Minimum Connection Time Calgary (Transborder)
Oct 9, 2012, 10:35 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC*E75K, Hertz 5*, SPG Gold
Posts: 145
Minimum Connection Time Calgary (Transborder)
Hi,
I'm just working on booking a xmas flight (Dec 14, 2012) and one of the legs is
YQR > YYC > EWR which has 1 hour layover (AC Metal)
Am wondering if this is enough time to transfer across from domestic arrivals to transborder and clear US customs?
Was hoping to go on AC metal for the upgrades oppurtunities, what are the chances of getting an upgrade? flightstats currently shows R/1 J/9 for YYC > EWR
My other options are :
YQR > YYZ > EWR which has a 2h15 layover (but ~700 less miles) (AC Metal) (R/3 J/9)
YQR > DEN > EWR which has a 3h43 layover (but ~250 less miles) (UA Metal)
Your advice is appreciated.
I'm just working on booking a xmas flight (Dec 14, 2012) and one of the legs is
YQR > YYC > EWR which has 1 hour layover (AC Metal)
Am wondering if this is enough time to transfer across from domestic arrivals to transborder and clear US customs?
Was hoping to go on AC metal for the upgrades oppurtunities, what are the chances of getting an upgrade? flightstats currently shows R/1 J/9 for YYC > EWR
My other options are :
YQR > YYZ > EWR which has a 2h15 layover (but ~700 less miles) (AC Metal) (R/3 J/9)
YQR > DEN > EWR which has a 3h43 layover (but ~250 less miles) (UA Metal)
Your advice is appreciated.
Oct 9, 2012, 12:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,237
YYC allow 1-1/2 hours for sure if you have checked bags YYC is worse then YYZ on baggage
Weather also a factor, like DEN, YYC has "issues" in the winter, but DEN can be horrible
My personal rule is I don't transit Denver in Dec, Jan, Feb & Mar
Weather also a factor, like DEN, YYC has "issues" in the winter, but DEN can be horrible
My personal rule is I don't transit Denver in Dec, Jan, Feb & Mar
Oct 9, 2012, 12:16 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: UA 1K SPG Plat 75
Posts: 136
I've found YYC US customs to be very fast and efficient, especially if you have NEXUS. Also, your YYC-EWR flight is likely to be delayed at that time of year, giving you even more connection time. 1 hour is a "legal" connection Canada-US in YYC too.
If you have NEXUS and only carry-on luggage, I'd say go for it. If you have one of the above, it's iffier but possible. If you have neither, book a longer connection.
Also consider time of day; if you can miss the evening rush that's even better.
If you have NEXUS and only carry-on luggage, I'd say go for it. If you have one of the above, it's iffier but possible. If you have neither, book a longer connection.
Also consider time of day; if you can miss the evening rush that's even better.
Oct 9, 2012, 1:08 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,397
Personally I would say no way unless you have both Nexus and no checked bags. YYC customs can be absolutely horrible, and is relatively unpredictable and illogical as to when it is horrible. Meaning I dont know what time of day your flights are, but you might think--oh 10:30 on a weekday, customs wont be busy then. And then you see the 90 min waits. I would give yourself 2 hours for sure. Unless you have Nexus and no checked luggage.
Last edited by ridefar; Oct 9, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Oct 9, 2012, 1:57 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC*E75K, Hertz 5*, SPG Gold
Posts: 145
My transit time is 11.25 to 12.25
Based on the above the YYZ routing would be the safest / easiest but YEG USER makes a good point, If AC allow me to book the flight then if i miss my connection it's their responsibility to rebook me, but that would mean arriving at 10.30pm instead of 7pm at EWR ....
Gotta have a think about this ...
Based on the above the YYZ routing would be the safest / easiest but YEG USER makes a good point, If AC allow me to book the flight then if i miss my connection it's their responsibility to rebook me, but that would mean arriving at 10.30pm instead of 7pm at EWR ....
Gotta have a think about this ...
Oct 9, 2012, 3:51 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,515
Here is what ExpertFlyer says regarding MCT at YYC for AC to AC:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
AC to AC flight, Domestic to USA, a legal connection is 50 minutes, except if the flight you are connecting to is Flight # 3500 - 5499 in which legal connection is 1 hour. As well, AC will not let you connect from Flight 165 to Flight 570 even if it otherwise meets the minimum connection times.
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Connecting Cities: Connecting at YYC Incoming airline AC Outgoing airline AC Flight type Domestic to International STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I. ONLINE .45 .45 1.30 1.30 OFFLINE .45 .45 1.30 1.30 ** OR * ARE ALL AC-AC DI SUP FLT 165 - FLT 570 AC-AC DI 1.00 ALL - FLT 3500 - 5999 ALL - UNITED STATES AC-AC DI .50 ALL - UNITED STATES AC-AC DI .40 **-** DI 1.00 ALL - UNITED STATES
Oct 9, 2012, 5:09 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 317
[QUOTE=D582;19466581]
AC to AC flight, Domestic to USA, a legal connection is 50 minutes, except if the flight you are connecting to is Flight # 3500 - 5499 in which legal connection is 1 hour.]/QUOTE]
I've spent hours in line transborder in Calgary before, but now have Nexus. Is there also a nexus priory security line? (have a 1-hr 6 min connection on Sunday, I know I shouldn't fly through Calgary, but needed the 500 miles to hit an eUp threshold).
AC to AC flight, Domestic to USA, a legal connection is 50 minutes, except if the flight you are connecting to is Flight # 3500 - 5499 in which legal connection is 1 hour.]/QUOTE]
I've spent hours in line transborder in Calgary before, but now have Nexus. Is there also a nexus priory security line? (have a 1-hr 6 min connection on Sunday, I know I shouldn't fly through Calgary, but needed the 500 miles to hit an eUp threshold).
Oct 9, 2012, 5:15 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC*E75K, Hertz 5*, SPG Gold
Posts: 145
Flight details
Air Canada – Flight 8435 Operated by Air Canada Express - Jazz
Take-off Fri 10:25a YQR
Landing Fri 11:25a YYC
Air Canada – Flight 584
Take-off Fri 12:25p YYC
Landing Fri 6:55p EWR
So definately in the legal connection times ...
Air Canada – Flight 8435 Operated by Air Canada Express - Jazz
Take-off Fri 10:25a YQR
Landing Fri 11:25a YYC
Air Canada – Flight 584
Take-off Fri 12:25p YYC
Landing Fri 6:55p EWR
So definately in the legal connection times ...
Oct 9, 2012, 5:23 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC*E75K, Hertz 5*, SPG Gold
Posts: 145
I've spent hours in line transborder in Calgary before, but now have Nexus. Is there also a nexus priory security line? (have a 1-hr 6 min connection on Sunday, I know I shouldn't fly through Calgary, but needed the 500 miles to hit an eUp threshold).
Oct 9, 2012, 5:38 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYC - not the centre of the universe
Programs: AC*S100K 1MM, LH FTL, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Plat
Posts: 4,768
Oct 9, 2012, 7:00 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
Oct 10, 2012, 10:33 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 317
I'm actually going to DTW via ORD, so connecting through two airports I try to avoid, but am away for 4 out of the next 5 weeks, so decided to spend as much time as possible at home on Sunday (as well as the extra miles, its the latest possible dep from YEG). If I miss a connection, there's no other routing to DTW later in the day, but thats what the credit card cover is for, I'll overnight somewhere and get to DTW on Monday instead...