So I cashed in my united miles for a family trip to Cancun this April. the only flight I could get for my wife and 5 and 3 year old girls takes off from Ohare at 9:30pm, lands in toronto at 11:30PM, then connects to an Air Canada flight to Cancun at 8:30 the next morning. We figure it's not worth getting a hotel room, since it will take a while to get through customs that night and and we need to be going through security the next morning no later than 6am. I contacted the airport and they won't let the the family stay on the gate side. At this point, they are probably going to take a couple of sleeping bags and find a quiet corner of the terminal to camp out in until security reopens at 5am. I even thought about taking a little kids' tent since the more sleep the kids get, the better. Does anyone know this airport well? Are they accomodating and tolerant, or will this be a big hassle? What does everyone think?

the air canada terminal has carpets, tim hortons, etc.... but if my kids were still little like yours, and sleeping there, i'd be awake "watching over my flock by night", not sleeping.... so i'd do the hotel thing for sure (they're really close). at that time of night, customs will be quick.

hth

Customs has been very quick every time I go through YYZ. I'm connecting to an international flight at the end of the month, and just Pricelined a hotel for $32 plus taxes/fees. Maybe $45 total. I've take 4-5 hours of sleep any day over the airport.

Welcome to FT, pconn75. Please continue to follow this thread in the FT Canada Forum.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Welcome to Flyertalk pconn75!

I slept out there a month ago. You can read my post here:
http://flyertalk.com/forums/showthre...95#post7240695

Good luck!

I did a very similar overnight connection at YYZ a few weeks ago - the only real difference being that my inbound flight was a domestic one (from YOW) so I didn't have to clear Customs. I was also flying Air Canada - departing to LHR at 0850.

No, you don't need to go through security as early as 6 am - you need to be at the baggage drop-off point at 7 am (90 minutes before departure), so you have a lot more time than you thought you did! The day I was travelling there was quite a long line for the ordinary check-in desk, but a line of only three people (including myself) at the drop-off point, so I was through in no time. (You should be able to use the drop-off point as you should be able to check in online, or alternatively get your BP the night before)

I stayed at the Carlingview Hotel, about a five minute shuttle ride from the airport. The room was just over CAD 100. Nothing to write home about (just an ordinary budget hotel, slightly faded round the edges but perfectly OK), but I certainly wouldn't have wanted to sleep at the airport.

Definitely get a hotel room. Most hotels around the airport have free shuttles.

I would strongly suggest that you go get a hotel room. Your best bet is the Sheraton Gateway hotel that is connected to Terminal 1 buy a LRT (monorail). It's a 4 minute ride from the hotel to Terminal 1.

If you arrive at the baggage dropoff by 7am you will have plenty of time to clear US customs. Also, in Canada there is a seperate line-up for US citizens so the wait will be short.

Not an issue since the OP's morning flight is to Cancun!