Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LGA - JFK
Programs: UA, AA, DL, B6, CX, KE, Latitude, VIFP, Crown & Anchor, etc.
Posts: 2,589
Option C - flying AC into LGA on the 1st. flight in the morning would be the least evil among the 3 options, checked luggages on a regional jet (not gate checking) usually arrrived downstairs at the carousel fairly quickly with minimal to no wait.
This morning, with maybe 3" of heavy, wet snow on the ground that's been forecasted, many LGA in-bound flights were delayed, diverted, redirected and some cancelled. AC's 6:30 YYZ took off late, circled & landed around 8:50 am - so, it most likely yielded less than 60 minutes for you to get your checked luggage, get into the (usually fast-moving) taxi line for the 20 to 40 minutes ride in rush-hour commute to JFK, 13 miles away. Then, it's a matter of getting thru TSA (lines can be rather long for the herds, unless ...) & getting checked in for your int'l departure.
The best option would be to fly into NYC the evening before & hotwire/priceline a hotel nearby (or, use points) for a good night rest, enjoy a breakfast in the morning & then take a ride out to JFK without sweating it out & staring at the clock ticking away, YMMV.