YYZ / Toronto Pearson Customs Preclearance to USA
Jan 23, 2018, 3:51 pm
#1
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YYZ / Toronto Pearson Customs Preclearance to USA
Hi all, I'm on a 7 am flight from Toronto Pearson to HNL, connecting thru DFW. I know customs will take place in Toronto -- How early should I be at the Airport? Is everything fully staffed at 4 or 5 am? Any other details I should know? I'm a US citizen. Thanks!
Jan 23, 2018, 5:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: YTZ/LHR
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Many flights leave that early. If you have checked bags, arrive 90 mins early. If you have no bags, arrive 75 mins early. If you have no bags, and global entry or Nexus, arrive 45 mins early (assuming you did OLCI.)
Jan 23, 2018, 8:33 pm
#3
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Even with GE/Nexus and without bags, I'd say 60 min to be safe. The morning lines can get long, and you still have to talk to a human with GE at outstations. Maybe I've just had bad luck, but I've cut a few flights very close at YYZ because of lines.
Jan 23, 2018, 9:28 pm
#4
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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There’s no differences for which airline one is flying out of YYZ (or other Canadian airports with USA Preclearance) to the USA, so this thread has been moved to the proper forum.
JDiver, Moderator
JDiver, Moderator
Jan 24, 2018, 11:58 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: YTZ/LHR
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As someone that does this almost every week, I assure you that if you don't have bags and you have GE, the CBP person will just wave you through, 5-10 mins to gate, and then you're boarding! Coming from someone that prizes sleep above gate / lounge time.
Jan 24, 2018, 6:55 pm
#6
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If it is Monday one can sometimes expect 2+hour lineups through security, US immigration if you do not have NEXUS/GE, and have checked bags.
US-bound bags require the bags to be tagged and then taken over to baggage drop where they are checked and photographed.
Jan 26, 2018, 6:02 am
#7
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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It all depends on the day of the week, the terminal you are departing from, your citizenship, and travel documents plus programs. Priority status on your airline, your ticketed cabin, the AmEx card that you have will also make a difference.
If it is Monday one can sometimes expect 2+hour lineups through security, US immigration if you do not have NEXUS/GE, and have checked bags.
US-bound bags require the bags to be tagged and then taken over to baggage drop where they are checked and photographed.
If it is Monday one can sometimes expect 2+hour lineups through security, US immigration if you do not have NEXUS/GE, and have checked bags.
US-bound bags require the bags to be tagged and then taken over to baggage drop where they are checked and photographed.
Jan 26, 2018, 9:11 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 484
US CBP reports on the average queuing times for the last seven days on their website:
https://pqt.cbp.gov/report/YYZ_3/01-19-2018
I believe pre-clearance opens at 4am.
https://pqt.cbp.gov/report/YYZ_3/01-19-2018
I believe pre-clearance opens at 4am.
Jan 26, 2018, 2:26 pm
#9
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With bags and no GE?
Jan 26, 2018, 7:16 pm
#10
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US CBP reports on the average queuing times for the last seven days on their website:
https://pqt.cbp.gov/report/YYZ_3/01-19-2018
I believe pre-clearance opens at 4am.
https://pqt.cbp.gov/report/YYZ_3/01-19-2018
I believe pre-clearance opens at 4am.
Jan 26, 2018, 7:26 pm
#11
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Premium cabin ^
No GE/Nexus and check bags will slow you down a bit.
As long as it is not a Monday morning I fell comfortable arriving 5-5:30
AA is T3, Same as DL:
- Check-in and get bags tagged at AA counter or Kiosk
- Take bags over to baggage acceptance where you place the bag on a conveyor, scan BP to match and the bag is weighted and photographed.
- Head to CATSA security. Show your BP and AmEx to get the priority line. (sometimes it might not be faster)
- Head to US CBP pre-clear, you need to show travel ID and BP.
- Scan BP to confirm your checked bags has been photographed for US CBP visual inspection
- Go to Kiosk where your PP is scanned, question answered and photo taken. You will be given a receipt which you will give to the US CBP agent
- You are then at the US pre-cpeared departure area. There is an Admiral's Club right pass the duty free mall you are forced to make your way through
Jan 29, 2018, 5:57 am
#12
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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US passport ^
Premium cabin ^
No GE/Nexus and check bags will slow you down a bit.
As long as it is not a Monday morning I fell comfortable arriving 5-5:30
AA is T3, Same as DL:
Premium cabin ^
No GE/Nexus and check bags will slow you down a bit.
As long as it is not a Monday morning I fell comfortable arriving 5-5:30
AA is T3, Same as DL:
- Check-in and get bags tagged at AA counter or Kiosk
- Take bags over to baggage acceptance where you place the bag on a conveyor, scan BP to match and the bag is weighted and photographed.
- Head to CATSA security. Show your BP and AmEx to get the priority line. (sometimes it might not be faster)
- Head to US CBP pre-clear, you need to show travel ID and BP.
- Scan BP to confirm your checked bags has been photographed for US CBP visual inspection
- Go to Kiosk where your PP is scanned, question answered and photo taken. You will be given a receipt which you will give to the US CBP agent
- You are then at the US pre-cpeared departure area. There is an Admiral's Club right pass the duty free mall you are forced to make your way through
Jan 29, 2018, 9:25 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: YTZ/LHR
Programs: VIPorter First, BA GGL, DL Plat, Golden Circle Elite
Posts: 830
The long pole in this will always be bag drop. You need to have your bags through by T-60 mins. Sometimes the AA premium checkin is slow, so I think the 90 mins arrival guidance is good.
Feb 2, 2018, 11:10 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: YYZ
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Posts: 93
Not to mention that even with priority check-in, you can still end up waiting in a line at the automated bag drop and that one can end up adding 10 mins or so to your transition.
Feb 5, 2018, 8:45 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
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Posts: 5,950
What are the preclearance hours? My parents were flying YLW-YYZ-BOS today. YLW-YYZ flight was delayed 1.5 hours to 21:08; YYZ-BOS flight was delayed almost two hours to 22:45. Should be easy (they both have Nexus), but they found that Customs was closed. So they got to spend the night in Toronto at their expense for no good reason at all. Who is responsible for paying for/setting the hours of preclearance? Is it the airport? The airline? CBP?
Are the hours different for connections than for originating passengers?
Are the hours different for connections than for originating passengers?