Tight Connection in Toronto

We booked a flight from Portland, Oregon to Athens, Greece and are booked on Air Canada. We have a one hour connection in Toronto between flights. We were nervous enough about that connection but now find out we will have to go through immigration in Toronto. We don't have to collect our bag--mute point as we are only doing a carryon anyway. Has anyone gone through Immigration in Toronto and is it done quickly? Of course it depends on how many people are going through it at that time---July 4, a Tuesday at 15:37. I called Air Canada and they said those connections can't be posted if they can't be made. Yeah, but how often are they missed? ARGH!! We also purchased the Trip Insurance.

It could be faster with a NEXUS card or your Global Entry but even then if the lines are long, some ahead might have trouble with the computer entries.

It is hit and miss in Toronto. We have our Nexus cards and that helps. We missed a connection with Air Canada once and ended up we missed our ship in San Juan. Air Canada is brutal, we try never to fly with them. Good luck but your cutting it pretty close if your first flight is delayed your going to be in trouble for sure.

In 2006 we flew from Ft Lauderdale (after a Princess Cruise) to Pearson Airport (Toronto) and had one hour and 5 minutes to make our connection home to Vancouver. We had to collect our bags, go through customs, drop our bags back off and get into line for the secure area. We moved along as quick as possible but hit the secure area line with 10 minutes left until our plane was to leave. There must have been 200 people in line in front of us. On the second attempt we managed to get security to move the six of us to the front of the line and we got through. Of course our gate was at the far end and they were paging us as we ran. We made it but, wouldn't do that again! The surprising thing was our luggage made it as well.

If you don't have the bags to deal with I would guess you will be okay but it sounds tight none the less. Good luck!

AE_Collector

We do have Global Entry but does that help in Canada? I guess I will call Princess tomorrow and discuss this with them. As it happens, all other flights they looked at were much more expensive or had brutal connections. It was scary enough to think of one hour--but to go through Immigration---well, that makes it worse. Thanks for the responses, it just confirms how scary this is. At least there won't be fog to delay us, just all of the other things!!! It is the first AC flight from PDX or we would go earlier.

Global Entry helps. Separate line from everybody else without Nexus or Global Entry. But Pearson Airport is BIG. Think of a big "U" You arrive at one side of the "U" from the US and have to walk to the bottom of the "U" to clear immigration. Then you will have to walk to the other side of the "U" for your international flight. If the planes are both at the tip, you are looking at least a 10 minute walk from the tip to the bottom and then have to go through security again to your boarding gate for the international flight. Even without luggage, 1 hour is very tight. Good luck. Hope you find something better.

Global Entry only helps entering the US, not Canada. On your outbound flight you'll be stuck with the peons - but inbound, if you fly via Canada again, you'll get expedited through security to CBP for US immigration and have access to the kiosks.

Do try showing your GE card though - it's not actually valid like I said, but membership of any Trusted Traveler program often gets you short queue privileges regardless (we're four for four at Heathrow). An hour is tight, but doable even without Nexus - just be sure to mention to everyone in a uniform that you have a connection in X minutes and you'll get escorted to the front of the line (we're constantly annoyed when in line at YYZ by folks getting to cut in front of us!)

Here's a link to YYZs site that allows you to input your arriving and departing flights - it will explain exactly what the process is for you.

Thanks everyone for the input. I just changed our flights. We now fly United/Lufthansa from PDX to Denver, have a 3 hour layover, fly to Frankfurt, have a 2 1/2 hour layover, and to Athens. It was only $150 more for the two of us---so worth it for the peace of mind. Any hotel stay and meals would equal that $150 if we get delayed in Toronto--always saying we could even get out the next day. And that flight wasn't even available the day before and again would mean an extra night in a hotel in Athens. We would have nightmares from now until that day. The stars would have to be perfectly aligned for us to have made it. Thanks again. (I say "only $150" because when I tried a few days ago to change the flight--and that was before we knew about immigration---the flights were all much more than that. )

We booked a flight from Portland, Oregon to Athens, Greece and are booked on Air Canada. We have a one hour connection in Toronto between flights. We were nervous enough about that connection but now find out we will have to go through immigration in Toronto.

Glad that you have resolved this by changing flights, but how did you learn about having to go through Canadian immigration in Toronto?

When we had Houston-Toronto-Athens several years ago, there was no need to go through Canadian immigration. Just had to follow the pathway from one international flight to another.

Global Entry only helps entering the US, not Canada. On your outbound flight you'll be stuck with the peons - but inbound, if you fly via Canada again, you'll get expedited through security to CBP for US immigration and have access to the kiosks.

 

Do try showing your GE card though - it's not actually valid like I said, but membership of any Trusted Traveler program often gets you short queue privileges regardless (we're four for four at Heathrow). An hour is tight, but doable even without Nexus - just be sure to mention to everyone in a uniform that you have a connection in X minutes and you'll get escorted to the front of the line (we're constantly annoyed when in line at YYZ by folks getting to cut in front of us!)

 

Here's a link to YYZs site that allows you to input your arriving and departing flights - it will explain exactly what the process is for you.

Actually Global Entry or Nexxus does help tremendously and can be used in Canada - it's not just viable for the USA. I know because I have travelled for years on mine to and from the US/Canada. You have different lines for immigration and a much quicker (usually - except for domestically on a Monday morning) security line.

OP, I am glad you changed your flights for peace of mind reasons. That is worth its weight in gold. However having Pearson as my home airport, while it can be a pain, they are a pretty well oiled machine. I personally think you would have made the connection, however not stressing for the next number of months and day of means more excitement about your upcoming cruise.

Glad that you have resolved this by changing flights, but how did you learn about having to go through Canadian immigration in Toronto?

 

When we had Houston-Toronto-Athens several years ago, there was no need to go through Canadian immigration. Just had to follow the pathway from one international flight to another.

I had the same thought. I know there is a area where people go when they land in Toronto and it is for connecting flights. Since I live in Toronto I have never ventured down there so I can't speak to it. I am wondering if it is security only, and not immigration.

Do try showing your GE card though - it's not actually valid like I said, but membership of any Trusted Traveler program often gets you short queue privileges regardless (we're four for four at Heathrow).

I'm going to call BS here.

Being in one scheme doesn't "often get you short queue privileges regardless". Global Entry has nothing to do with Fast Track immigration clearance in the UK and there is zero reciprocity. Fast Track immigration at LHR is for those in Business/First Class on non-EU passports, although airlines that participate can give invitations to their top tier frequent flyers for example. Anyone can essentially buy themselves into the Fast Track which isn't the case for Global Entry which is for previously vetted passengers.

If you're 4/4 at LHR you've just been lucky to find dumb queue wardens that don't know what they're looking at. If there is one passport queue warden that works at LHR that knows what Global Entry is I'll eat my hat.

I'm going to call BS here.

 

Being in one scheme doesn't "often get you short queue privileges regardless". Global Entry has nothing to do with Fast Track immigration clearance in the UK and there is zero reciprocity. Fast Track immigration at LHR is for those in Business/First Class on non-EU passports, although airlines that participate can give invitations to their top tier frequent flyers for example. Anyone can essentially buy themselves into the Fast Track which isn't the case for Global Entry which is for previously vetted passengers.

 

If you're 4/4 at LHR you've just been lucky to find dumb queue wardens that don't know what they're looking at. If there is one passport queue warden that works at LHR that knows what Global Entry is I'll eat my hat.

I agree in that it didn't help us at all in Europe. But can be used interchangably in US/Canada.

Caribill, to answer your question about how did we find out about going through immigration-- a friend told us who had to do it. So I called Air Canada and talked to someone who told me we had to go through immigraton but not customs and didn't need to get our suitcase, which, as I said, we only have a carryon anyway, and that person was leery of us making the connection although stated "you should be able to make it as they can't post connecting connections if it isn't possible" Can't remember if he said we had to go through security again. Come to think of it, when we flew back from Guatemala through Houston last year we went through customs and had to go through security again. But having been on too many flights that don't take off on time for one reason or another was just scary to think of having to add many minutes in other lines in Toronto.

Actually Global Entry or Nexxus does help tremendously and can be used in Canada - it's not just viable for the USA.

If you have Nexus, yes - that's a joint program. Global Entry though is only a US program. Nexus is better than GE, because it includes all GE benefits AND also gives Canadian entry privileges. You can legitimately use GE when LEAVING Canada at pre-clearance airports as you're dealing with US immigration - and it's always possible that any given security minion may let a GE card holder into a short queue in error, just like my Nexus experience abroad.

If you're 4/4 at LHR you've just been lucky to find dumb queue wardens that don't know what they're looking at. If there is one passport queue warden that works at LHR that knows what Global Entry is I'll eat my hat.

I have no doubt that I was lucky - which is precisely why I suggested that OP give it a go even though their GE card isn't valid for inbound Canadian travel. But as long as airport security minions continue being underpaid and overworked there's no % in NOT showing a TT card when you have one and there's a shorter queue option. I presented mine, asked 'May I access this queue? I have Global Entry privileges,' and was granted access. Will it always work? I certainly never expect it to, but as my mum says: "Dinnae ask, dinnae get."

Come to think of it, when we flew back from Guatemala through Houston last year we went through customs and had to go through security again. But having been on too many flights that don't take off on time for one reason or another was just scary to think of having to add many minutes in other lines in Toronto.

Each connection and airport is going to have its quirks to some extent but generally each country has its own rules and regulations when it comes to connections.

In the US you need to clear customs and immigration at your first point of entry. Generally speaking you can expect to clear security when arriving off an international flight and connecting.

Thanks everyone for the input. I just changed our flights. We now fly United/Lufthansa from PDX to Denver, have a 3 hour layover, fly to Frankfurt, have a 2 1/2 hour layover, and to Athens. It was only $150 more for the two of us---so worth it for the peace of mind. Any hotel stay and meals would equal that $150 if we get delayed in Toronto--always saying we could even get out the next day. And that flight wasn't even available the day before and again would mean an extra night in a hotel in Athens.

We would have nightmares from now until that day.

The stars would have to be perfectly aligned for us to have made it. Thanks again. (I say "only $150" because when I tried a few days ago to change the flight--and that was before we knew about immigration---the flights were all much more than that. )

"Nightmares" - exactly. (been there)

Happy to see you decided to be pro-active.

I have no doubt that I was lucky - which is precisely why I suggested that OP give it a go even though their GE card isn't valid for inbound Canadian travel. But as long as airport security minions continue being underpaid and overworked there's no % in NOT showing a TT card when you have one and there's a shorter queue option. I presented mine, asked 'May I access this queue? I have Global Entry privileges,' and was granted access. Will it always work? I certainly never expect it to, but as my mum says: "Dinnae ask, dinnae get."

Ah mum must be Scottish??

I have no doubt that I was lucky - which is precisely why I suggested that OP give it a go even though their GE card isn't valid for inbound Canadian travel. But as long as airport security minions continue being underpaid and overworked there's no % in NOT showing a TT card when you have one and there's a shorter queue option. I presented mine, asked 'May I access this queue? I have Global Entry privileges,' and was granted access. Will it always work? I certainly never expect it to, but as my mum says: "Dinnae ask, dinnae get."

So do you try and use First Class check-in, security and try and blag your way into the lounges when flying economy/business on the basis that "Dinnae ask, dinnae get" too? :rolleyes:

So do you try and use First Class check-in, security and try and blag your way into the lounges when flying economy/business on the basis that "Dinnae ask, dinnae get" too? :rolleyes:

Since you're so interested - lounges no, we only use them when we have paid for them directly with a fee or indirectly with an appropriate class of ticket since that would involve us getting free tangibles like nibbles, comfier seats, showers, WiFi or other things. Shorter queues though, absolutely I'll ask.

It's amazing how much a polite request can achieve - it's certainly not my good looks that gain me access to such things;-)

Just to confuse the matter even more, last summer we flew internationally from Vancouver (originating). The person directing traffic at YVR security asked if we had Global Entry cards. We did, but at home. As a pilot program, they were accepting GE cards for the fast lane through security. Your GE card may, or may not, be useful in Canada.