Which reward itinerary should I choose YYT - RSW in October?
Aug 29, 2019, 9:33 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 21
Which reward itinerary should I choose YYT - RSW in October?
I'm booking a reward flight from YYT - RSW in October and only have two crappy options to choose from. I know both have very tight connections but would love to hear others opinions on the best option.
Option 1: YYT - YUL - IAH - RSW. Only a 45 minute connection in Houston and changing from Air Canada to United flight.
Option 2: YYT - YYZ - IAH - RSW. Only an 1:10 minute connection in Toronto. My flight from YYT departs at 5am, decreasing the chance of a delay from YYT.
Option 1: YYT - YUL - IAH - RSW. Only a 45 minute connection in Houston and changing from Air Canada to United flight.
Option 2: YYT - YYZ - IAH - RSW. Only an 1:10 minute connection in Toronto. My flight from YYT departs at 5am, decreasing the chance of a delay from YYT.
Aug 29, 2019, 9:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Montreal & Nashville
Programs: Aeroplan SE100K, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium Elite, BW Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 391
You will have to clear US customs in YYZ forget it in 1:10, so I would say option 1 with carry-on only ideally
Aug 29, 2019, 9:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC 50k 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,402
Nuts. I regularly do this in 25 minutes gate to gate. If you have Nexus and don’t use the connection security line but use the regular security (as if you are originating in YYZ) this is easy.
Last edited by ridefar; Aug 29, 2019 at 10:28 pm
Aug 29, 2019, 9:55 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Montreal & Nashville
Programs: Aeroplan SE100K, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium Elite, BW Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 391
What about without Nexus times?
Aug 29, 2019, 10:04 pm
#5
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,775
OP, do you have NEXUS/GE? That would make the YYZ connection much easier.
45 minutes at IAH is tight, but it's not a hard terminal to transit. Flying AC in and out of IAH kind of sucks because they only have 1-2 gates available to them depending on the time, so if there are delays or maintenance issues, you can get stuck on the tarmac for a long time waiting for a gate. Even if a bunch of nearby UA gates are sitting empty. Although the good news for you is it's usually the YYC flight that gets the shaft.
If you have NEXUS/GE and want to manage the risk of misconnecting, I'd go with the YYZ option, as long as you can stand the 5AM YYT departure.
45 minutes at IAH is tight, but it's not a hard terminal to transit. Flying AC in and out of IAH kind of sucks because they only have 1-2 gates available to them depending on the time, so if there are delays or maintenance issues, you can get stuck on the tarmac for a long time waiting for a gate. Even if a bunch of nearby UA gates are sitting empty. Although the good news for you is it's usually the YYC flight that gets the shaft.
If you have NEXUS/GE and want to manage the risk of misconnecting, I'd go with the YYZ option, as long as you can stand the 5AM YYT departure.
Aug 29, 2019, 10:15 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 21
OP, do you have NEXUS/GE? That would make the YYZ connection much easier.
45 minutes at IAH is tight, but it's not a hard terminal to transit. Flying AC in and out of IAH kind of sucks because they only have 1-2 gates available to them depending on the time, so if there are delays or maintenance issues, you can get stuck on the tarmac for a long time waiting for a gate. Even if a bunch of nearby UA gates are sitting empty. Although the good news for you is it's usually the YYC flight that gets the shaft.
If you have NEXUS/GE and want to manage the risk of misconnecting, I'd go with the YYZ option, as long as you can stand the 5AM YYT departure.
45 minutes at IAH is tight, but it's not a hard terminal to transit. Flying AC in and out of IAH kind of sucks because they only have 1-2 gates available to them depending on the time, so if there are delays or maintenance issues, you can get stuck on the tarmac for a long time waiting for a gate. Even if a bunch of nearby UA gates are sitting empty. Although the good news for you is it's usually the YYC flight that gets the shaft.
If you have NEXUS/GE and want to manage the risk of misconnecting, I'd go with the YYZ option, as long as you can stand the 5AM YYT departure.
Aug 29, 2019, 10:17 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 21
I’ll be booked in business class. Do you know if they have priority security lines for Business class?
Aug 29, 2019, 10:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YYC
Programs: AC 50k 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,402
I have had Nexus for almost 10 years now. I’m sorry but I honestly have no idea what transiting YYZ is like without it. I have rarely seen lines that I think would be a problem for you but I am no authority.
Aug 31, 2019, 1:09 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: YYZ
Posts: 6,138