kikster223

I guess I'm confused then because the first reply in the thread stated you never enter Canada for international connections, and the OP was flying to LHR, which is what made me think I would be okay.

Oh well. Thanks for the reply.

alexb133

Yes, as previously stated, Customs B is still a CBSA checkpoint (must have passport, Canadian visa etc). You are still entering Canada, as you can freely walk out of the boarding area, therefore, being inadmissible to Canada means they won't let you go to your next flight. Instead, they will most likely put you back on the original plane to MSP.

Also, to the other person who had the question regarding British Airways...

BA is located in T3, therefore you must clear full CBSA inspection (including luggage) and transfer terminals. The Customs A/B program is only available if all your flights are located in T1.

ijgordon

What about flights that are wholly within T3? I'm doing MIA-YYZ-HKG on AA/CX, both in T3. Is there an "expedited" security/customs process? Or do I have to fully clear Canadian CBP, wait for my checked bag, and then re-check it for the onward flight?

I have a 90 minute connection, which I guess is legal, but I always assumed the bag would be checked through and there would be a minimal security/immigration/customs process. I mean, when you do JFK-YVR-HKG, you don't even have to get off the plane in YVR (and if you do I don't think you have to clear immigration).

alexb133

Terminal 3 does not allow for expedited security/customs.. In other words, there is no way to bypass full CBSA inspections before connecting to your next flight. Once your AA flight lands at YYZ, you have to go through immigration/customs, and then end up in the main departures area. From there its the usual bag drop with CX and then you go through security. The bag is checked to HKG, but you must still claim it at YYZ from customs, and then re-drop it off. Not sure how YVR works, but I would imagine if you stay on the plane you don't have to clear immigration (and if your bags are tagged to a final non-Canadian destination).

ijgordon

Ugh, what a nightmare. I thought the US was the only country that made international-to-international connections a PITA. So now this is all going to cut into my lounge time at YYZ!

alexb133

Yes its a PITA I agree.. I fly the YYZ-IAD-CDG and back quite often, and without Nexus it would be impossible. Thankfully now we get GE benefits.

Basically the only thing that will hold you up at CBSA is the bag. They take forever!!

ijgordon

Well, I have GE but we don't have Nexus benefits. And on my return through YYZ, I won't even get to benefit from it, other than maybe to convince a line Dragon to let me use the crew lane...

Often1

B is simply an expedited process for transit pax. But, it doesn't mean that you aren't entering Canada or that you aren't potentially subject to all entry formalities. It also may not be available for your particular flight connections.

In particular, if you are barred from entry to Canada, that will most likely be picked up in a document check and may well be picked up from the inbound flight manifest.

That can result in being turned away, handed over to the carrier which transported you from MSP, losing the value of the onward segment and being charged the full fare for your return to MSP.

You don't explain why you can't enter Canada, but depending on the reasons, you may be able to obtain a special visa to transit the airport from the Canadian consulate or better yet, don't transit Canada enroute. Lastly, again because you do not explain the reason for the issue with Canada, are you certain that Spain will admit you?

alexb133

Right! If you have a criminal conviction for example, they will find that out at Customs B.. Which, as Often1 stated, it carries the same formalities as Customs A, just a shorter line.

You also bring up a good point about being admitted into Spain.. Does the US share that database with Schengen? If so, (assuming its a criminal inadmissibility) you'll encounter problems upon entrance into Schengen.

number_6

This was correct until recently. T3 at YYZ is implementing an airside sterile transit so intl connections will not need to enter Canada. When I was there in May 2011 there were signs up in the immigration hall, directing intl transfer pax to the far end of the hall. I wasn't affected so I didn't check whether they still processed immigration there, but it is a big change at T3 in YYZ. I believe T1 has had sterile transit for some time, so should be the same at T3 (as it is in YVR). If it isn't operating today, it will be soon.

alexb133

That's awesome. I imagine it will be the same thing as in T1. With Customs A/B.. Because so far, the international flights are not sterile themselves (due to Canada not having exit immigration), and one could easily leave the departures area.

I don't know how much success it will have in T3, but I know that the Customs A/B programs helps AC out tremendously over in T1.

Funny I was there in May as well and didn't see it. Then again, I'm like a robot in YYZ.. My record time from plane to car was 15 minutes (carryon only).

avsrock90

Bringing a thread back from the dead here....

I'm connecting through YYZ on a flight coming in from ORD on UA to a flight going out to LHR on AC. Connection time is 1hr, 40mins. Is that sufficient?

AC's website says 1:20 is the minimum time...should I be fine?

ijgordon

Figure I'd just provide an update:
Due to some apparent AA operational incompetence at MIA (incoming crew waiting on the tarmac for a gate for an hour), we landed at YYZ shortly after 1am for the 1:40am CX departure. Needless to say, no lounge time, and I probably only made the CX flight thanks to the CX escort that met me by baggage claim, went to fetch my bag from the "back" and expedited me to the CX departure gate. (Not that there were any lines at this time of night).

Even with an on-time arrival, this would have been an annoying transfer, and not one I'd willingly choose in the future.

alexb133

Glad to hear you made your flight! I imagine at that time the CBSA area was empty.

ijgordon

Yes, I was first off the plane (well, maybe first 5 but I booked it ahead of the others) and there was nobody else at passport control. Even so, seems they allow international connecting passengers to use the crew lane. The bottleneck was baggage retrieval. By the time the CX escort got my bag from the back room, the first 20-30 bags came off the carousel, though there's no guarantee mine would have been there that quickly even with the Priority tag.