It looks like there are not going to be any travel bargains for me Baltimore to Rome leaving Nov 1st. Air Canada offers two flights to Rome from BWI thru Toronto. One gives us a 6 hour stopover. The other gives us a 2 hour stopover. On an international is the 2 hour enough time? Should I be concerned about inclement weather (toronto,november).I've never flown Air Canada or into Toronto so there are many unknowns for me.If the 6 hour stop is recommended is there someplace to spend the time other than the airport? I posted on the Canada forum but I think there is more activity on this board. Thanks for any help. Deborah

The weather in November should not be an issue. There can be freak storms there, as anywhere. But think "Chicago" and you have the weather picture, essentially.

Toronto has 3 terminals. The Air Canada website can tell you if you will be changing terminals on those flights.

Fodorites: Do transiting passengers have to pass immigration -- or security? I would assume not but nowadays, who knows???

Immigration is always the (inexplicably) big delay in Toronto, as in all Canadian international airports.

(The government is so politically correct and so egalitarian that we do not even allow separate lines for "Canadians" and "others&quot

Thanks tedgale, I suppose I should not have even worried about weather, I grew up in Minnesota. I think from reading the air canada website that we will go through customs from baltimore to canada but we don't have to pick up our luggage which should be checked through. Does that sound logical?

I am wondering if I can get by with just the two hour wait rather than the 6 hour. When seeking prices, the 6 hour seems to be the one that gets highlighted first.

Is there quick public transportation to take us from the airport to Toronto city center if we do choose the 6 hour stopover? Thanks for any help. Deborah

The issue is not customs but immigration.

It should not be required when transiting -- but I cannot guarantee that.

In Frankfurt, for example, you have to show a passport even to get off the plane....

Flight delays are your big risk, of course. Otherwise I would go with the 2 hours.

At Toronto, I have reached connecting flights -- starting from within Canada, though -- in as little as 15 minutes.

With the 6 hour option: Downtown is at least 40 minutes by taxi.

Appreciate your help, tedgale, the airport YYZ, refers to the process as Customs and Immigration. my understanding is we deplane at term 2 go thru customs & immigrations, exit baggage hall and get on bus to infield terminal. I think I am talking myself into the 6 hour stopover (ugh) just because 2 hours allows for little problem time as you suggested. thanks, Deborah

Yes, it would be better to choose the one with 6 hours, as the flight depart from a building outside of Terminal 1, it takes another 10 minutes bus ride after the security of Term 1.

I am afraid there isn't much to see around Mississauga (where airport located), and the small building (where the depart gates located) only with 2 tiny dutyfree shops.

DeborahAnn, I think I can help you a bit, although you may not be happy to hear my advice.

When you check in at BWI, you will likely be given boarding passes for both your flight to Toronto and for Toronto-Rome. Your baggage will be also be tagged for both flights, but you will unfortunately have to see it again in Toronto.

An AC flight from BWI would arrive at T2 at Toronto airport. As Toronto hasn't yet discovered "sterile transfers," you will have to clear Canadian customs, collect your baggage, and then drop it off at the connecting baggage point at T2.

You then have to take a shuttle bus to T1 (take a look at this page on the Toronto airport web site: http://www.gtaa.com/Index.aspx?Sid=N....7.3&Tpl=1 for departure points and timing) When you arrive at T1 you will have to go through security. Unfortunately, you aren't finished yet, as AC's international departures leave from the so-called "In-Field Terminal." You board a bus at T1, which will take you out there. You will then go up one level to find your departure gate for Rome.

I just looked at the BWI-YYZ-FCO schedule and I see your dilemma ... AC 1111 gets you to T2 at 1155, while AC 1113 arrives at 1555; you flight to Rome leaves at 1800.

As AC offers 1113-890 as a valid connection, you should, in theory, be able to make it, but I wouldn't choose to put myself in that tight a situation. Your flight from BWI would have to be on time, you would have to clear customs promptly, your baggage would have to be processed quickly, you have to take a bus to a new terminal, go through security, and then take another bus to the IFT. AC has only one flight a day to Rome ...

If you do decide to come in on AC 1111, you could scoot downtown, but keep in mind that you'd want to be back out at Toronto T1 around 1600 (or perhaps 1630, as you will already have your boarding pass) for your 1800 flight.

Oh, one other thing: people tend to complain about the lack of signage at Toronto and the convoluted connections. Here's a typical thread from the AC forum on FlyerTalk: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...onnections+YYZ

Anselm

THANK YOU THANK YOU, I just booked the flight that gives us the 6 hour stopover. Anslem, after I copy what you wrote maybe I can figure it out the YYZ website sure makes changing planes seem to be a breeze, guess not. I just found out Rome with Air Canada does not have e-ticketing so we will have a paper ticket, imagine that Thanks again, Deborah

Anselm hit it on the head. I spend a lot of time at YYZ (flying in & out) & his description is very accurate. In to T2 - clear customs - check-in bags for Europe - shuttle to T1 - shuttle to remote terminal.

Ian

DeborahAnn, just in case you happen to check back here before you leave on November 1st, there is a slight change to those complex arrangements at Toronto. On November 1, the Toronto Airport Authority is opening several new gates at Terminal 1. As a result, Air Canada will be switching their daily transatlantic departures from the infamous "Infield Terminal" to Terminal 1 itself.

You'll still have to clear customs at your arrival terminal (T2), drop your luggage, and transfer to T1. Your total transit time should drop a bit, however, as you will no longer have to bus out to the infield terminal.

I know--clear as mud, but you'll see when you get there ... arrive T2, bus to T1, leave for Rome from T1.

Well, that's the good news. The bad news is that schedules become derailed, so I suppose the changeover date could always be pushed back. I hope not.

Have a great vacation.

Anselm

There's a public bus #192 "Airport Rocket" that goes to the Kipling station of the subway. C$2.50 each way, including free transfer to/from the subway.

I had a similar 6-7 hour connection through YYZ once (enroute from Providence to Hong Kong), and find going downtown fairly enjoyable.

Anselm, thanks for the update, since getting my ticket in July, Air Canada has changed our flight between Rome and Toronto. They cancelled our Saturday flight and we are now booked with a return on Sunday. As a perk for the "inconvenience" they booked us on a later flight from BWI to Toronto so our wait in Toronto will only be 1 1/2 hours going out. The gate changes you mention will make our transfer much easier. On our return we have a 4 hour wait, not as bad as the original 6 hour stopover. I certainly appreciate your updating the information. Thanks again, Deborah

I returned home from London a few days ago and noticed that AC now has a bus from the infield terminal directly to T2 for conecting flights to the US. I don't know about the reverse direction (i.e. your trip to Rome) but would be on the lookout for such a thing. I hope that Anselm is right and that some new gates at T1 are opening soon so we can quit with the busses every time we go accross the pond.

Gavin - Were you flying back to the US? Do you still have to go through Canadian immigration on your way back, before getting to the US immigration/customs hall?

Anselm: I still have, of course, your Michelin road book, which you so kindly lent us in late August.

As you may know, we did stay in Uzes for a week: I posted a sketchy report and still plan to post more, if work ever relents.

Apologies to other readers for hijacking this post with a personal message. Anselm, I hope to see you soon.

Hi tedgale. I'm a bit slow in responding here as I'm spending the week with my dad, who lives in a little town on the east side of Lake Simcoe. He's 97, still living alone, and at the moment keeping me busy packing up his machine shop for shipment to Halifax. I haven't spent much time on Fodors over the past few days.

I must have missed your trip report; I'll find it and read it with enjoyment.

There is no rush about returning the Michelin road atlas. My wife and I are not planning a driving trip in France until the fall of '06, although I will be spending 12 days in Paris by myself in February, thanks to that recent Air Canada seat sale. If I don't make a trip to Ottawa in the next couple of months, I'll ask my daughter to pick it up.

And my apologies to everyone, too, for taking this thread so far off topic!

Anselm

rkkwan: No, Toronto is our home airport. My understanding is that every traveller entering Canada must pass through Canadian customs and immigration upon arrival. This includes those in transit to another country. My experience is that it usually on takes a few minutes to get through as long as a 747 from Asia has not landed just ahead of your plane.

An update from Air Canada's "Daily" for Tuesday, 1 November:

"10 new gates open at Toronto Pearson Airport today ... The 10 new gates mark the commencement of Air Canada's international flights being gated at Terminal 1, particularly those to/from Latin America, European and Asia. Seasonal Caribbean and weekend destinations will continue to operate from the Infield Terminal IFT."

It really happened. Great news for AC customers flying to and from Europe.

Anselm