connecting from YYZ T1 to T3
 

I have flown through YYZ T1 many times and know it better than I care to admit, but have never, ever been to T3, so I´d appreciate your input:

1) What would be the process of connecting from T1 (arriving on AC from EWR) connecting to T3 (AA to ORD)? (Yes, I know the routing is ridiculous, but just ignore that for the moment.:p) I guess clear Canadian immigration/customs -> go landside and take train to T3 -> go through security and US pre-clearance? Any short-cut to this?

2) How much time would you recommend for such a connection? (´ll be travelling with hand baggage only, flying on two separate tickets and can access priority check-in/security where available - but don´t have NEXUS/GE)
I´m thinking 2h + 1h buffer in case of a delay ex-EWR = 3h.

Thanks!

Hi Jasper2009,

Not sure that the train between terminals is back up and working, as it was down for connecting to the eventual Union Station addition. So you may need to take the shuttle bus between terminals. But if your flight from EWR is on time, and since you're not checking luggage, three hours should be sufficient. Note that as anywhere, time of day may mean busier security/preclearance waits. Check the YYZ website for info on your day of travel if you can.

Link is: www.gtaa.com

Here's a link I found for connections (assuming you're inbound to T-1 on AC and outbound on AA from T-3, and you don't need the info on the checked luggage as you don't have any).
http://www.torontopearson.com/Connecting.aspx#


bj-21.

US arrival for Canadian is relatively quick with the PP scanner system up and running. Your wild card is US CBP pre-clearance at T3: it has a rush hour like Toronto Traffic. Monday morning and Thursday/Friday evening can be bad.

AA and DL check in at T3 is right by the lineup for US CBP custom hall so it will not be a long walk once you checked in with AA. Canada-US transborder OLCI is usually not available due to the travel document check by the airlines.
If AA prints PRIORITYon your BP you can access priority CATSA line which would help especially during the rush hour.

HTH

2 weeks ago I made the route PUJ-YYZ-YOW with WestJet and YOW-YYZ-PUJ with air canada.

Ask during the checkin if you have to pickup your luggage in YYZ, if they says No, then you just have to find out your boarding gate fallowing the arrows.

If they says yes, then after you pick up your luggage in the exit turn to the left that is the exit for conecting flights, they will check your ticket and drop it in the belt if is Domestic conection then you have to go thru the security and go inside the restricted area in the 2nd. floor, in my route PUJ-YYZ-YOW I had to pick up my luggage did it as I explained. (From International to Domestic)

If they says that you have to pick up and you have another international flight then you will have to do the checkin again with the airline.

I didnt have to pick up my luggage in the route YOU-YYZ-PUJ so I went straight to find out where was my boarding gate, as my ticket for the conection from YYZ-PUJ didnt have any info about the Gate and Number had to check in the Screens, I was boarding on Gate E-76, each terminal has diferent letters for the Gates, so you just have to fallow arrows depending onf what letter are you boarding.

You must have your passport and boarding ticket on hand, usually before access the door that will allow you make the conection they have some body telling Internationals conection this way, so you just have to show your passport and boarding ticket they will put an stamp that says Domestic and will open the door after that you just have to find out the number of your gate and wait for the boarding call.

Great input riva31: but you are flying on the same airline, intl-domestic and domestic-intl. Your experience have no bearing on the transit the OP is inquiring about.

Anyone familiar with Canadian airport knows that intl departure is not the same as US departure.

OP has a terminal change on two different airlines/tickets and is flying in from US and departing to US which has totally different procedure than your transit.

^1) You will be treated like every other international arrival into Canada. Proceed to customs A at T1, and go straight thru to CBSA (I know there's an option to turn left for US customs, but that's only T1 departures). Once CBSA processes your entry into Canada, take the escalator up from the international arrivals at T1 to the departures level. Go to the link train that connects the two terminals.

Upon arrival into terminal 3, proceed to the far end (USA departures) and check in with AA. The US gates are not a long walk from there.

You will then enter the US CBP lineup. Once processed by CBP, you will proceed thru security and find your departure gate.

2) I would recommend a minimum 2 hours. Keep in mind the automatic passport scanners in the CBSA area are for Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. The lineup for CBSA shouldn't be too long, but the CBP lineup at T3 is sometimes a nightmare without trusted traveler status. Your plan for 3 hours should be ok. I've made really tight connections before, and, if it really comes down to you missing your flight, just ask if you can use the special services line at T3 US customs. (It's basically the crew line). I've used it once before when I had less than 30 minutes left. The agent was really nice to me about it actually.

Quick follow-up question: Does the bus between T1 and T3 always operate even though when the train is operating or is it either/or?

Also, where exactly can the bus be found?

Thanks!

IIRC the inter-terminal/parking shuttle replaces the inter-terminal/parking monorail train which needed to be shut down during the construction of the rail-link at YYZ to downtown.

The bus is still replacing the terminal train. It's very clearly signposted in both terminals. In many respects it's as efficient if not moreso than the train it replaces.:)

The inter terminal train will be back in service on November 8.

http://www.torontopearson.com/upload...ial_ENTIRE.pdf