Hey, I'm in the planning (read: dreaming) stages of another Tokyo vacation. I live in Baltimore. My parents aren't wild about the idea of driving me to IAD to get another direct from ANA, though I have transportation alternatives.

In any case, I looked into it, and Air Canada could get me there really cheap in one hop through YYZ. This would be my first international transfer and much like my last trip to Tokyo, I'm a hair nervous about the new traveling experience. Can anybody experienced with running through Canadian customs and stuff tell me how much time I should expect customs to take just so I don't do anything stupid when booking? Thanks!

your connection in Toronto will be painless, you will be directed towards the (almost always empty) international connection line.

Minimum connection times are here:
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...tiontimes.html

On the way back you will clear US Customs at YYZ, thus saving you time at IAD

BWI, but still, I'll just dance my way out of the international terminal then. I forgot Toronto was a preclearance site. Good to know. Thanks a bunch!

I think BWI-YYZ is on a Dash 8, if that matters. Some people do care about such things.

It may be a flying minivan, but as long as it gets me from A to B, I'm cool.

By using AC for both flights you are in one terminal and that makes things easy as well. You should check if there is a chance to check your luggage through without claiming it. As far as I know, that sort of convenience is not yet available on this continent.

If I am recalling correctly on the BWI-YYZ-NRT flight luggage can be checked though. In the reverse direction it has to be collected in YYZ, lugged through US customs and rechecked.

Since you preclear in YYZ the flight will be treated as domestic and you'll not be arriving at the international terminal.

You are correct you will have to recollect the luggage but in the US claim area and then US customs is right next door so you won't have to lug it very far.

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If I am not mistaken as long as your luggage will be transfered on to your NRT flight it will be very simple connection for you. When you land in YYZ and reach the upper level of the terminal look for signs directing you towards customs B. Customs B will ask you a couple questions and you will be on your way to the international long haul gates at the end of the F Concorse.

For more information I have provided a link that will show you a video of what I am explaining. It will also show you how to connect in YYZ back to the US so that you will not have to clear Canadian Immigration only US preclearance once you are back in YYZ.

For the video on your out bound watch international to international and on the way back international to US.

http://www.airportwayfinder.com/wayfinders/yyz/

I hope this was somewhat helpful.

Can anyone tell me minimum time and safe time to allocate if connecting to a British Airways Heathrow flight on a Sunday at 6:50 pm in Toronto Terminal 3 when flying in on American Eagle from Ohare (it seems all in Terminal 3). Right now my connection is 110 minutes but I was getting conflicting information from the airlines about whether this is enough (BA suggested 3 hours, but AA said the 110 minutes is a valid connection after investigating).

The flight is on business class and AA platinum/Saphire status if that helps in Toronto.

From the wayfinder website it seems I have to go through border control, collect bags, customs, recheck bags, go through security.

Will be flying with kids so less risk tolerant than if traveling alone.

Thanks

Yes the wayfinder is correct you will have to be processed through Canadian Passport control, collect your luggage and proceed through customs. I disagree with the video however on one point bc it seems absolutely stupid to do. After you clear canadian customs do no turn left and recheck your luggage to just repick it up again one floor up. Once you are upstairs go to AA get your US customs form fill it out and if your bags are tagged to your final destination proceed into the US passport control.

As far as the time is concerned someone else will have to answer that I have never used YYZ as a transfere point.

PS just want to add my two cents on my experience in YYZ yesterday on a YYZ-ORD flight on American out of Terminal 3.

The US customs line was a disaster, with only 3-4 Customs officials handling a line of at least 300 people. I got there at 4:45pm for a 6:00pm flight and I was not out of the Customs line until 6:15pm. An hour and a half. I have no idea if this is normal or if it was a one-time thing but it is one of those airports that you probably want to get to three hours early if you are flying to the US.