Can Americans connect in Canada if border closed?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Delta 1MM, Delta SM, United Silver, Amx Plat, Delta Amx Plat, Six-T Plat, IHG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 590
Can Americans connect in Canada if border closed?
I'm an American citizen and living in the US, I often find cheaper biz class flights by flying into/out of YYZ. If Canada remains closed due to COVID19, will they let me fly into Canada (on A/C) for the purpose of just connecting there onto another int'l fly back out of Canada, so say JFK-YYZ-XXX? Thanks for taking the time to reply and please be safe!!!
#4
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YYC
Posts: 2,073
Theoretically this is possible. The rules allow for transit passengers if you do NOT have to go through CBSA/Passport Control and go landside. And during normal operations of YYZ this is what you would do.
However anything can change, seeing as your proposed flight must be at least 6 weeks away?
However anything can change, seeing as your proposed flight must be at least 6 weeks away?
#6
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 13,573
I'm an American citizen and living in the US, I often find cheaper biz class flights by flying into/out of YYZ. If Canada remains closed due to COVID19, will they let me fly into Canada (on A/C) for the purpose of just connecting there onto another int'l fly back out of Canada, so say JFK-YYZ-XXX? Thanks for taking the time to reply and please be safe!!!
"Transit passengers - The Orders exempt persons arriving at a Canadian airport aboard a commercial passenger conveyance and who are transiting to a country other than Canada and remains in a sterile transit area within the meaning of section 2 of IRPR."
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...trictions.html
#9
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC
Posts: 144
You may be able to accomplish what you want by using an airline that flies into T1 like Air Canada or United. However these airlines only fly to YYZ from LGA or Newark.
I don't think you would be able to, as unless things have changed very recently, you have to clear customers / immigration, transfer from T3 to T1 and then go through security again. The Canadian government site says the only exemption for transiting passengers is if they stay sterile: