70 minute connection in Toronto flying from DC to Vancouver enough?
May 31, 2019, 1:46 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Lately due to MAX fleet constraints, AC's YYZ-YVR flights were all severely overbooked with pages of people on standby. If OP is not flying in J cabin, *ANY* slight delay in the DC flight leaving, landing at YYZ, or landing on time but finding an occupied gate would wreak havok on their plans as AC's computers may automatically offload anyone who has broken MCT.
If there are checked bags the situation is even more dismal.
OP lists a $900 more expensive price to fly the day before but I suspect it would have been much less of a difference when initially booked.
The only time could possibly make sense to fly on the same day as a cruise is if you bought both items from the same travel agency,and they include cruise insurance where they transport you on last minute flights to meet the ship at it first port of call.
//of course the last and only "cruise" I've been on is the Toronto to YTZ ferry.. and when I miss it, my backup plan of running underground has not failed me yet.
If there are checked bags the situation is even more dismal.
OP lists a $900 more expensive price to fly the day before but I suspect it would have been much less of a difference when initially booked.
The only time could possibly make sense to fly on the same day as a cruise is if you bought both items from the same travel agency,and they include cruise insurance where they transport you on last minute flights to meet the ship at it first port of call.
//of course the last and only "cruise" I've been on is the Toronto to YTZ ferry.. and when I miss it, my backup plan of running underground has not failed me yet.
May 31, 2019, 1:50 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2015
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May 31, 2019, 2:02 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 433
Ahh. I have tried it 2 times w/ flights arriving from the States. When I did it, flights from Europe were not included yet, and the lines were not busy since it was early morning? I have since gotten NEXUS; for some reason the iris scanner would not work one time at YUL (only entered using NEXUS 2 times since obtaining it), and I ended up clearing through the diplomatic line.
May 31, 2019, 2:19 pm
#35
Join Date: Feb 2009
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One of the flights a few weeks ago had 84 people on standby. I certainly wouldn't rely on being able to get a later flight if you miss the connection.
May 31, 2019, 2:41 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
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Posts: 753
It sounds like you are in a tough position between making a risky connection and incurring a huge fee to change.
There is another recent thread from from someone who had a similar issue at LHR and was very poorly advised by their travel agent.
I would risk the connection rather than incur $3,600 to change flights. As others have advised, make damn sure you have travel insurance and that it covers you adequately.
The other advice I have is to manage things proactively on the day of travel. Check where the aircraft is coming from and call AC or deal with their people at IAD if you see that a delay is likely. It will be easier for them to reaccommodate you on another YYZ-YVR flight (or via somewhere else) if you contact them as soon as a delay is posted (or anticipated) instead of having to join the customer service line at YYZ after you’ve actually missed your connection.
There is another recent thread from from someone who had a similar issue at LHR and was very poorly advised by their travel agent.
I would risk the connection rather than incur $3,600 to change flights. As others have advised, make damn sure you have travel insurance and that it covers you adequately.
The other advice I have is to manage things proactively on the day of travel. Check where the aircraft is coming from and call AC or deal with their people at IAD if you see that a delay is likely. It will be easier for them to reaccommodate you on another YYZ-YVR flight (or via somewhere else) if you contact them as soon as a delay is posted (or anticipated) instead of having to join the customer service line at YYZ after you’ve actually missed your connection.
May 31, 2019, 2:51 pm
#37
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In this case, travel insurance won't help them catch up to the cruise if they do miss it. As stated above, if they miss the ship in Vancouver, they won't be able to catch up to the ship in any of the Alaskan ports due to the PVSA.
May 31, 2019, 3:11 pm
#39
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Alone and with NEXUS, I can't remember the last time I didn't make a 70 minute connection in YYZ. Probably 75 flights ago.
May 31, 2019, 3:18 pm
#40
Join Date: Sep 2009
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I'm sure @Km814 gets the idea now. 
YYZ-YVR flights recently has no/few free seats due to the 737Max grounding.
On my way is the cheapest option for OP as there are many more options specially from his original destination.
Everything else relies on luck or exhorbitant cost.
80% chance of the OP getting there on time but would you bet your entire vacation on it ?
May 31, 2019, 5:38 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
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I’ve been through the transit immigration/customs route three times this year and there was no wait at all to see an agent. We had to wait longer for the bus to leave to take us to the domestic gates than to deal with immigration. There are no NEXUS machines there, so some people get delayed as they haven’t filled out the declaration form and have to do that first.
Sometimes you walk right up to an agent, or maybe wait 2-3 minutes. Other times the line is a gigantic cluster &^%$ and I go downstairs, clear with NEXUS and then re-clear security because it is going to be faster.
Either way this is a family trying to make a tight connection with small children. Most of the people in this thread minimizing a 70 minute connection clearly have never attempted this with small children in tow. Do you want to bet a cruise that customs is not going to be a cluster when they land? Because I wouldn't.
May 31, 2019, 5:41 pm
#42
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,125
OP: Can you tell us which flight you are on inbound to Toronto and the day of the week? I only see a 93-minute connection from AC7609 from DCA with the pdf timetable (which is often wrong). That 23 extra minutes can make a huge difference.
You have a few things working in your favour. You are arriving in Toronto after all the early morning international flights get in and before any of the European flights arrive, so customs should not have a long lineup. Delays often accumulate throughout the day leading to later planes in the afternoon, but your flight out of DC will be the first one of the day. Weather in June is also less likely to be a problem first thing in the morning.
The transfer at YYZ is exactly as described by RatherBeInYOW above -- no security; NEXUS won't help you. But I can generally go a bit faster and walk from gate to gate in about 25 minutes.
You can probably make it, but the consequences of missing the connection are missing your cruise. If you decide to go for it, sit as close to the front as you can on the flight to YYZ (pay for the seat selection ... it's cheap compared to what you've already paid for your flights and cruise), make sure you know where you are going in YYZ before you land, and don't dawdle. Hopefully you don't have a stroller as then you'll have to wait at the plane when you arrive in YYZ until they unload it.
You have a few things working in your favour. You are arriving in Toronto after all the early morning international flights get in and before any of the European flights arrive, so customs should not have a long lineup. Delays often accumulate throughout the day leading to later planes in the afternoon, but your flight out of DC will be the first one of the day. Weather in June is also less likely to be a problem first thing in the morning.
The transfer at YYZ is exactly as described by RatherBeInYOW above -- no security; NEXUS won't help you. But I can generally go a bit faster and walk from gate to gate in about 25 minutes.
You can probably make it, but the consequences of missing the connection are missing your cruise. If you decide to go for it, sit as close to the front as you can on the flight to YYZ (pay for the seat selection ... it's cheap compared to what you've already paid for your flights and cruise), make sure you know where you are going in YYZ before you land, and don't dawdle. Hopefully you don't have a stroller as then you'll have to wait at the plane when you arrive in YYZ until they unload it.
May 31, 2019, 5:51 pm
#43
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@Km814
As per @StuMcIlwain and others above, please provide your date and flight info so we can better help you.
Thanks.
As per @StuMcIlwain and others above, please provide your date and flight info so we can better help you.
Thanks.
May 31, 2019, 6:50 pm
#44
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YQR
Posts: 2,741
That's great, I've been through there 4 times this month, I've lost track of how many times this year.
Sometimes you walk right up to an agent, or maybe wait 2-3 minutes. Other times the line is a gigantic cluster &^%$ and I go downstairs, clear with NEXUS and then re-clear security because it is going to be faster.
Either way this is a family trying to make a tight connection with small children. Most of the people in this thread minimizing a 70 minute connection clearly have never attempted this with small children in tow. Do you want to bet a cruise that customs is not going to be a cluster when they land? Because I wouldn't.
Sometimes you walk right up to an agent, or maybe wait 2-3 minutes. Other times the line is a gigantic cluster &^%$ and I go downstairs, clear with NEXUS and then re-clear security because it is going to be faster.
Either way this is a family trying to make a tight connection with small children. Most of the people in this thread minimizing a 70 minute connection clearly have never attempted this with small children in tow. Do you want to bet a cruise that customs is not going to be a cluster when they land? Because I wouldn't.
I’m sure I’m doomed to hit a huge lineup next time...
I sure would not want to risk a same day flight to a cruise either, but wouldn’t be paying out the $3600 to change my tickets either (mind you, I wouldn’t book anything like the OP has done anyhow, except if I was willing to miss my connection and had alternate plans for what to do if I did). Managing risk with OMY and/or SDC still looks like a good idea to me.
May 31, 2019, 8:26 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
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Posts: 2,652
Originally Posted by arf04
In the case of a delay (which should be known by tracking the inbound from Toronto)
Originally Posted by expert7700
Lately due to MAX fleet constraints, AC's YYZ-YVR flights were all severely overbooked with pages of people on standby.