Panic stricken about TO customs and connecting flight! Talk me down please!!

[Applemomma]

Okay folks, I booked a flight for myself and two friends from Halifax to Tampa on Air Canada with our stopover/connecting flight in Toronto. I understand we'll have to go through customs in Toronto and there in lies my panic attack!

We have 1 hour and 37 minutes between flights. Is this going to be enough time to get through customs?! I told the other girls I'm travelling with to pack light (as in carryon) so we don't have to wait for our bags and can head straight to customs. I'm still worried we'll be delayed and miss our flight. With a very anxious to see us fourth friend waiting for us in Tampa I could be toast if we miss that flight!

It is in May so there should hopefully be no weather delays but now I'm worried that I should have booked the 6 am instead of the 7am but we're two hours away from the airport and I was trying to buy us some time that way, which of course it too late to do without us paying extra!

Hyperventilating again......

 

[sean-1966]

If you get down to 20 minutes or so before your departure don't be afraid to let someone know you're going to miss you're connecting flight. They'll usually move you to the front of the line. An hour and a half should be enough time...

 

[MikeyNS]

I would say that's plenty of time.. and if you're feeling scrunched for time just let someone know. Just relax and go with the flow! You'll get there. Nothing like the feeling of clearing customs and waiting for the final leg to Orlando!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You would still need to collect your checked bags when you land in Toronto because after you clear US Customs you then put them on the luggage carousel so they can be put on the flight to Tampa and after that you would go through the security screaning.

 

[photomama]

I agree, with the other posters. I was in a similar situation at Pearson our flight was boarded in 10 minutes and we were stuck in back of the customs line. There is a person working the lines, I told her and she moved us to the next position.

If you feel it's tight, let them know...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Even if you did get moved to the front of the line at Customs that has no effect on the security line, because even when it's long I have never heard them announce flights leaving shortly and guests saying they are on it and getting ahead of others.

 

[OntFamily]

You would still need to collect your checked bags when you land in Toronto because after you clear US Customs you then put them on the luggage carousel so they can be put on the flight to Tampa and after that you would go through the security screaning.

The OP advised they are not checking bags - only carry ons, so they do not need to worry about getting bags from a carousel in TO.

 

[OntFamily]

One hour 37 minutes is fine. Just don't dawdle in the airport, before you go through customs.

As some other posters advised, there are priority lines for both Customs and Security, and if you are running late, you can ask to go through those lines (you won't be denied this request).

What time does your flight leave Toronto? At some times of the day, customs/security can be almost empty of people. A few weeks ago, it took me about 20 minutes to go through both Customs and security screening.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The OP advised they are not checking bags - only carry ons, so they do not need to worry about getting bags from a carousel in TO.

My mistake for reading it wrong.

 

[Applemomma]

Thanks all of you for helping me with this! I'm feeling much calmer though I know I'll be all keyed up until that plane leaves the ground ON TIME!

What time does your flight leave Toronto? At some times of the day, customs/security can be almost empty of people. A few weeks ago, it took me about 20 minutes to go through both Customs and security screening.

It's at 7am flight, landing in TO at 8:23 and the connecting flight is at 10:00. The flights coming home are in the afternoon but I'm not as concerned about them .... I just want to get there...coming home is a whole other story

 

[pkitty]

Also they are very good at letting the attendants at the boarding stand know that you are enroute for any deaprting flight....they will hold the gate if needbe until you get there.....if they know your in the building. One time I had an an AirTransat flight held for 3 people who where in the duty free of all things......20 minute flight delay....oh boy. You'll be just fine....happy flying!

 

[redrosesix]

We just did the Halifax-Toronto-Orlando connection. We had 2 1/2 hours but it was way too much.

Our only connection problem was on a return flight from Indiana. The plane landed at a different terminal so we had to be bussed to customs -- unfortunately we had to wait for everyone from our plane to get on the bus, including the crew. Needless to say, since we only had 1 1/2 hours for that one, we missed our connection.