How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

Hi

Trying to book flights. One option has us landing in Toronto at 15:30pm with the connecting flight later at 19:20.

So 4 hours to clear customs and immigration and get the connecting flight. I'll be collecting one TWP with SINP approval letter and matching paperwork and one OWP with same paperwork.

Reasonable amount of time to leave or am I pushing it? Alternative is another flight at 21:05 but that'll be pretty late in the day for us as we'll have been flying and queuing for over 24 hours non stop

John

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

Are you booking the connection in the same booking, or are the two flights being booked separately?

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

Two separate bookings but we'll we doing both at the same time???????

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

Are they 2 different airlines? I know if we book from the UK with Air Canada into Toronto with a connecting flight, that if there are any delays they just bump you to the next flight. That could be delays with immigration or the flight, and if you happen to hit Toronto when other planes come in, it can be something of a gong show and seemingly takes hours, and then other times, I've been through in minutes (this is based on several occasions, both before and since getting PR, and also the first trip with work permits). I think that should be enough time though, assuming your flight is on time though. If it were me, if there's an option to do the whole thing with the same airline, I would take that.

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

In an ideal world I would but travelling by same carrier adds about 1500 euro (about 2200 CAD) onto the bill :(

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

So I guess it's a chance you'll just have to take :) Maybe contact the second airline and see what their policy is for delays?

We decided just to swallow the extra cost when we moved. Considering the cost of the move as a whole, it was just something we felt more comfortable having done.

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

Just checked to see what Air Canada could do for flights all the way using them.

Cheapest option was 6049 euro for 5 of us :eek: almost double using Aer Lingus and WestJet

And no one else does flights to Canada and also internal flights. :(

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

In that case, book the later flight. If you book them as one booking with a connection, and there's a delay at customs, you'll just get bumped to the next flight.

However, if you book them separately, as you are looking to, and there's a delay - whether your plane is delayed, or customs takes forever, or whatever, and you miss your second flight, you're screwed as it's your fault, the airline has nothing to do with that.

So, up to you if you think you want to take the risk of a 4hr window or not. Don't forget, that also means you need to be at the airport at least 2 hours before the second flight in order to check in, bag drop, etc. So you're only giving yourself 2 scheduled hours to land, pick up your bags, and get through customs. In an ideal world that should be fine, but it's your call if you want to take a risk on a flight delay or customs delay or whatever.

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

Yep :)

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

Yeah :( Sigh. Oh this is going to be horrific. ;)

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

Bring books etc. Toronto airport is painfully boring :(

At least you're only doing it once :)

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

I don't know when you were thinking of flying, but Westjet will be flying from Dublin to St. Johns, Toronto and Calgary starting in June.

http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/deal...eland-20131115

NB. They will be flying daily (seasonal, June to October) to:

St. John's, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, Kelowna, Montreal, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg - Dublin**

**Available daily through connections. Guests flying from Toronto will stop in St. John's but will have the same plane to Dublin

:)

Edited to say, Sunwing have internal flights from June between St. John's, Toronto and Vancouver.

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

I know but unfortunately we'll be flying late march. Air Transat don't start Dublin Toronto summer flights until April 8th and would knock another 900 euro off the bill :(

To put that in some sort of perspective
Air Transat - West Jet = 2056 Euro or 3097 CAD
Aer Lingus - West Jet = 3106 Euro or 4679 CAD
Air Canada all the way = 6049 Euro or 9114 CAD

Just as a FYI for anyone else in Ireland if you can postpone your travel until April 8th do try. It'll save you a few bob.

John

Re: How long to leave for immigration wait?
 

So you are flying from Dublin, I believe, but where do you need to get to?

:)