Pearson Airport info

[mkmommy]

Sitting in Terminal 1 right now, new Custom procedure: you are only allowed to enter the Custom line up when your flight is called, about 1 hour before departure. Before that you have to wait in Q lounge.

Took over an hour for us to make it through Customs and Security, so do not count on time to eat or shop once clearing customs. Luckily our flight was late arriving, but lots of stressed out people.

can't imagine what it will be like on Friday morning .

First time flying from YYZ at Spring Break and it will be last time.

 

[myasmum]

OMG thanks for letting me know we fly Sunday hope its not as bad. This is our 1st time going away for March Break (well for dance competition) anyways thanks for the heads up

 

[sherilaine]

We do not fly until May, out of Calgary, I have no idea what a mess things will be in by that time, or if we will even have U.S Customs in our major airports by then, but it should be interesting to see what March and April come with many people travelling for Spring Break.

This may very well discourage many from travelling to the U.S. if you have to wait in even longer lines that are the norm now and deal with customs staff that are likely being pushed to the brink.

 

[alc571]

Yikes! I wonder why they would change that. What happens when they call the plane and then they don't get the people through in time?? Sounds like a big mess. I hope they change it by April!

 

[Bertie9396]

Oh man! That would drive me crazy. I am one of those insane people who get to the airport as early as possible so I can get through security and customs. I'm a bundle of nerves and excited energy until then.

 

[Northstar]

Bummer. We're connecting there on Saturday.

I knew there was a reason that I vowed, years ago, never to fly through Pearson to the U.S. again. But alas, I was tempted by good flight times/prices, and I fell...

Oh well. Good thing there's a vacation waiting on the other side of that miserable airport ordeal!

Hope your flight is awesome and your vacation ditto. Thanks for letting us know!

 

[alc571]

It looks like this is a new procedure for peak times only. Pearson's website says "Once you have checked in, proceed to US Customs hall. During peak travel hours, you may be directed to a lounge area to ensure your comfort."

It lists peak hours as 7am-9:30am and 3pm-8pm daily, with peak seasons being winter holiday, March break and summer.

There is also a special notice for those traveling to the US regarding the budget cuts which basically reiterates the above, but adds "please arrive two hours before your departure time. During periods of congestion in the US Customs hall, you may be requested to proceed to a designated waiting area before proceeding through the US Customs pre clearance process. During these times, passengers will be called into the US Customs hall in a coordinated manner based on departure times. This is done in order to ensure all guests are able to get to their flight on time."

 

[Inga]

Nexus card was the best thing we ever did, fast throughput past customs, works brilliantly every time. Well worth the $.

 

[ixmnrs]

Nexus card was the best thing we ever did, fast throughput past customs, works brilliantly every time. Well worth the $.

Thanks. I'm glad to see that Nexus is still available even during these peak times...Now if I can only align my eyes up properly with that machine within 15 tries!

 

[Disney Daniel]

Thanks. I'm glad to see that Nexus is still available even during these peak times...Now if I can only align my eyes up properly with that machine within 15 tries!

You may no longer need to worry about lining up your eyes. I went through Toronto last month and Global Entry machines were being used so it was fingerprints instead of the Nexus eye scan.

 

[sherilaine]

I actually wish they would introduce such a system in Calgary for peak times, now mind you I try to never fly during peak times - we leave on a Wed evening in May - but still you never know with the cut backs - but yes, I'd rather wait in a lounge for over an hour or two then stand in a line - especially with kids!!

 

[ixmnrs]

You may no longer need to worry about lining up your eyes. I went through Toronto last month and Global Entry machines were being used so it was fingerprints instead of the Nexus eye scan.

Ohhh, even better! Thanks. Haven't travelled since July last year and it was still the eye scan.

 

[myasmum]

We fly this past Sunday evening and it was hell in terminal 1 (heard
From friends who fly same time as us from terminal 3 and no issues)
Anyways out flight to Orlando was at 8:55pm well we weren't allowed out of waiting area til 8:45pm to go to customs so it was a running game and thank god we made the flight yup fun with 4 kids. So not 1hr before for us as well others who's flights to new York had fina call at 8:30pm and people where just allowed to leave to start going to customs. Horrible Horrible. Pearson International and Air Canads will be having a lot and I mean ALOT of letters as people were furious

 

[grantclaire]

Must have been a T1 issue, we arrived at T3 on Mar 9 at 730 for a 1000 AM flight. Took only 50 mins to checkin, pass security and US customs.

 

[pxlbarrel]

We fly this past Sunday evening and it was hell in terminal 1 (heard
From friends who fly same time as us from terminal 3 and no issues)
Anyways out flight to Orlando was at 8:55pm well we weren't allowed out of waiting area til 8:45pm to go to customs so it was a running game and thank god we made the flight yup fun with 4 kids. So not 1hr before for us as well others who's flights to new York had fina call at 8:30pm and people where just allowed to leave to start going to customs. Horrible Horrible. Pearson International and Air Canads will be having a lot and I mean ALOT of letters as people were furious

Is this not a problem because of the United States cutting back rather than an Air Canada problem? I guess I'm wondering if we didn't clear immigration here in Toronto, would we be faced with a huge line on the other end when we arrived. Clearing immigration in Toronto has always been a nice bonus when arriving in the U.S. and not having to worry about anything but heading to the baggage carousels.

 

[myasmum]

Yes it is a US customs issue BUT Peason International and Air Canada did NOT handle the situation properly that's what the issue was.

Not sure but coming back today going through US customs on
The US side was no problem less then 15 to get through.

Also why would terminal 1 in Pearson have such and issue yet terminal have no problems as our friends left from there 1/2hr difference to flight and no problems yet we did in terminal 1 as well as several friends of ours who left the next day

 

[wdwmom3]

You are actually going through Canadian customs when coming back to Canada.

 

[Martini Mom]

We are connecting through Pearson in August. We land at 12:30am and don't get our connecting flight to MCO until 10:20am. Is there a hotel at the airport like we have in Vancouver? I checked the Pearson website and couldn't see anything. Someone mentioned that some airports have quiet lounges where you can stretch out, is there such a thing at Pearson? We booked through Aeroplan and didn't have much choice for flight times otherwise I would have never planned such a crazy scenario!! thanks, Lara

 

[myasmum]

Hi Lara

Not sure how lounges are at the airport BUT there is a hotel connected to terminal 3 here's the link
http://www.sheratongatewaytorontoairport.com/

 

[Martini Mom]

thanks Myasmum, I will look into it