Word of caution about duty free and connecting in TO

[Applemomma]

Friend of mine just got back from a trip to see family in the States. She went through duty free at the airport in the States for a bottle of rum and some ciggarettes for her husband. When she got to Toronto to connect on her West Jet flight back here to the Maritimes she had to collect her luggage and go back through security apparently (I don't think she realized she would have to do this). When she got to security they would not allow her to carry on the duty free liquor and made her put both the bottle and ciggarettes in her regular luggage. Unfortunately when she got to Halifax, and retrieved her luggage, both the bottle and carton were GONE! The dutyfree bag and slip were still in her suitcase but the rest was stolen. West Jet is less then sympathetic with her.

So think ahead before you do duty free if you are connecting flights after the border! And don't pack anything of value in your regular luggage I guess. Sad to think that airline employees can't be trusted ...... not all, of course, but it only takes one to leave a bad feeling.

 

[Eveningsong]

I experienced the same problem with duty free flying back from Arizona to Toronto. I was lucky and my duty free goods weren't missing from my luggage.

In future I will drive to the US and fly from a US Airport to my destination. Then on the drive home stop at the duty free at the border, and drive across with my duty free goods in the trunk of my car.

If your friends put their duty free purchases on a credit card that has stolen/damage protection they might be able to be reimbursed from the credit card company. I believe you have to file a report (police) to present to the credit card company. Usually the stolen coverage is good for up to 90 days.

 

[seashoreCM]

Makes you think about, why spend time buying all those souvenirs too at the parks (as opposed to ordering them on line at a later date) if you are going to have to schlep them all home.

 

[ChisJo]

What worries me is that we have no protection for our lugguage and the goods inside. If we put on a lock, they have the right to break it off....if we put on zip ties, the same. So, we basically HAVE to trust them - but when something like this happens ....you would think they would have security watching over THEIR security to protect John P. Traveller. That is so terrible about your friend.

 

[laxcdn]

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't even think about the customs in TO. I thought I would go in Winnipeg, but I guess we change planes, so that wouldn't work.