Originally Posted by
emcampbe
Going to check in here. Need to do a YYZ-SFO on points, probably either Xmas day or Boxing Day, and one itinerary option is via YYC. However, the connection time is 53 minutes (seems like transborder MCT is 50 mins). I have Nexus, so suppose that will help. Likely no checked bags, which I presume also helps, so I don't have to wait for that process at pre-clearance.
While I see this is possible, can anyone comment on if this is advisable (thinking of the difference here between minimum connecting time, and what someone in the UA forum has coined as 'reasonable' connecting time). What is domestic to US connections like there, and these days? Will being Xmas day or Boxing Day help/hurt.
I'm assuming you're looking at AC135 to AC8647, which is actually 57 minutes to connect. A whole 4 extra minutes!
You're correct (at least for AC-AC) that the MCT for TB is 50 minutes, which was surprisingly low to me. It's definitely possible, but might well be below the
RCT. There's no longer a connections security area - you exit landside and join the same TB queue as YYC originating pax - so to the extent you're delayed, you may have greater difficulty in getting through security quickly. I'm not sure whether they do anything to expedite pax with tight connections.
AC135 is showing as a 77L. If it stays as a widebody, it's likely to come in around D76, which would be fairly convenient for you. But could also be out at the end of the B pier, which would add a few minutes. So no guarantees there. If you arrive at B39, it could easily take you 10 minutes just to get to TB security.
This is perhaps more for the AC forum, but at YYZ and YUL they've been holding a ton of TB flights for late connecting pax. YYC will have a lot less of that connecting traffic though - probably just a bit from YEG and Saskatchewan. How likely AC would be to hold the plane, hard to say.
Without NEXUS, I probably wouldn't even consider this. With NEXUS, your chances are much better.
As for Christmas, I suspect that probably helps because there should be a lot fewer people. Not sure about Boxing Day though.
If you misconnect, you'd need to do YYC-YVR-SFO, and it would get you there at 9PM. So it's not impossible for you to make it same day, but it's quite a bit of delay and another connection.
Bottom line is there's definitely some risk. If it's a bunch cheaper, and/or you prefer not to have to get up at 3:30AM to catch the earlier YYZ-YYC flight, maybe it's worth it.