are you sure it's American and Air Canada? American Airlines flies into Terminal 3 in YYZ (Toronto Pearson), while Air Canada flies out of the new (10 years old) Terminal 1. Also, I thought American code shares with West Jet (oneworld), while Air Canada code shares with United (Star Alliance).

Anyway, if you're flying into Terminal 3 and then have to change to Terminal 1, it will be a hassle. Doable, but a hassle. Yes, you go through U.S./Canadian customs in Canada. So you'll leave Philadelphia without having gone through customs. Similarly, on your return to the U.S., you'll go through customs in the last airport before leaving Canada. Leave a little time in your itinerary for that.

My apologies, it's actually a United flight that flies into YYZ on: Operated By Air Canada Express - Sky Regional. The return flight also connects into YYZ and is the same kind of flight Operated By Air Canada Express - Sky Regional.

I think I'm going to avoid the Toronto airport....it's probably really cheap for a very good reason.

 

[wdwfan]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I got some very helpful information. I think I'm going to keep looking and avoid the Toronto airport. I like the idea of going through customs once I arrive in Vancouver. If I connect in a US airport, my luggage should go straight through to Vancouver just like it would any other connecting flight. Correct?

 

[FigmentSpark]

I don't think you should avoid YYZ. It's the largest airport in Canada and you'd be flying in on the largest carrier in Canada. So that's like saying you'll avoid Laguardia or O'Hare or LA Ex because a few people had some lost luggage.

You'd be flying in to terminal 1, which is the newest terminal (10 years old). It's a busy airport, but that means they have to get planes moving through there efficiently. If it still interests you, why not post the flight details (even if you don't want to post the dates) and see if anyone has more info for you.

Of course, your other option would be to fly to Seattle and then cross, to Vancouver, which might work out better for you, but I just didn't want you to have a bad impression of YYZ.

 

[LAX]

Thank you everyone for your replies! I got some very helpful information. I think I'm going to keep looking and avoid the Toronto airport. I like the idea of going through customs once I arrive in Vancouver. If I connect in a US airport, my luggage should go straight through to Vancouver just like it would any other connecting flight. Correct?

Do you live north or south of PHL? If north, have you considered flying out of EWR (Newark, NJ) instead? You can take a nonstop and not worry about connecting at all.

LAX

 

[lpandorf]

We our going on an Alaskan cruise in June and I just booked from Cincinnati to Vancouver yesterday connecting through Toronto. The flight was about half the price of others and times convenient and never thought there would be so many issues at a major airport. I fly in and out of Atlanta often which is usually terrible. Hopefully this is not worse. We do have a ninety minute layover and sounds like I might need every bit of it. Anyone have any good stories? I was really excited to find the flight yesterday on Expedia for such a reasonable price. Now I'm not so thrilled about possible headaches and delays.

 

[wdwfan]

Do you live north or south of PHL? If north, have you considered flying out of EWR (Newark, NJ) instead? You can take a nonstop and not worry about connecting at all.

LAX

We live east of Philly, and don't really like driving north to fly out of Newark. We're actually thinking of flying into Seattle on Southwest, taking a day to tour Seattle, then take the Amtrak up to Vancouver and have a day to look around before starting our cruise. The scenery along the Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver looks beautiful!

 

[Sloane]

Go to Seattle if it works for your budget and timeframe. I lived in Toronto for a large portion of my life and the airport is easily the most convoluted international airport I've ever been to. There is always delays and it's a cluster to get around.