LyndaBarnes

We will be leaving from St. Louis to Paris going through Toranto. Driving our car to the airport from out of town. Will be met at the airport entrance by someone who will take our car. We will not arrive at the airport until close to 5:00 p.m. Flight leaves for Toranto at 6:10 p.m. Will me have enough time to make it to our gate? Otherwise, we will have to take a morning flight the next day and have to spend the night in St. Louis. Do you think we can make it?

janisj

By the time you find your driver and exchange keys, check in/drop your bags, go through security . . .That is cutting it WAY to short for an international flight IMO. How far ahead does your airline say you need to check in?

LyndaBarnes

To clarify my plans, the person meeting me at the airport is a pilot for American in St. Louis. He will take the train to the airport and meet me at a specific entrance. He will be watching for me so it should not take any time. If all goes well we should be at the airport by 4:45. St. Louis is not such a large airport and at that time of day should not be too busy. Don't you think we could make it?

DonTopaz

Sure you can make it, if the guy is there on time. But you should check in online. Also, assuming that you are with 1 or more others, it will help if one of you drops any luggage at the drop-off while the other waits with the car. And the flight (Air Canada Express) is treated as a domestic flight at the airport.

janisj

>>And the flight (Air Canada Express) is treated as a domestic flight at the airport.<<

But won't they have to show their passports and get boarding passes for the 2nd flight? I always fly domestically to get to my international gateway and have to be there early because the next leg is international . . . But then I've never flown out of Lambert . . .

DonTopaz

OP can get both boarding passes when checking in online. When she arrives in YYZ, she'll go to a special area for international connections (avoiding Canadian immigration), where there will be a passport check.

janisj

OK -- so does connecting in Canada make the difference??

rkkwan

Bags must be checked 60 minutes prior for US-Canada flights (whatever final destination) for AC. So, if you can do it, you're fine. Other things do not matter.

MarthaT

60 minutes prior to take off for bags to be checked mean if you have a long line you might not make it.
I know I have waited in check in lines for up to 30 minutes or more.
I would be afraid of this time plan.

NewbE

If you're confident that the airport won't be busy, you'll probably make it.

Keep in mind that boarding will begin at least 45 minutes before takeoff, so you'll be among the last people on board. And if you end up checking your bags less than an hour before takeoff, they probably won't make it onto your flight.

I've made it to the gate in less than 30 minutes in comparably sized airports, and I've had it take over an hour.

Isn't there any way you can get to the airport earlier??

DonTopaz

I don't know what sort of parallel universe <b>NewbE</b> inhabits, but his notion that "boarding will begin at least 45 minutes before takeoff" is preposterous. (The incoming flight, for one thing, isn't scheduled to arrive until 40 minutes before the outgoing flight's departure time. At best, boarding will begin 20 minutes before departure time.)

Look, this is a small, 50-seat regional jet, and it's the only Air Canada flight anywhere near that time. There simply can't be hordes of people in line. The check-in agents will finish checking people in at 6:10, and then in all likelihood they'll head down to the gate for the incoming flight.

If you arrive at the Air Canada counter at 4:45 you'll be ok. If you plan to arrive later than that, you'll increase the chances of your missing the flight significantly. If you arrive after 6:08, the chances of your making the flight begin to approach 0.

NewbE

I had no idea a regional jet, a 50-seater, is what flies between St. Louis and Toronto. I assumed it's an international flight, a real one, with all the usual folderol. If not, I stand corrected. I still think the timing is kind of tight, but not as tight as I thought.

denise8101214

Give the pilot an extra set of keys ahead of time (or leave them at a secure location) and exchange information on car location by text.

J62

Any reason you cannot get to the airport earlier, checkin, THEN meet to hand off they keys. Putting key /car handoff between you and checking sounds like a recipe for disaster.

If the pilot is late, leave the keys in the tire well, or under the seat with the door unlocked for him to pick up the car.

NewbE

FWIW, I like denise8's idea.