Today is my POE! but I am confused - Pearson Intl

[tkelt 11]

hello everyone!! I am heading to the US today, but I've been given some conflicting information. I've never gone through Customs before, ever, and right now I'm on a layover in Ottawa trying to figure out what to do once I get to Toronto. I've been told that I do need to collect my baggage, and then go through immigration, but the Air Canada security people keep telling me that I just have to go to a kiosk and that I don't need to get my baggage. Help!!!! What do I doooo

[LionessDeon 2,060]

We had to collect our luggage when we arrived from JA in FLL for our POE. Go through customs, then recheck it, go through security, and back through to the board gate for our connecting flight. Don't worry they will tell you all about it on the plane. They did for us. If not, just ask the flight attendent.

I highly doubt an incoming immigrant can use the Kiosk for POE. Don't stress you can simply ask. There are plenty of airline attendants there to help you.

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

yes, you have to collect to collect all luggage and go thru customs and recheck it in

[Pennycat 880]

Heya! Are you able to see this website?

https://www.torontopearson.com/Connecting.aspx#

It claims to be a step by step depending on where you're going and what airline you're on. Also, you can ask at Pearson, they'd be much more likely to be accurate than in Ottowa.

Quick question out of curiosity-- You're going to have 3 flights? Where are you coming from?

[arielvelez 0]

Just follow instructions given, or ask any official at the POE. Most of them can be friendly and help you by clearing misunderstandings, and guiding you to the proper procedure.

[Pennycat 880]

Oh and *generally* yes you have to pick up luggage and re-check it. BUT the situation at this particular airport is pretty different, due to US Customs being in that airport and therefore landing in the US as a domestic passenger, so it is possible that the system is different. I'd expect that you have to pick-up and re-check, though.

[arken 4,197]

Haven't had a connecting flight through Toronto but have through Montreal which also has US custom and immigration check in. The baggage were automatically transferred to the next flight so had to pass through the custom and immigration check in without the baggage.

https://www.aircanada.com/en/news/130218.html

Connecting through Toronto Pearson to the U.S.? February 18, 2013

Effective immediately, when you travel to the U.S. from Canada or an international airport on Air Canada and you have a connecting flight at Toronto Pearson (YYZ), your bags will automatically be transferred to your connecting flight.

That means that you no longer need to collect your bags before proceeding to U.S. Customs and Border protection for processing and security screening, making connecting to the United States at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) faster, easier and more convenient than ever before.

Learn more about connecting through Toronto Pearson International Airport.
or watch the transfer videos showing how simple it is to connect if arriving on a flight from Canada or arriving on a flight from an International airport.

The same convenient transfer process is also available to Air Canada customers connecting at Montreal (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR).

[tkelt 11]

Heya! Are you able to see this website?

https://www.torontopearson.com/Connecting.aspx#

It claims to be a step by step depending on where you're going and what airline you're on. Also, you can ask at Pearson, they'd be much more likely to be accurate than in Ottowa.

Quick question out of curiosity-- You're going to have 3 flights? Where are you coming from?

I looked at that but it didn't say anything about my baggage I guess I'll have to ask once I get there. And I'm coming from Halifax. Halifax-Ottawa-Toronto-Milwaukee. Awful trip but it was the only one that allowed me a bit of a layover in Toronto to go through Customs.

[Pennycat 880]

I looked at that but it didn't say anything about my baggage I guess I'll have to ask once I get there. And I'm coming from Halifax. Halifax-Ottawa-Toronto-Milwaukee. Awful trip but it was the only one that allowed me a bit of a layover in Toronto to go through Customs.

Got it, ok. Well, you've got your answer and it seems you don't need to pick up the luggage. Sorry for the confusion here. Generally speaking, when you connect from an international flight to a domestic flight (when you go through customs), you have to pick up your bags and re-check them and most people here have done this many times.

Double check when you get to Pearson just to be sure (and don't worry, the customs folks would catch you and send you back for your bags and/or absolute worst case scenario, they fly without you later--- and this will not happen to you). You'll be fine.

And oof what a slog. But yeah I could see how Halifax to Milwaukee could be a little bit of a tricky route. Good luck and congrats on today!

[NikLR 13,228]

It says you dont need to collect your baggage of you have to go thru us customs. So no, you dont have to get bags