Leaving YYZ while connecting
 

Hey guys,

One of my friends is doing a YYC-AMS with a layover in YYZ(a few hours; plenty of time to deal with traffic etc.).
He wants to go visit family for a bit (YYZ) and catch the YYZ-AMS flight.

Is it possible if he has checked luggage?

I have not done it at YYZ. But generally speaking, yes. I assume your friend is doing YYC-YYZ-AMS all on AC, if so then there is no need to pick up or re-check the bags at YYZ. The YYZ-AMS boarding pass will allow your friend to re-enter security at YYZ.

Yes. His luggage will be checked through to its final destination. All he has to do is walk out and he's free as a bird - just needs to be back in time to clear security and walk to the gate - get back to airport 45 mins to 1 hour before departure of YYZ-AMS should be fine.

(If he has a bunch of carry-on, there is also a luggage store where he could store the stuff for a small fee for the few hours he is away - http://www.cntower.ca/site_Files/Con...age_Info2S.PDF ).

Thank you; yes, its all AC (YYC-YYZ-AMS).

Perfect; thanks. Just 1 carry-on, pretty sure its all gifts for his niece, so he won't need to store them.

Would you guys really let an airline handle your luggage on a 6h+ layover?

Ever since the Dr. told us about bins not being set up for international flights before 4h before departure time, Ive been making conscious decisions to not connect more than 4h without takimg my bag.

Especially since gates are often not assigned that early and subject to change, I dont want my luggage to be forgotten in some random corner of the airport because the gate changed and there was a shift change between handlers, and now my bag is delayed.

Seems risky to me, but maybe I'm overhedging.

Even if you don't want your luggage checked thru, AC won't always do it if they think you're not going to turn up for the next segment (granted this is unlikely on a YYC-YYZ-AMS flight).

But given you are meeting family, I'm assuming they'll be picking you up in a car so grab luggage, throw it in the trunk and just ensure you're back at t-90/t-120 (depending upon personal comfort level and ability to use fast-track lines) to re-check it. Or failing that, store it as The Lev mentioned.

However, I'm pretty sure they'll be fine with ~6h. I don't see this massively increasing the likelihood of it going missing. I don't see a specific time listed though, I'm assuming this is 142 to 824 with a 3.5h layover though I grant you there are plenty of options that could have even a 10h layover)

For "modern" airports like HKG, ICN, DXB, connecting bags stay in designated holding areas until the bin for its flight has been setup. The holding areas are classified as something like 6 hours to departure, 8 hours to departure, etc. My bags have stayed in HKG and ICN for about 12 hours and it turned out to be fine.

I am not sure how YYZ does it, but I remember YVR once accepted my bag 7 hours before departure and I didn't lose it.

Yes, I certainly will. In fact, I will let them keep them overnight if possible (not at Toronto, obviously).

Have a few upcoming trips burning Aeroplan with <24 hour stopover in Singapore and another in Taipei. I hope they keep my luggage and that I dont' have to claim it when staying overnight.

Last time through Zurich I arrived 6am and did not depart until 10:30 pm. Never gave it a second thought and was happy not to have to look after a suitcase.

I'll do you one better: Aeroplan ticket, checked my bag in HKG at the airport express train station downtown, it went from downtown HKG to the airport, to ICN, stayed in ICN 23 hours, then ICN to FRA before I saw it again, and amazingly it was the first bag on the carousel. Something like 48 hours out of my possession and it survived! I will die before Canadian airports and airlines are able to pull that off (and before Canada/US allow bags to be kept overnight).

I do this all the, time often through YVR. 8 to 12 hour connections, of all types (Domestic to International, Domestic to US, International to US, International to Domestic), and have never had a problem.

I also once did a 13 hour overnight connection UA to OZ at LAX, without issues either.

Many times we've done 8 and 12-hour connections at YYZ with up to 15 bags checked, and never had an issue.

I guess it's just me! Thanks people ^