acrespo

I'm flying FRA->YYZ->SFO and I have a layover of about 6 hours in YYZ. I'm arriving on a Monday at 12:15pm and departing at 6:30pm. I travel light, so I'll just have a carry-on.

A few questions:
1) How long does it take to go through Canadian customs and immigration at around 12:15?
2) How early should I be back at the airport (I have a US passport)? Air Canada suggest 90 minutes, is that enough? Does it help that I have *G status?
3) Any suggestions on what to do? I'm not really into shopping or dining. Sightseeing recommendations would be great and I'm willing to rent a car if it makes sense.

Thanks!

CanadianConnection33

1) It depends. I've spent 20 minutes and I've spent 1.5 hours.

2) You will have to clear US Customs and Immigration in YYZ. No *G does not help. Your biggest hurdle is the length of the line so US passport doesn't really help either. 90 minutes is probably the bare minimum to avoid risk.

3) With 6 hours your only real option is to rent a car. I'll defer to others on suggestions on travel. YYZ is very far removed from the downtown core. You're looking at least a 30 minute drive one way and, with your flight at 6:30, you risk getting stuck in rush hour.

In all honesty, with six hours, you might be better to hang out at the airport.
Out of those six hours you should assume you lose two to three to Canadian and US Customs and just getting around. That leaves you three to four hours to get a rental car and drive into the city. . . some time but not much.

Now that I think about it this is probably enough time to go to the CN Tower which is North America's tallest freestanding structure.

Flews

I'd just pop over to terminal 3 and rest/swim/lounge for a few hours at the Sheraton; or, if I went out, I'd just grab a taxi to Woodbine Casino. But that's just me.

Cheers,

MSPeconomist

Before deciding, check out what lounges you would be able to use in various areas of the airport. Remember that USA departures are segregated in a separate section.

tentseller

US departures are segregated into the US bound zone due to CBP clearing US bound passengers pre-departure for efficiency. The choices of lounges are more limited in the US bound zone.

45128

I hope you are relatively young, fit, strong and athletic, acrespo. Point to point distances at YYZ are long - very long.

acrespo

Thanks for all the tips! I'm leaning now towards just staying at the airport.

About lounges, I'd assume I'll be able to use the MLL at the transborder area as I'm arriving on an international flight with *G status. Right?

Sorry, 45128, I don't get it....

gglave

Yes, provided you hold an AC, UA or US boarding pass.

Antonio8069

Do you have an AMEX Plat card? If so, you can access the Priority Pass lounge in the trans-border area (in addition to the AC G* lounge). The former is better for meals, the latter better for Internet and drinks!

acrespo

No, I don't have an AMEX card, so the Priority Pass lounge is not an alternative. And yes, I'll be flying AC from YYZ to SFO, so with *G status, I should be able to get in the MLL.

I think I'll play it safe, stay at the airport, and relax at the MLL.

Thanks!