I booked an Aeroplan reward ticket LHR-YYZ-YYC and I only have 1 hr, 25 minutes to connect in YYZ. Having never connected through YYZ before, I didn't realize that we would have to collect our luggage there along with clearing customs and am now thinking the time is too tight. We do have Nexus cards which should help though. Any advice? (or directions as YYZ is new to me).

1h25 International to domestic Connection time is doable --I've done this process in 1h15 with a few minutes to spare. Nexus should help during the peak times.

If you are curious about the process, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority has put together a photo-realistic animated video that guides you through the process. Click here then click "Terminal 1 Connections" and finally select "International to Canada."

One thing the video clip does not talk about is you must clear CATSA security before entering the domestic sterile area. This can be done on the 2nd or 3rd floor regular checkpoints.

Another thing that I always reccomend is to be sure to fill out the customs declaration forms before departing your origin airport (in your case LHR)

In the event that your LHR flight is severely delayed, enquire at the service desk or gate podium to see if there are later flights to YYC.

Hope I have helped!

~FAI PDX Flyer

Thank You FAIPDXFlyer. I will check out the video. We are travelling in J on AC, so I am also wondering if that will expedite things a bit.

I don't think you have to collect your luggage if you are with the same airline. They should transfer it through for you.

The good thing is, if you miss your connection to Calgary, there are flights every couple of hours.

All PAX doing international-to-domestic connections in YYZ need to claim their luggage at the customs bagage claim area after clearing Passport Control and then place it on the connections transfer belt after clearing Customs. PAX on international-to-international connections however have their luggage automatically transferred.

~FAI PDX Flyer

They only tag it to your destination YYC. You need to claim your bags to clear custom after immigration at your first port of entry, YYZ in this case.

On Sunday, 3-Aug four of us will be arriving at 14:55 into YYZ on LH from MUC (biz class). Connecting at 17:00 to UA YYZ-ORD-CLE (on same reservation).

AC has a direct flight YYZ-CLE departing at 16:30.

All luggage will be carry-on.

Should I change the res to the 16:30 AC connection (is 95 minutes enough connection time)?

THANKS.

95 minutes is very doable even with checked bags.

You will arrive at YYZ, then instead of going to CBSA immigration/customs, you will take transit to US divertion which has a CBSA travel document check.
After that check you will be at the lineup for CBP US pre-clear area where you deal with US CBP.
Your YYZ-US flight will be a US "domestic" arrival as you have cleared CBP in YYZ.

The other factor working in your favour is Aug 3 Sunday is over a long weekend (Holiday Monday in Ontario)

tentseller:

Thank you.

During New Year's holiday travel in January, we will be arriving HND-YYZ on AC6 at 15:40 with 1h50min connection to UA flight (biz class, on the same itinerary) UA582 YYZ-ORD departing 17:30. We might have checked bags but do have Global Entry.

I believe the UA flight is codeshared with AC, but it sounds like we will still need to pick up our bags to clear customs, then recheck as needed?

Based on the responses above, even with added crowds due to the holidays, we should be able to make this connection, right?