Yet another connecting in Toronto question (or two)

[LuzzBightyear]

We have a large group going down to WDW next Friday. One family selected a flight that I think is going to be very difficult.

I did not get specifics, but itinerary basically looks like this: Moncton to Toronto on Air Canada, in Toronto they change terminals and fly to Orlando on an US airline. Time between arriving in YYZ and leaving for MCO is about 1:45.

He bought his tickets through Expedia and is insisting his info tells him he never has to touch his bags at all in Toronto. I can’t see how this is possible given he is dealing with two separate airlines and clear customs. I would appreciate any comments from anyone who experienced such an itinerary.

Also, does anyone else think 1:45 layover is extremely tight in the given they have to get their bags from Moncton flight (possibly?), change terminals, check in with the US airline (possibly?), pass through security for the 2nd time that day, AND has to go through customs…all with two small kids in tow?

 

[mab2012]

I am no kind of expert on international flight connections, but I do think it's *possible* that there would be no need to collect bags in this scenario. Bags can be checked through to their destination even if there are multiple airlines involved, and sometimes even if the tickets were purchased and issued separately. It is called "baggage interlining" if you want to Google it. So the change of airlines is not likely to be a problem with regards to bags. They *might* need to check in with the second airline, depending on how the tickets were booked, and which airlines are involved. But if so, that can probably be done online before leaving home.

As for customs, IIRC at Canadian airports that have US pre-clearance you generally check bags before clearing customs anyway. The customs agents have the ability to "recall" your bags if necessary. So it would make sense for connecting flights into the US to use the same system. The information here under "Connecting to the United States - Departing from Terminal 1" suggests no baggage claim is necessary.

Also my husband recently connected through Toronto on a flight from Seattle, and he was not required to claim his bag before clearing Canadian customs. AFAIK this is pretty new. Obviously this is customs in the reverse direction so the same process may not apply, but if it's being done at Canadian customs, then it's at least plausible that the same could be true for connections into the US.

Either way, 1h45m is probably going to be enough time to make the connection, as long as the incoming flight from Moncton is on time. I wouldn't dawdle, and if the kids are very small I'd be prepared to either carry them or put them in a stroller in order to keep things moving along. But I think their chances of making it are pretty good.

Again, very much a non-expert opinion. Good luck to your friends.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

We have a large group going down to WDW next Friday. One family selected a flight that I think is going to be very difficult. I did not get specifics, but itinerary basically looks like this: Moncton to Toronto on Air Canada, in Toronto they change terminals and fly to Orlando on an US airline. Time between arriving in YYZ and leaving for MCO is about 1:45. He bought his tickets through Expedia and is insisting his info tells him he never has to touch his bags at all in Toronto. I can’t see how this is possible given he is dealing with two separate airlines and clear customs. I would appreciate any comments from anyone who experienced such an itinerary. Also, does anyone else think 1:45 layover is extremely tight in the given they have to get their bags from Moncton flight (possibly?), change terminals, check in with the US airline (possibly?), pass through security for the 2nd time that day, AND has to go through customs…all with two small kids in tow?

It is possible that the family flying through YYZ & picking up a US airline to MCO is flying on a codeshare or interline flight. If that is the case, the airline will take care of all baggage transfers from Moncton to MCO, they will not have to see their bags until at either MCO baggage carousel or at the Resort if the Magical Express is being used.

They may not have to change terminals if the connecting flight is codeshare or interline but being operated by Air Canada. (Tickets sold by a codeshare partner and flown by AC) I believe that United Airlines is a codeshare partner of Air Canada. Westjet has codeshare agreements with Delta, US Air & American Airlines.

 

[LuzzBightyear]

Just got more details, they are flying Air Canada to Toronto, then American Airlines to Orlando...so no codeshare. They will need to get their bags in Toronto, right?

 

[mab2012]

Just got more details, they are flying Air Canada to Toronto, then American Airlines to Orlando...so no codeshare. They will need to get their bags in Toronto, right?

Not necessarily. Previous points regarding baggage interlining still apply. Baggage interlining can be independent from ticket interlining and definitely does not require a codesharing agreement between the airlines involved.

What we still don't know is whether the entire reservation was booked via Air Canada on a single ticket, or if Expedia booked two separate tickets with Air Canada and American Airlines. Air Canada does list AA as an "interline partner", so it's possible that this was done on a single reservation. I think it's more likely to be separate tickets though.

If it turns out to be a single reservation, then bags will be checked through to the destination. If they are booked on multiple tickets, then Air Canada *might* tag the bags through, if the passengers show both tickets at baggage drop and ask them to do so. They could try calling Air Canada to ask, but there's no guarantee that they will get the same answer on the phone and in the airport. It's worth a try though. If they do have to claim and re-check bags then the connection window definitely looks a lot tighter. I would begin to be concerned about missing the 60 minute deadline for checking bags with AA.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

My best advice would be to ask at the counter when you check in if you will need to cloet your bags at any point before you land in MCO.

 

[bankr63]

I'm fairly sure they will collect their bags for US clearance at T3. AFAIK the baggage "pass through" for customs (where they show you a picture of your bag and ask you to confirm it's yours) was only recently put into effect at T1 and is not operational yet at T3. This may have changed, but I thought all US flights out of T3 still required you to have your bags with you as passed through US border control.

Interlining is an airline procedure and does not circumvent customs requirements. Still an hour and 45 may be enough time to accomplish all this if the Moncton flight unloads baggage quickly. Probably worth asking for priority baggage from AC at point of departure in Moncton so your bags get off quickly at Pearson.

Edit:
Here's a better link http://www.torontopearson.com/Connecting.aspx# that provides the exact answer. If you punch in AC at Terminal 1 and AA at Terminal 3, the resulting guide indicates that you will collect your baggage. The interesting (confusing?) thing is that you may pick it up either in T1 or T3 depending on whether it is tagged to destination or not. If it is tagged through, you collect it in T3 before customs, if it is not tagged through you collect it in T1 and bring it to check in for AA in T3. Either way your bags are with you at US Customs. Having it tagged to destination will probably be quicker though (less time at the AA counter, or skip it completely if you have your boarding passes).