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Post by librarylady on Aug 24, 2021 12:35:18 GMT
My advice: be prepared for an awful experience. Covid checking is messing up all the routes and times. (or stay home till covid is over)
I was originally scheduled to leave on Thursday, the 19th, to come to Ottawa and see family before school begins. DS and DIL are working from home, so I stayed at a hotel to be less trouble. The two grands came over to hotel for use of the indoor pool and a sleep over with Grammy.
Leaving Dallas was a no go because the lab (supposedly 24 hour turn around) did not get report back in time. So, everything rescheduled to Friday departure.
Friday --leaving Dallas was 1 hour late. Made Denver off schedule right away.
Denver to Toronto--left 10 minutes late
Toronto was a He-- of an experience. For 90 minutes we were at the gate, the jetway attached to the plane but we could not get off. Why? a motorized wheelchair was blocking everyone in.
That stupid "get your luggage and then check it over here" was AWFUL. Hundreds of suitcases all around the luggage carousel. Everyone was circling trying to find their bag. Then customs. Airline saw our flight was delayed so rescheduled me twice during the baggage experience. I finally had a 3rd change to leave Toronto for Ottawa.
ETA: While we were at the gate in Toronto --going to Ottawa, the gate clerk announced 3 times, "We are searching for a crew to go on this flight."
My 7 PM arrival became 11:30 PM arrival.
I am headed home and wonder what adventure today holds.
(I did have a wonderful time seeing the family here.)
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,709
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Aug 24, 2021 12:46:51 GMT
Toronto was a He-- of an experience. Yes, International arrivals at Pearson are a big, huge, stinky mess. There have been reports of people having to wait up to 3 hours on the tarmac, not even pulling up to the gate. I am glad that you were able to get a flight to Ottawa that same evening. At least on your flight back to the USA, you pre-cleared USA customs prior to takeoff. That makes the trip home a bit easier and less stressful. |
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rgibson
Full Member
Posts: 467
Apr 26, 2021 22:49:21 GMT
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Post by rgibson on Aug 24, 2021 13:48:45 GMT
Oh I am so sorry for your crappy experience at Pearson. From friends who have recently travelled out of country, that is sadly the norm there these days. I don't know why they can't get it sorted out.
One friend who was flying home from California over two weeks ago had his flights changed and delayed and the final leg from Toronto to Ottawa cancelled. He was able to get a hotel in Toronto when he got there around midnight and told the desk that he had a flight at 7am. The desk clerk told him the shuttle would pick him at 4 (the hotel is about 15 minutes from the airport). Friend questioned him and he told him departures are just as much a mess as arrivals. Sure enough, when friend got there, people were lined up out the door. Luckily he was a domestic flight at that point so it was a little easier.
Bottom line - avoid Pearson if at all possible!!!
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Post by catmom on Aug 24, 2021 14:14:36 GMT
Yeah, Pearson is experiencing tremendous staffing shortages, which, added to the COVID protocols and the sudden increase in passengers since the borders opening, has led to travel being a hellish experience.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Aug 24, 2021 14:30:21 GMT
All air travel is a mess right now. I don't know a single person who hasn't had their flights delayed or canceled in the last year no matter the airline.
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Post by librarylady on Aug 24, 2021 14:34:50 GMT
At my gate in Ottawa. Received my first delay of the day: Flight in Chicago will leave 20 minutes later.
...and so it begins.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 24, 2021 14:38:59 GMT
I hope that your return trip is a lot smoother!
We flew to the States in May. We flew through Chicago and then on to Minneapolis. I still can’t believe how smoothly it all went. Even the short connection time flying back went as easy as it could have been. We were so concerned about problems that we didn’t even tell FIL that we were coming. We knew he would be crushed if we didn’t make it. But even in May, flights were only about 25% full from Brussels to Chicago and then 75% full to Minneapolis.
There were a lot of extra details to get messed up, from PCR tests to staffing issues to weather. Flying isn’t easy in normal times, much less with Covid.
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Post by Skellinton on Aug 24, 2021 14:43:14 GMT
I have heard of people ditching flights out of Toronto and just driving back to the US instead,
Hope you have a smoother travel experience today.
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rgibson
Full Member
Posts: 467
Apr 26, 2021 22:49:21 GMT
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Post by rgibson on Aug 24, 2021 15:36:29 GMT
At my gate in Ottawa. Received my first delay of the day: Flight in Chicago will leave 20 minutes later. ...and so it begins. Fingers crossed this is the only snafu today!!! |
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Post by grammadee on Aug 24, 2021 15:50:44 GMT
Hope you have a better experience heading home, librarylady. Having your connecting flight leaving late is prob a good thing... Pearson is a nightmare for this small town girlie even on a good day. Flying anything but direct has its own challenges. My first ever international flight we were late leaving Calgary b/c of fog, and when we got to Denver we had missed our window for landing, so ended up circling for at least an hour, then sitting on the tarmac for another hour while they found a gate for us. A couple of years before Covid, my ds & ddil, in their attempt to fly home to Saskatoon from Vegas via Denver & Calgary--flew a lovely pattern all over the US--spent one night in Denver and another in Chicago--before landing in Regina too late to make a connection to Saskatoon. (They rented a car and drove home at that point). |
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 24, 2021 15:51:14 GMT
ETA: While we were at the gate in Toronto --going to Ottawa, the gate clerk announced 3 times, "We are searching for a crew to go on this flight." All the delays can time out a crew and make them ineligible to fly adding an extra layer of frustration to the whole process. I'm sorry the travel part of the trip hasn't been much fun and hope you get home today. |
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Post by Rainy_Day_Woman on Aug 24, 2021 16:00:02 GMT
I hope your trip back is a smoother one.
I have heard that Pearson is just a shit show, 24-7 now.
I know 8 people who work there, and 7 of them are on some type of leave or another. It seems to be the status quo so it's terribly short staffed. Not that it runs particularly well even when it's not!
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Post by librarylady on Aug 24, 2021 17:35:24 GMT
One good thing--customs here in Montreal, so that worry gone.
Second delay in leaving Montreal, so I know I will miss connecting in Chicago.
I am now thinking "what will be, will be"
I am not going to worry.
I will get home sometime...I do believe that!
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Post by sawwhet on Aug 24, 2021 17:41:32 GMT
I don't think we should be encouraging travel into Canada at this point anyway 🤷🏻♀️ Keep in mind that many areas of the USA are still a covid sh*thshow but vaccinated Cdns are not allowed to drive into the USA at all.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 25, 2021 19:47:08 GMT
How were the final legs of your return trip, librarylady? |
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
Posts: 4,423 
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Post by tanya2 on Aug 25, 2021 21:45:32 GMT
I have a domestic flight out of Toronto next week, and I'm already dreading it. I've heard the airport is just a mess
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Post by librarylady on Aug 25, 2021 22:52:51 GMT
How were the final legs of your return trip, librarylady ? Awful, awful, awful.
Ottawa to Montreal = delay. Good part was I did US customs in Montreal. We left late but the pilot made up the time.
Montreal to Chicago = more delay. I landed in Chicago with 4 minutes to make the connecting flight. I had to RUN through the terminal. I can't remember when I ran anywhere, let alone through an airport terminal. I ran up to the gate, huffing and puffing. As the agent scanned my boarding pass I said "I am too old to run like this." She replied, "And yet you made it!"
Funny: While in line for security in Montreal, saw some people taking off their shoes and others not. I didn't since I had double knotted my sneakers. When I got up to the agent she said, "You didn't take off your shoes." Me: I didn't know I had to in Canada. She: You are going into the US, you have to take them off. Are you able to take them off? (hahah--do I look that feeble?)
I replied yes, but I would need time.
She said, "Just come over here" and she directed me through the "gate" that scans a person and I went on my way.
If I had not been so nervous etc. I could have reminded her that I had TSA pre-clearance plus I am age 75 and don't have to take shoes off.
Now the bad thing is my luggage is missing. I am 99% sure it is in Chicago where there was no real time to change luggage from one flight to another. At this point United says it can't find it.
ETA: My luggage was delivered to my home around 9 PM tonight (Wednesday).
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,734
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Post by purplebee on Aug 25, 2021 23:04:56 GMT
Glad you made it home safely, hopefully your luggage will too!
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Post by librarylady on Aug 25, 2021 23:16:25 GMT
My seatmate from Chicago to Dallas was a young man who resides in Canada but is visiting family in the Dallas area.
He slept most of the trip, so I didn't ask what gyrations he had to perform to visit.
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rgibson
Full Member
Posts: 467
Apr 26, 2021 22:49:21 GMT
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Post by rgibson on Aug 25, 2021 23:29:53 GMT
I have a domestic flight out of Toronto next week, and I'm already dreading it. I've heard the airport is just a mess I have friends and family who have travelled domestically in the past couple of weeks and it isn't as bad as international. Allow extra time but other than that it seems to be better than international. Saying that, I've probably jinxed it... My seatmate from Chicago to Dallas was a young man who resides in Canada but is visiting family in the Dallas area. He slept most of the trip, so I didn't ask what gyrations he had to perform to visit. Flying into the states has not been an issue for anyone I know but we can't drive over the border. Crazy crazy!
And I hope your luggage catches up to you soon!!!
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psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,217
Location: Canada's Capital
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Post by psiluvu on Aug 26, 2021 0:12:57 GMT
Yikes, what an awful adventure! Glad you had a good time while you were here though!!
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 26, 2021 2:00:31 GMT
I'm glad you made the Chicago connection and hope they find your luggage.
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paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
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Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Aug 26, 2021 2:12:33 GMT
We flew domestically out of Toronto last twice in the last two weeks and it has been fine. Busy but no issues. I found out domestic flights were great. Super quiet. I don’t think people find it easy to chat in masks on the planes so they were super chill and quiet.
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Post by tallgirl on Aug 26, 2021 2:12:38 GMT
I have a domestic flight out of Toronto next week, and I'm already dreading it. I've heard the airport is just a mess For what it’s worth - we flew domestic through Pearson last week (first flights since covid started). We expected the worst and were pleasantly surprised. I hope you are, too. |
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
Posts: 4,423
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Post by tanya2 on Aug 26, 2021 2:44:53 GMT
Thanks!! tallgirl & paigepea How far in advance did you get to Pearson before your flight? Their website is recommending 90 minutes but not sure if that's enough. We're flying Air Canada to Vancouver ETA - sorry didn't mean to hijack this thread! |
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Post by librarylady on Aug 26, 2021 2:49:27 GMT
I don't consider it a hijack.......we are all sharing our information.
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Post by tallgirl on Aug 26, 2021 2:50:03 GMT
Thanks!! tallgirl & paigepea How far in advance did you get to Pearson before your flight? Their website is recommending 90 minutes but not sure if that's enough. We're flying Air Canada to Vancouver I think we were about 2.5 hours early. We come from southwestern Ontario, and our main concern is always hitting bad traffic on the 401 right before the airport, but it was clear. Lines inside were short at both check-in and security. We had plenty of time to get something to eat (though many places were closed) and get ready to go. We flew WestJet to Winnipeg. |
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Aug 26, 2021 9:34:27 GMT
Are the Canadian customs agents not still on work to rule hence also the issues
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psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,217
Location: Canada's Capital
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Post by psiluvu on Aug 26, 2021 13:13:41 GMT
Are the Canadian customs agents not still on work to rule hence also the issues No, they settled two weeks ago. |
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1604
Posts: 4,423
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Post by tanya2 on Aug 26, 2021 13:54:18 GMT
did they find your luggage? Such a PITA - but on the bright side it happened on your journey home, not going to your destination
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