Transit through Canada YUL/YYZ
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Transit through Canada YUL/YYZ
I’m looking at options to jumpseat or ZED fare to Europe from the US. I hold an EU passport and a green card for the US. Since I can’t enter Canada as a foreigner I would like to know if there’s a possibility to stay in the transit area without entering Canada. The idea is to arrive from an US flight and to leave with another international flight to Europe. To avoid picking up and rechecking bags I would travel with carry on only. So my question is specifically for YYZ or YUL. Will I be able to just transfer through one of those airports without having to deal with immigrations? Or is there a procedure that immigrations lets me leave the country right away? Thanks for any input!
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Even if you don't go through Canadian Immigration or Customs - and there may be ways of doing that, but bear in mind the complexity introduced by the fact that US Immigration is in Canada at both airports - you would still, I think, need an ETSA to be on the flight to Canada.
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Even if you don't go through Canadian Immigration or Customs - and there may be ways of doing that, but bear in mind the complexity introduced by the fact that US Immigration is in Canada at both airports - you would still, I think, need an ETSA to be on the flight to Canada.
I recommend you check with the airline to find out if customs clearance is required for all passengers whether or not they are in transit. The last time I arrived into Canada on a flight from the USA, there was no "transit" option, but that was in Calgary. If you do need to clear customs, wou would have to provide proof that you had a seat on that flight to Europe, in which case you should be allowed to proceed because that's no different than the folks who are crossing the border in their vehicle on the way to Alaska. They must provide proof that they really are going to Alaska and when they do, they are allowed to proceed.
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I recommend you check with the airline to find out if customs clearance is required for all passengers whether or not they are in transit. The last time I arrived into Canada on a flight from the USA, there was no "transit" option, but that was in Calgary. If you do need to clear customs, wou would have to provide proof that you had a seat on that flight to Europe, in which case you should be allowed to proceed because that's no different than the folks who are crossing the border in their vehicle on the way to Alaska. They must provide proof that they really are going to Alaska and when they do, they are allowed to proceed.
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That is exactly why I wanted to know if I have to go and talk to an immigrations officer or if I could stay in the transit area without this hassle. On the other hand I could easily fly back to the US. So that should be hopefully enough explanation for the immigrations officer.
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Why do you need to go through Canada?
If you do need to transit - probably much easier within the EU. You would need to check entry requirements.
Why do you need to go through Canada?
If you do need to transit - probably much easier within the EU. You would need to check entry requirements.
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I don’t need to go through Canada. I was more looking at possible options to fly to Europe since a lot of US carriers have a very reduced schedule if any at all. From my home there’s only Lufthansa that flies to Europe and surprisingly they were overbooked when I wanted to fly last month. Hence I’m trying to find out if a transit through Canada would be an option.
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International travel is extremely difficult at the moment.
If you need to travel then the best option at present is to buy a ticket imho.
It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of companies have suspended Zed or other forms of Staff Travel. I have personally been refused twice at check-in, travelling in uniform on a confirmed ticket with letter from my Airline stating I was involved in humanitarian flights.
I'm currently on day 10 of a 14 day Quarantine. I'm not allowed out of the apartment where I am staying.
With the 14 day Quarantine currently in place in a lot of countries travel is a one-way option.
If you need to travel then the best option at present is to buy a ticket imho.
It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of companies have suspended Zed or other forms of Staff Travel. I have personally been refused twice at check-in, travelling in uniform on a confirmed ticket with letter from my Airline stating I was involved in humanitarian flights.
I'm currently on day 10 of a 14 day Quarantine. I'm not allowed out of the apartment where I am staying.
With the 14 day Quarantine currently in place in a lot of countries travel is a one-way option.
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International travel is extremely difficult at the moment.
If you need to travel then the best option at present is to buy a ticket imho.
It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of companies have suspended Zed or other forms of Staff Travel. I have personally been refused twice at check-in, travelling in uniform on a confirmed ticket with letter from my Airline stating I was involved in humanitarian flights.
I'm currently on day 10 of a 14 day Quarantine. I'm not allowed out of the apartment where I am staying.
With the 14 day Quarantine currently in place in a lot of countries travel is a one-way option.
If you need to travel then the best option at present is to buy a ticket imho.
It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of companies have suspended Zed or other forms of Staff Travel. I have personally been refused twice at check-in, travelling in uniform on a confirmed ticket with letter from my Airline stating I was involved in humanitarian flights.
I'm currently on day 10 of a 14 day Quarantine. I'm not allowed out of the apartment where I am staying.
With the 14 day Quarantine currently in place in a lot of countries travel is a one-way option.
I've been through YYZ in particular quite a few times both transatlantic to Canada and transatlantic to transfer internally and internationally & I cannot for the life of me think of any routing that hasn't involved me going through passport control and technically "landing".
I did have one occasion where I did not have to clear customs there, but that was a complete cluster.... and I don't recommend a repetition.
The circumstances would be extremely difficult for most to replicate in any case, as I doubt you'd be travelling with trefoil marked kit as hand luggage.
The current Federal limitations on entry / exit points defined by Ottawa do give you the option to maybe think about YVR as an option, depending on exactly where you are trying to get to & from it might be a great circle short cut. However, as with YYZ & YUL, the international routes and service frequencies are severely curtailed for the foreseeable future, so if you NEED to travel, best to just bite the bullet and shell out for a standard seat.
I'd suggest that in these unusual and rapidly changing times it is often unwise to stand out from the herd by travelling in an unusual way and thus attract additional scrutiny from those who may be inclined to be seek reasons to say no.
I did have one occasion where I did not have to clear customs there, but that was a complete cluster.... and I don't recommend a repetition.
The circumstances would be extremely difficult for most to replicate in any case, as I doubt you'd be travelling with trefoil marked kit as hand luggage.
The current Federal limitations on entry / exit points defined by Ottawa do give you the option to maybe think about YVR as an option, depending on exactly where you are trying to get to & from it might be a great circle short cut. However, as with YYZ & YUL, the international routes and service frequencies are severely curtailed for the foreseeable future, so if you NEED to travel, best to just bite the bullet and shell out for a standard seat.
I'd suggest that in these unusual and rapidly changing times it is often unwise to stand out from the herd by travelling in an unusual way and thus attract additional scrutiny from those who may be inclined to be seek reasons to say no.
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I've been through YYZ in particular quite a few times both transatlantic to Canada and transatlantic to transfer internally and internationally & I cannot for the life of me think of any routing that hasn't involved me going through passport control and technically "landing".
I did have one occasion where I did not have to clear customs there, but that was a complete cluster.... and I don't recommend a repetition.
The circumstances would be extremely difficult for most to replicate in any case, as I doubt you'd be travelling with trefoil marked kit as hand luggage.
The current Federal limitations on entry / exit points defined by Ottawa do give you the option to maybe think about YVR as an option, depending on exactly where you are trying to get to & from it might be a great circle short cut. However, as with YYZ & YUL, the international routes and service frequencies are severely curtailed for the foreseeable future, so if you NEED to travel, best to just bite the bullet and shell out for a standard seat.
I'd suggest that in these unusual and rapidly changing times it is often unwise to stand out from the herd by travelling in an unusual way and thus attract additional scrutiny from those who may be inclined to be seek reasons to say no.
I did have one occasion where I did not have to clear customs there, but that was a complete cluster.... and I don't recommend a repetition.
The circumstances would be extremely difficult for most to replicate in any case, as I doubt you'd be travelling with trefoil marked kit as hand luggage.
The current Federal limitations on entry / exit points defined by Ottawa do give you the option to maybe think about YVR as an option, depending on exactly where you are trying to get to & from it might be a great circle short cut. However, as with YYZ & YUL, the international routes and service frequencies are severely curtailed for the foreseeable future, so if you NEED to travel, best to just bite the bullet and shell out for a standard seat.
I'd suggest that in these unusual and rapidly changing times it is often unwise to stand out from the herd by travelling in an unusual way and thus attract additional scrutiny from those who may be inclined to be seek reasons to say no.
