Connecting through YYZ / YUL - is 1:30 enough time?

[Brian V]

We have a cruise departing out of Miami Mar 29th, planned on flying in the day before of course.

We will be departing out of YYC so unless we do the WestJet non stop to FLL (for double the price???) we would be connecting either through YUL or YYZ, and of course we need to clear US Customs in either one.

 

Question is, would a 90 minute connection at 7:00 on a Friday morning at either airport be something we should be considering?

Air Canada seems to think so but I don't want to be cutting things too close.

 

Our other option is WestJet connecting through ATL with a 90 minute time frame, advantage would be clearing customs at YYC pre departure.

 

We don't have Nexus, application in but not expecting to get the interview before this trip.

 

Opinions and input appreciated!

Edited October 16 by Brian V
typo

[gumpster]

YYZ is Toronto and we fly from there a lot except when flying to the US. We fly from Detroit (DTW) for the states and are flying day before on Delta because they have several direct flights to Miami. Customs is then at the bridge on way to airport. We paid a bit extra for the direct Delta flight, but for me it’s worth arriving without luggage issues as well. 

[broberts]

According to this tool, https://www.torontopearson.com/en/connections, flying  AC  YYC - YYZ - FLL requires clearing YYZ security and USCBP. 

[Middleager]

15 hours ago, Brian V said:

We have a cruise departing out of Miami Mar 29th, planned on flying in the day before of course.

We will be departing out of YYC so unless we do the WestJet non stop to FLL (for double the price???) we would be connecting either through YUL or YYZ, and of course we need to clear US Customs in either one.

 

Question is, would a 90 minute connection at 7:00 on a Friday morning at either airport be something we should be considering?

Air Canada seems to think so but I don't want to be cutting things too close.

 

Our other option is WestJet connecting through ATL with a 90 minute time frame, advantage would be clearing customs at YYC pre departure.

YYZ is very busy during the day.  7am flight to US can also be busy.  Without Nexus, a delay in the first segment can make you miss the connecting flight.  What other AC flights are there they can re-schedule you to, if you miss the connection?

 

The connecting through Atlanta sounds better as you don't need to do pre-clearance there.

[cbr663]

What is Air Canada's delay service from Calgary?

 

We live in Ottawa and frequently have to connect through Pearson.  Pearson has flow control and we have frequently boarded our plane in Ottawa on time only to find ourselves waiting at the gate as Pearson attempts to control the flow of planes landing and leaving its airport.

 

Check the flight history of your flight to determine if should expect delays.

[d9704011]

Usually, we fly YOW - YUL - FLL.

 

I have found the CBP procedure in Montreal to be cleaner and quicker than Toronto and the chances of being delayed flying into Montreal less than Toronto.

 

If you can book AC flights YYC - YUL - FLL, I recommend you consider that option.

[Brian V]

Thanks for the feedback everyone...never really liked connecting at Pearson, we always seem to do the full length of the concourse, clear customs and security, then the full length of the concourse again to board at the gate next to the one we just arrived at!

 

2 hours ago, d9704011 said:

If you can book AC flights YYC - YUL - FLL, I recommend you consider that option.

 

I was wondering if YUL was better - have not flown through there in many years.

 

7 hours ago, Middleager said:

The connecting through Atlanta sounds better as you don't need to do pre-clearance there.

 

Think we will probably do that - several flights later from ATL to MIA or FLL if something does go sideways 🙂

[Forecheck]

On 10/16/2024 at 10:54 AM, broberts said:

According to this tool, https://www.torontopearson.com/en/connections, flying  AC  YYC - YYZ - FLL requires clearing YYZ security and USCBP. 

 

If you are flying from a CDN Airport where you have gone through Security - connecting in Pearson for flight to  USA- why is it necessary to also go through security again at Pearson prior to going through US Customs ? You have already cleared security at your originating Airport and have not entered a Non secure Zone.

 

Is that the process and is this not an Unnecessary step which adds to passengers missing flights ? 

[broberts]

53 minutes ago, Forecheck said:

 

If you are flying from a CDN Airport where you have gone through Security - connecting in Pearson for flight to  USA- why is it necessary to also go through security again at Pearson prior to going through US Customs ? You have already cleared security at your originating Airport and have not entered a Non secure Zone.

 

Is that the process and is this not an Unnecessary step which adds to passengers missing flights ? 

 

Likely because the trek between a domestic arrival gate and USCBP pre-clearance area passes through an area outside the secure zone.

[truckswain]

Pearson has a guide for those connecting which may help:

 

https://www.torontopearson.com/en/connections

[Middleager]

13 hours ago, Forecheck said:

If you are flying from a CDN Airport where you have gone through Security - connecting in Pearson for flight to  USA- why is it necessary to also go through security again at Pearson prior to going through US Customs ? You have already cleared security at your originating Airport and have not entered a Non secure Zone.

 

Is that the process and is this not an Unnecessary step which adds to passengers missing flights ? 

The same question can apply to a few months ago when we flew YYZ-YVR-HNL.  Even though we went through security in YYZ, at YVR we still had to go through security (therefore dump our liquids), in order to get to the pre-clearance area of YVR, to fly to HNL of US.

 

The airport(s) can configure anyway they like.

[bookbabe]

Westjet via ATL.  
 

Clear the US border in Calgary where it’s much easier than YYZ and even YUL, and because it’s not during a connection you can allow as much time as you feel comfortable with in case of delays.

 

Land at ATL as a domestic flight, baggage should be checked through all the way, shouldn’t need to reclear security there, just leisurely walk to next gate.

 

This is the least stressful option if the price is okay.

[em-sk]

On 10/16/2024 at 9:55 AM, cbr663 said:

What is Air Canada's delay service from Calgary?

 

We live in Ottawa and frequently have to connect through Pearson.  Pearson has flow control and we have frequently boarded our plane in Ottawa on time only to find ourselves waiting at the gate as Pearson attempts to control the flow of planes landing and leaving its airport.

 

Check the flight history of your flight to determine if should expect delays.

 

My understanding, if when air traffic control gets busy they implement flow control.  With flow control they hold aircraft at the departure airport to space the arrivals.  Usually they only do that within the same air traffic center and only extend it to neighboring air control centers when it gets really bad.  So Ottawa is more likely to get flow control restrictions for flights to Toronto than departures from an airport like Edmonton or Vancouver.  

 

I live in Victoria, and regularly get my flights to Vancouver delayed due to flow control.

 

-----

 

As for connecting in Toronto.  Two factors are at play.  Terminal 1 (where Air Canada is) has dedicated connecting lanes and screening.   Unless it is changed Terminal 3 where WestJet is does not, you get dumped into the same line as the local Toronto departing passengers.

 

The security screening for travel into the US is different than domestically in Canada.  That is the reason they have to do it again when connecting to the US but don't when connecting anywhere else.