EWR to YVR connecting in YYZ
#17
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 433
You will go through US CBP at YYC. Can you do FT'ers a favour and try to take photos if you go through OSS tomorrow? I have not transited at YYZ in a long time, and I would like to know what to look for the next time I go through CBSA. Cheers
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 179
I land at YYZ close to 2 PM. I'd imagine OSS would be functional by that time.
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 179
I apologize greatly for being late in getting back to you guys. I've been immensely busy traveling for my company over the past few weeks.
My transition through YYZ earlier this month was pretty smooth. However, I did not get enough time to snap photos of my experiences as I made my way through YYZ. But I'll do my best to describe my movements.
When I deplaned from EWR-originating flight, I walked down the jet bridge and climbed up an escalator to an upper level. I then followed the "Connections" signs down a long concourse. I then hung a left and climbed down an escalator to get to the Customs & Immigration hall. There's a doorway for "US/Canadian Passports" and one for "Other Passports". I scanned my passport at one of the kiosks, and submitted my declaration card to one of the officers. I then went down another escalator to baggage claim. I exited the baggage claim area through a pair of automated double doors. I was then faced with two signs (one pointing left for "Connections" and one pointing forwards for "Arrivals"). I hung a left and walked down a long corridor to the baggage transfer area. I walked through the baggage transfer area and ended up in a hall with an elevator that took me to the D gates on the second floor. I walked down another corridor and hung another left to a security checkpoint beyond an automated doorway. After going through this checkpoint, I read the overhead screens to find out which D gate my connecting flight to YVR was flying out of. I turned out that my YVR-bound flight was departing from the other end of the terminal.
I must mention that when you're connecting out of YYZ, you MUST follow the "Connections/D Gate" signs that are visible at every turn. Plus, there are airport officials guiding you along the way. And some of these officials will scan your boarding pass before you can proceed further (like when I was about to go through the security checkpoint).
Thus, with all these twists and turns, I really did not have time to snap photos inside YYZ in order to document my journeys. When I reached the gate where my YVR-bound flight was departing, initial boarding had already commenced. I didn't even have time to use the washrooms.
Hope this helps you all.
My transition through YYZ earlier this month was pretty smooth. However, I did not get enough time to snap photos of my experiences as I made my way through YYZ. But I'll do my best to describe my movements.
When I deplaned from EWR-originating flight, I walked down the jet bridge and climbed up an escalator to an upper level. I then followed the "Connections" signs down a long concourse. I then hung a left and climbed down an escalator to get to the Customs & Immigration hall. There's a doorway for "US/Canadian Passports" and one for "Other Passports". I scanned my passport at one of the kiosks, and submitted my declaration card to one of the officers. I then went down another escalator to baggage claim. I exited the baggage claim area through a pair of automated double doors. I was then faced with two signs (one pointing left for "Connections" and one pointing forwards for "Arrivals"). I hung a left and walked down a long corridor to the baggage transfer area. I walked through the baggage transfer area and ended up in a hall with an elevator that took me to the D gates on the second floor. I walked down another corridor and hung another left to a security checkpoint beyond an automated doorway. After going through this checkpoint, I read the overhead screens to find out which D gate my connecting flight to YVR was flying out of. I turned out that my YVR-bound flight was departing from the other end of the terminal.
I must mention that when you're connecting out of YYZ, you MUST follow the "Connections/D Gate" signs that are visible at every turn. Plus, there are airport officials guiding you along the way. And some of these officials will scan your boarding pass before you can proceed further (like when I was about to go through the security checkpoint).
Thus, with all these twists and turns, I really did not have time to snap photos inside YYZ in order to document my journeys. When I reached the gate where my YVR-bound flight was departing, initial boarding had already commenced. I didn't even have time to use the washrooms.
Hope this helps you all.
#20
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 70
I apologize greatly for being late in getting back to you guys. I've been immensely busy traveling for my company over the past few weeks.
My transition through YYZ earlier this month was pretty smooth. However, I did not get enough time to snap photos of my experiences as I made my way through YYZ. But I'll do my best to describe my movements.
When I deplaned from EWR-originating flight, I walked down the jet bridge and climbed up an escalator to an upper level. I then followed the "Connections" signs down a long concourse. I then hung a left and climbed down an escalator to get to the Customs & Immigration hall. There's a doorway for "US/Canadian Passports" and one for "Other Passports". I scanned my passport at one of the kiosks, and submitted my declaration card to one of the officers. I then went down another escalator to baggage claim. I exited the baggage claim area through a pair of automated double doors. I was then faced with two signs (one pointing left for "Connections" and one pointing forwards for "Arrivals"). I hung a left and walked down a long corridor to the baggage transfer area. I walked through the baggage transfer area and ended up in a hall with an elevator that took me to the D gates on the second floor. I walked down another corridor and hung another left to a security checkpoint beyond an automated doorway. After going through this checkpoint, I read the overhead screens to find out which D gate my connecting flight to YVR was flying out of. I turned out that my YVR-bound flight was departing from the other end of the terminal.
I must mention that when you're connecting out of YYZ, you MUST follow the "Connections/D Gate" signs that are visible at every turn. Plus, there are airport officials guiding you along the way. And some of these officials will scan your boarding pass before you can proceed further (like when I was about to go through the security checkpoint).
Thus, with all these twists and turns, I really did not have time to snap photos inside YYZ in order to document my journeys. When I reached the gate where my YVR-bound flight was departing, initial boarding had already commenced. I didn't even have time to use the washrooms.
Hope this helps you all.
My transition through YYZ earlier this month was pretty smooth. However, I did not get enough time to snap photos of my experiences as I made my way through YYZ. But I'll do my best to describe my movements.
When I deplaned from EWR-originating flight, I walked down the jet bridge and climbed up an escalator to an upper level. I then followed the "Connections" signs down a long concourse. I then hung a left and climbed down an escalator to get to the Customs & Immigration hall. There's a doorway for "US/Canadian Passports" and one for "Other Passports". I scanned my passport at one of the kiosks, and submitted my declaration card to one of the officers. I then went down another escalator to baggage claim. I exited the baggage claim area through a pair of automated double doors. I was then faced with two signs (one pointing left for "Connections" and one pointing forwards for "Arrivals"). I hung a left and walked down a long corridor to the baggage transfer area. I walked through the baggage transfer area and ended up in a hall with an elevator that took me to the D gates on the second floor. I walked down another corridor and hung another left to a security checkpoint beyond an automated doorway. After going through this checkpoint, I read the overhead screens to find out which D gate my connecting flight to YVR was flying out of. I turned out that my YVR-bound flight was departing from the other end of the terminal.
I must mention that when you're connecting out of YYZ, you MUST follow the "Connections/D Gate" signs that are visible at every turn. Plus, there are airport officials guiding you along the way. And some of these officials will scan your boarding pass before you can proceed further (like when I was about to go through the security checkpoint).
Thus, with all these twists and turns, I really did not have time to snap photos inside YYZ in order to document my journeys. When I reached the gate where my YVR-bound flight was departing, initial boarding had already commenced. I didn't even have time to use the washrooms.
Hope this helps you all.
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 179
By the way, my EWR-YYZ boarding pass read OSS. But it didn't seem like a one-stop security to me.
I had 90 minutes to reach my connecting flight to YVR. I had just made it after checking video monitors for the gate of my outbound flight.
I didn't have any problems with Customs & Immigration. I just scanned my passport at the kiosk, and submitted the receipt and my declaration card to a customs officer. No questions asked.
I spent quite a bit of time at the security checkpoint, though, because the officers took their dear sweet time examining my belongings through the X-ray machine.
Just remember these steps after you deplane in YYZ:
1) Go through Customs & Immigration (you'll have to climb up one escalator and then climb down another)
2) Go down to baggage claim and quickly exit baggage claim
3) Instead of entering the arrivals hall, head towards the baggage transfer area
4) After walking through the baggage transfer area, go up the elevator to the second floor
5) Walk down the elevated corridor and line up at the security checkpoint
6) Once you've cleared security, check the overhead monitors beyond the checkpoint and immediately proceed to your gate
If my personal account seems discombobulated, just remember to follow the "Connections" signs or the "D Gates" signs as you're making your way through YYZ. They're everywhere.
Plus, if both your inbound flight and outbound flight at YYZ are with AC, your checked bags should be checked all the way from LGA to YVR.
Safe travels!
Thanks for the follow up. I have a LGA-YYZ-YVR flight Saturday morning, and am worried about the connection time in YYZ. Our flights are on AC so I believe we can avoid claiming bags, but going through customs and security sounds like it will be very tight even if our arriving flight is on time. GLad to know you could make it, but it doesn't sound easy for a first timer.
I didn't have any problems with Customs & Immigration. I just scanned my passport at the kiosk, and submitted the receipt and my declaration card to a customs officer. No questions asked.
I spent quite a bit of time at the security checkpoint, though, because the officers took their dear sweet time examining my belongings through the X-ray machine.
Just remember these steps after you deplane in YYZ:
1) Go through Customs & Immigration (you'll have to climb up one escalator and then climb down another)
2) Go down to baggage claim and quickly exit baggage claim
3) Instead of entering the arrivals hall, head towards the baggage transfer area
4) After walking through the baggage transfer area, go up the elevator to the second floor
5) Walk down the elevated corridor and line up at the security checkpoint
6) Once you've cleared security, check the overhead monitors beyond the checkpoint and immediately proceed to your gate
If my personal account seems discombobulated, just remember to follow the "Connections" signs or the "D Gates" signs as you're making your way through YYZ. They're everywhere.
Plus, if both your inbound flight and outbound flight at YYZ are with AC, your checked bags should be checked all the way from LGA to YVR.
Safe travels!
#22
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 433
On an unrelated note: When you say kiosk, do you mean the new Primary Inspection Kiosks or the Automated Border Clearance Machines?
#23
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 70
OUr experience.
Exit the plane, walk a bit, up an escalator, then walk a looooooooooooooooong way.
Where I think it is easy to make mistake, because I almost did this, is that at one point there is a big overhead sign that says somethign like Gates ABCD and has a sign to the left. I started to go left, but my wife grabbed my arm and pointed to a small sign on the right side of the hallway just past the overhead sign that said somethign like Gate D or Domestic Flights. An AC agent was there checked, checked our tickets, and openend a gate for us to see 2 border agents that checked our declaration form and passport. Then down an escalator, to a bus, and transfer to D gate....no extra security, no big pick up.
I would have missed it, if it weren't for my wife. The agent was letting people come to her to check their tickets rather than announcing or asking walkers that they can avoid security.
So it went well for us, but it was a bit of luck or just having 2 people read signs instead of 1.
#24
Join Date: May 2016
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 433