Flying to Vancouver from NJ

[newmilford]

Cruising out of Vancouver. Getting there is the issue. Strange as it seems we have never flown connecting flights anywhere. Considering it in this case because of travel times, at least going to Vancouver. If you fly say Alaska Air from Newark,NJ with a connection in Seattle to Vancouver does your luggage get checked thru or do you need to claim it and then go thru Canadian customs before boarding to Vancouver? Could leave Newark at 840am, land Seattle 11am, connection at 2pm, arrive Vancouver 3pm. Hotel by 5pm.

 

Nonstops leave Newark 6pm, Air Canada, arrive Vancouver 930pm. Hotel by 11pm.

 

Connect or nonstop???

[luvz2run2000]

If both flights are on Alaska and you booked it as a connecting flight (ie at the same time) then the airline will transfer your luggage to the second leg of your flight and you don't have to do anything. They will check it through to your final destination when you check in at the airport.

 

It will really come down to which flight times are the most desirable to you.

[martincath]

If the direct flight is affordable, do it. But connecting flights aren't usually too traumatic - a slightly elevated risk as there's another set of handlers potentially losing bags, another aircrew who could be late/sick, something affecting the connecting airport that doesn't impact Newark or Vancouver could delay you etc. etc. but really the odds of something going screwy are only going to be marginally worse with two flights rather than one.

 

While there are US CBP staff stationed in major Canadian airports, the reverse is not true. You will not see our Canadian CBSA until you actually land in Canada, so connecting flights do not need extra time at the middle airport - it's the same as Domestic flights, an hour should generally be enough but pad the schedule to your own comfort level.

 

For your return flight, having US Customs offloaded downstream can be useful - flying out of Vancouver to Toronto for example means you would go through US CBP at YYZ - as it lets you take an earlier flight out of YVR. Eastbound options to the east coast tend to be either early, redeyes, or very expensive. For most cruisers a flight before 11am is not recommended out of YVR - too many queues at the port and airport - but on a Canadian Domestic first leg you can risk a flight as early as 10am...

[newmilford]

Thanks