Stopping in Toronto? Westjet Vs. Air Canada Customs Procedures

[satman1962]

Anyone else experience the vast difference I did flying from Montreal via Toronto to Orlando?

Air Canada does not require you to pick-up your checked luggage and re-check it prior to US Customs. You just wait for you name to appear on a screen, and then proceed to the customs line.

Westjet was totally old school. Wait for bags, recheck bags, proceed upstairs and join the connecting traffic line. It was a bit more frustrating.

 

[bankr63]

Probably more related to the different terminal than the airline. There is a fair bit of technology involved in the security processing of checked baggage. If I had to bet, it is because the equipment is not installed in T3 yet - it only became available at T1 sometime in February (we found out just before our March trip).

I know Montreal has actually had this for a few years now as we had the fast clearance process there about 2 years ago.

BTW - why would a Montrealer (Montrealois?) fly to Orlando via Toronto. When we can't fly direct to Orlando from Ottawa, we usually route through Montreal.

 

[satman1962]

BTW - why would a Montrealer (Montrealois?) fly to Orlando via Toronto. When we can't fly direct to Orlando from Ottawa, we usually route through Montreal.

Good question....

Hooked up with a friend flying out of Toronto as a surprise... Never again...

 

[grover]

Not a fan of flying WJ thru Toronto..just a big hassle like you said with luggage customs & very short connection times.

 

[Freesia123]

I flew Los Angeles through Toronto twice in the last eighteen no this and had to do it "Old School". It's very annoying when you have to pay a porter to help you through customs (2 car seats, two carry-ons, one stroller, two suitcases, two little ones by myself)

Forgot to mention it was aircanada from Quebec

 

[coastgirl]

Thanks for posting this...we are going through YUL (ha! typed "YUK"--could that be a Freudian slip??) departing and YYZ (returning) in August via AC. Haven't done this in years, we usually drive then fly from the US. Glad to see the customs process has gotten easier--I had heard about matching photos of your luggage, but hadn't figured out quite how that works. "Name on a screen" is pretty easy! Is YUL the same process?

 

[Kogo Shuko]

I always thought it had to do with customs.
Last year I flew to Orlando out of Ottawa with WestJet and had to stop in Toronto, and I had to do customs there.
My reasoning would be that the American customs agents require you to have your luggage on you when they begin to process you, but perhaps I'm wrong.

Normally, when I fly out of Ottawa, I end up at JFK or Chicago, so I really have no idea why WestJet feels the need to route us through Toronto, except to make us frustrated. lol

 

[LauraJean]

So when I fly into Toronto (from NL) on our way to Orlando we don't have to grab our bags? We flew WJ last time.

 

[bankr63]

So when I fly into Toronto (from NL) on our way to Orlando we don't have to grab our bags? We flew WJ last time.

It's by terminal not airline, but since T1 at Pearson is really all AC then this only applies to AC flights. Westjet flies out of T3 along with most other carriers, so if you are on WJ you will still need to carry your bags through customs. The new technology was only installed at T1 back in February; no word on the Pearson Airport site if it is coming to T3 anytime soon.

If you have mixed carriers and terminals, with the US departure from T1, you do not need to collect your bags even if you arrive in Terminal 3.

Actually I just hit the Pearson site, and the way they word the departures guide is very confusing. They make it look like there are no US connections through T3, but there certainly are! You can see the connection guide here:
http://www.torontopearson.com/Connecting.aspx#

 

[DisneyFreak06]

It's by terminal not airline, but since T1 at Pearson is really all AC then this only applies to AC flights. Westjet flies out of T3 along with most other carriers, so if you are on WJ you will still need to carry your bags through customs. The new technology was only installed at T1 back in February; no word on the Pearson Airport site if it is coming to T3 anytime soon.

If you have mixed carriers and terminals, with the US departure from T1, you do not need to collect your bags even if you arrive in Terminal 3.

Actually I just hit the Pearson site, and the way they word the departures guide is very confusing. They make it look like there are no US connections through T3, but there certainly are! You can see the connection guide here:
http://www.torontopearson.com/Connecting.aspx#

I've been reading the Pearson site today and I'm more confused than I was before! This is my first time flying WJ, so I'm confused. I fly to LAX through Toronto and I'm trying to figure out what I need to do! I am assuming that I need to pick up my luggage though when I go through customs. I am so used to flying with AC to MCO through Montreal, so this is backwards. For some reason my flights always ended up through Montreal down with AC (no need to pick up luggage) and then through Toronto coming home. Actually my 2nd leg is through WJ but run by American Airlines. Does that make a difference? Both are listed as Terminal 3, so I'm assuming not.

Thanks! I'm just getting excited for my trip and then I get a little nervous as this is my first solo to Disneyland.

 

[bankr63]

I've been reading the Pearson site today and I'm more confused than I was before! This is my first time flying WJ, so I'm confused. I fly to LAX through Toronto and I'm trying to figure out what I need to do! I am assuming that I need to pick up my luggage though when I go through customs. I am so used to flying with AC to MCO through Montreal, so this is backwards. For some reason my flights always ended up through Montreal down with AC (no need to pick up luggage) and then through Toronto coming home. Actually my 2nd leg is through WJ but run by American Airlines. Does that make a difference? Both are listed as Terminal 3, so I'm assuming not.

Thanks! I'm just getting excited for my trip and then I get a little nervous as this is my first solo to Disneyland.

Back to DL again!?!? Do we get another trip report when you return??

Sounds like you are coming in on WJ and out on AA? If that is the case, you will collect your luggage. Actually, if I read the site correctly, for any US flight departing T3 you will need to have your luggage with you to clear customs at T3, and that makes sense. So if you are arriving T1 with AC, you would grab your bags, take the monorail to T3, checkin with AA if you aren't tagged through, and then proceed to the customs and securlty checks.

I agree the Pearson site is confusing, not a very good show considering it is intending to make life easier...

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Back to DL again!?!? Do we get another trip report when you return??

Sounds like you are coming in on WJ and out on AA? If that is the case, you will collect your luggage. Actually, if I read the site correctly, for any US flight departing T3 you will need to have your luggage with you to clear customs at T3, and that makes sense. So if you are arriving T1 with AC, you would grab your bags, take the monorail to T3, checkin with AA if you aren't tagged through, and then proceed to the customs and securlty checks.

I agree the Pearson site is confusing, not a very good show considering it is intending to make life easier...

Yes, I think that's what I am doing! Hahaha. I booked it all through WJ, and I have a WJ flight number, but it says that it is a flight operated by American Airlines. I'm guessing codeshare? Ok. So collect my luggage just as I used to in the past. I am not worried, it will be fine. I have had so many issues happen while traveling that nothing much will bother me, besides the sadness of missing time at Disney!

And yes, there will be a trip report! Especially with my Club 33 meal!!!