Changing planes in Toronto

[jkbec101]

We depart September 15th from LAX on Westjet to Barcelona with a change of Planes in Toronto.  

 

I know we have to fill out the ArriveCan information (already done).  We don't have to go through security again do we and we should be able to check our bags straight through to Barcelona without having to claim them, right?  

 

The information from the Canadian and Toronto governments are as clear as mud.

[CruiserBruce]

It says very clearly on the ArriveCan website you don't need to use ArriveCan if you are transiting through Toronto airport, AS LONG as you stay in the "In Transit" area. That means you also won't have to go through security again. We experienced this last month, flying SFO-YYZ-CPH on Air Canada.

 

Are your bags staying on Westjet...do they fly to BCN? If so, you won't see your bags in Toronto.

[LHT28]

• you could  put in the flight details  & see what it says
• https://www.torontopearson.com/en/connections

 

 

[FlyerTalker]

46 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Are your bags staying on Westjet...do they fly to BCN? If so, you won't see your bags in Toronto.

 

WS flies seasonally to BCN.  Three days a week - Monday, Thursday and Friday.

 

 

[em-sk]

2 hours ago, jkbec101 said:

We depart September 15th from LAX on Westjet to Barcelona with a change of Planes in Toronto.  

 

I know we have to fill out the ArriveCan information (already done).  We don't have to go through security again do we and we should be able to check our bags straight through to Barcelona without having to claim them, right?  

 

The information from the Canadian and Toronto governments are as clear as mud.

 

Bags will be tagged all the way through.

 

I will give you the bad news.   Toronto has two terminals.  Terminal 1 and 3.  Terminal 1 has all the sophisticated transfer setup to make connections seamless and avoid touching bags when they go through through customs.  Terminal 3 is old school similar to the US airports.   Air Canada and their Star Alliance partners operate out of Terminal 1.  WestJet and everyone else operate out of Terminal 3.

 

You will have to go through Canadian customs in Toronto 3 as if you were entering the country.  On the good side, they usually setup separate lines for connecting passengers and try to keep the connecting passenger line moving quickly.   

 

Not certain if you need to pickup the bags and walk them through or they will automatically be transferred.  Even some of the airports with the old school setup have been doing automatic baggage  transfer through customs if the Canadian government trusts the security screening of the airport your coming in from.  Canada usually trusts the US airports.

 

Edited August 15, 2022 by em-sk

[CruiserBruce]

32 minutes ago, em-sk said:

 

Bags will be tagged all the way through.

 

I will give you the bad news.   Toronto has two terminals.  Terminal 1 and 3.  Terminal 1 has all the sophisticated transfer setup to make connections seamless and avoid touching bags when they go through through customs.  Terminal 3 is old school similar to the US airports.   Air Canada and their Star Alliance partners operate out of Terminal 1.  WestJet and everyone else operate out of Terminal 3.

 

You will have to go through Canadian customs in Toronto 3 as if you were entering the country.  On the good side, they usually setup separate lines for connecting passengers and try to keep the connecting passenger line moving quickly.   

 

Not certain if you need to pickup the bags and walk them through or they will automatically be transferred.  Even some of the airports with the old school setup have been doing automatic baggage  transfer through customs if the Canadian government trusts the security screening of the airport your coming in from.  Canada usually trusts the US airports.

 

Immigration is the issue, not Customs.

 

In Terminal 1 there is a lot of signage that says "Transiting Passengers" as you come off planes from outside of Canada. It directs you an automated passport check on machines, and then into the In Transit area. No claiming of bags. No additional security. Are you indicating the process would be different than this?

[em-sk]

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Immigration is the issue, not Customs.

 

In Terminal 1 there is a lot of signage that says "Transiting Passengers" as you come off planes from outside of Canada. It directs you an automated passport check on machines, and then into the In Transit area. No claiming of bags. No additional security. Are you indicating the process would be different than this?

 

Yes. Terminal 3 is not as convenient as Terminal 1.  They are working with an older terminal with an older physical layout.

 

I have not done an international connection in Toronto Terminal 3 since COVID before COVID.  I have only done domestic connections in Terminal 3 or Domestic/International in Terminal 1.   

 

My experience from Pre-covid Terminal 3 international arrivals are all routed into the arrivals hall.  Obviously with express lanes for connecting transfers.  You then reclean security and are back into the gate area.  

 

Here is what the airport authority says is the process.....

 

https://www.torontopearson.com/en/connections/guide?arrivingairline=wja&arrivingdestination=lax&departingairline=wja&departingdestination=bcn

 

 

Terminal 3 needs a major retrofit and expansion.  Currently it handles everyone other that Star Alliance.