george wrote:
> Paula wrote:
> Can anyone share their experience connecting at a Canadian airport
> having to go through US Customs (specifically Calgary)? I am
> concerned that the reservation agent may be mistaken (although I am
> sure Air Canada would not sell this as a connecting flight if they
> didn't think it was do-able - but you never know).
Having only flown into Calgary the one time I can't remember what the layout
is like.
BTW I too was told my bags would be checked all the way through to St. Louis
(good think I knew better).
A few weeks ago I had a flight from Vancouver to Toronto, then Toronto to
St. Louis on AC. The amount of time that was scheduled for the layover was
1:45. Knowing that I would have to debark, take a bus to Terminal "2" from
Terminal "1" where I had to collect my bags and go through US Customs, then
security, and check the bags again before taking a shuttle to the plane
(where you board the plane from the tarmac). I figured I had plenty of
time...
Last year I had to do this combination of flights in reverse and they only
gave me 45 minutes for the layover. The plane was 40 minutes late into St.
Louis so we left late, made up some of the time in flight but sat on the
tarmac waiting for a ground crew. Long story short it was physically
impossible to make the connection and after waiting in a line for 2 hours I
got into a T.O. hotel at 1:30 AM for 4 hours sleep before heading back for
the rebooked flight (it should be noted the whole US seaboard was shut down
due to a very bad snow storm, so there were hundreds of people rebooking
that night).
But, I digress...
Two weeks ago, the flight out of Vancouver was delayed due to a indicator
problem (stuck cooling valve under the cockpit - keeps the computer
electronics cool in flight). There was an hour delay fixing the problem (the
pilot spent 20 minutes trouble shooting the problem on the tarmac before
returning to the terminal - so we also had to refuel). After we got
in-flight we made up a little time but still arrived late, once again to be
stuck on the ground waiting for a ground crew in TO? I literally ran from
each obstacle (had to use the express line at US customs), it was hell
waiting for the bus and shuttle drivers to get started. As our shuttle
arrived at the small terminal I could see a plane warming up its engines. I
got off the shuttle just in time to hear last call for boarding, I ran
thought the terminal in a dramatic movie style just in time to make the
flight (the flight was scheduled to leave at 4:10 we left at 3:33?).
Don't sweat it, it will probably work out just fine ;-)
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