YYZ International Arrivals
Sep 15, 2021, 1:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
Programs: UA Gold, DL Silver, Hertz PC, Avis Pref+, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,107
YYZ International Arrivals
Am due to fly EWR-YYZ Fri morning in just over a week. Have seen news articles on congestion on arrival but would be glad to hear reports of how bad it really is....
Sep 16, 2021, 4:02 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,301
Entirely depends on time of day and how many planes arrive in front of you, and where they arrive from.
It could be empty, or you could be held back on the plane for hours. I ve come into empty arrivals in late August, but also to a long line (nexus was still empty). Waited for luggage for an hour flying AC as well, but got it within minutes not flying AC intl.
YMMV
It could be empty, or you could be held back on the plane for hours. I ve come into empty arrivals in late August, but also to a long line (nexus was still empty). Waited for luggage for an hour flying AC as well, but got it within minutes not flying AC intl.
YMMV
Sep 17, 2021, 9:11 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 75k, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,154
Flew back last Friday, there was a long line up at the corridor upstairs as they only let passengers move forward as custom hall is cleared. If you have Nexus you can use the Nexus lane and save a lot of time once you are in the custom hall. There was still a bit of a line up for Nexus. It took me 40 minutes from getting off the plane to leaving the airport. If you don't have Nexus, I'd guess it can easily take you 1 hour if not more.
Sep 18, 2021, 10:53 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
Programs: UA Gold, DL Silver, Hertz PC, Avis Pref+, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,107
Am wondering if whether in light of the what was obviously poor planning for the re-opening, staff has been added or procedures have been changed at all...
Sep 20, 2021, 6:01 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,505
Then again, I was with some people yesterday who had arrived one week ago from FRA and were essentially three hours from gate to garage. Most of that was spent standing in a corridor and then snaking through the customs hall. Once they got to a customs agent it was a breeze.
Sep 20, 2021, 7:40 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA, GE
Posts: 5,123
It hasn't been in the news the way it was at the beginning, so that could mean it has gotten a bit better.
Then again, I was with some people yesterday who had arrived one week ago from FRA and were essentially three hours from gate to garage. Most of that was spent standing in a corridor and then snaking through the customs hall. Once they got to a customs agent it was a breeze.
Then again, I was with some people yesterday who had arrived one week ago from FRA and were essentially three hours from gate to garage. Most of that was spent standing in a corridor and then snaking through the customs hall. Once they got to a customs agent it was a breeze.
Last edited by cheltzel; Sep 22, 2021 at 6:31 am Reason: spelling
Sep 23, 2021, 11:21 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2020
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 4
Although YMMV, I wanted to share my experience with international arrivals at YYZ.
Touched down Monday, September 20th at 8:00 pm in terminal 1. Parked at the gate by 8:15 pm. Deplaned and was at the empty Nexus lanes by 8:20 pm. Showed my Nexus receipt to customs, they asked to see my card and placed a green stamp on it. While exiting the arrivals door, employees were asking to see your stamp. Green means good, red means random testing(?) Perhaps someone can add insight. Since I had no checked-in luggage I was out the arrivals door by 8:30 pm.
Touched down Monday, September 20th at 8:00 pm in terminal 1. Parked at the gate by 8:15 pm. Deplaned and was at the empty Nexus lanes by 8:20 pm. Showed my Nexus receipt to customs, they asked to see my card and placed a green stamp on it. While exiting the arrivals door, employees were asking to see your stamp. Green means good, red means random testing(?) Perhaps someone can add insight. Since I had no checked-in luggage I was out the arrivals door by 8:30 pm.
Sep 25, 2021, 10:18 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Sep 28, 2021, 1:07 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
I'm suppose to be coming in on a Sat. mid-Oct. ~5:00pm (on UA). Being a Saturday, hopeful it's a little less crowded than a weekday, but I'm guessing that's a busier time. Nexus...so I suspect once we get off the plane, we should be good. Another positive sign is I have been checking flight status, and showing our flight has been both arriving on time, and then departing on the return on time...so hopeful for ability to get off quickly.
Last edited by tcook052; Oct 7, 2021 at 6:18 pm Reason: Fix quote
Sep 29, 2021, 1:04 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,301
Curious on date/time for this.
I'm suppose to be coming in on a Sat. mid-Oct. ~5:00pm (on UA). Being a Saturday, hopeful it's a little less crowded than a weekday, but I'm guessing that's a busier time. Nexus...so I suspect once we get off the plane, we should be good. Another positive sign is I have been checking flight status, and showing our flight has been both arriving on time, and then departing on the return on time...so hopeful for ability to get off quickly.
I'm suppose to be coming in on a Sat. mid-Oct. ~5:00pm (on UA). Being a Saturday, hopeful it's a little less crowded than a weekday, but I'm guessing that's a busier time. Nexus...so I suspect once we get off the plane, we should be good. Another positive sign is I have been checking flight status, and showing our flight has been both arriving on time, and then departing on the return on time...so hopeful for ability to get off quickly.
But I think it also depends on CBSA staffing on that particular day.
Last edited by tcook052; Oct 7, 2021 at 6:18 pm Reason: Fix another quote
Oct 6, 2021, 9:09 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 55
Connecting in YYZ - intl to domestic on AC terminal 1
All, I’m flying 10/7 on Air Canada from the US to Pearson. Flight lands at 1241pm in terminal 1. I need to connect to an intra Canada AC flight. I’m *G, won’t have checked bags, US passport, no Nexus.
I too have read the horror stories about immigration queues in YYZ…
I have 1 hour 44 minutes to connect to my regional AC flight. What have been people’s experiences with the time it takes to make a domestic connection mid day during the working week? Is there a fast track lane for *G or a lane for transiting passengers?
thanks!
I too have read the horror stories about immigration queues in YYZ…
I have 1 hour 44 minutes to connect to my regional AC flight. What have been people’s experiences with the time it takes to make a domestic connection mid day during the working week? Is there a fast track lane for *G or a lane for transiting passengers?
thanks!