Flying to Iceland
March 25, 2018 1:04 PM Subscribe
Wife and I are planning a trip to Iceland this summer. I have many questions I'll probably be posting over the coming weeks/months. First up, which flight to choose?
Both my wife and I haven't flown internationally in a long, long time, so we need some help understanding how customs works and which flight to choose. We're flying from the US to Reykjavik. Option one has a 1.5hr layover in Toronto, Canada; option two is a 2hr layover in Newark, NJ with a terminal change. Both would be booked as a single ticket, so any luggage we check would be checked through to KEF. Flights back both include several hour layovers in either city.
I assume with layover in Toronto we'd have to clear customs, right? Is an hour and a half enough for that? A terminal change in Newark doesn't sound like fun either. Which is going to be easier?
Both my wife and I haven't flown internationally in a long, long time, so we need some help understanding how customs works and which flight to choose. We're flying from the US to Reykjavik. Option one has a 1.5hr layover in Toronto, Canada; option two is a 2hr layover in Newark, NJ with a terminal change. Both would be booked as a single ticket, so any luggage we check would be checked through to KEF. Flights back both include several hour layovers in either city.
I assume with layover in Toronto we'd have to clear customs, right? Is an hour and a half enough for that? A terminal change in Newark doesn't sound like fun either. Which is going to be easier?
Best answer: At YYZ, I try to allow 90 minutes for the same terminal. Different terminals you can probably pull off, but you also have to deal with Border Services.
2 hours at Newark should be fine if you don't have to deal with the checkin desk.
I'd pick Newark, even though I kinda hate that airport.
(And looking forward to the other questions, I've done Iceland many times.)
posted by kaszeta at 2:22 PM on March 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
2 hours at Newark should be fine if you don't have to deal with the checkin desk.
I'd pick Newark, even though I kinda hate that airport.
(And looking forward to the other questions, I've done Iceland many times.)
posted by kaszeta at 2:22 PM on March 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: For Toronto, the best way to find out your exact path is to use the Toronto Pearson connecting guide, where you put in if you are coming from a US/Canadian/international destination, if you are heading to a US/Canada/int'l destination, and on what airlines, and it tells you what you need to do.
Assuming you are flying Air Canada (which seems likely) you would:
- on the outbound journey to Iceland have to clear CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) processing
- on the return journey from Iceland not have to clear CBSA processing (because you'll be staying in Terminal 1 the whole time), but will have to clear US immigration and customs formalities
The latter point is worth mentioning: all flights from Toronto Pearson to the US require that you clear US immigration and customs in Toronto before the flight. With several hours and being US citizens you should not have any issues, but keep this in mind -- people sometimes get caught unawares of this because they (understandably) do not think to expect US formalities in a Canadian airport.
posted by andrewesque at 4:17 PM on March 25, 2018
Assuming you are flying Air Canada (which seems likely) you would:
- on the outbound journey to Iceland have to clear CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) processing
- on the return journey from Iceland not have to clear CBSA processing (because you'll be staying in Terminal 1 the whole time), but will have to clear US immigration and customs formalities
The latter point is worth mentioning: all flights from Toronto Pearson to the US require that you clear US immigration and customs in Toronto before the flight. With several hours and being US citizens you should not have any issues, but keep this in mind -- people sometimes get caught unawares of this because they (understandably) do not think to expect US formalities in a Canadian airport.
posted by andrewesque at 4:17 PM on March 25, 2018
Whichever one you choose, make sure you leave enough time to hit up duty free on the way and stock up on booze and/or candy for the trip.
posted by tiburon at 4:27 PM on March 25, 2018
posted by tiburon at 4:27 PM on March 25, 2018
Best answer: What time of day will these flights depart? Newark, as a busy hub, can be subject to some gnarly delays due to sheer traffic volume, and this is compounded when weather conditions are poor. Summer thunderstorms generally hit in the afternoon, and can lead to some nasty delays -- I actually had a Newark-departing flight cancelled a day in advance last summer, because of predicted bad weather, and had to scramble to find an alternate flight. Toronto's not immune from this, of course, but they are not hit quite as frequently with thunderstorms, given their location. I'm not clear on whether your flights are with two different carriers, but I will also say that I have had an excellent experience with rebooking a missed flight on Air Canada -- you can expect considerably better treatment on non-US carriers, generally. They even gave us snacks!
Whenever I've gone through Toronto for customs I've always had a quick and pleasant experience, fwiw. As US citizens, you'll be able to use the customs kiosks, and probably won't have to claim and recheck your luggage. Unless you hit a peak period, you'll probably be through in half an hour or less. You may have a bit of a walk, but the layover you describe is doable. (If you were looking at, say, Montreal, I'd dissuade you, but Toronto is probably fine.)
You can look up both proposed routes and track average delays on Flight Aware, if that's of help to you.
posted by halation at 5:13 PM on March 25, 2018
Whenever I've gone through Toronto for customs I've always had a quick and pleasant experience, fwiw. As US citizens, you'll be able to use the customs kiosks, and probably won't have to claim and recheck your luggage. Unless you hit a peak period, you'll probably be through in half an hour or less. You may have a bit of a walk, but the layover you describe is doable. (If you were looking at, say, Montreal, I'd dissuade you, but Toronto is probably fine.)
You can look up both proposed routes and track average delays on Flight Aware, if that's of help to you.
posted by halation at 5:13 PM on March 25, 2018
Response by poster: These are some very helpful answers so far.
Both flights would be booked through United, though the one through Toronto is a codeshare operated by AirCanada. The outbound flights to Toronto/Newark are both evening flights (9:30/8:30pm arrivals, respectively), with the departures to Reykjavik being overnight flights arriving early the next morning.
posted by noneuclidean at 5:28 PM on March 25, 2018
Both flights would be booked through United, though the one through Toronto is a codeshare operated by AirCanada. The outbound flights to Toronto/Newark are both evening flights (9:30/8:30pm arrivals, respectively), with the departures to Reykjavik being overnight flights arriving early the next morning.
posted by noneuclidean at 5:28 PM on March 25, 2018
Best answer: I live in Toronto and fly in and out frequently. Have been through EWR a handful of times. YYZ is really quite efficient, and 90 mins is enough time. The terminal is relatively new. The airspace around Toronto is less crowded than Newark so you have a better chance of avoiding delays due to air traffic congestion. If you end up getting delayed longer, Toronto is a much better place to spend several hours as there is less crowding and the noise level and lighting are nicer.
On anticipation of your next questions:
Do: The Blue Lagoon, The Golden Circle day tour.
Meh: Whale watching. (seasickness! 1 whale spotted in 3 hrs.)
Restaurant and booze are crazy expensive so you can save $$ if you AirBnB and buy groceries, which are also expensive, but still cheaper.
posted by thenormshow at 10:52 AM on March 26, 2018
On anticipation of your next questions:
Do: The Blue Lagoon, The Golden Circle day tour.
Meh: Whale watching. (seasickness! 1 whale spotted in 3 hrs.)
Restaurant and booze are crazy expensive so you can save $$ if you AirBnB and buy groceries, which are also expensive, but still cheaper.
posted by thenormshow at 10:52 AM on March 26, 2018
No advice on airports, but anticipating your next question:
Skip the Blue Lagoon. Take a small-group Golden Circle tour that includes the Secret Lagoon.
Definitely book the Reykjavik Food Walk.
posted by Joleta at 7:48 PM on March 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Skip the Blue Lagoon. Take a small-group Golden Circle tour that includes the Secret Lagoon.
Definitely book the Reykjavik Food Walk.
posted by Joleta at 7:48 PM on March 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
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