Just a warning for those of you looking to save money by flying via the US.
We went with American Airlines (AA) via Boston, as we couldn't get a charter and felt a direct flight was too expensive.
It was a bloody nightmare right from the start, with queue after queue and security check after security check. We were all searched at least once, including my 10 and 13 year old daughters, and Mrs P was searched twice in 30 minutes.
I know that the times demand it, but it's no consolation knowing it's of Americas own making. The staff cannot handle the demands put in place and as a result are resentful, brusque and rude as a result.
At Boston we lost a bag and were told by totally uninterested AA desk clerk to deal with it in Toronto. Having said that the Canadian AA clerk there couldn't have been more helpful.
The return jouirney was slightly easier with only one check point to go through, but we lost ALL our bags, as did everyone else returning via Boston. They arrived back at the house 2 days later at 02:00 when I had to be up at 05:00 to go to work!
Next time will be be more organised and go direct either with a charter or will pay the extra to go with BA.

We flew through the Seattle (I live in Victoria) to the UK in March. I was searched once crossing the border, because a sniffer dog could smell the apple/banana I had in my knapsack - they were taken away, and then my sack was searched and I was asked if I was bringing over any medication with codeine. I was then searched twice at the Seattle airport because I had a knapsack. My suitcase was opened because I had a Tim Horton's thermos unopened in it. The security police took the thermos apart and then returned it.

However, it was far worse at Heathrow on my return in April. I was searched at least 3 times, every time having to take my shoes and coat off, and the security completely searching my knapsack again.

When I returned to Seattle, I went into the Visitors lineup, and was told that the Americans consider Canadians Americans so was moved to another line, got through very quickly. Picked up my luggage to check in to my flight to Victoria, and the security didn't even bother to look twice at me, saying "we trust Canadians"....very strange.....

Sounds like your experience was a right pain in the A***. However to give a balanced view I'd like to give our experience:-
We flew to Seattle on Xmas eve and had a connecting flight on Xmas day to Kelowna. Our BA flight was the last in that night and there wasn't a soul in the airport except for the passengers (less than half full 747), about 10 immigration officers and 5 customs guys. From landing, we were through imigration within 10 minutes and would have been out of the airport within 1/2 hour IF the belt on the carousel hadn't broke before our bags came up GRRRR!.
The Immigration Officer couldn't have been nicer (maybe it was the Christmas spirit) and due to the lack of people he had to process even had a chat for a couple of minutes.

The way back was a similar experience and we couldn't fault the process. This guy was equally chatty and asked us how our holiday was etc etc.

Useful note:- We had a bit of a panic arriving at Kelowna to notice the green stubs from the visa waiver still in our passports. If you go to Canada from the US for LESS than 30 days, they don't take the green portion of the visa waiver out of the passport but collect it when you fly back out of the USA.

Anyway, just my 5p's worth and I appreciate that it was late xmas eve when we arrived.

Alex

I do some cross border work.

On an average you can expect delays crossing the border either way..

In from Toronto to the US you will be screen prior to boarding so you will need to allow for this, but all connections afterward are easy..

Coming in from the UK there are often boarder delays depending on how many international flights are arriving at that time allow up to 2-3 hrs at peak periods.. and at slow times you can even find the place just dealing with your flight... But its difficult to predict..

as for baggage handling the states is crap generally, that why so many people in the US fly hand-baggage only when on work travel.

Me personally .I fly direct, its just reduces the risk of lost baggage by removing steps in the chain… I also fly Air Canada nearly all the time,

Maybe our experience was the exeption rather than the rule.
But it just could have been more organised. We arrived at Toronto to go home at 03.30. With the flight at 06.30 we though that would be plenty of time.
They opened checkin at 04.00. We then queued for 30 mins before they allowed us through into the immigration lounge, and then waited another half an hour before they opened the immigration desks!
Surely it would hve been easier to have opened everything at once to get people through?

Nope.... last time I got stuck in a 2 hour delay at Toronto on a work trip to Wisconsin, why because two immigration officers rang in sick at the last minute and the Americans had no back up plan...

last christmas we flew from heathrow to montreal via atlanta and back the same way. in total, my wife (canadian with british passport) was searched 8 times going and 5 times returning - it was a complete nightmare and I have sworn NEVER to step foot back in the United States of Paranoia!

i didn't get searched once!

it just isn't worth the saving..

I did your Journey via Boston (using AA) in April Last year, and fully concur. Don't even bother flying via the US.

The experience was humiliating (as a Sikh, I wear a turban, and I got suspicious and hostile glances from all the security staff) they were unfriendly to me and more importantly the children. Fine they need to do the searches etc., but they could at least show some level of civility.

Flying into Toronto the difference between the Canadian and the US security couldn't be more marked as the Canadians bent over backwards, and were pleasant etc.

Big plus to my first reaction towards Canada and its people.

Last time I flew via the US I was stunned by how lax the security was ... that was two days before 9/11 ... I haven't set foot in the country since, I always fly direct.

l had a similar experience that costed me about 3hrs with customs. l am a u.s. citizen that went to canada to look around as a possible future residence. l was stopped by a hindu-canadian customs agent who searched all my stuff and asked me 100 questions. what are you doing here? who do you know? how much money do you have? etc. l never thought it would be that difficult going into canada. ive been to 10 countries and never had problems like this. the closest thing was australia but even they werent as bad as canada. you would think canada would be more relaxed since usa is its neighbour but that wasnt the case at all. it seems to be the most difficult country to enter.