Ottawa peeps who have flown Porter to Orlando

[damo]

Do you go through customs in Ottawa or Orlando? My daughter has a quick connecting flight turnover in Ottawa and she thinks she has to go through customs in Ottawa.

 

[hdrolfe]

Yes I did last March, customs in Ottawa.

 

[damo]

Do you go through customs in Ottawa or Orlando? My daughter has a quick connecting flight turnover in Ottawa and she thinks she has to go through customs in Ottawa.

Okay, thanks! I think Westjet and Air Canada don't but Porter does. Maybe there is no customs in Terminal C in MCO.

 

[EACarlson]

Okay, thanks! I think Westjet and Air Canada don't but Porter does. Maybe there is no customs in Terminal C in MCO.

According to CATSA, all US bound passengers at YOW go through Preclearance.
MCO Terminal C has more foreign airlines than A and B combined. Only one US domestic airline uses C. There is definitely CBP.

 

[ottawamom]

Clearing customs in Ottawa is quick and easy. I can confirm that I have gone through pre-clearance for all direct flight into the US no matter which airline I've flown.

She just needs enough time to get off her flight into Ottawa, walk the terminal and go through customs then walk to the gate. (20-30 minutes max.)

 

[DVCanadian]

Do you go through customs in Ottawa or Orlando? My daughter has a quick connecting flight turnover in Ottawa and she thinks she has to go through customs in Ottawa.

She is correct.
How short is her connection?
Biggest risk is arriving late due to taking off late due to de-icing.

You essentially enter the United States in the Ottawa airport and after screening are treated as a domestic flight upon arrival in the US. This is for all airlines with US direct flights.

The airport web page tells you all about it. Scroll down the the travelling to the US section:
https://www.yow.ca/airport-guide/travelling-from-yow

 

[hdrolfe]

I don't see other airlines with the same information, but Air Canada says you need a minimum connection time of 50 minutes in Ottawa when travelling from Canada to the US, it is much smaller (and faster) than Toronto or Montreal.

 

[damo]

I don't see other airlines with the same information, but Air Canada says you need a minimum connection time of 50 minutes in Ottawa when travelling from Canada to the US, it is much smaller (and faster) than Toronto or Montreal.

She has over an hour, no checked bags.

 

[ottawamom]

She will be fine.

 

[DVCanadian]

She has over an hour, no checked bags.

Checked bags would only be an issue if she is changing airlines.
Like ottawamom said a hour is normally easily enough time.
If she is coming in on air Canada I’d be on guard for delays!
Winter delays are the greatest risk, not the connection.
Porter adding flights is so great, anything to avoid connecting at Pearson

The US security and customs area can get backed up quickly at peak times. It is very small.

The Orlando flight leaves at about the same time as 2-3 other US flights so it can get busy.

I’ve got tickets in May on the Orlando flight and was watching it when I was there before Xmas going to Boston and they were helping the Orlando people get through the security line. The Porter agents were also going through the waiting area looking for people.

Good luck!

 

[ccudmore]

This is a pretty usual wait time any time other than first thing in the morning. I’ve never once had to use my nexus card for departures at YOW.

 

[mort1331]

Wife and kids have a 7am flight with Porter to Ottawa landing at 8:15, Then 9:20 flight to MCO. No bags, no carry on, just personal items.
Customs in Ottawa?
If so then they dont need to be at Pearson 3 hours early, 2 should be enough?
This is sat March 8, start of March break.

 

[ottawamom]

Yes you'll go through customs in Ottawa. You got your airports in sync this time? (just kidding, but seriously). Have a great March break.

 

[DVCanadian]

Wife and kids have a 7am flight with Porter to Ottawa landing at 8:15, Then 9:20 flight to MCO. No bags, no carry on, just personal items.
Customs in Ottawa?
If so then they dont need to be at Pearson 3 hours early, 2 should be enough?
This is sat March 8, start of March break.

You are flying from Pearson to Ottawa to go to MCO?

Wow the world has turned upside down!

The 3 hours early is for international flights. Flying YYZ to YOW is domestic.
Once here you will clear US border patrol in Ottawa and land in MCO like a domestic flight.

 

[mort1331]

You are flying from Pearson to Ottawa to go to MCO?

Wow the world has turned upside down!

The 3 hours early is for international flights. Flying YYZ to YOW is domestic.
Once here you will clear US border patrol in Ottawa and land in MCO like a domestic flight.

Thats porter for ya...direct flight home

 

[damo]

Wife and kids have a 7am flight with Porter to Ottawa landing at 8:15, Then 9:20 flight to MCO. No bags, no carry on, just personal items.
Customs in Ottawa?
If so then they dont need to be at Pearson 3 hours early, 2 should be enough?
This is sat March 8, start of March break.

That's the flight that my daughter and kids took last Sunday. Customs was in Ottawa. However, it was really tight making the connection. It all worked out though.

We're all taking the 8:45 am flight by to YYZ tomorrow.

 

[yowcruiser]

An airline cannot and will not sell a ticket that is below MCT (Minimum connection time). So if Porter sold her a Toronto-Orlando ticket via Ottawa, then, it is deemed to be a valid connection by Porter. Officially, Porter is listing an MCT of 1.00 hours for a Canada to US connection in Ottawa

 

[SirDuff]

Okay, thanks! I think Westjet and Air Canada don't but Porter does. Maybe there is no customs in Terminal C in MCO.

WJ and AC flights pre-clear at YOW as well. The exception may be for flights that are very early or very late and CBP isn’t open at YOW (not sure that there are any such flights at YOW).

 

[mort1331]

That's the flight that my daughter and kids took last Sunday. Customs was in Ottawa. However, it was really tight making the connection. It all worked out though.

We're all taking the 8:45 am flight by to YYZ tomorrow.

The good thing is they wont have any bags

 

[damo]

The good thing is they wont have any bags

My kids didn't either. Problem was that the YYZ plane took off about half an hour late.