Flying out of Canada

Not exactly your situation, but we chose to drive 4+ hours from NY to Toronto this past June in order to save a major amount on our plane tickets (long term parking was also really reasonable in Toronto) and fly non-stop both ways. When we de-planed after our trip, we did not have to go through any customs whatsoever in Toronto, since we were not Canadian. The only customs we experienced were crossing back into the US. I'm not sure this would be the same if you are changing planes, but it might be. I would definitely do this again in a similar situation.

Just to add more information to Ruth's post, we fly from Toronto and always park at Skyway Park. It caps at $100.

Wouldn't I go through Canadian customs/border security (or whatever its called) when we drive into Windsor from Detroit and then again when we return, either in Toronto or Windsor? Plus US Customs when we drive back into Detroit?

European flight postings for next Summer are quite expensive right now. After the first of the year, I expect airline analysts will be modifying pricing to correspond with Summer demand. Come back into the market in February and March and your Summer flight might be a more reasonably priced. Surely it's not going to be any higher than currently priced.

My wife and I always go overseas in Spring and Fall. We prefer cooler temperatures and less crowds. But we love spending so much less on flights--$728 each 3/28/2014 roundtrip into Budapest and out of Prague.

I would have no problems going into and out of Canada. Flights through there this year were sometimes cheaper. But I've also seen many Vancouver citizens flying out of SEATAC to save money. You just have to take into consideration the total costs including gasoline, parking, etc.--and take the better value decision.

Hi Diana -- having only done this once, I am hardly an expert. When we drove to the airport from NY to Canada, we had to stop at the border and show our passports. It took less than 5 minutes, and we never had to get out of the car. When we flew back from Paris to Toronto, we did not have to stop at customs anywhere in the Toronto airport. There was a line for Canadian citizens, but since we weren't Canadian, we got into the other (fast moving) line and were waved right through. Then, when we got to the Canada/US border, we had to stop again, as we had when we entered the country. We stayed in our car, they asked us a few questions, and sent us on our way. I don't know if this easy breezy experience is the norm or not....but it is what we experienced.

For our June-July trip, I began searching airfares in the fall. Prices stayed pretty much the same -- even rose a bit -- through late January, when we booked. As soon as we found a significantly cheaper fare, we jumped on it. I continued watching fares after we booked, and never saw anything less than we paid. Good luck!

It's been over 10 years, but I once flew Air Canada commuters from Windsor to Toronto and back to save a whole lot of money over flying a Delta predecessor out of DTW. It was just fine, and I enjoyed the tiny-ness and lack of hassle at the Windsor airport. This was way before 9/11 and the increase in border security, and it was totally painless. Every summer I drive to Ontario for a week in a cottage and home again, and the border/immigration experience in each direction is easy and painless except for the long wait at the Bluewater Bridge to get back in the US.

Ruth may have been able to go through a fast customs line at YYZ simply because she had nothing to declare, but there’s no way she was waved through or otherwise avoided passport control/immigration just because she wasn't a citizen. Canada isn’t just going to allow someone coming off of an international flight to walk out of the airport like they were a domestic passenger without performing the requisite immigration check. Perhaps she means that the immigration line at YYZ for non-citizens was just faster than the line for citizens/permanent residents? I’ve driven across that border many, many times, and it’s always much quicker going into Canada than it is coming home. Just build in enough time for possible traffic delays at the border, and you’ll be fine (especially for the flight out – don’t want to risk missing your flight). Happy travels.

Looks like we will be traveling on Air Canada next May. Thanks for the responses.

James, would that be a good surprise or a bad one? Right now round trip for two out of Windsor is $1939 USD. For both of us. That seems quite reasonable to me but if its going to go down, I can wait. Thanks!

Hi Siana,

No one can predict or advise you if fares will go down or up. My only advice, if you're comfortable with the price, buy it.

Paul is right. If you are comfortable with the fare you are seeing right now, buy it without delay. It could go up in the next hour, the next day, the next week, or the next month. It could go down, but nobody can predict this, and you won't be happy if you are forced to pay much more because you were holding out for a better fare that never materialized. And after you purchase your tickets, don’t go back and check constantly to see if the fare actually does go down. It won’t matter at that point. What matters is that you purchase a fare that you think is a decent deal based on your research. If that time is now, what are you waiting for? Happy travels.

For at least 18 months trans-Atlantic flights from Toronto have been substantially cheaper than out of Detroit. Even using the feeder service from Windsor doesn't change the possible savings. Plus the US dollar is about 10 per cent more valuable at the moment. And the in-flight service on the big jets used by Air Canada and its partner Lufthansa is decent. The Windsor airport, YQG, has been smartened up and it has reasonably-priced parking only a few steps outside the entrance door.
It's correct that going into Canada should be simple, although truck traffic can cause some congestion at the bridge crossing. Going back into the US is about the same. You may be asked a few questions at the vehicle barriers, or be sent to secondary inspection where you might fill out some paperwork. On the return trip the first inspection will be at Pearson airport in Toronto where you will have to retrieve checked luggage to show the authorities. There will be a drop-off nearby for the plane to Windsor. Toronto has begun using passport scanners too in hopes of more efficiency. After the 50-minute flight (on cosy little aircraft) to Windsor the US border inspection should go smoothly too. My strategy is to answer the questions as simply as possible and not volunteer extra details or explanations.

If you live in a border state and visit Canada often, may I suggest you consider getting a NEXUS card which speeds border crossings and arrival into both Canada and the United States from abroad. You are also TSA pre-screened when you have the Nexus card. This card costs $50 and I think it is good for 5 years. If you get the retinal scanning into the system, you arrive in Canada or US from abroad, go to a booth and get scanned, and are on your way quickly. When you cross the border via driving there are usually special fast lanes for those with NEXUS cards. I love mine.

I also am living in Windsor and will be looking at all the options when we are ready to book... Metro in Detroit, Windsor Airport, or Pierson in Toronto. It is encouraging to hear that Toronto may be a lot cheaper. Another option is, instead of the plane trip from Windsor to Toronto, to take the Robert Q airport shuttle van (if you have the time to spare, as this is a 4 hour drive) or maybe to hop on the VIA train in Windsor and head to Toronto. I believe the Robert Q van drops off at your terminal (or whatever it's called) I am not too keen on leaving my car unattended anywhere for any length of time... it will be safe and cozy in the garage while we get a ride or take a train or shuttle.

I am going to follow this thread with interest

I have taken the VIA train from Windsor to Toronto and back again and had a good experience except that (years ago when I did it) the Toronto station was pretty barren.