Originally Posted by
Joe Airman
According to this:
https://www.aircanada.com/en/traveli...images/yyz.pdf
Which was Jan 31, 2012, AC instructions are to place duty-free in checked bag before continuing to connecting flight.
I will be in a position in a few weeks to buy duty-free on a flight from SFO to YYZ, and then on to YXU, with no checked bag, and don't intend to test the system unless there is something in print *somewhere* that tells me they know how to handle bonded bags.
And if you don't have checked bags, why can't they figure out a way for you to continue airside to a connecting flight after hitting immigration?
Even if it was in print, CATSA would still reserve the right to deny it at their discretion when you transit the checkpoint. Air Canada may never change their recommendation to put it in checked baggage, given that it is CATSA's authority that makes the call. Without checked baggage, I've not been willing to try it yet. Maybe once I read enough positive experiences to rely on consistency.
Creating an airside transit ability will probably never happen because CBSA will want all passengers staying in the country to pass through customs as well as immigration, even if you have only carry on bags. They're unlikely to staff a second customs location for an airside transfer. Even then, YYZ would have to reconstruct (translate: spend money) to even create an airside path to domestic gates