• Do US Flights Connecting Thru Canada have to clear Canadian immigration?

    Posted by Frank on October 6, 2023 at 2:54 pm

    Considering repositioning from PDX to YVR then continuing on to AMS. Will I need to go through immigration when I enter Canada? Trying to decide if it’s worth the hassle or if I should change to another West Coast airport.

    Hubert replied 1 month, 4 weeks ago 1 Member · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Rocky

    Member
    October 6, 2023 at 2:55 pm

    Take Amtrak! Amtrak arrives at Pacific Union Station closer to downtown Vancouver. It’s almost always cheaper… you can transfer Jet Blue points to Amtrak and tickets can be had for like 2000 points. If you are repositioning from YVR to PDX, you save at least USD$50 in YVR departure taxes… my kids love the train, so I’m biased… for a normal traveler the train is far less convenient… but if you are a slow traveler who doesn’t mind a night in SEA, for me Amtrak tips the scale.

  • Isobel

    Member
    October 6, 2023 at 2:55 pm

    I do this often for my mom who is PDX-based. On one ticket super simple no transit immigration. Hit or miss on two tickets. Generally, good luck getting bags checked all the way through via interline agreement. Taxes and fees are quite a bit higher than positioning to SFO or LAX via awards.

  • Nayeli

    Member
    October 6, 2023 at 2:56 pm

    It’s only a passport check if on one ticket and it qualifies for ITI connection

  • Mazie

    Member
    October 6, 2023 at 2:56 pm

    A few years ago when I went via YVR to another international destination, I did not need to see an immigration agent but I did have to scan my passport on a kiosk.

  • Hubert

    Member
    October 6, 2023 at 2:57 pm

    I did that exact route PDX-YVR-FRA and did not have to clear Canadian immigration while connecting. It was all on 1 ticket through.

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