Help with eTA - last minute issues
 

I was not aware of the need to obtain an eTA to transit via Canada until I tried to check in for our flight tomorrow. It is obviously my fault but I would appreciate any prior experiences / recommendations on how to deal with the situation.

We are returning to London tomorrow from Cancun via Toronto at a flight operated by Air Canada. Original ticket was purchased with United as London / Lax / Cancun / London (via Toronto).

I am flying with my wife and our baby as a lap infant. Ticket is business, allows changes before the date of flight paying fare difference. Our son is tagged to my ticket as a lap infant.

Wife and baby got cleared instantly upon applying. I got an email saying they have received the application and will revert within 72h. I don’t know the reason for the review, but it is possible that is due to the fact I am unemployed (currently on a break after having left my previous job last month).

Would appreciate any experience on whether the application is likely to clear tomorrow morning or it will take longer once it goes into the approval process.

We are assessing options and I am trying to find our. Can I change the booking at the airport so that our son can be tagged as lap infant to my wife and they fly together? Is the airline likely to let me change the flight date to the next available flight (paying the fare difference) tomorrow at the airport, or should I call them today (to change the flight before the travel date as per the conditions)?

Many thanks if you can help

I would call now to have a better understanding of your options in case you are denied boarding. Airlines do have access to an IRCC helpdesk (Canadian Immigration).

Thanks. I just tried them and was told that the options are to change or buy a new ticket for a new date. No mention of help desk access.

They were checking if I can have the baby transferred to my wife (who is checked in for the flight) so that they can fly home while I wait for clearance but after 15 minutes of holding they hanged up, so I do not know if that is possible.

I will post an update with the outcome for future reference…

Good luck.

You do not meet the auto approval criteria so your application needs human intervention which will start on the next working day (Monday, Jan 30)

Thanks for the clear answer. We will not get it before our flight today and I just checked alternatives. We were lucky avios availability opened up for the overnight Cancun to London with BA and I just booked two seats. It will be economy but direct so not bad given the circumstances…

FYI Air Canada was confident the eTA would clear before check in closes and we are waiting at the airport… it is great to have you guys - certainly more knowledgeable!

Did you make it on-board?

The eTA was not approved so I could not check in.

Big thanks to AC. They were incredibly helpful and rebooked the three of us free of charge in a flight to London via Frankfurt that leaves in an hour. It is with Eurowings and Lufthansa and they even respected the business class cabin.

I was very impressed. I am used to European airlines and this is not what I am used to!