? about connecting thru Montreal or Toronto

[PMT51]

It has been many years since I have connected through either Toronto or Montreal to take a flight to the US. 

Do you still need to pick up your luggage and carry it through customs? What about coming home?

[LHT28]

there  is  a connections link for YYZ   just put in your flight details

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

[Yowman]

And here is the info for YUL:

 

https://www.admtl.com/en/guide/connecting-flights

 

 

[PMT51]

Thank you for the links.

Bottom line going through Pearson, maybe, maybe not.

Going through Montreal, luggage will transfer automatically, no picking up.

[dawnvip]

YYZ is a PITA.

I avoid it whenever possible, especially if there is a chance of me bringing back duty free because you have to go outside the secure area when picking up and transferring your bags, meaning you have to then somehow pack your buy-on-board duty free into your checked luggage for the next flight. Stupidest system i've seen yet.

[PatandStu]

Any of our recent flights through YYZ or YUL our bags were checked right through to Ottawa. One agent assured me this was an Air Canada only thing. I am not particular to AC; rather, I’m particular to cost & length of layover (we can’t seem to get a direct flight from Ottawa to anywhere). We also have Nexus & TSA pre-approval. Our duty free was opened, examined & re-sealed & we carried it on from there to Ottawa. 

[Yowman]

5 hours ago, dawnvip said:

YYZ is a PITA.

I avoid it whenever possible, especially if there is a chance of me bringing back duty free because you have to go outside the secure area when picking up and transferring your bags, meaning you have to then somehow pack your buy-on-board duty free into your checked luggage for the next flight. Stupidest system i've seen yet.

 

 

Recently flew LHR->YYZ->YOW on AC.  I did not have to touch my checked bags in YYZ - they were checked through to Ottawa

[Yowman]

4 hours ago, PatandStu said:

Any of our recent flights through YYZ or YUL our bags were checked right through to Ottawa. One agent assured me this was an Air Canada only thing. I am not particular to AC; rather, I’m particular to cost & length of layover (we can’t seem to get a direct flight from Ottawa to anywhere). We also have Nexus & TSA pre-approval. Our duty free was opened, examined & re-sealed & we carried it on from there to Ottawa. 

 

Whilst not all airlines offer through-checked bags in YUL, it's not just AC.  Flew BOS->YUL-YOW on United and my bag was checked through to Ottawa.

[LHT28]

6 hours ago, dawnvip said:

YYZ is a PITA.

I avoid it whenever possible, especially if there is a chance of me bringing back duty free because you have to go outside the secure area when picking up and transferring your bags, meaning you have to then somehow pack your buy-on-board duty free into your checked luggage for the next flight. Stupidest system i've seen yet.

Maybe it is the airlines you chose  where you may have to change terminals ?

 

Usually your duty free are in sealed bags  if you tell  them you will be connecting

https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/duty-free-purchases

[Dancer Bob]

Also Air France and Westjet in YYZ, at least on SOME flights. It's a confused mess.

[rodndonna]

We just returned from a flight with Air Canada and they now text you informing you where your bags are checked through to (and I presume if they have to be picked up in Pearson for customs). It was a flight from Boston so likely applies to all US originating connections but not sure.

 

We muffed up last year with one AC flight from Amstrerdam through Pearson where we did not have to pick up our bags for customs, but then another flight coming through from Dominican Republic we were supposed to pick them up but did not - oops. It was interesting as they had to get security to then come and escort us back though baggage claim.  

 

Hopefully the text message from Air Canada will avoid making that mistake in the future.

 

[dawnvip]

On 6/6/2023 at 7:15 PM, LHT28 said:

Maybe it is the airlines you chose  where you may have to change terminals ?

 

Usually your duty free are in sealed bags  if you tell  them you will be connecting

https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/duty-free-purchases

We usually fly Air Canada. The duty free sealed bag was not available for on-board purchases. 

Last time we flew through YYZ was pre-covid so perhaps things have changed?