Time for pre-clearance at Terminal 1, Pearson

[papertraveller]

Hi all,

Could you please let me know what it's been like going through U.S. pre-clearance at Terminal 1? I recall at one point travellers were saying that they were permitted into the main hall area in small groups (this was just when the U.S. budget sequestration issue hit). What's it like now?

Also, does anyone have experiences to recount about going through with someone from the UK? We'll have a British visitor with us, and whenever he crosses at Buffalo he has to build in a lot of time for the paperwork. Should he do the same thing for pre-clearance at Pearson?

Thanks everyone.

 

[cslittle999]

When I flew to Houston at the end of June it didn't seem all that different from any of my previous trips. The wait at security did seem longer because they only had a fewer scanners running.

I have a trip next week and I plan to be at customs two hours before my flight. I won't be checking a bag.

Your visitor from the UK will have to go through the finger print and photo routine so I would allow some extra time for that but they are still quite efficient. The customs agents know they are working against flight deadlines.

 

[alc571]

We went in April. It was a 6:15am flight. We arrived at the gate 40 minutes after parking. We didn't have to checkin with the airline because we did it online the day before. We weren't sent into any special room. We just walked right up to security. I know they had a separate line for non-Canadians, but that line was even shorter than the Canadian line. They had one particular border person dealing with non-Canadians. I can't say how long it was taking those people to get through.

From what I understand, security and customs get busier and busier the later the flight. That's when they start using the separate waiting room. We were one of the first flights out, so we had no issues at all.

 

[KittyKat1978]

I am flying through Toronto on my way to Orlando and Montreal on the way back. I usually fly through the US, but booked through Air Miles this time.

Can you tell what this is about? I have the Nexus card, will this make customs easier?

 

[minnie mum]

We went in April. It was a 6:15am flight. We arrived at the gate 40 minutes after parking. We didn't have to checkin with the airline because we did it online the day before. We weren't sent into any special room. We just walked right up to security. I know they had a separate line for non-Canadians, but that line was even shorter than the Canadian line. They had one particular border person dealing with non-Canadians. I can't say how long it was taking those people to get through.

From what I understand, security and customs get busier and busier the later the flight. That's when they start using the separate waiting room. We were one of the first flights out, so we had no issues at all.

Just wanted to comment about your check in. Air Canada announced new restrictions on their counter check in times a couple of weeks ago and a friend of ours got caught. If you are checking a bag, get there with lots of time to spare. If you are even a couple of minutes late reaching the counter, they will refuse to check the bag and you'll be looking at finding a later flight.

 

[papertraveller]

Thanks all -- please keep letting us know how long it takes you to get through.

On the AC issue, my ticket says the recommended check-in time for travel to the U.S. is two hours early. The deadline is one hour. The boarding gate deadline is 20 minutes.

I'm guessing for our UK traveller that he should be there at the two-hour mark regardless.

 

[papertraveller]

I am flying through Toronto on my way to Orlando and Montreal on the way back. I usually fly through the US, but booked through Air Miles this time.

Can you tell what this is about? I have the Nexus card, will this make customs easier?

When you land in Toronto you will need to collect your bags. You will then go through pre-clearance for U.S. customs and immigration -- there's a similar setup in Vancouver, too. Nexus should make it much, much easier for you.

 

[alc571]

Just wanted to comment about your check in. Air Canada announced new restrictions on their counter check in times a couple of weeks ago and a friend of ours got caught. If you are checking a bag, get there with lots of time to spare. If you are even a couple of minutes late reaching the counter, they will refuse to check the bag and you'll be looking at finding a later flight.

We did the online checkin to avoid having to go to the counter. We also only fly with carry on bags. No more checking for us!

 

[4stroke]

Hi all,

Could you please let me know what it's been like going through U.S. pre-clearance at Terminal 1? I recall at one point travellers were saying that they were permitted into the main hall area in small groups (this was just when the U.S. budget sequestration issue hit). What's it like now?

Hi!

I'm through the T1 customs hall at YYZ on a regular basis for work, and I would say the busiest times of the day are between 7am and 11am. It can take upwards of 1.5 to 2 hours to get through there, plus another 1 hour for security screening.

The airlines all recommend arriving at least 2 hours prior to a US-bound flight, and I would agree, if not even more: plan to have the car parked and be at the airline Checkin counter at 3 hours prior, and you'll be safe.

Chances are it will take much less time, but wouldn't you rather get through early and have to wait by your gate than stress about being late for the flight if you get caught up in a line?

Even with a foreign-passport holder, I wouldn't say it would take more than a couple extra minutes with the customs dude.

Good luck!

Apr/08: Offsite ~ Apr/09: Offsite ~ Apr/10: CR ~ Oct/10: Disney Paris Offsite ~ Apr/11: CR ~ Oct/11: CSR & POFQ (Purchased DVC ) ~ Jan/12: BLT & VWL ~ May/12: BLT & VWL ~ Oct/12: BLT & POR ~ Jan/13: SSR ~ May/13: VWL

 

[papertraveller]

Hi!

I'm through the T1 customs hall at YYZ on a regular basis for work, and I would say the busiest times of the day are between 7am and 11am. It can take upwards of 1.5 to 2 hours to get through there, plus another 1 hour for security screening.

The airlines all recommend arriving at least 2 hours prior to a US-bound flight, and I would agree, if not even more: plan to have the car parked and be at the airline Checkin counter at 3 hours prior, and you'll be safe.

Chances are it will take much less time, but wouldn't you rather get through early and have to wait by your gate than stress about being late for the flight if you get caught up in a line?

Even with a foreign-passport holder, I wouldn't say it would take more than a couple extra minutes with the customs dude.

Good luck!

Apr/08: Offsite ~ Apr/09: Offsite ~ Apr/10: CR ~ Oct/10: Disney Paris Offsite ~ Apr/11: CR ~ Oct/11: CSR & POFQ (Purchased DVC ) ~ Jan/12: BLT & VWL ~ May/12: BLT & VWL ~ Oct/12: BLT & POR ~ Jan/13: SSR ~ May/13: VWL

Thanks! I had a feeling it would take longer these days than it has in the past. (The reason we're getting Nexus, but won't have our cards before our next trip!) In March at Terminal 3 we were in the customs line for almost 45 minutes, all due to low staffing levels.

Our flight is smack-dab in the middle of the time period you cite. I did get a chuckle out of your suggestion that it's better to be waiting at the gate, rather than stressing to get there. This is a running joke in our family because my husband never wants to get going as early as our daughter and I do! I say that same thing each time as I'm urging him to get going: When the flight time comes, where would you rather be? He grudgingly admits: Sitting on the plane.