With the usual caveats about YMMV, what would be the recommended time for going DL/AA/UA to AF at YYZ. We won't check a bag to avoid any issues on that front and will be flying J.

I would fly Air Canada on the direct from RDU but it lands at 5pm for the 615pm AF departure and I'm not willing to get that risky (especially because that flight gets canceled fairly often -- I've experienced it first hand), so I'm instead thinking that I'd rather do something like RDU - CLT - YYZ (could do RDU - LGA/JFK/EWR - YYZ on DL/UA but I'm thinking that avoiding NYC would be a good call).

Going via CLT, would land at 315pm so a 3 hour layover -- seems like that should be sufficient?

AC connecting to AF would be a disaster as if the AC plane does actually fly you would have to switch from T1 to T3 and would not be protected. AC flights are very often cancelled or significantly delayed. I would do Delta (RDU>ATL/DTW/LGA/JFK>YYZ) connecting to AF all in T3 as they are both Skyteam and you would be protected by AF if Delta was late.

DL YYZ arrival (T3) to AF departure (T3). You will bypass CBSA immigration and be directed to intl departure after a travel document check.

Any other plan is tempting fate.

AF will not protect you on an non AF ticketed inbound.

AC 5pm arrival + a terminal change for a AF 615pm departure at YYZ? I am betting against that happening.

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I do not believe T3 offers sterile international connection.

Correct. Only T1.

Hi,

ZRH->YYZ->DEN on Air Canada connecting further in DEN to PHX on United (one ticket)
Connection time at YYZ is 2 hours, 20 minutes. Arrival on a Saturday at 4:10 PM, Departure at 6:30 PM.

Business / US resident / TSA Pre (not that it will help / Global Entry and hand luggage only

How tight/easy is a 2h 20m connection in YYZ? Looks as if there is a security check involved and as far as I can tell I don't need to fill out any Canada paperwork i.e. ArriveCan ... but I might be wrong

you’ll be fine. You can use Canadian priority security check lanes by flashing your global entry card to the security guard. (New thing since late June).

correct, no ArriveCAN required.

are you a US lawful permanent resident? Read the bit about #4 here to make sure you’re exempt from the Canadian eTA

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/facts.html

Yes I am a US lawful permanent resident. Thanks for providing the link. Would need my Passport and Greencard anyway to pass US immigration

YYZ overnight layover
 

Hey, I have a long (16h) overnight layover in YYZ. Flying AC from US to EUR. Can I leave the airport during this layover? Can I leave the airport with my hand luggage only?

Once you are formally admitted into Canada (even as an in-transit visitor) you can do whatever you want. If you aren’t admitted into Canada you will have to wait in the secure area of YYZ T1. What is your citizenship?

AC might check your bags all the way through to Europe or you might have to pick them up in YYZ and recheck them the next day due to the long layover.

Hello there,
I am looking at an overnight connection in YYZ from DCA-YEG (landing at 10:15pm and departing to YEG at 8ish AM) in Business Class. It's a USA-Dom connection so I will be passing through immigration. I am curious if I could stay airside in the domestic terminal after crossing immigration at YYZ.

I don't want to get an overnight accommodation away from the airport. I would prefer staying inside the terminal overnight and heading to the Maple Leaf lounges at 5AM when it opens up.

T3 definitely not. T1 I don’t believe you can stay airside all night. Once you clear Cdn immigration you will be landside and security will likely be closed. Even if security is open you won’t have a same-day boarding pass.

Okay, then I'll just take a 6am out of DCA next day. Thanks for the heads up! :)

We have a 1hr 45 connection LHR-YYZ—CUN, given both flights are international and on AC I’m guessing this should be ok? No need to immigrations and picking up/dropping bags (if checked through)?

Should be with the usual caveats. Should be a cursory passport check before you go back to the international departure area.