BDL2DCA From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 313 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3217 times:
I believe that you will go through Canadian customs on the way out.
YVR is set up to skip Canadian customs for international passengers transiting to the US (you just go through US inspection), though I am not sure if YYZ works the same way.
Parisien From France, joined Dec 2000, 819 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3217 times:
For the inbound, usually you have to clear US immigration and custom in YYZ. So, you have to claim your bags and recheck them.
I don't know about the outbound, I think that should be possible (ie. not face immigration hassle in canada) if you stay in the international area no ?
KrisYYZ From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1575 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3217 times:
You would most definitely have to go through Canadian Customs at YYZ. Depending on the airline, US flights arrive to all three terminals. International flight leave from T3 and star alliance airlines from T1.
YYZ is currently a pain if you are connecting through T3. If you were to travel with AC, then it could be somewhat easier. But you would most likely have to claim your bag from DEN and re-check in for your European flight.
I would imagine you would go through US customs at YYZ on your way back as well.
AirScoot From United States of America, joined May 2005, 688 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3191 times:
The return through YYZ is surprisingly easy. I've done it a couple of times. I've found that the customs/immigration people for US flights are far more efficient there than they seem to be at stations that actually ARE here.
EnviroTO From Canada, joined Aug 2004, 820 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 3075 times:
Starting in January things will get much easier if you are on Star Alliance carriers since everything will be moving into the same terminal. Currently Air Canada / Star Alliance has US operations at T2, domestic and some international at T1, the remainder of internationals in the temporary infield terminal, and US Airways at T3. It would definitely be easier transiting through T3 (if you arrive and depart from T3) for now. T2 is the weakest link and it will close in 2007. I don't find immigration to be much of an issue at YYZ.... it is much more of a hassle at other airports. You would briefly deal with Canadian immigration both directions but there are no many counters that the process doesn't usually take very long. Hopefully the airport will work to create a path between US and International flights that doesn't require going through customs similar to what is available in YVR once everything if moved to T1.
Summary: depends which airlines you use, and when you are fliying.
BDL2DCA From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 313 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 3075 times:
Quoting AirScoot (Reply 4): I've found that the customs/immigration people for US flights are far more efficient there than they seem to be at stations that actually ARE here.
I think that is mostly because Canadian waypoints tend to deal mostly with transborder traffic - which is a lot less stressful on the CBP guys than a major US international gateway.
You tend to hear good things about the smaller US gateways as well. I remember people saying good things about CBP in PHL and PDX.
Brick From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 1571 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 3002 times:
On your way back to the U.S. you will clear U.S. customs in Canada. That's why Air Canada uses Concourse B at Denver Int'l.
FLYACYYZ From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1914 posts, RR: 12 Reply 8, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2936 times:
Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 3): If you were to travel with AC, then it could be somewhat easier. But you would most likely have to claim your bag from DEN and re-check in for your European flight.
Not exactly true. Checked baggage from Transborder (US) destinations to all International destinations AC to AC/Star Alliance are claimed at the FINAL destination. On the return trip however, baggage is sent from inbound international arrivals to T-2 for claim and US pre-clearance.
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