Stuck at the airport: 9 hours in YYZ, what to do?
 

:confused: I redeemed miles via United for a little vacation time: I have an Air Canada flight to Toronto, then another flight (also Air Canada) to Vancouver (my actual and final destination for this trip). Problem is there are 9 hours between one arrival and my next departure (United has been nice to me in for other flights&connections, so I wonder if this happens when flying one airline and redeeming miles from another). The thing is I asked United to put me in another (and earlier) flight to no avail. I don't think I can ask Air Canada in advance, since this was done with United. Then...

What are my chances that day, after my arrival, can I ask Air Canada, maybe, if they can change my flight? There are 11 other flights by Air Canada going earlier to Vancouver that day!

And if nothing happens, then... What can I do in YYZ? I've never been there, ...is there anything fun to do, places to go?. I considered going to the city (Toronto) but I hear it is not close to the airport, on the other hand I don't want to risk missing my flight (traffic or anything weird happening when you are in a city you have never been before). By the way I'm travelling alone.

Anyway I'm open to suggestions and advice. Also are there are luggage lockers there? (I'm travelling with checked baggage + carry on + personal item).

:pThanks!!!

What you ran into is award seat availability. It looks like Air Canada had not made any award seats available on flights that would be more convenient... guessing those are flights during the business day that may have a tendency to be sold.

Oftentimes, the day of your flight, you can request to go on an earlier standby. I am not familiar with Air Canada specifically, but would expect they would consider a request if space is available. You may want to check out the Air Canada forum.... so great advice can be found there.

One caveat... to help your chances.... try to only have carry on bags... no checked bags. It is more difficult for an airline to accomodate your request at the last second if your bags are on an earlier flight. Of course, with so many flights before your scheduled one, checked bags may already be on an earlier flight.

Good luck!

:pThanks for your kind answer. I have a new question now:

I thought I had to claim checked bags and recheck them in again later that day. Can I do that? I don't like the idea of my checked bag arriving so ahead of me if I can avoid it. Can it be done? :confused:

(unfortunately I need one checked bag, it's my vacation time, I'm going on tours, attending a party, visiting friends, etc. all kinds of activities and I'm already carrying the other stuff (camera and lenses, camcorder, 2 different sets of batteries for each one, laptop and cables, I'm a photographer and want to document this trip) in carry on. Keeping it a minimum, I need a checked bag still.

AC has a fixed fee for same-day changes so the chances that they'll do it for free are slim. However there's no harm in asking. Traditionally airlines loved this since it increases their odds of filling that empty seat. The sooner they could get you out of their hair the better.

Although you have posed several Qs., a key one is your Q. about YYZ and going into Toronto. Since many readers of our Travel->Toronto forum also know AC policies as to standby (your standby chances could be limited by the need to check a bag), I'll move this to our Toronto forum for more discussion. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

:rolleyes:Ouch, I hear the immigration for entering Canada is not easy…

I will be travelling international into YYZ and then going domestic into YVR.

1) International flight arrives at 6:40am.
2) My second flight to Vancouver 4:00pm


Can someone tell me the process from flight 1 (international into YYZ)?


Should I claim checked bag and recheck it again later that day?


From there what can I do?

You'll have no choice but to reclaim your bags upon arrival into YYZ as you have to clear entry into Canada there. Most people just recheck their bags after clearing customs.

There is (or at least was) a left luggage office upstairs (main entry level) at the gift shop/news stand right by the main domestic security entry point.

What I'd do is call UA and see if there is an earlier flight that becomes available. Might be a way to get to YVR earlier. Of course the AC same-day change fee may be cheaper than the UA change fee (if any).

UA didn't charge me a fee for a flight change (I had 5 hours between two flights, from LAX to ORD)...When I noticed that, I called them and they said my flight was the only still available. The next day they sent me a message regarding a change though, so I called and they put me in another flight, 1 hour and a half earlier, no charge. This is part of the same roundtrip ticket, I was lucky and happy about it, but didn't get the same result when asking about these particular two flights.

:) And thanks for your answer on checked bags. I hear there is a lot of walking to do from one terminal to another as well, hopefully there is a nice cafeteria and wifi to get online while waiting, at least I can read something, or visit these forums or write an email or make a phone call.

You have to walk a loooong way from the aircraft to immigration. If you're lucky the new high speed moving sidewalk will be running which is apparently quite a ride. But it's been shut whenever I've been there.

I've never been there at 6am so I can't say if the lines for immigration will be long or not -- I'm guessing not. It's usually pretty quick in my experience. Then you have to wait for your bags -- pick them up right away because those carousels are murder on bags.

Then you walk through customs and hand in your paper and normally drop your bag right back on the carousel on the other side. They're checked through anyways so there's no processing for them. You can walk out with them but then I don't know what you do to check them in. I suppose you go to the regular checkin desk.Then you follow the signs to transfers which is another long walk, go back in through security, and you're in the domestic departure terminal with plenty of cafes and stuff.

You might check whether there's a servisair lounge you can pay for access at, it's probably worth it for such a long stay though in my recollection they have a 3 hour maximum. Or better yet, beg on the Air Canada Aeroplan forum for lounge access -- some FF might take pity on you. I don't remember if they have to be on the same flight as you or not but there's a decent chance someone might be.

Actually if I recall correctly you can buy access to the Air Canada domestic lounges anyways. You might check into that.

:)Thank you for your reply zkzkz, and the previous Flyertalkers as well. This helps me a lot.

The Maple Leaf Lounge in Terminal 1 is excellent. Air Canada lets you buy your way in for a reasonable price if your ticket is in one of the higher levels. I don't know about reward tickets. If you have a NEXUS card you can get right through immigration. If you don't then the line is faster than getting one is for the US. The time it takes depends on how long the line is and that depends on what other flights have come in recently. When you return, you preclear for the US and there is usually a separate, shorter line for US passport holders.

You can ask for standby but if that doesn't work, I think you can pay $75 for a confirmed seat on the same day - not sure if this applies to a UA reward though

http://www.aeroplan.com/help/topic.do?id=3002

Same Day Change at the airport

Same-day confirmed change at the airport is permitted to either an earlier or later flight on the same itinerary for a charge of $75 (Cdn) for passengers holding either an Economy or Executive cabin confirmed Aeroplan ClassicFlight or ClassicPlus flight reward on Air Canada and/or Air Canada Jazz. Same-day changes are subject to availability. No additional mileage charges apply for changes made on the day of travel at the airport.

If you're stuck at the airport, you can pay $35 to get into the Priority Pass lounge
http://www.gtaa.com/en/news/torontop...8-019ed34ad3ec

I am in a similar situation, I am arriving in YYZ at around 8:30 PM on Sunday, August 23rd and I have a layover of 13 and a half hours.

What can I do other than sleep? Also where are the best, but cheap, places to sleep in the airport area?

I don't know about sleeping. But I called today to Air Canada, and they told me I can buy Lounge access for $35. I don't know if I'm doing it, a visit to the city could be more interesting.

Even generously allowing 1.5 hours each way by public transit to be back at the airport an hour before the flight still leaves you almost 5 hours of free time in the city.

The key I think is having a list of things you are going to do, so that you are comfortable with your timing.

Summer is a great time to visit Toronto. In addition to the "always there" attractions, there are tons of events all over, to suit your taste